Blood, Sweat, And Tears

You have to love March Madness. The level of competition is so great each and every year. For me, the NCAA Tournament is the best sporting event that there is. As some may argue that the Super Bowl is the greatest event, I feel that it is second. Now listen, I love football as much as anyone, and I even treat the Super Bowl as if it were a holiday. Still, nothing can compare to this month long event that is known as March Madness. Not the NBA Finals, definitely not any of the All-Star weekends, not the MLB World Series, and not the NFL Super Bowl.

This event is filled with some of the greatest, talented young athletes across the nation. Not to mention, just about every game comes down to the wire. This is what competition is about. The intensity and magnitude of these games are unreal. It’s win or go home. One loss and you’re sent home packing as this tournament of 68 (just moved up last season) is played out until one team is declared National Champion. Plain and simple, there are no second chances, if you don’t give it your all your season is coming to an end. NCAA football could learn a lot from this event, but that is a whole other story.

Blood, sweat, and tears. For what? These players are not in it for the money – they play for their love of the game. They play for a chance at the next level, whether that be the NBA or overseas. They play because they care. All they want is the prestige that it comes with – to be honored at center stage as their team wins a national championship.

Some of these star pro athletes never chose to experience this, such players as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James. They will never be able to look back and say, “I was once a part of the greatest sporting event in all of sports.”

This year, the tournament returns to the Rose Garden arena here in Portland. Selection Sunday will be on March 11, 2012. So stay tuned for that to see who will be playing right here in the city of Portland. No matter who it is, I guarantee that it will involve a couple star players, a couple wild finishes, and some damn good basketball.

Portland will be home of some of the second and third round games. Those games will be played on Thursday March 15, and Saturday March 17. I can’t wait.

In last year’s tournament we saw Kemba Walker lead his Connecticut Huskies to the National Championship with a remarkable 11 game win streak during post season play (including both the Big East tournament and NCAA tournament). We also saw two Cinderella story teams in VCU and Butler make it to the Final Four. And there were 21 games decided by 5 or less points!

So prepare to fill out your brackets as these college athletes lay it all on the line this March. Start a pool with your friends and compete for money or just do it for fun. It’s entertaining, it’s fun… it is March Madness.