****Main Class****

public void whatever()
{                           //already have SourceDataLine line; declared in the main class
SourceDataLine	line = null;////////////////////we'll call this line "key point"
try
    {
    line = (SourceDataLine) AudioSystem.getLine(info);
    line.open(audioFormat);
    }
    catch (LineUnavailableException e)
    {
    e.printStackTrace();
    }

System.out.println("line 1st time: " + line);

}


***Inner Class***
class PlayThread implements Runnable
{
System.out.println("line 2nd time: " + line); //this we be NULL unless "key point" is commented out
                                           //which in turn causes the program not to function
}

***END Inner Class***
****END Main Class****