I won’t admit this to Izzie or Kino lest they disown me from our trio of sports fanaticism, but sometimes March Madness makes me feel a little like a high-heeled, glitter-wearing chick in a pink hat.
It’s not that I don’t know anything about men’s college hoops because I have my allegiance (UConn) and I do monitor the progress of certain teams throughout the season (okay, after the new year), but I don’t have anything close to the encyclopedic knowledge they do when the third month rolls around. I know the Big East and the ACC, and though I could tick off half a dozen other Division I conferences, I probably couldn’t tell you which teams were where. Of course, I know Mike Krzyzewski has coached Duke since Jesus was a boy, though I had to look up the spelling on Google. Jamie Dixon is at Pitt, Jim Calhoun at UConn, and Matt Dougherty used to lead UNC. I know Roy Hibbert stayed by the Potomac for another year while Jeff Green opted for richer pastures, and Tyler Hansbrough looked better in the face mask. But when Izzie and Kino start riffing on the minutiae of the teams, I just smile, nod, and act like I know exactly what they're talking about.
Of course, they see right through it. They know that with baseball on the horizon, I have room for little else in my mind and heart. But they also know another truth… that I’m a highly competitive person who is bound and determined to win our office pool one way or another. It doesn’t even matter that we’re not playing for dollars, euros, or marbles. A free lunch is good enough for me.
Which leads me to my mission for the day: my bracket.
The pressure.
The stress.
The heartburn... nope, wait... that’s the Easter candy.
Last year I poured over stats and blurbs in The Washington Post and on ESPN.com. I tried to put personal biases aside (UNC) and tried to conjure up any shred of information I might have heard in passing in order to make my decisions. I was the queen of the educated guess, and when that didn’t work, I decided to pick the Catholic schools (except for Notre Dame). Hey, some people go by mascots, others by colors… but it doesn’t hurt to go with God when it comes to things like this. In the end, I came out in the middle of the pack, which wasn’t too shabby, but I still would have loved that lunch.
This year, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to choose my teams. I’ve already inked in Georgetown, UNC, and Duke to win in the first round. I’d love to see the Eagles from my alma mater, American University, be the Mason of 2008, but I think the Vols will be too much for these Patriot Leaguers. UConn and Pitt can advance, but beyond that, I’ve got some serious homework to do because I want that free lunch.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go smile, nod, and eavesdrop on Izzie and Kino to find out who they think will go all the way.
3 comments:
I was thinking something similar earlier today; that I tend to pride myself on my general sports knowledge but when it gets to bracket time...who the hell is Drake?! I mean seriously, I've never heard of this school.
I guess I tend to pick ACC teams, even DOOK (although UCLA will beat them in the Sweet 16) and even NC teams (GO Winthrop and Davidson!). After that, my incredibly scientific (read: girly) method is: What Name Sounds Better. This has led me to choose Villanova, Xavier, Marquette, and Gonzaga for years.
Hey! Love reading your blog and your "going with God" method of determing the winner. Don't worry, even the experts didn't pick Georgetown to lose today! Hope you win the free lunch!!!!
I have to admit, when the hospital does the brackets, I just pick whichever name sounds cooler. I just can't get into watching basketball, but hey, you never know, I may win! I haven't won yet, but you never know...
Now, if you asked me about the Stanley Cup playoffs, I might have a little more insight!
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