1983 photo of Marshall Street down the hill from Syracuse University, Cosmos is the white building two doors to the right from Burger King.
1985 Photo. Don't let this seemingly cool photo fool you, this is example of trying the take the ball away without staying in good position, I drove Coach Desko nuts with this kind of bad habit during fall ball at SU in 1983. This is UNC's shifty All American midfielder Steve Martel who made me look bad all game long. After getting embarrassed three times, I finally told DP (Dan Pratt, Homer) "switch man I can't do nothing with this guy." Fortunately we won this overtime NCAA semi final game in the Dome.I was excited and nervous about my first fall ball practice in full gear. I felt like I had a lot to prove to the coaches and my new teammates. Fall is the time in which players can compete for a starting position for the regular season which in lacrosse is the spring. I felt very confident because my past success at Herk, but I quickly realized I was out of playing shape. For instants, for most, I look in shape now, but playing shape is another level of cardiovascular fitness. Do to knee surgery and overeating I’d become too slow. Not only had I discovered the joy of all you can eat SU cafeteria food I also learned about Cosmos and its toasted Honey Bun alamode (with vanilla ice cream). Cosmos was another M-Street pizza joint and athlete’s hang out on the weekend that had great pizza but they did much more than pizza. A great menu that included: fish and chips, spaghetti dinners, and breakfast food available all day long. The place was open until 2:00 pm on weekends. My time at Cosmos showed on the field. During my first one on one drills guy flew by me like I was a Barak Obama cut out on the streets of Washington. Like the cut out, I was there only to take photos and definitely not to move or stop you. I said in my head “move fool! Drop step and shuffle!” But my fat butt and knees, which remembered the post surgery pain, said, “nothing doing!” I was like the story of the emperor with new clothes; everybody could see I was in trouble and quickly become a Division I coaches worst nightmare—a scholarship player with no game. I had bad playing habits from playing against lesser players that did not work in fall ball practices and scrimmages. In addition, talented walk on Chris Burt (Lawrenceville Prep) proved he was for real. The guy had great speed and stick skills and he kept getting better. Coach Desko rightfully road me at practice; I became totally dejected as the most important part of my life came apart on the field. I call this sports depression and it’s common among athletes who have too much invested in sports and their priorities in the wrong order. For the first time in my life I faced a coach not slating me to start or possibly not play much if at all. And I realized that my peers and the coaches had serious doubts about my ability to perform. I hurt like a person going through a break up they don’t want to happen. Over the years I’ve seen plenty of sports depression as a player, coach, and professor. I’ve also seen something like it when rain makers in the business world find themselves demoted or fired. I’ve observe that among athletes several things can follow, they overeat, transfer, quit the team, or adapt and thrive. In the fall of 1983 I faced a serious case of sports depression. I doubt many people at the time knew.
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