March Madness
If you are a basketball fan or even if you’re not, March and basketball, go together. From the casual fan, rabid fan, or no fan it is impossible to escape the excitement of basketball in March. From the smallest high school dreaming of a “long run” and a trip to the State Tournament or to the most recognized names in college basketball circles, like Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, etc. the buzz in sports is March Madness. No legislation or proclamation was needed to declare March “Basketball Month”. Even those who never watch or even think of basketball the other 11 months become fans for this one time of the year. For those of us who are fans 12 months out of the year, March is better than December. I have referred to basketball in March as Heaven on earth.
In a previous post I shared how the term March Madness originated. As a former player and coach in Illinois I am proud of the fact that an Illinoian by the name of Henry V. Porter coined that term back in 1939 to describe what high school basketball was like in March in Illinois. The NCAA, led by Brent Musberger CBS announcer, began using the term in 1982. The IHSA sued the NCAA over the use of the term and the trademark of “March Madness” but eventually agreed to “share” the term with the NCAA. It has become synonymous with the college basketball tournament that is watched by millions every year. It is the most bet on sporting event of the year. It is estimated that over 50 million people bet over 3 BILLION on the 3-week event. The Kentucky Derby, Super Bowl, and FIFA World Cup take a back seat to the “Big Dance” when it comes to wagering on sporting events. It is said that more man/woman hours are wasted at work during the tournament than any other time of the year.
THE tournament has taken on a life of its own. There is a Selection Show, and terminology like Bracketology, First Four In, Bracket Busters, and Big Dance that had their genesis with the tournament. Over 100 million Americans are expected to fill out a NCAA basketball bracket this year according to the American Gaming Association. Most of those 100 million “basketball fanatics” (I jest) will enter a family pool, a workplace pool, or go for the “big bucks” offered by gambling establishments. Some places offer as much as a million dollars to anyone who has a perfect bracket. Disclaimer, even the 4 or 5 favorites to win it all have LESS than a 20% chance of taking home the trophy. The possibility of the underdog winning a game or the probability of an upset makes the tournament that much more exciting. There are no “experts” when it comes to picking the team that will cut down the nets on April 7th. The fact that anyone, novice or professional, has a chance of winning makes Bracketology that much more appealing. After every tournament I swear I will not bet and “waste” my money on the tournament next year. But when 11 months roll around, I think I am smarter and have a better strategy, so I’m ready for another “spin”. I have played, coached, and been a basketball fan for over 70 years and never won a pool. I lost to a family member who picked their favorite mascots! No one said that betting on March Madness was scientific or that knowledge gave you an advantage. It’s all for fun, right? My advice to all of you who are basketball fans for the month of March, have fun and enjoy the camaraderie of the moment. We don’t seem to have enough of that anymore.