My bracket has been a bust, but there's something so infectious about March Madness that I don't care if I no longer have a shot at the big money.
The brief NCAA Division I hoops tournament is something special each year. The event is full of high drama, greater than you would see at any theatre. Efforts are rewarded and hopes are dashed, so much so that it can be as hard to turn away from as it is a train wreck.
On one hand last weekend, you had the teary-eyed Kansas fan in a fit over the loss of the heavily favoured, No. 2 seed Jayhawks during their game against Stanford. That was contrasted by a member of the Stanford marching band gleefully slapping away at his cowbell as the 10th seeded Cardinal surprised many with an exciting 60-57 win to enter into the Sweet Sixteen.
Heck, even the stages of the tournament create a sense of impending excitement as teams make their way toward the final game, like Mario or Link as they journey toward the final boss. With the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four, those titles have become synonymous with approaching greatness.
Three of the four top seeds remained heading into this weekend, but this tournament has once again proved that nobody is safe. Mercer beat Duke in the first game upsetting everyone's bracket except for maybe that of Sam Mitchell, who is the former Toronto Raptors coach and now analyst who spent his younger years attending Mercer and not even coming close to matching baskets with a Blue Devil.
In the opening round, there was also the upset of 12th seeded Stephen F. Austin over VCU in a nail-biting 77-75 final. I don't always accurately predict upsets, but when I do, I brag to the ends of the earth about my visions of the future and ability to prognosticate like Nostradamus.
I've said before that the best way to engage in a spectator sport is to pick a team to root for and then even the most boring sports, like basketball, can turn into something captivating. That isn't necessary during March Madness, though it's very welcome.
My pick to win it all and be the team cutting the mesh from the hoop at the end of the affair is still very much in the picture, so I have that going for me. Arizona has the best defence and if what I hear about defence being the thing that wins championships is true, my pick for the No. 1 seed to achieve some glory is a safe one, unless they lost Thursday night to San Diego State.
There's something special about watching non-professional sports. Sure, some of them are playing for future careers and contracts, but right now, they're really playing to win and that's all. It's why the Olympics are great and it's why the World Junior Championship around Christmas is such a spectacle.
It's just easier to be in awe of these athletes, of these kids, as they compete under such a high-powered microscope.
March Madness gives us an opportunity to share in the greatest moments of their lives and perhaps some of the lowest lows. It's not something we get to see everyday, but it's utterly intoxicating to observe.
