A SIDEWAYS GLANCE AT ATLANTA : HE'S A WALKING HOOPS HISTORY BOOK.

The line of people waiting for autographs started to work its way up the aisle in the Georgia Dome. Many asked for a chance to have a picture taken with him.

Francis Johnson savored every second in the spotlight.

``I just like doing whatever I can to give something back,'' said Johnson, captain of the 1936 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won the first gold medal awarded in the sport. ``I am really enjoying all this.''

Johnson, who will turn 86 on Monday, was an Olympic host at the Georgia Dome and when he was introduced Wednesday, the crowd of about 25,000 gave him a standing ovation. The autograph lines and picture requests soon followed as he took his seat in the stands. Security guards were needed to keep things orderly.

``There wasn't the media back then, no TV, a little radio,'' he said of the Berlin Games. ``But I'll tell you, every game was sold out. Those people came to watch us.''

Even in the gold-medal game against Canada that could have been rained out.

``Back then international rules said basketball was an outdoor sport, so we played on a clay court,'' he said. ``The night before the gold-medal game there was six inches of rain and it kept raining. The fans all stood around with raincoats, slickers and umbrellas and our problem was the ball became like a medicine ball, it got so heavy.''

The final score was 19-8 because of the conditions, but that was all forgotten when the gold medals were presented by the sport's founder, Dr. James Naismith.

``That was a great thrill, to have Dr. Naismith there,'' Johnson said. ``The whole experience was tremendous.''

Johnson played for the Globe Oilers, an AAU powerhouse that contributed six members to the 14-man team. Universal Pictures, another AAU team, had seven and one collegian rounded out the roster.

``We played as units so it wasn't like an all-star team like it became later on,'' he said. ``Basketball is a team game and you have to know each other. You can't do that as an all-star team.''

Athletes cash in

at Wal-Mart

Benin's athletes may not get a medal in Atlanta, but they did get a shopping spree.

The West African country's six track athletes and their coach were each awarded a $300 shopping spree at Wal-Mart in Dunwoody by the CIT Group/Industrial Financing.

``This is the first time since we've participated in the Olympics that people have been so nice to us,'' said Marius Theodule Francisco, president of the Beninese National Olympic Committee.

The most popular sections of the department store were clothing, shoes and jewelry. To have jewelry in Benin is a sign of status.

``I don't know what to take,'' said Issaiko Bio Nigan, the track coach, who wore native garb. ``There's so much (here).''

But Nigan did know that he wanted toys for his two children, and opted for Nintendo Gameboys and clothes for them.

Busmen take a holiday - but vehicles roll on

All buses were back on the road hours after 40 drivers for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games refused to drive some of the aging vehicles, saying they were unsafe.

The drivers rebelled Tuesday after being told to drive the school buses - with no radios or air conditioners - to the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, which is one of the longest routes in the ACOG system.

The drivers had pointed out bald and splitting tires, a missing lug nut and expired fire extinguishers on buses at the transit system garage.

``It would be no different for us to take one of these buses and kill some people than to put that bomb in Olympic Park,'' said Katie Brady, a California school bus driver working at the Olympics.

VOICES

``I don't blame Norway for taking that tactic. I'd do that, too.''

- U.S. women's soccer player Mia Hamm, on Norway trying to knock her out of the game by fouling

``Two more games and I'm outta here. I'm getting on a 2 a.m. flight home, back to the ranch where I can close the fence and not have to worry about no bomb scares.''

- Dream Teamer Karl Malone

``The problem is that TV doesn't like us. We don't fit in the box. TV loves gymnastics, because it's 90 seconds. If some poor girl falls off the beam and hits her face, the camera is right there to get the shot. TV loves swimming. It loves the short races and track events like the 100 and 200 meters. It's quick. You can fit in the commercials.''

- U.S. baseball team coach Skip Bertman on the team's lack of TV coverage despite advancing to the gold-medal game

``We have nine first-round draft picks on our roster. In my mind, it is a lock that 18 of my 20 players will make the majors. Maybe all 20 will. Let me keep this team together for six years, and we'll win the American League East.''

- Bertman again

``To put Carl on, you've got to take somebody else off. That's not cool, man.''

- 100-meter relay member Dennis Mitchell, on Carl Lewis' possible addition to the team

``The Daily News? You guys have missed some Sunday deliveries. I thought I should let you know.''

- 200-meter medal contender Jeff Williams in Atlanta after reporter Jon Wilner identified himself

e-mail from Atlanta Speaking French makes reporter

a oui bit irritable

Official language of the Olympics: French.

Makes a lot of sense. Games in Atlanta. Lots of French-speaking folk here in the South. Can't escape the influence. Examples:

``How much is that there French toast?''

Or this: ``How come you brung me a hamburger but you clean forgot my french fries?''

Why is French the official language of the Olympics? Guy named Baron Pierre de Coubertin organized first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. He was French. He's dead. French spoken in his honor.

Went to softball game. French announcements. French intros. French first, then English. No one listening. People talking, drinking beer. Don't see anybody sipping Bordeaux or swigging Vichy water.

What gives? They want to thank Pierre, they should start every event with: ``Thanks, Pierre.''

Isn't like French are dominating Olympic Games. What have they won? Look at medals standing. France listed sixth. OK, not bad. USA first. Then Russia, Germany, China, Australia. If best France can do is sixth, why is it always first in language? Last time I looked, no event called freestyle linguistics.

Olympics should have two languages: English, because I know that one, and whatever language of host. In this case, it would be Hick. Examples:

On Michelle Smith drug controversy: ``Hmmm. Somethin' tells me there's a polecat in the henhouse.''

On man who planted bomb: ``He's lower than a snake belly in a wagon rut.''

Getting directions from a cop: ``You only gotta go about two ax handles and a Clark bar down the road.''

Leava la France

- Cyberscribe.

CAPTION(S):

7 Photos

Photo: (1) A Well deserved break for O'Brien

It might se em easy for world record-holder and three-time world champion Dan O'Brien, but he is plenty serious about his Olympic decathlon bid after failing to qualify for Barcelona in 1992. He made the most of his determination Wednesday, forging a 124-point lead after the first day. He'll need his rest, though, since there are five more events today.

(2-7) She'll take cuts of another kind

Picture this: Dot Richardson of Sherman Oaks reports for duty in hand surgery this morning at USC Medical Center and hears, ``So how's the week going for you, doctor?'' Judging from her reactions during the U.S. softball team's run to a gold medal at Atlanta, Shortstop/Doc Dot will probably answer with a smile. Richardson, who ends a one-year leave of absence from her medical residency today, probably is still smiling after hitting three home runs at the Olympics, including the game-winner in Tuesday night's championship final with China.