The deluge of blood has engulfed the white of the eye. The pupil, stranded, floats in a sea of black and purple. It's the kind of wound that tough guys wear with more than a hint of pride, a battle scar whose severity attests to the competitiveness of both the contest and combatants alike.
People pay a lot of attention.
When groups are going at it, there's some real entertainment value. Or perhaps it's just what you'd expect. For in the rather casual, fraternal world of Haverford intramural hoops, physics professor Lyle Roelofs is one of the few players who actually carries a reputation. The gnarled eye, earned fighting for a rebound, is merely a tangible sign of a good-natured competitiveness that frequently takes his opponents by surprise. Scrappy, rugged, and more than willing to fight for a loose ball or bark at an official who blows a call, Roelofs displays a refreshing zest for the game.