Madness: the quality or
state of being mad: such as
a) a state of severe mental illness
b) behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous: extreme folly c) an idea that is pure/sheer madness
c)
ecstasy, enthusiasm
d) intense anger: rage March in South Florida used to mean something quite different, with sports fans able to enjoy PGA Golf Tournaments, auto racing, horse racing, tennis tournaments and spring training baseball.
While some events still take place (NASCAR returns to Homestead in late March, as does the Miami Open in tennis, and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park), baseball and golf fans must travel to West Palm Beach to take in a day at the park or watch the PGA pros do their thing.
What’s a fan to do? Friends, I give you an easy answer, one not requiring travel or expense: hoops. Specifically, college hoops – and more specifically, the annual men’s NCAA basketball tournament, aka “March Madness” – where you will find no more exhilarating, unpredictable and rewarding sports experience, especially in the first weekend of games. Think of it: over a two-day stretch (discounting the play-in games held two days prior) a person can take in 32 games, 16 on each of the first two days, from eight various locales across the fruited plains.
That’s followed up with eight more contests played on Saturday and Sunday. By the time the smoke clears, there will be 16 teams left to play on for the championship, i.e. the Sweet Sixteen.
Wonderful storylines will appear from nowhere, be it Loyola of Chicago cheered on by a 105-year-old Catholic nun (Sister Jean), or tiny George Mason University upsetting mighty UConn en route to a Final Four appearance (and helmed by former UM coach Jim Larrañaga), or the unforgettable upsets by Villanova, NC State or Kansas, all teams which took home the title. If you’re so inclined, you may want to wager a dollar or two on the outcomes of said contests; as one who is familiar with being in such a venue where they televise the games you bet on (along with thousands of your newest best friends), I’ll just say the experience is amazing. If you have neither the time nor desire to travel to such places, there’s always the reliable office pool run by the guy in Sales, and usually won by (my apologies, ladies) the female assistant in accounting who likes the mascots of the various schools. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
So this March, don’t fret about not seeing your favorite guys hit the 4-iron; instead, hit the computer, and enjoy a uniquely American tradition: pretending to work while you are watching the games.
Let’s tip it off!
