The Madness! Bring It On!

 

Hard to believe that it's been two years since we've been able to go totally mad and not get locked up for doing so.

But, by golly, starting today, we can join the millions of basketball fans and first-time wannabes who willfully engage in the annual fixation called March Madness. 

It's Selection Sunday, and even though we'll probably have the most beautiful day yet in 2021, many of us will be sitting in our living rooms in front of the TV come 3 p.m. PDT. 

Gee, that's the very first time I've used "PDT" this year! 

Twas darker when I finished my chores this morning, as evidenced by my pretty lights. 

Anyway, today is a big day because of the sunshine, because we'll be having some visitors IN OUR HOUSE, AND we'll be watching the match-ups for the NCAA men's Tournament.

Pretty cool that two teams from Spokane/Cheney will be playing in the tournament.  You may have heard of Gonzaga, but last night Eastern Washington earned a trip to the dance by defeating Montana State.  

Along with the excitement of "Selection Sunday," we've already gotten a dose of new Charles Barkley commercials which aired yesterday during the week's marathon of regional tournament games.  

Like so many other college basketball addicts, March Madness has been a major family event for a decade or two. 

I give Willie credit as the creator of our family addiction by convincing the librarian Bonnie Spitzer to have a TV available somewhere in the school for the March Madness gang when he was a student at Sandpoint High School. 

In the meantime, our friend and colleague Ron Hunt always set up a betting board for those of us who wanted to try our luck at cashing in on a money pot.

Over the years, especially after retirement, the rest of us fell deeper into the Madness trap.

Nowadays, Barbara and Willie serve as our family bookies.  

If we want to bet for the SHS faculty pool, we can place our bets through Willie.

Barbara, yes "Miss Tibbs," organizes the Friday Night Diners pot through CBS sports.  

We received notice from her yesterday to start thinking about what this year's pool winner will win.

  Will it be dinner funded by the losers; will it be a T-shirt or a cap?  

We don't know yet about the potential loot, but by Thursday we'll have that figured out.

Once we fill out our brackets and submit them, there's a chance some of us might even print them out, staple them together and keep them by our sides on the couch as we watch games off and on, all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Now, it's very important---sometimes---if you want to win all that cash or that food to do your homework.

  Nice to know these teams and how they play, so some of us teacher types are good at doing our homework.

I wouldn't want to admit how many games I've watched throughout this past week. 

In my personal research, it was looking like Oklahoma State was coming on strong as a Cinderella team to maybe take it all until yesterday when Texas knocked them off in their regional championship. 

And, of course, a year later Covid still is rearing its ugly germs, causing a pause for some teams and a concern that they may not be able to play in this year's tournament. 

Lots of factors weighing in on the betting this year, but, at least, the Madness will happen, no matter how much crazier it is than usual. 

I mentioned the importance of doing homework for winning the family or office pools, but I must not neglect the historical fact that many times the  big winners don't know lickety split about basketball.

So, Marian, my friend, even though you had to deal with your sports-freak brother all those years in high school, you should consider going out on a limb this year and filling out your brackets.  

If you want to join the Friday Night Diner group, talk to Barbara, the Bookie. 

Besides Covid playing havoc with the games of March this year, we ZAGS fans have an added burden, especially with the pool: NOT betting against them. 

To do so this year would come closer to treason than any American political candidate even thought of during the madness of the 2020 election. 

Lots to think about as we go crazy, starting today. 

Indeed, it is madness but along with it comes a heartfelt gladness that it's back, and indulging in this March phenomenon will surely erase some of the sadness of the past year.

YAY, Selection Sunday. 

We are ready for you AND for Charles and his gang.

Enjoy the day and the extra daylight!