Ask athletes what is important to them and the individual is very likely to cite their sport as a main part of their life.

The answer usually stems from the love of their sport and the time devoted to it. One UD professor has been so influenced by athletics, that sports has allowed him to experience many things, whether he is competing or not.

Lars Dzikus grew up in Hamburg, Germany. His mother was born in New Jersey but moved back when she was still very young. Growing up playing soccer and tennis and competing in track and field, she never let go of her American heritage, allowing Dzikus to develop an understanding of American life while in Germany.

As the youngest of three children, Dzikus started his long career with sports in the first grade. After a suggestion from a first grade physical education teacher, Dzikus begged his mother to allow him to play soccer. However, she would not sign the waiver and Dzikus participated in track and field. Dzikus was a decathlete for the Hamburg SV athletic club until age 16 when problems with his knee forced him to stop.

After a short layoff from any type of sport, Dzikus decided to participate in American football. American football had only been played in Germany for ten years when Dzikus became a running back for his club.

Dzikus continued to play for five years, under the guidance of both German and American coaches, who actually assisted in his English speaking skills.

'English was always my worst subject,' Dzikus said, saying the experience with his American coaches was what made him the most fluent with the language.

Through his coaches at Hamburg, Dzikus was also given the opportunity to learn another sport, as a member of one of the first coed cheerleading teams.

After completing his undergraduate degree with majors in chemistry and physical education and receiving a minor in education at the University of Hamburg, Dzikus went to Ohio State in 1994 to earn a master's degree in the cultural studies of sport.

Although only planning to stay at OSU for one year, Dzikus remained at the school until 2005 to earn his doctorate. Along with his studies at OSU, Dzikus was again active in many different types of athletics, which he said allowed him to become better acclimated to the unfamiliar area.

Dzikus became one of the first international cheerleaders at OSU. With a former coach from Germany working at OSU, Dzikus participated on the squad during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 school years.

As a member, Dzikus had the chance to participate at the national championships and also the opening ceremonies at the 1996 Atlantic Olympics. Dzikus also has the distinction as being one of the first graduate students on the OSU cheerleading squad as well as one of the first members to receive their doctoral degree.

Also at OSU Dzikus had the opportunity to work as a consultant and liaison for German soccer teams coming to the area to play. Dzikus explained how mesmerized the German professional teams were by the amateur college athletics facilities.

'Sports here are on a different level,' Dzikus said.

Lastly while at OSU, sport also allowed Dzikus to meet his wife. The pair met while playing intramural volleyball.

Dzikus moved to Dayton and now resides in Kettering with his wife. Although not given the opportunity to participate in athletics as much as he used to, athletics are still important to him.

At UD, Dzikus is a lecturer in sports management. He teaches four classes and continues to do research in the fields of American influence on German culture and the Americanization of German sport.

Thanks to his mother's strong identity as an American, although only living in the country for a short time, Dzikus has been lead to his studies as he is currently researching the influence behind the development of NFL Europe in Germany.

'My own biography, my own life, overlaps my research,' Dzikus said explaining how meaningful the field of research is to him. His students also agree with how passionate Dzikus is about his work.

'Lars's class is one of my favorite I'm taking this semester,' sophomore Katie Woodward said. 'He's obviously really interested in the material and it definitely comes out in his teaching and it makes his class really enjoyable.'

Dzikus now looks to continue his work and career, hoping for a tenure position in the future. He cites the teacher to student relationship as one of the reasons why he enjoys his job at UD so much.

'Every time a student takes time to share or they say thank you, those are career highlights for me,' he said.

Thanks to a long life influenced by sports, Dzikus has been able to explore the many facets of athletics. Through his work as a professor and researcher, every student of his is able to truly understand the effect sport has had on his life.