For others, like Pete Zabawsky, a programmer/ analyst in administrative systems and lunchbox regular for 17 years, participating in the games provides a sense of belonging. "It allows me to meet a lot of the students as well as faculty and staff that I wouldn't normally meet as a part of my job," says Zabawsky. "There is a feeling of community that wouldn't be there if, say, I was just working at New York City at some big computing firm."

The games also help students see a different side of the professors they know only from class. "The professors and coaches who play on a regular basis-not only do I know what they teach, I know them," says Mike Ricciarelli '00, who played all four years he attended IC. "And that is really important."

For other students, including four-year participant Anthony Beswick '01, the motivation is perhaps a little less noble. "It gives you a chance to get back at some of your teachers," Beswick says slyly. Professors may have equally devious motives. "Sometimes it's extremely interesting to engage in mind games, particularly with my own students," says Stephen Mosher, an associate professor of exercise and sport sciences and 14-year lunchbox veteran. "I occasionally let slide a threat-not serious, of course-that their grade depends on whether or not I am successful that afternoon."

Lunchbox games are sometimes played "old-young," in which faculty and staff square off against students; Laskowitz says the "old" win about half of them. Zabawsky says he loves to play against students because it makes him feel younger. And even though the older guys make a lot of cracks about how they play "geriatric basketball" and the students may be half their age, Zabawsky says the professors and staff can keep up with them. "They're a lot more athletic and a lot stronger and a lot quicker than we are," says Zabawsky, "but I like to think we are a lot smarter than they are. We can still win a large number of games just because we play more as a team. We kind of understand each other's strengths and weaknesses."

But Beswick, Mosher, and the rest of the lunchbox crew agree that it's all in good fun. And because they love basketball, the teasing, friendships, and good times are additional benefits to a great workout.

And the games definitely leave a lasting impression. Danny Brown '82 played lunchbox during his four years at Ithaca and has come back to play as an alumnus. Although he can't often be in Ithaca playing with his old professors, he has started his own lunchbox tradition. "Hoops Zone is a sports complex," says Brown of the new business he recently finished build-ing in Englewood, New Jersey. In its first five months the facility has played host to basketball clinics and camps, and it has recently begun a corporate lunchbox league with teams from companies like Lipton, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and UPS.

"As an athlete, you always develop close friendships and bonds with other team members on a competitive level as you are playing as a team," says Brown. "At IC, I was able to have that competitiveness with faculty members and still maintain a close friendship, which you usually don't get in a classroom situation. It was great."