The upsets alone are reason enough for the name to be a perfect fit. Every year, a handful of underdogs rise up from the double digit rankings and surprise us all by putting their tea and their school out there to be taken seriously and become remembered as that unknown school that knocked a #2 or #3 seater out of the competition and simultaneously wreck just about everyone's bracket. And even though it happens eery year with a new underdog, we all still react like we've never seen anything like it.
A part of this betting season that is seen every year, without fail, is the immediate overload of the college basketball fan base. Most haven't caught a single game prior to that bracket deadline, and then after the championship game, won't catch another one for 11 months until it's time to try their luck again at winning the office pool. And bragging rights, of course! :)
I would imagine avid basketball fans love and hate this time of year. Loving it for the obvious reasons, but hating it because of those bandwagon fans. Sure the sport they love gets broadcast all over primetime for a few weeks, but because of all the unpredictable upsets, sometimes the one-monthers get lucky on their bracket, which they filled out based on team colors, mascot or even an autofill (guilty!), and end up beating the true fans who have been analyzing game stats and watching every sports show for months to make sure their bracket is statistically as perfect as possible. But the whole reason for sports is competition, therefore whether you're a dedicated follower or not, it's all part of the fun.
No reason denying it, I'm riding shotgun on this bandwagon, but I've got 2 solid arguments as to why I'm pro-March Madness.
1. It gets me invested in each game which would otherwise mean nothing to me. There are a few schools who I would like to watch win - or lose, depending on the school ;) but much like this year, they won't always make it.
2. It's a GREAT ice breaker! At work, at a sports bar, anywhere. That saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" comes into plan and you can make friends just by needing the same team to win or lose. Just last Friday I talked bracket with three people at work (where I'm still fairly new) who I hadn't ever spoken to before, including the CEO!
Personally, I think every sports league should come up with fan competitions like this. It's genius, really, millions of people, who would otherwise never consider tuning in, are playing, watching and cheering along like these people that they've never heard of, are their role models.
Take me for example. I like the sport just fine, even kept stats for my high school basketball team, but outside of bracket season, bets are I'm not following any team, much less all of them. Even at Texas Tech, where it was free, I think I went to all of one game, maybe two.
This year, while filling out brackets, I began to wonder why I don't keep up with this sport. It's mainstream, I grew up watching it, my dad & brother could teach me anything and everything I wish to know about it, and now I live in a town with it's own NBA team.
I can't promise that I'm going to become a crazy basketball fan right away, but I can tell you that this interest will last at least as long as this madness!
P.S. I wrote this entry at the beginning of March Madness, sorry I didn't get it up until the day before it's all over!
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