It's the most wonderful time of the year. That's right. March Madness is upon us. The conference tournaments are in full swing and the games are sure to be electric. The kids play their guts out and amazing things always seems to happen from now until the championship game. Millions of people will enjoy these events as if they were a holiday. I know because I am one of them.
That being said, there is the one thing about March Madness that is as annoying as it gets. It's like the guy who calls everyone he knows on his cell phone at the game and asks if they can see him on TV. There is a phenomenon that exists each year at this time. Every year there are the bubble teams, the teams that are not definitive tournament teams. Consequently, there follows the cries of fans everywhere that their team was robbed. Boo hoo. Do some teams get left out that have a solid argument for being there? Yes. Are some teams probably given a shot or bumped into a higher seed for business or ratings reasons. Probably. Fans wanted college sports to be big business. That's what they get. That's life. So the whining and moaning begins. There is nothing like spoiling the best sporting event on earth and demonstrating a complete lack of perspective. After all, these are kids playing basketball and there are only 65 spots. Some teams are just not going to be selected.
As talk of the bracket starts and selection Sunday creeps closer, something strange happens to fans. Selective amnesia starts overtaking their brains. They can't seem to recall the mistakes of the season - the turnover problems, the poor foul shooting, the lack of rebounding. Bad losses? What bad losses? The severity of selective amnesia varies among its victims and can sometimes be difficult to detect. So in order to help you identify if you are one of the people guilty of unjustifed whining due to selective amnesia, here is an example:
2nd week of January
College Basketball Fan:
Did you see last nights game? Are you kidding me? You would think that these kids would try blocking out someone. They can't rebound at all...and don't get me started on the defense. The team is not hustling or covering the passing lanes. It's a surprise we didn't get blown out by 30 the way we were playing. They aren't showing any heart. Plus, their offense...forget it! They take terrible shots. They don't make the extra pass. They better get their act together fast.
1st week of March
Same College Basketball Fan:
Are you seeing that people are saying the team might not make the tournament? What are they smoking? Haven't they watched this season?
We have beaten some tough teams in conference. They have shown some real promise. We should have enough wins. If they exclude us that is just a crime. They better not rob me...eh...they kids on the team.
If this sounds like someone you know, slap them. If this sounds like you, stop! If your team is on the bubble it is for a reason. If the team had played as well as you now claim, there wouldn't be any doubt. Of course, we all want our favorite teams to do well and have the opportunity to shine in the big tournament. Sometimes it just doesn't go that way. Choices have to be made and that's that. Keep it in perspective. If your team doesn't get chosen for the tournament, don't blather on impotently for weeks. Don't dwell on it. Get over it.
Don't let March madness selective amnesia control you. You are better than that.
Relax and enjoy the games. Grab a cold beverage and a snack and find a comfortable chair to watch the best sporting event there is.
Follow your brackets. Talk hoops with your father, brother or friends. Make predictions. Yell at the TV. Pump your fist. That's what it's all about, baby. Whatever you do, have fun with it. This is not the time to wallow or beat dead horses. It's the time of buzzer beaters and memorable plays.
Well, I'm off to watch my bubble team now.
Here's to March Madness!
