While there are many holidays in March, there is only 1 March Madness! Also known as the greatest 4 weeks of basketball, March Madness is basically the time of year when state and national champions are crowned in men’s and women’s basketball. I got with some of my friends at Yahoo, and we got a list of things anybody can do to enjoy March Madness.
5.Use it as an excuse to get together with family and friends.
You don't have to go to a bar and you don't have to sit on the couch drinking beer to enjoy the games. Invite some friends over, turn on the games and work on other projects. Make dinner, work on crafts or break out the monopoly board. Sports offer a lot of things, but the most enjoyable thing is the connection they offer with others. Use the games and the once-a-year excitement to focus on the things you do enjoy doing with the people you enjoy the most. In the end, it's not important if you're emotionally invested in who wins the Wofford vs. Wisconsin game. What matters is that you take the opportunity to make ordinary time special.
4.Pay attention to the announcers.
It happens at least 10 times a game. You're watching two teams battle it out, the announcers are talking about the game, trying to explain a team's tactics or a specific play and they say something completely stupid.
3. Find a team to despise.
Duke is the easy team to hate, but most certainly isn't the only team that deserves your wrath. The best part is that you don't need to pick teams to hate for any logical reason. Don't like a team's mascot? Hate 'em! Think a team has ugly colors? I can't wait for them to get kicked out of the tourney!! Think Ohio State's point guard is too flashy? I hope they get bounced in round 2!! One of my favorite teams to hate is Syracuse because their coach looks like the uncle you're always hoping has other plans for Thanksgiving.
2. Keep score and keep up!
Picking a 2 seed over a 15 seed is easy and there's little pleasure in getting that pick right. However, trying to predict the final score for each game can add a level of interest and potential bragging rights. For those that consider themselves experts, it can be a great way to think about the games in more depth. For those that couldn't care less, it's a good way to rub it in an experts face when you nail a pick.
1. Be more involved
I know what you‘re thinking ("why would I be MORE involved in something that I find dull?"), but it's the best way to increase your interest. The crazed sports fan screaming at the TV after every play isn't just excited to see a ball go through a hoop, they're engaged in the relationships, the underlying storylines and personal connections they feel with the players. The more you understand about each team, each player, the more you'll care. This doesn't mean you need to be a stat freak or know everything about the sport, but knowing that West Virginia has a two players who skipped the draft to return to school for one more shot at a title instantly makes the games mean more.
There you have it, a few good ideas to help control the madness in March. I almost forgot the most important thing, be safe when celebrating, the best part of March Madness is being around to do it again next year.
