Friday, March 23, 2012

Why I Love and Hate March Madness

OK, this isn't a partisan political post. But it is about something a lot of people are thinking about right now -- March Madness.

March used to be one of my favorite times of the year. Not only do my husband, daughter, father, two brothers-in-law, two nieces and one nephew have birthdays in this month, it is also a great time to be a college basketball fan.

The excitement is incredible. From the day the tournament lineup is set until the final game, there is always another great game to talk about and re-live. Everyday is a new highlight reel. Until the last game when the winner is crowned.

Which brings me to Michigan State and it's sorry performance on Thursday. They got beat to a lower-seeded team after playing poorly. They went out losers. Nobody remembers right now the great season they had and all the great games they played since last November to get to the Sweet 16. The only taste in their mouths is of defeat.

And that's why I also hate March Madness. Only one team gets to feel like winners -- all the others go home losers, no matter how many wins they piled up along the way. In a little while, the bitterness fades and the promise of a new season will replace the losing.

You win some, you lose some. It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game, etc., etc. That's what coaches tell their players. But it's hard to remember that when all the focus is on the one winner and everybody else is just another loser.

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