The March Madness Craze

An epidemic is spreading across the nation which will consume the minds of many throughout the month. Work production will be slowed and marital communications lessened as all eyes will be drawn to the action of the hardwood for March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament.
If you think the drama of The Bachelor is emotionally moving, watching the opening rounds will be more of a roller coaster ride than the soap operas that are pre-empted. A sports fan or not, there is no denying the high level of excitement that will occur. Out of the possible four concurrent games, a couple of them is sure to go down to the buzzer, at least one will be won by a shot heaved from half court, and the outcome of another will depend on the decision of the referees.
To make the ‘big dance’, as the tournament is commonly referred to, even more appealing are bracket pools. Everyone pretends to be an expert, choosing the winners of all the games. Between family, friends and collegues, there is no escape from being part of at least one pool. The country’s unemployment rate may be at a high, but the office pools are still going strong.
Pools have become so big that a new profession has been created. Bracketologists are people who study which teams are going to make it in and where they will be ranked. I don’t know the qualifications required to be a Bracketologist, but if it’s the ability to lounge around all day and watch basketball, I may apply to be one. However, if it requires understanding if it should be an offensive or defensive charging foul, I’m out of the running.
It’s not all just fun and games; there is an art to filling out a bracket. Colleges are usually included that have never been heard of. Wofford? If you can name one player on Wofford’s team or even name the state the university is in, you might be a Bracketologist. There are also schools that seem to come around only in March, such as Gonzaga. Who’s ever heard Gonzaga mentioned in a conversation during August?
To make March Madness truly maddening, an inner battle wages between the desire to follow your heart or the percentages on your picks. It can feel like the ultimate act of betrayal when you go against your favorite team. It’s like claiming the star player in little league as your child, instead of the one sitting on the bench. When it comes to winning or losing, there are no blood lines. Then comes the difficulty of having to root against your team, even though deep down you want them to win. How much are you willing to sacrifice for a victory?
There is also always one team, known as the ‘Cinderella,’ who comes from nowhere and ends up going deep into the tournament. They gain thousands of fans, who had never seen them play before and never will again once they are defeated. For awhile though, they become America’s team. But since it’s someone unexpected it’s very hard to pick.
In the pools every game matters, especially with money on the line, and since I do watch things besides basketball, I’ve never seen over half of the teams play this year. I normally wouldn’t care whether or not Michigan State beats Northern Iowa, but with my brackets involved it takes on a whole new meaning.
Through the rest of the month, up to April 5 the NCAA basketball tournament will take center stage. Let the madness begin.