2008 Woodie Awards
Intramurals are last stop before athletic careers expire
Matt Kiebus
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: Sports
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Intramural athletics is a safe haven for the average or marginal athlete. If you never played a varsity sport in high school, this is your chance to become a hero.
From the time any athlete steps on a basketball court, baseball diamond or football field his/her ultimate goal is to make it professionally (at least in third grade it is). Some people hold on to these dreams longer than others, some don't hold onto their dreams long enough, but frankly I'm still holding out hope to become the first astronaut-MLB-baseball-player-NFL-coach in recent memory (I think Deion Sanders did it though).
The intramural scene is filled with a variety of athletes: you have your neighborhood street football players, backyard basketball players and the high school benchwarmers. Then there's the special ones who are only playing intramurals because the New York Knicks didn't have enough roster spots open or they turned down a football scholarship to USC because Loyola has a better academic reputation. Yes, believe it or not, your classmates are that athletically gifted, or so some will tell you.
Professional sports dreams may have ended years ago for the legions of student-athletes at Loyola. By default, intramurals have become our NFL, NBA and MLB, but without the cheerleaders, coaches or mascots.
The love of competition is what drives most people to intramurals, not the camaraderie or friendly bonding with classmates. You play to win the glorious white Fruit of the Loom T-shirt that has screen-printed "Loyola Intramural Champions" on it. Friendships are formed and broken. Best friends endure strained relationships after losses. Like all sports, there are pitfalls and podiums. People take pride in intramurals; they play for the sense of accomplishment.
Everyone takes it seriously. Intramural sports aren't treated like middle school gym classes; they're intense like Sunday morning men's basketball leagues. You remember your triumphs and failures.
From the time any athlete steps on a basketball court, baseball diamond or football field his/her ultimate goal is to make it professionally (at least in third grade it is). Some people hold on to these dreams longer than others, some don't hold onto their dreams long enough, but frankly I'm still holding out hope to become the first astronaut-MLB-baseball-player-NFL-coach in recent memory (I think Deion Sanders did it though).
The intramural scene is filled with a variety of athletes: you have your neighborhood street football players, backyard basketball players and the high school benchwarmers. Then there's the special ones who are only playing intramurals because the New York Knicks didn't have enough roster spots open or they turned down a football scholarship to USC because Loyola has a better academic reputation. Yes, believe it or not, your classmates are that athletically gifted, or so some will tell you.
Professional sports dreams may have ended years ago for the legions of student-athletes at Loyola. By default, intramurals have become our NFL, NBA and MLB, but without the cheerleaders, coaches or mascots.
The love of competition is what drives most people to intramurals, not the camaraderie or friendly bonding with classmates. You play to win the glorious white Fruit of the Loom T-shirt that has screen-printed "Loyola Intramural Champions" on it. Friendships are formed and broken. Best friends endure strained relationships after losses. Like all sports, there are pitfalls and podiums. People take pride in intramurals; they play for the sense of accomplishment.
Everyone takes it seriously. Intramural sports aren't treated like middle school gym classes; they're intense like Sunday morning men's basketball leagues. You remember your triumphs and failures.
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