COMANECI`S NEXT MOVE IS ANYBODY`S GUESS
Phil Hersh.
Published: Sunday, December 3, 1989
Section: SPORTS
Page: 1

Nadia Comaneci`s landing in the United States Friday settled the two-day mystery of her whereabouts.

Where the former Romanian gymnast goes from here is the next question.

Comaneci, who defected from Romania last week and continued to the U.S. via Austria, did not address her future at the brief New York airport press conference following her arrival. Sources said her next destination would be Miami.

Once the euphoria of being free subsides, Comaneci will be forced to face the reality of living without family in a strange country where the government will not take care of her every need, as it did in Romania. Her English needs work, and so will she.

``Fame will help her, but the adjustment won`t depend on that,`` said Romanian exile Marta Karolyi, one of Comaneci`s former coaches. ``It will matter how well she can pick up the differences in the systems and ways of life.``

Karolyi`s husband, Bela, and Geza Pozsar, who were Comaneci`s coach and choreographer when she dazzled the world at the 1976 Olympics, both had several difficult years before settling comfortably into life in the U.S. Both operate gymnastics schools-Karolyi in Houston, Pozsar in Sacramento.

Because of his success in 1984 as coach of U.S. gymnast Mary Lou Retton, Karolyi became rich and famous in a way that earned him one of those American Express commercials that asked, ``Do you know who I am?`` Pozsar has been out of the spotlight.

``It took me five years to get some (financial) stability,`` Pozsar said, ``but it will be easier for her because she`s Nadia.

``Bela and I were instructors. Nadia is a star.``

Much of Comaneci`s star quality may have faded from lack of exposure. The new crop of would-be Nadias wasn`t born when she earned the first perfect Olympic gymnastics score and three gold medals at the 1976 Games.

Most of the rising stars in U.S. women`s gymnastics were inspired to try the sport by Retton, who had been inspired by Comaneci.

``If Nadia had defected after getting the first 10, there would have been no limit to what she was worth,`` said Nova Lanktree of the Chicago-based Burns Sports Celebrity Service.

``Now the response could be lackluster or blockbuster, I`m not sure. Everyone knows her name, and defecting for freedom can create some momentum, but I`d have to see it to believe it that anyone would get on her bandwagon for sizable dollars.

``Mary Lou is still our sweetheart, and she is still in America, and nobody is really asking for her.``

The organizers of the recent exhibition tour with Retton and 1972 Olympic star Olga Korbut of the Soviet Union offered the Romanian government some $100,000 to let Comaneci participate.

The offer was spurned, ironically because of fear she would defect.

Whether Comaneci could have commanded that much as a free agent is uncertain.

Her long-term impact in the United States, even in the gymnastics community, is also debatable.

``I think this is good for Nadia and good for gymnastics in this country, but it won`t have that much effect,`` said Don Peters, 1984 U.S. Olympic coach and often bitter rival of Karolyi.

``This isn`t like an Olympics, where you get a lot of prime-time exposure. This is going to come and go. Nineteen seventy-six is just so long ago.``

Phoebe Mills of Northfield, 1988 Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist who was 4 years old in 1976, was nevertheless very aware of Comaneci.

``I think she still has a lot of appeal and always will because she got 10s,`` Mills said. ``All gymnasts know about that, somehow.``

Comaneci has coached, and many U.S. clubs would hire her as a coach for public relations value.

Karolyi said he would employ her in Houston, if necessary, but both he and Pozsar see wider horizons for Comaneci.

``I do not see her being in the U.S. to coach,`` Pozsar said. ``I think she will do a movie of her life, write a book, do exercise videotapes for children. I think the problem will be getting so many opportunities she needs good advice.``

Karolyi said last week he saw Comaneci working for the U.S. Gymnastics Federation, giving technical advice and promoting the sport.

USGF Executive Director Mike Jacki said he would do everything possible to avail himself of Comaneci`s charisma and coaching skills.

``If she is here in the U.S., she can certainly help the USGF and young athletes thinking about the Olympics,`` said David Dandurand, director of sports marketing for McDonald`s, the longtime USGF sponsor.

``I don`t envision any commercial opportunities for her with us now. It will take time to evaluate, but we like to be on the leading edge of ideas. And we`ll certainly make sure her first Big Mac in the United States is on us.``