Sports: March Madness
The championship game, feh. Fans of the two schools involved care immensely, basketball fans care some, Joe Sixpack just hopes it’s a good game. So what propels this sporting event into a listing of Great American Things?
The brackets.
The chance to pick those 12 seeds to upset the 5 seeds. To see the Richmonds, the Cleveland States, the Austin Peays become giant killers. To parlay a $5 investment into — get out of here! — maybe $150. Everyone does a bracket or three. Everyone has hope.
And then, once in a blue moon, there’s Villanova beating Georgetown. Or Lorenzo Charles stuffing Derek Whittenburg’s air ball. What could be better than that?
Having picked Villanova or N.C. State in your bracket, that’s what.
I experienced the University of Richmond “Giant- Killer, Dick Tarrant Dynasty Era” and it was indeed the thrill-ride that most associate with March Madness -it was crazy fun!