I would have to hang up my cleats. I could no longer play the sport I loved. Instead, I had to start physical therapy right away. If things did not look better in two months, they would inject steroids in my knees. Then, possible surgery. That is when things started to change. Being part of a team...any team...is like having an instant group of friends. You are all part of the same group and have a similar bond. Plus all of you are out there for the same reason you love the sport. You spent countless hours with them every week. You learn a lot from them and they learn a lot about you. You have a special bond that is unlike no other, because of the ups and downs that you share throughout the season.

But now I was no longer on the team. Like Linus without his blanket, I would now be facing the rest of my senior year alone. At first, I did not want to believe it. I had waited four years to be "the senior" on the team. Now there was no team for me to be part of. And realizing that I was no longer part of a team was the hardest thing I had faced all season. No longer would I be part of the inside jokes that only the team understands. No more long van rides home, with a group of teammates who were ecstatic over our latest victory. No more crying over our last defeat. No more team. Then I had to grapple with another issue. I always had identified myself as a lacrosse player. I was always proud to tell people that I played Lacrosse at college level. Out of my high school lacrosse teammates, I was the only one still playing lacrosse in college.

Now like them, I would be forced to sit on the sidelines and reminisce about past games. If I am no longer a lacrosse player, then what am I? I am not part of my team anymore. I can no longer put on my uniform and go out to the field. I no longer see my teammates. I do not know the latest with their lives and they do not know about mine. I will never again hear my name and number announced at Foster Field. My Adidas cleats are collecting dust. And I’m still wearing my lacrosse jacket, even though I have to watch from the sidelines. While I may not be part of a team, I’m still a player.

Fans attending not only get to see the talented players, but also several NBA scouts. For the athletes, the PIT means step one of a three part series for pre-draft day assessments, and the scouts will scrutinize their abilities in hopes of recruiting future stars. Players already scheduled to attend the PIT are: Ron Hale (Florida State), Richie Frahm (Gonzaga), Damian Woolfork (Norfolk State), A.J. Granger (Michigan State), David Moseley (Stanford), Darnell Williams (Xavier), Doug Gottlieb (Oklahoma State). The field of play consists of eight teams, with eight players assigned to each team’s roster. It’s a double elimination process and the tournament isn’t declared over until the winning team receives its trophy.

Preliminary games will be held in the afternoons and then two tournament games will be played each evening until Saturday. On Saturday, a preliminary game will be played, shortly followed by the consolation game and next the championship game. Portsmouth local and former basketball coach, James Baker, first visualized such a tournament, and in 1951 after his proposal to the city of Portsmouth’s Parks and Recreation Service, city officials embraced sponsorship over the program. That same year the inaugural tournament was played between teams from area industries, local military units, and Portsmouth city leagues. In an interview with Baker, he said that the original event was called, "the City Class A Tournament," but in 1953 invitations were extended to college players. From that year forward, it has been called the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Today, Baker still actively participates in organizing this event. PIT board members initially vote for which senior athletes should fill the tournament’s eight rosters and then they send out the invitations. The player is not listed as a participant until the board receives his letter accepting the invitation. The coaches are chosen from among the area’s high school basketball coaches. At this time, there are over 80 former PIT players on NBA rosters. A short list of previous participants include: Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, Greg Buckner, Charles Oakley, and Harold Jamison.

"We have a real competitive group who work real hard, and you can see it in the way we’ve over achieved against tough, ranked teams in the South," said Baird. The weekend of March 17, the Marlin’s traveled to Lexington, Virginia to face off against Eastern Mennonite, Guilford and Washington and Lee. The men edged out Mennonite on Friday night 4-3, but 20 degree weather kept them form battling Guilford early Saturday morning. The men played bravely against Washington and Lee, but were handed their second conference loss to the number two ranked team. After losing several key players from the roster, the returning players were concerned with new faces and lack of experience in the line-up.

"The Marlins were really strong last year, finishing third in the conference. I thought this was going to be a rebuilding year," said Chester, "but under the leadership of Coach Macedo, we have a legitimate chance to finish as high as we did last year." Part of the winning spirit is exemplified through coach David Macedo. "This is a good group of guys who are playing their hearts out," said Macedo. "They are going up against some strong competition, and are surprising themselves, even me, with their success." When asked about playing under Macedo, Baird replied, "we don’t mind working hard for him because we feel it is a mutual respect situation."

With an ODAC record of 2-2 and an overall record of 4-3, the team has high hopes that they will continue with their forward momentum into the second half of the season, and into the ODAC tournament being held April 13-15 at Washington and Lee. The men’s next match will be held at home on April 8. The Marlins will play Bridgewater College at 10:00 a.m. and Methodist College at 3:00 p.m. Come out and show support for your Marlins!

Every Wednesday at midnight Moore reserved the gym for basketball because participation was huge. The gym is expected to open next year and will become the ideal place to host intramural events. Currently, it is difficult to find places on campus to hold intramural events, at least until the weather turns warmer. Although this is a temporary set back, the new gym will create more options for intramural activities. The new facility will allow for the expansion of the intramural program. The gym will have racquetball courts, more basketball courts, pool tables, ping pong tables, a running track, a rock climbing wall and many other things. Moore plans to utilize this facility to plan a wider variety of recreational activities.

As for now, Moore hopes that more people will participate in intramural activities that are planned for the remaining semester. He has volleyball, co-ed soccer, and wiffle ball planned for students on Fridays. He also wants to plan a camping trip to First Landing Park before graduation. "This is part of my idea of having Friday as an activity day for students," said Moore. Several intramural activities that are popular include basketball, flag football and the skiing trip to Massanutten. Since they were successful activities, the office plans on continuing these activities next year for students.

The intramural programs are for everyone on campus. This office offers positive social interaction, friendly competition, and fun entertainment for the students. Although some activities have been a success, Keith struggles to determine which activities students will participate in. Perhaps more students should take an active roll and give their opinion for new ideas and activities.