The Mania Behind March Madness

March Madness is back!

Just behind Christmas and Easter, March Madness earns the spot of my third favorite season. Sure, it's not really a season, but for sports enthusiasts and sports haters alike, March Madness transforms millions of people into basketball fanatics for a couple of weeks. The NCAA hosts the premiere college basketball tournament of the year, drawing people from all walks of life, together. So, what is so special about March Madness? Here are five reasons why this time of year is so special.

School Loyalty Abounds

There's nothing like seeing your alma mater stepping onto the court for the NCAA tournament. That scene truly makes you swell with pride as you know the amount of hard work and perseverance that culminated in this prestigious appearance. But what about those of us who did not attend an NCAA Division One school? Even if we did not, we usually have ties to someone who did and we can enjoy the camaraderie of joining with that person in cheering for his or her team.

Cinderella Stories

No, I'm not referring to a Disney Princess. The sports world uses the term "Cinderella Story" analogy to describe a team that earns its way into the tournament and manages to win games against much higher seeded teams. One of my favorite Cinderella Stories transpired in 2011. The Butler Bulldogs entered the tournament as an 8 seed. They rattled off wins against Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Florida. They lost in the championship final game to the University of Connecticut. Because of Butler's inspirational run in the tournament, the Bulldogs became a household name.

Heart Stopping Finishes

Some games are nail biters. It's always fun to watch a close matchup. Games that come down to the final shot or that are won by buzzer beaters keep fans coming back for more. When games come down to the final seconds, camera operators pan the crowd for those most engaged in the game. When the game ends you see fans shedding happy tears and others weeping because of the heartbreaking loss.

Office Pools

Have you ever been handed a tournament bracket by a family member or friend? Maybe the person sitting in the neighboring cubicle slides one on your desk. Every year during March Madness, people fill out millions of brackets in hopes of winning money or bragging rights (but mostly money). Some basketball fanatics spend days researching the teams, studying stats, and making what they consider to be educated guesses. Others choose teams based on the mascot or their favorite uniform colors. Sometimes those who know the least do the best at bracket challenges because picking the winners for the entire tournament is truly a game of chance. This is especially true this year, as some teams might be eliminated without losing a game. The Coronavirus is continuing to wreak havoc in the sports world. For the first time in 24 years, the Duke Blue Devils will not appear in March Madness because of a positive Covid test on the team.

Bringing Unity

I don't know if I've seen the Country more divided. In fact, it seems the Country is split 50/50 in regards to the political happenings in our Country today. Sports is something that brings people together. Last year, for the first time in its 82 year history, the NCAA tournament was canceled. Millions of basketball fans around the Country bemoaned the loss of one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. The cancellation was prompted by an unexpected global pandemic. Since then, most of the world's sporting events have suffered the same fate. This year, the tournament plans to go on with Covid restrictions. After the year the world has suffered, we need March Madness to simply deliver a distraction and entertainment if just for a small moment in time.

Even if you aren't a sports fan, find a printable tournament bracket online, fill it out, and enjoy the two greatest weeks of sports on the planet. The world has gone depressingly mad for the past year...it's time once again to enjoy some March Madness.