Just what the doctor ordered

March Madness: The Cure

March Madness: The Cure

     Basketball’s most hallowed of months is almost here.  The feeling basketball fans get can be likened to the anticipation of a child waiting for Christmas day.  It is a time when grade school, high school, and college basketball players everywhere vie for a shot at the ultimate prize: a season championship.  The game, untainted by the temptation of money and rewards, is in its finest form.
     Perhaps the greatest aspect of March Madness is that anything is possible.  1985 - #8 seed Villanova upsets the overall #1 seed Georgetown in the NCAA title game.  1954 – The Milan Indians upset top-ranked Muncie Central in the Indiana State High School Championship (popularized by the film Hoosiers).  Numerous game winning shots dot the game’s history including the memorable and recent shots made by Christian Laettner in 1991 and Bryce Drew in 1998 that clinched the game for their respective teams, Duke and Valparaiso.  Whatever the year, two things can be guaranteed.  There will be suspense, and there will be drama.
     Ask anyone why they like the game and dozens of answers will be given.  The smell of the varnish on the wood floor after it has been repaired, the squeak of shoes while stopping and sliding, and the pounding and reverberation of the ball on the gym floor are a few that come to mind.  It may be that one can completely lose track of time playing a pick-up game at the gym as a team or shooting alone.  The game is indiscriminate in terms of who plays.  It is a game that anyone can pick up and play, as equipment costs relatively little.
     Tonight I will once again lace up my shoes and dust off my ball as my intramural team, the Bombers, will play our first game of the season.  While it may seem insignificant to most, this is my only chance to play organized basketball in college.  However, the desire to win and outperform my opponent is not lost.  There are dozens of others like me though who are not tall enough or talented enough to play college basketball.  Good luck to all this season, may the best team win.

posted by Andy @ 2:42 PM