Madness

The temperatures outside are warm, the birds are chirping and the calendar says “March.” It is now time for one of the great spectacles of American sport – “March Madness.”

The Tennessee Vols’ late-season run has boosted spirits around this town and Vol Nation is hoping for a berth in this year’s NC2A tournament, which begins next week. I hope they get in. They sure deserve it.

Meanwhile on the other end of the state, my other team, the Memphis Tigers is preparing for another postseason run under the direction of Coach Josh Pastner.

There is no American sporting event quite like March Madness. Pastner talked, yesterday, about how there are three seasons within the college basketball season and he’s absolutely right. There is the regular season, which was just completed last weekend. Meanwhile, this week is the ‘conference tournament’ season. And next week, the NC2A tournament – aka ‘The Big Dance’ – is set to begin.

Nothing really compares.

It seems nearly everyone gets into the NCAA tourney – casual fans and big-time fanatics alike. Lots of folks participate in bracket pools in their office or among family and friends. On Friday, Mike and Mike will announce the stakes for this year’s “Sheets of Integrity” bracket wager between the two. During their first eight years, the Mikes have split the joy of winning the pool (and conversely, have split the humiliation of what embarassing activity the loser has to do to fulfill their wager).

Across America, there will be scads of other brackets completed – some for fun, some for cash. It seems like everyone gets into ‘bracketology.’ And there’s always the great debate about which teams were left out, which shouldn’t gotten into the Field of 68 (and which ones are in the ‘Not In Tournament,’ otherwise known as the National Invitation Tournament).

I think that heated debate must feed into the interest. And the brackets foster the frenzy.

No one really fills out NFL playoff brackets, even though the Super Bowl is clearly the most popular sporting event in the U.S. I doubt we will see Summer Olympics pools – except for the ones for the swimmers – when the games begin in late July. You don’t find MLB playoff brackets, NASCAR brackets or even college football brackets.

Of course, there is no college football playoff…yet…so the point is moot. And further I digress!

On Tuesday, the NCAA tournament tips off and by next Thursday it will be in full swing. For nearly a month, the upsets and the cinderellas and the buzzer beaters will be in full force as we watch the field narrowed from 68 to 64 to 32 to the Sweet 16.

By the time we get to the Final Four, history tells us that most of the cinderellas – but not all - will be done and the upsets are, generally, behind us. The Final Four has plenty of excitement on its own merits.

It all starts with the NCAA Selection Show on CBS Sunday evening. Then, it’ll be time to hear the man say “Let’s Play Basketball!”

JG  

Question of the Day: What teams will make up the Final Four in YOUR Bracket?

(Source: ESPN)

Originally posted 3/6/2012