Thursday, March 20, 2008

Rites of Spring















For many, the day that "Pitchers and Catchers Report" to various spring training locations. For others, today -- the opening day of the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament -- serves that function.

The Tournament, which has become a national obsession complete with its own trademark ("March Madness(TM)"), has long along broken into the mainstream. But its unique rhythm -- starting at 12:00 noon on consecutive weekdays -- brings us back to an earlier time.

Like photos of businessmen standing outside of televisions stores to watch World Series inning-by-inning scores be posted by hand (formerly a fall tradition), a pedestrian walking downtown in any metro area today (and tomorrow) will observe clumps of office workers huddled outside of sports bars and bistros.

And here-to-fore co-workers who previously wouldn't know that MAAC from the MAC become instant experts on the intricacies of the Memphis Dribble-Drive-Motion Offense.

But as we know, a perfect bracket is out there. All you have to do is pick 63 games right.

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