Ballin’ like the March Madness? It’s comical that a rapper named Future produced a song that has one of the most unpredictable futures in the world. Just like every year, this is the time where confusion falls upon the sports world and, in this particular case, it is the sport of basketball. Basketball has bred a culture that has fallen in love with the Cinderella story. The sight of collegiate Davids slaying their Goliaths has been engraved into the hearts and minds of many; not just basketball fans, but maybe someone who glances at a bracket at work, or someone passing a bar staring at the TV’s inside. Curiosity strikes, and people are drawn to televisions nationwide to see instant classics and magical moments.
Even if you’re not a fan of basketball, this culture is addicting. The feel-good stories that sweep the nation carry the underdogs past the traditional juggernauts that dominate the game. This is the only tournament where logic, statistics, and skill do not matter. It’s madness, and it’s this madness that brings the sports world together. So this March, gather around a TV with some friends and enjoy the beautiful spectacle that is March Madness. Rutgers alumni and current New York Liberty basketball player Essence Carson epitomized March Madness with her great perspective of what March Madness is all about.
“There have been a lot of upsets, that’s been the talk of the year. It’s not called March Madness for nothing. Every game is a threat no matter what team it is or what conference you come from. Our concerns are ourselves. We’re pretty much the only team that can beat ourselves. When we don’t do things correctly, when we lose focus, that’s when we lose games.”
– Essence Carson
Incredibly, this year’s tournament has produced a madness that has seen favorites such as Kentucky, Michigan State, and California lose to underdogs. Most notably Michigan State, who was a two seed, lost to mid-major Middle Tennessee who was a 15th seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This is where the madness ensues. For those who filled out brackets, Michigan State was a heavy favorite to make a deep run in the tournament. Michigan State fell short of their expectations and busted thousands, if not millions, of brackets nationwide and created headlines all over social media and major news. These situations are what drive the nation into the frenzy that we call March Madness.