I had a great seat two years later at Stanford. When Miller hit her shot I jumped halfway to the ceiling and Sports Editor Jamal Greene '99 had to grab my arm and pull me down. We were, after all, supposed to be impartial journalists.

But then Jamal looked at me, his eyes grew wide and all he said was "Oh my God, Ed! Oh my God!" We always tried to remain objective when we wrote, but we were never objective when we watched.

I will always remember Jamal's writing.

He's the best writer The Crimson has had in four years; that's why he is graduating to a job at Sports Illustrated. If you're still not convinced, read his column in this issue.

I will always remember how difficult it was at times to remain unbiased.

We in The Crimson's sports department are Harvard's biggest fans. We always want the Crimson to put the biscuit in the basket, go yard and chalk up another 'W.' But it didn't always work out that way, and then it was our job to say that Harvard had messed up.

That was tough. But there are usually two ways to look at things. Maybe Harvard hadn't messed up; maybe the opponent was just too good that day. I always preferred the second explanation.

So I didn't always take a completely impartial position. I've never claimed to be an excellent journalist. Luckily, The Crimson is not a professional newspaper, although many editors here like to take themselves very seriously.

I just love to write, and I love sports. To combine the two only seemed logical. My time as a writer and editor and even the insane hours I put in as an Associate Sports Editor never seemed like a job--never mind that nobody ever gave me a paycheck.

Two weeks before my senior thesis was due I was still covering basketball games for the newspaper. Why? Because basketball and journalism gave me four years of pleasure. What had my thesis ever given me? Honors, schmonors.

The Crimson was a diversion from academic pressures, just like sports are a diversion for millions from life's daily grind, just like college is a diversion from reality. That's why I never wanted to write for the news department; the sports department is much more fun. I'm with the Piano Man--I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.

Not that it was always easy. There were long nights, seemingly endless road trips and annoying individuals. But as I look back, the good greatly outweighs the bad, and only the memories remain.

I will always remember the great people I worked with.

There was Jamal, his predecessor Becky Blaeser '98 and his successors Danny Habib '00 and Bryan Lee '00. I learned something different from each one.

I will always remember the athletes who made it special.