OLYMPIC SPORT PREVIEW: RETURN OF THE BELA BUNCH AMERICAN WOMEN OFFER BEST HOPE TO CLAIM GYMNASTICS HARDWARE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

The makeup of this U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team best resembles that of a television-sitcom reunion show.

It's nowhere as good as the original and some of the big-name stars are missing, but just enough of the original charm remains to make it compelling and worth watching.

The plot is yet to be determined. This team has talent, but it exists in the shadow of the ``Magnificent Seven'' of four years ago, as well as in a competitive international environment, where the Americans are far from considered medal favorites.

The cast includes Elise Ray, Kristen Maloney, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Morgan White and Palmdale native Jamie Dantzscher, as well as the enigmatic and charismatic Bela Karolyi, the gymnastics guru who molded the mixture of veterans and youngsters into a group he believes can win a medal.

The American men are long shots for a medal. Blaine Wilson, the U.S. national champion, and the Hamm twins, Morgan and Paul, will help keep the Americans competitive, but any medal hopes reside with the women.

For months, the debate raged around the women, and what selection criteria would be used by Karolyi, who was in charge of a committee to select the six Olympians. Depending on whom you ask, last month's Olympic Trials were either a glorious success that picked the six best gymnasts in America, or a train wreck.

``This was the most colorful, most dramatic and at the same time the most beautiful Olympic Trials we have ever had,'' Karolyi said.

``This is the most disappointing event in our career,'' said Steve Nunno, coach of Shannon Miller, who had to withdraw from the Trials due to a knee injury and was not selected.

Miller was one of three of the ``Magnificent Seven'' who tried to come back and make another Olympics. The two others, Chow and Dawes, will be looked at to provide veteran leadership to the new generation. Karolyi wanted a mix of young and old, and to that extent the trials worked out perfectly.

``There was no discussion and doubt about who are the ones deserving to be on the team,'' Karolyi said.

But the old guard isn't in Sydney simply to dole out advice. Chow, who won silver on the uneven bars in 1996, and Dawes, who also competed in the 1992 Olympics, have medal aspirations.

Dawes, who began her comeback in May, finished ninth in the U.S. Championships in July but performed well enough in the Trials to reach fifth place in the combined points standings and remove all doubt as to whether she should be selected.

``I don't think I deserve to be on the team just because I was on the team in '92 and '96,'' Dawes told the Colorado Springs Gazette last month. ``I don't think it's an upset at all (being selected) because I'm going to go out and do the best job I can for my country.''

GYMNASTICS

Competition dates: Sept. 14-Oct. 1

Events: Men's and women's artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

Favorites: The American women can never be overlooked, but Russia and China will again field strong teams. In the men's competition, Liliya Podkopayeva of Ukraine is a strong favorite to defend his 1996 all-around gold medal.

How the U.S. will fare: A medal for the American men would be something of an upset and the success of the women will depend largely on how the youngsters of the team fare. Amy Chow won an individual silver on the uneven bars in 1996 and her strong form in the Olympic trials suggest she could duplicate that accomplishment.

Did you know? For the first time, trampoline gymnastics will be a medal sport.

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