The Pure Magic of March Madness
It’s called “The Big Dance” and for 2018 it ended last evening. It’s the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball tournament which is a 68-team single elimination tournament to determine the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 college basketball national championship. For a couple of weeks in March and early April, it seems like non-stop basketball is on television, people become invested in teams they haven’t seen play before and a few players begin to capture both our attention and our hearts.
I’m kind of preoccupied with Men’s College Basketball (known as the festival of obsession with the round ball). I’m interested to see how the teams get seeded – who is in and who’s out. I like to be part of our family pool and this year, I am happy to say that I won! I typically pick the top seeds to win but always cheer for the underdog. I enjoy the stories about “Cinderella” teams who seemingly come out of nowhere with grit and determination to advance in their bracket.
So, what is it that makes March Madness magic?
A Belief That It’s Not Over Until It’s Over
University of Maryland-Baltimore County knows all too well that it’s not over until it’s over. Before this year’s tournament most people would have had to look up the UMBC acronym to see what the name stood for. They were seeded 16th (that means last place) and made history by beating Virginia who was one of the top ranked teams. College basketball has never seen a bigger upset and the basketball world went crazy – hence the term madness!
A Reminder that It’s All About Practice, Practice, Practice
All the student athletes playing in the tournament have shot thousands of free throws, spent countless hours in the gymnasium perfecting their shot and conditioning themselves to be able to play 40 minutes of straight up basketball. They have practiced enough that they make it look easy.
Confirmation That You Can’t Do It Alone
There is always the player who is exceptional – the point guard who quarterbacks his team, makes great passes and shoots 3’s effortlessly or the skilled big man who can protect the rim, grab rebounds and shoot but in basketball there still has to be five players on the floor. Even with a couple exceptional players, studies show that playing a deeper bench where you can utilize fresh legs and sustained energy results in more opportunities to win games. More wins = more championships.
It’s Passion When You Are Doing Something You Love
It’s amazing to watch a player dive after the ball, block a shot in mid air or make a last second 3 to win the game. The passion that is demonstrated by the players on the floor who are dripping with sweat while their teammates are locked arm in arm almost sliding off their chairs is a beautiful thing. Last night when I watched the final dance I was reminded, when you love what you do you don’t see it as work – Whether it is spending a few extra hours in the gym to perfect your free throw or staying up late to finish a project. When you are passionate about the choices you make you don’t necessarily equate the hours with working because you love it.
What is it that inspires and motivates you to get up in the morning? I hope it is something you are passionate about because watching someone spend hours doing something that they love is pure magic.