OLYMPIC MONITOR

By Lawrence Mondi

FIELD OF ANOTHER DREAM TEAM

The U.S. men's basketball dream team may not be the most dominant contingent at the Olympics. That distinction could go to the 15 women on the U.S. softball team, who lack only a catchy moniker. Since 1986 the national team has won three world championships and compiled a record of 110 wins vs. just one loss. "One of sport's all-time great dynasties," says Amateur Softball Association executive director Don Porter.

Though their names aren't as well known as those of Olajuwon and Barkley, all the players are at the top of their game. The leader is shortstop Dot Richardson. Voted NCAA Player of the Decade for the 1980s, Richardson, 34, is a clutch hitter who has the hands of, well, a surgeon. In fact, she has taken a leave from her medical residency in orthopedic surgery to join the Games. The U.S. pitching staff is as impressive as the Braves'. It includes Lisa Fernandez, a four-time All-American at UCLA; Michele Smith, with a college record of 82 wins, 20 losses and an earned-run average of 0.25; and Michele Granger, the all-time NCAA strikeout leader. Besides anchoring the infield, third baseman Kim Maher and first baseman Sheila Cornell are among the top hitters.

The team assembled last week in Columbus, Georgia, site of the Olympic competition (and of the team's lone defeat, 1-0, in a game with China last year), and will stay together through the Games. When the players were chosen last year, Richardson said, "We are living our dreams, and we won't stop until we get the gold." Now there's a name: the Golden Girls. --By Lawrence Mondi

HOOPS! THERE THEY ARE

Speaking of Dream Teams, U.S.A. Basketball has named Sacramento Kings guard Mitch Richmond and Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley to fill the final two spots on the Olympic team. Richmond, the N.B.A.'s second-highest scoring guard (next to Michael Jordan) and a tough defender, was an expected pick. But the outspoken Barkley, a member of the gold-medal squad in Barcelona, was a surprise selection because he had initially told officials he wasn't interested.

TWO ABSENT CHAMPIONS

A couple of prominent runners will be missing from the men's marathon in Atlanta. Hwang Young-cho of South Korea, who won the 1992 gold and collapsed after crossing the finish line, will not defend his title. Hampered by an ankle injury, Hwang finished 29th in an Olympic-trial race last month and a few weeks later retired at age 26. Kenya's Moses Tanui won the Boston Marathon--his first victory in a 26.2-mile race--but said he will focus on the 10,000 meters in Atlanta.

PUTTING ON THE GLOVES

Light-heavyweight boxer Antonio Tarver of Orlando, Florida, took another step toward an anticipated Olympic medal when he outpointed Anthony Stewart of Chicago, 17 to 0, in the U.S. Olympic Box-Offs last week, earning a trip to Atlanta. Other newly named Olympic pugilists include lightweight Terrance Cauthen, welterweight Fernando Vargas and light-middleweight David Reid, all of whom should be medal contenders in their weight classes at the Games.