SPLIT PERSONALITIES: WILL THE REAL KURT ANGLE PLEASE STAND UP?

The more Kurt Angle talks about his career, his goals, his ideals, the harder it is to tell him apart from his television character.

He talks at length about his personal passion for the "three I's" -- integrity, intensity and intelligence -- just as his World Wrestling Federation character adheres to in front of millions of jeering fans each week.

He tells of how he -- like his character -- maintains focus, avoids alcohol and tobacco, trains almost religiously and values his Olympic past.

His TV character chastises for being undisciplined and unmotivated. That persona, Angle says, is "over the top and a step above everyone."

"I don't really feel that way," he said, "but being an Olympic medalist, to some degree you are."

Angle, who made his first imprint on the nation in 1996 when he fell to his knees and wept after winning an Olympic gold medal in wrestling, is part of a nine-event card that starts at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Show Me Center.

He promises a big dose of the arrogant, self-righteous attitude that propelled him to the WWF championship after just 11 months in the business.

"I thought it'd take me two to four years to be where I am now in the business, and it took me eight months," said Angle, 31. "We made all the right moves. The fans reacted well."

"You'd think going to the top so soon would have rubbed some people the wrong way," he said, "but people saw the basic improvements I made over those eight months. I picked up things so quickly -- a lot of guys who have been here 12 to 15 years knew I'd paid my dues through the Olympics."

The WWF's team of writers, Angle said, played a big part in getting him the perfect crowd reaction after he signed a five-year contract in early 1999. That response from fans led to his early career push and quick rise to main-event caliber against seasoned stars.

WWF chairman Vince McMahon, who inherited the company in the 1980s and turned it into a multi-million, publicly traded corporation, persuaded Angle to use his Olympic gold medal as a tool to get crowd reaction. The character developed into a smug, gold-medal-waving champion who doesn't mind taking shortcuts when it means getting a win.

It's a dramatic contrast to the reaction Angle got in 1996 when he won a gold medal in the 220-pound freestyle division. The image of Angle, wearing red, white and blue and looking skyward, his face drenched in tears and sweat, was the picture of national pride.

"I've grown to love being a heel," Angle said. "At first, hearing that kind of reaction from the crowd was a little uncomfortable, but I enjoy it now. I love the whole charac

(ter. You definitely have to live it.")

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: WWF Live

WHERE: Show Me Center

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday

HOW MUCH: Tickets start at $20.75

MISC.: This is the 18th WWF event at the Show Me Center since 1987. it's the first since February 1998.