If you are a sports fan like I am, there is no greater month than March. Spring training baseball, the NBA and NHL are in full swing, NFL Free Agency. But the best part of it, could be the most enjoyable event in sports. I am talking about March Madness!
For two weeks in March, and sometimes it finishes in early April, 68 teams in college basketball participate in a tournament to determine the National Championship. The 4 region brackets are filled out by professionals and amateurs alike and even Presidents. Office pools are done throughout the country. And for many, we take days off on the Thursday and Friday for the opening rounds to gather in sports bars and root for our favorite teams. It is just plain fun and there is nothing else like it in sports. Nothing!
Growing up in Illinois, I was there to watch the Illini make a comeback against Arizona to punch their ticket to the Final Four. I root for Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago. I rooted for DePaul when they made their run in 1979. And I love to see the underdog team battle the more established programs and take them down to bust a bracket.
We root against teams like Duke and Kentucky who always seem to attract the top talents and get every close call from the officials. I think many of us love it when an upset that no one saw coming happens. And who doesn't love a Cinderella story.
We missed out on March Madness last year because of the pandemic. We get it this year. Gonzaga has a chance for immortality if they can cut down the nets and do it undefeated. Indianapolis is the home of the Final Four this year, and I think that is great. Indiana is so associated with basketball. I hope the kids and fans and coaches follow protocols and we can make it through the tournament and crown a deserving champion. What storylines will come from the tournament? Not sure yet, but I know this. Even the novice sports fan can get excited about March Madness.
Join the one of probably 15 million people who will fill out a bracket this year. Never know when your team will make a run. It is a great time to be a sports fan. And I for one hope to see history. I got Gonzaga over Illinois in the Championship game. Who do you have?
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