It is sheer madness right now. Jimmer gets Gatored, an underrated and young Arizona team defeats the defending champions, Utah State continues their one-and-done trend, and Butler and VCU continue to surprise the nation. If people don’t get excited over this, then what do they get excited for?
The great thing about March Madness is that some of the population appear from behind the shadows and cheer for the winning teams. People bicker and fight about who is better than whom, even if those players have been out of the scene for a few years now. It sure is wonderful and amazing to see that fighting actually brings people together. Who would have thought that very fact is what makes the sporting world go round? It’s true. Without upsets, without rivalries, and without the fans, what would this month mean?
My dad pointed out to me during the WAC tournament something very thought-provoking. He said to me, “”Isn’t it amazing that one leather, orange ball going through a cylinder just a little bigger than the ball itself can change your emotions? One minute you are angry and mad, yelling at the ref, and the next you are screaming and cheering for your team?”” Dad, how true that is. I don’t know if that has ruined the game for me now though because I now pay attention to how I feel during the games. You go from obscene and gnashing your teeth to excitement that is incomparable. Goosebumps crawl up your arms. You high-five your buddy next to you and pump your fist. Jumping up and down shakes the seats. To think that all happened in a matter of maybe 5 to 6 seconds.
People who don’t really follow college basketball often ask me why I get so excited over the games. They ask why I let the losses bother me so bad. It is hard to explain, but to those of you who inherently feel the same emotions I do, maybe you can explain it better than I can.
So let us revel in the next few days as upsets continue to be made and fans stick around and endure the Jimmering that comes their way just to be a part of this incredible game that is college basketball.
