Beware of the Brackets

I have never been so engrossed in one sports event as I am in the Basketball Tourney (which may be due to the fact that the tourney is several sporting events, but you get my point). My weekend plans are now built around when the best games are on and I’m able to discuss teams and players with some degree of knowledge (although my knowledge usually amounts to reiterating what I’ve heard on ESPN and CBS).

But one piece of knowledge that I have acquired all on my own is this: DO NOT FILL OUT A BRACKET. Ever since Friday, I’ve had multiple friends complain that their brackets are screwed up/dead/destroyed/obliterated/or currently serving as mulch in a hamster cage. My friends have lost money because no one expected Bradley to do this well, and they’ve lost pride because…really…Wichita State? Now, these friends won't be able to fully enjoy upcoming games because they'll be praying that the remains of thier once great bracket will be survive 'till the end.

Luckily, my basketball naivety prevented me from even attempting to guess which teams would go how far. As such, I am able to watch and simply enjoy the athleticism and occasional buzzer beaters. I can learn more about the game without bemoaning my ignorance of Georgetown and their apparent awesomeness. I have no extraneous concerns about how one team’s win or loss will personally affect me.

Now, I will say that the losses acquired by North Carolina and NC State suck (really UNC, George Mason, come on now). And yes, I am now relegated to root for Duke and Boston College, simply based on their “local boys” status and ACC ties respectively. But I didn’t lose any money, or pride, due to the UNC or NC State loss, so I can deal.

So, I suggest to you my friends, stay away from building brackets (unless you’re a compulsive gambler, in which case, stop watching sports altogether). But you probably won’t heed any of my warnings, so I’ll be here to console you next year when—let’s see what would be random—Northern Iowa beats Texas.