"I just think it's the greatest time of the year." We have come to expect such comments from college basketball pundit Dick Vitale speaking of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Vitale's opinion is not an isolated one. Millions of college basketball fans across this nation have looked forward to this time of year more than Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and Valentines Day. March Madness has become an unofficial holiday for college basketball fans.
There are good reasons for the joy that occurs during this basketball holiday season. The thrill of competition, the love and dedication fans have for their teams, along with (mostly) innocent gambling between family, friends, neighbors and coworkers trying to solve the riddle of bracketology. David Squier, of the Times-Standard, stated "The NCAA tourney is the lone spot, that, as a nation, we celebrate the fact that teams -- good teams, average teams and even bad teams -- all have a shot at a win that will resonate through the decades."
March Madness is the celebration of last pure national sports competition in this country. There is not a BCS to break our hearts, nor is the winner decided by national polls that defy our logic, nor are we obsessed with the suspicion that the athletes are juiced up with steroids. Every Division I school has the opportunity, even Ball State University, to play for the national championship by winning their conference tournament. From there, 65 teams play in a single elimination tournament to decide the best college basketball team in the nation.
The most wonderful aspect about this time of year is that the underdog has a legitimate chance in this tournament. Many Cinderella archetypes have been told throughout the years. Valparaiso, Butler, Kent State and even Ball State have made it deep into the tournament, upsetting teams from power conferences.
Die-hard fans have much to look forward to this year. The competition for entrance into the tournament already has a special flare to it that I cannot quite define. The excitement has already been brewing. Jay Posner, of the San Diego Union Tribune, reported conference tournament ratings have set viewership records on ESPN, ESPN 2 and CBS. I expect this trend to continue as the tournament opens up across the nation on Thursday.
So when you are looking for a Cinderella to support this year, I suggest New Mexico, West Virginia and/or Ohio University, to make a significant effect on this year's tournament. Regardless of which teams make a difference this year, I am looking forward to buzzer beaters, overtime games, major upsets and the birth of new March Madness narratives that will be told for generations to come.
So enjoy your gifts at Christmas, your candy at Halloween and Easter, and your love during Valentines Day, for my favorite holiday of the year is March Madness. I will have my bowl of popcorn, Buffalo wings from the Bird, and a nice cold beverage while watching my beloved Mountaineers play their hearts out. I will revel in the joy of filling my bracket with hope and excitement. I will sing along to the college anthems, which is the music of the holiday season. Finally, I will bask in the appreciation of the hard work and dedication the players and coaches take part in, that allow for such an enjoyable time of the year.
Write to Donny at
djpeters@bsu.edu
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