By:  Bill Nichols

Molly Bolin could pursue a career in the movies or as a television sportscaster.  She has the attributes and training for both, but prefers to play professional basketball.

Bolin, the most glamorous figure in the very shaky Women's Basketball League, vows to stay with pro ball as long as there is a league to play in.

However, before she begins another season trading baskets with the likes of Nancy Lieberman and Carol (Blaze) Blazejewski, Bolin will spend a couple days as an instructor, at the Cavaliers' summer camp at Canton's Walsh College today and tomorrow.

"I'm only 23 and I'd like to play as long as there is a WBL," Bolin said recently from her parents home in Moravia, Iowa.

"It's really hard to stick with it.  It's getting tougher and tougher each year as franchises drop out each year.  I guess we're going ahead next season, though, and I'm looking forward to it."

Bolin was the first player signed by the WBL when she joined the Iowa Cornets in June, 1978.  She led her team to the championship finals two straight seasons before the franchise died.

Bolin came out of the Iowa high school basketball programs with background in only the half-court game with three players always in the front court and the other three in the back court.  She had to learn to play the full-court game -- and, learn she did.

Bolin, tagged "Machine Gun Molly," because of her ability to score points, had 50 points in the first high school game she ever played in.  She had an 83-point effort in another game and averaged 30 points per contest in her two years with the Cornets.

Last February in the WBL All-Star Game, Bolin hit on sever straight long range jumpers and 13 of 21 overall for 29 points to lead the West to a 125-92 victory over the East.

Off the court, Bolin adds the same glamour to the WBL that Jane Stephenson does to women's pro golf.  When she was with the Cornets Bolin became a poster girl in the mold of Farrah Fawcett.

Unfortunately, the WBL has had trouble earring and receiving public acceptance.

"I thought the All-Star Game was a good game and would have been a good showcase," said Bolin.  "It was taped, but never shown on television.

"All we need is people to come and see us.  We have a good product, but people don't know about us.  The caliber of play has skyrocketed in the past couple years."

Bolin makes some personal appearances, especially during the off season, but they are at her own expense.  "I went out to California and did some television taping to promote our team (San Francisco Pioneers) and did it at my own expense," she said.  "I must be dumb, but I thought I could help."

The average payroll for a WBL club of 12 players is $120,000, which is less than the lowest paid member of the Cavaliers receives.

"Our top players don't even make $40,000, which I think is the minimum in the NBA," she said with a tone of disappointment, but not bitterness.

"We don't have any form of player protection such as a union or association.  It's not the time for that, yet.  The league still is struggling and young, but there is no security at all for the players."

Bolin, a 23-year-old mother of four-year-old Damien and wife of high school sweetheart Dennie Bolin, majored in telecommunications at Grandview College in Des Moines.

She finished school in June, 1978 and immediately signed with the Cornets for around $6,000.  When the team folded she became the most sought-after free agent in women's basketball.

She left Iowa to join the Orange Country Greeze in a new women's pro league make up of six teams.  The circuit folded.  Again, last December she was a free agent.

Nebraska, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco made bids for her services.  She finally signed with the San Francisco Pioneers last Jan. 5.

On Jan. 3. the Pioneers fired their coach and hired former Marquette star and New York Knicks player Dean ( the Dream) Memminger.

Playing for Memminger, a practitioner of team game, Bolin became a team player.  She was no longer just a scorer.

"Dean is a good teacher.  He helped me a lot."

Bolin is well known in Iowa, but she knew she had to leave to get national recognition.

"I've spent most of my life in Iowa and I'm known, but without any connections nobody knows me anywhere else.  I tried L.A. and now San Francisco."

Molly Bolin once thought Moravia (pop. 700) was the end of her basketball rainbow.  Her world has widened and will open up even more if the Women's Basketball League survives.  She will be playing basketball as long as there is a league to play in.