Newmann: An ode to Madness
Sometimes it seems expedient to try to look for out-of-this-world news … especially since much of the current world news makes one want to search for something a bit more other worldly.
So the return, earlier this week, of the stranded NASA astronauts after being stuck in space for nine months on an original eight-day mission, is … well, the whole rescue mission is in keeping with an other-worldly event. And represents the best and the brightest aspects of humanity. But now that they’re back on the planet, and immersed in the latest news on Earth, one has to wonder if the crew is almost ready for a rapid return to the quiet confines of space.
One event that may brighten their days — and those of many other folks — is March Madness, also known as the NCAA Basketball Tournament. This year the men’s and the women’s tourneys each feature 68 teams. The format is knockout — the team that loses is out while the winner advances.
There are teams from schools big and small … with some schools so small that you sometimes only hear of them when they’ve won their conference championship and make their way into the tourney. Lipscomb, Bryant, Robert Morris … not exactly on most folk’s radar of elite teams. Same for High Point, Wofford and Grand Canyon.
Yet, every year, some of the minnows upset some of the big dogs and, in the process, gain well-deserved recognition. The tourneys are a bit like nitroglycerin — despite a disparity in seedings the games themselves can be somewhat unstable. Hence, their appeal. You just never know when an upset will occur.
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Auburn, Duke, Florida and Houston hold the No. 1 seeds in the men’s tourney while UCLA, South Carolina, USC and Texas are the top seeds in the women’s tourney. Every year there are contentious seeds and selections and this year is no exception.
When West Virginia was not selected for the men’s tourney, the governor of the state, Patrick Morrisey, went a bit ballistic.
“This was a miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest levels,” he proclaimed.
He also asked his attorney general to investigate the team’s omission from the tourney. Not to be outdone, Morrisey also challenged North Carolina’s somewhat contentious inclusion in the tourney saying, “This stinks at the highest level. This doesn’t pass the smell test.” Hope he’s as passionate about the rest of his state’s issues.
Once the tourneys begin, the selection controversies subside and the excitement starts to ramp up. And up. And not just for the casual fans. Sports betting is also a major component of the Madness. This year an estimated $3.1 billion will be bet on the two tourneys. You can bet on the brackets. On the individual teams. On parlays. And, most likely, on the length of a player’s socks. Almost all bets are seemingly on.
But the best and most exciting aspects of the tourneys are … the games themselves.
And a bunch of kids, whether highly recruited or walk-ons, putting everything they have on the line.
For a couple of weeks, they become the greatest show on Earth.
Tom Newmann splits his time between Edwards and Queenstown, New Zealand. He has been going winter-to-winter since 1986. He was also a journalist in Missoula, Montana, at the Missoulian for quite a few years. Email him at tsnnz12@gmail.com.
