All about March Madness

If you’re one of the handful of people in this country who has no clue what I’m talking about, let me provide you with a basic web definition for March Madness.

March Madness is a disease outlined by the American Medical Association as “a brief, yet sudden panic, where individuals who are otherwise regular, sane humans find themselves constantly screaming about topics such as ‘pools’, ‘brackets’, and something simply referred to as Gonzaga”.

If you’re still scratching your head over the exact definition, try this on for size: “March Madness is the concentrated hype of 68 teams vying for college basketball’s biggest prize. It’s the last-second, buzzer-beating baskets, the euphoria of winning to play another day and the agony of losing and going home.”

So what is all the hype about March Madness? What makes grown men leave their respectable desks on a Friday afternoon to watch a handful of guys throw around an orange ball while yelling at the top of their lungs? What unites otherwise opposing forces of nature into one common entity in the pursuit of a perfect bracket?

For 4 weeks in March I am left with the feeling of utter ignorance and lack of understanding into the basic cultural structure of our world. For 4 weeks in March I fake it and nod my head in seeming understanding as so many women have learned to do so well. For 4 weeks in March I pray that perhaps next year would be the year of my enlightenment.

But this year I decided to do what I do best. I studied the internet and have come up with 4 reasons why men are mad about march madness. Here they are:

1. You don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy this sport. Next time you hear a conversation about March Madness, look around you. You will notice that for all the energy expended in cheering there is not one athlete in the crowd. See, what most March Madness fans haven’t figured out is that to be a true athlete you’ve got to actually start by putting your sneakers on. No offense guys.

2. Anyone can be anything on any given day. At the end of the day men are still boys in grown bodies, and I mean that in the best possible sense. Every little boy dreams of winning the big one. For four weeks in March, your team could be the next champion of the world in college basketball. There’s something great in knowing that. There’s something inspiring in picking that winner. Way to go if your bracket is still holding up under the pressure of the tourney. You, my friend, are great.

3. Everybody likes to say Gonzaga. Try saying Gonzaga 3 times. It’s fun. Now think about the last time you used Gonzaga in a sentence. Exactly: never, unless you’re mad about March Madness….and if so you’re probably still a little teary over their early exit this year. What most fans of the brackets know is that the real reason Gonzaga is so popular is that everybody loves the underdog. No team has better depicted the rule of the underdog until Gonzaga came along. Thanks Bulldogs!

4. My team is better than yours. At the end of the day March Madness is all about good ole fashioned pride. You don’t have to know how to play the game, you don’t have to know anything about your picks, you don’t even have to know the folks in your pool, the only thing that really matters is the Win! There’s nothing more basically American than an all or nothing give it everything you’ve got mindset of my _______ is bigger, better, smarter, richer, and more all around greater than yours.

I read this headline last night: President Obama’s bracket has already lost its first final four team. Now tell me the brackets aren’t about more than just a game?

The bottom line is that if you live in Chicago in March, the only pool you may be able to jump in for a while is the NCAA tourney pool.

Looking for a Spiritual Application of March Madness? Make up your own….Here’s mine: Life is a lot like basketball. Put your shoes on and get in the game!

So are you mad about March Madness or are you just mad? Share your comments!

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