Today is the Ides of March, and this time
something bigger than Caesar has been killed.
Like a prior post about the 3pt shot, the topic is college basketball, but specifically “March Madness,” the NCAA Tournament. Today should have featured the selection of 68 teams to compete for the championship.
The Sunday “Selection Show,” with its reveal of the tournament bracket, tips off three upcoming weekends of action, glory, surprises, reflection, deflections, perfection, and escape. For some (me) it is bigger than Olympics, World Cup, World Series, Kentucky Derby, Super Bowl, Christmas, birthdays, New Years’ Eve, you-name-it! Yes, even Hamilton Musical.
Maybe killing March Madness
isn’t “bigger than Caesar”
but today I lament…
the cancellation that brought March Sadness.
'Twas the Night of Selections 2020
'Twas the night of Selections and all through the land Basketball had been dealt its most pressing hand. Now what to our wonder- ing eyes should appear A bracket that's empty 'Tis a victim of fear. The West was expected to emerge with a swagga' With Aztecs, Ducks, and top-seeded Gonzaga. Sink a shot from afar Make a bracket buster It's a shot from China That sank our muster. Games sputtered and stopped; life's amiss Arenas are shuttered What joy we will miss. No buzzer beaters Nor upset heroics No shining moments No fans, just Stoics. The Ones and all Are Done; 'tis all Seniors, alas, have bounced their last ball. "The Final Four® isn't on the schedule;" life's askew We never imagined the words of Izzo* this true.
'Tis the Night of Selections (that might have been)
‘Tis the night of selections and all thru hoops land, We’re eager for brackets to clutch in our hands. Fitting we greet them with great adoration They mark the start of season’s culmination. The week that passed determined leagues’ best, Those that survived face their next big test. Many hopes soared, some hearts were broken Someone snuck in, which cost another a token. And soon to our wondering eyes it appears – The worshipped grid from ten chosen seers. We never tire hearing favorite names, And listen closely as sixty-eight they proclaim. On Wildcats! Down Devils! Gooooo Tigers! The Bluejays, The Jayhawks! The Spartans! The Hoosiers are back! While out of the West With a bit of a swagga’ Come Bruins, Ducks, and Top seed Gonzaga. One-seeds are favored; Sixteen no chance? Still each and all say, “Just let me Dance!” Grids to be filled by experts and non, Everyone picks, even dear ol’ Mom. Armed with stat sheets and sacred bracket I prepare my brain for all that will task it. Won-loss means little if you're making a bet RPI has gone missing, you'll find nothing but NET. And then with an inkling I fill in my sheet of integrity for all though fearing defeat. As I take up my lounger and am settling down Along comes a 3-ball, from way, way downtown! The scores shine brightly The spreads also matter Upsetting a favorite Makes some wallets fatter. The brackets get busted from 16 to one What order was built will all come undone. Our teams and our picks equally tracked A quartet survives, not looking back. So goes this spectacle of sheer delight March Madness for all … our annual** rite!
March Madness…great…a rhyme for Gonzaga…priceless!
March Sadness. 😦 Thanks for visiting and sharing.