NOTEBOOK From the Pan-Am Games

New Zealander plays for U.S.: Michael White is the only member of the United States men's softball team who has won a world championship. He did it in 1996 -- for New Zealand. White was born in New Zealand, but attended college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he met his wife, Lisa. They decided to settle in the United States and he became an American citizen in 1994. But he had some unfinished business in New Zealand after being the losing pitcher in the 1992 world championships final against Canada. So he risked antagonizing U.S. softball officials and joined the New Zealand team for the '96 worlds in Midland, Mich. "I know that upset some players and officials, but most of the players understood what I was doing," said White, at 41 the oldest player on the Pan American Games softball squad. "And I threw a perfect game against Canada to win the gold." White now is an assistant coach at the University of Oregon, and he's looking forward to representing the United States in next year's worlds -- in Christchurch, New Zealand. "I'm very excited and cautious," he said. "My family is still there. I'm not sure which color they will support. I'll be sending them a lot of USA gear."
Gold medal, but no anthem: Angel Velarte captured Argentina's first gold medal Monday, taking the 10-meter air rifle in shooting. But the moment was somewhat bittersweet. Velarte stood on the winner's podium to receive her gold expecting to hear Argentina's national anthem. But Pan American Games organizers replaced it with other music, saying they hadn't received the CD containing Argentina's national song. "I was really annoyed," she said. "It was emotional standing there with gold on my chest and I wanted to hear our anthem." But Velarte, who runs a photo shop in western Argentina, said she was able to cherish the moment. "It was still an unbelievable feeling. I kept thinking of all the effort I had put in to this," she said.
Struggling Dominicans: The Games haven't exactly been the homecoming the Dominican Republic's Juana Duran expected. The 38-year-old women's basketball standout and her Dominican teammates lost their third straight game Monday, falling 81-51 to Canada, and are on the verge of being eliminated. "We we've just been unlucky," said Duran, whose 7-year-old son, Joan, watched from the stands. In their two remaining games, the Dominicans will play Brazil and the United States, who trail undefeated Cuba in the standings.
Early exit: For Argentine tennis player Brian Dabull, the Games came to an early and painful end. Dabull, who was winning his opening singles match 6-4, fell during a strange rally, injuring his left knee. Doctors ruled the injury was serious enough to keep him out of the rest of the competition.
New and improved: There were some new improvements to the basketball arena for Sunday's games. The air conditioning, which was either not on or did not function well during Saturday's steamy games, was working at full force, allowing for a much more comfortable climate for players and fans alike. Also, blue protective foam was attached to the bottom of the previously bare backboards. At halftime of the United States-Puerto Rico game, the Americans' warmup was halted when a worker had to climb a ladder and use adhesive tape to make the sagging foam stick to the frame.
Experience: The U.S. track and field team features 17 Olympians, including Ken Brokenburr of Winter Haven, Fla., who will run the 200. He earned a gold medal by running in the preliminary relays of the 4x100 at the Sydney Games. "The Pan American Games is an interesting challenge with the worlds being only several weeks away," women's coach Monica Gary said Monday. "We do have a great blend of veteran athletes, as well as young athletes. The challenge right now is to be able to blend that group together." Brokenburr believes he'll be sought for guidance by the younger sprinters and other members of the team who have never been at such a big international competition. "Just to be able to put my arm around them and let them know it will be OK and to continue to do what you have been doing," he said. "You know what it took to get to this point and to perform, and you can kind of tell the guys and get them through it."
-- Associated Press