March Madness – One of My Favourite All Time Sporting Events

This week one of my favourite sporting events of all time gets underway.  The NCAA will crown a national champion for men’s basketball with its three-week tournament AKA, March Madness. For me, this tournament ranks second only to baseball’s World Series in terms of interest, excitement and entertainment.  I will take this event over the NBA, the NHL, and, yes, even the Super Bowl.  Why would I take an amateur event over the professionals?  Let me count the ways.

With the exception of the Olympics, this is the biggest stage for amateur athletes.  Yes, you can make an argument that some of these players are reimbursed in some ways with questionable under the table deals violating NCAA rules, but they are not making multi- million-dollar contracts that NBA players are making.  Something goes awry for someone in their 20s making insane amounts of money playing basketball.  They are pampered; they become arrogant and egotistical, and they seem to lose that edge they had on their way to the pros.

Ninety-five percent of college kids in this tournament are not going to make it in the pros.  This is their last time to shine.  This is their 15 minutes of fame and to use the cliché that they are giving it 110% does not do it justice.  These are the main reasons I prefer this over the pros, heart, love, and passion.

Sure the pros have these qualities too but it seems to fall short.  If the pros do not make the playoffs, they always have next year, not for the seniors in college.  This is it.  If they are knocked out, their college career is over, and they are left playing pick up games at their local YMCA for the rest of their lives.  In the playoffs, the pros play a best of seven, not the college kids.  It is one game.  Every game in the tournament is like a game seven.  The pros glorify their superstars.  How many points did Lebron James get?  The college game focuses on the team.  What was the team’s stats for 3 pointers, free throw shooting percentage and foul situation.

Each year there is a Cinderella story with some small college that you have never hard of.  Split Lip A&M State from South Dakota just knocked off Duke.  Are you kidding me?  There is always some underdog that does the impossible.  A number 14 seed upsets a number three seed.  If you are looking for David and Goliath stories, you can usually find one in this tournament adding to the entertainment and excitement. 

Obviously, the pros are more talented than the college kids.  That’s why they are professionals.  A particular shot might be hard to make, but he is a professional, he is supposed to make that tough shot.  If the college kid makes it, it is more entertaining.  He is not supposed to make it, but he exceeded expectations.  I will take heart, passion, and effort over talent any day. 

Finally, these kids at the end of the day are students.  While we have all heard the stories of top college athletes getting a free pass for their performance in the classroom, many use basketball as their ticket to a free college education with their athletic scholarship.  While society does not need another young man to slam dunk a basketball, we always need more and better doctors, engineers, and researchers and if March Madness is a significant contributor in that regard, we all win.

Cheers,

Al

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