I've spent the last four years covering sports for The Crimson.

I've enjoyed it very much, but I realized I was turning into a couch potato.

An armchair quarterback.

A--gasp--sideline critic.

Enough! I said.

So I turned to that bastion of Harvard athletics which provides an opportunity for folks like me to get out moment in the sun.

Intramurals!

My House, Leverett, has a fine tradition of intramural greatness, with strong finishes in the competition for the Strauss Cup.

So Thursday night, I was off to play volleyball against Lowell House.

Things weren't looking too good at the beginning--only six players showed up. But we gamely played on.

I started in the front, where I had many chances to launch my five-foot-seven frame in front of opposition spikes. And wouldn't you know it, on the very first couple of points, I had a chance to block a spike.

The ball was set high in front of the net by a player on the other team. An opponent was preparing to spike the ball past me.

Here was my chance.

I leaped.

I spread my arms wide to block the shot.