Bracketology Smacketology

The Chieftain Chatter & Redhawk Report has been in hibernation since the Redhawks season has concluded (11-20) 

Today though I decided to stick my head out the the lair with a commentary on this whole March Madness issue.  I just find something inherently wrong with this whole concept.  OK look, yes, I have been participating in the mayhem for over 30 years.  I have played in $5 pools, $100 buy in draft schemes and even have ran the brackets as a manager multiple times.  I remember the days before computers when we tallied everything by hand calculator and yellow highlighter posting results each Monday.  Then came Lotus 1-2-3 and posting with a official looking printout and then Excel and auto sorting, additions and even potential end scores (if you really were a nerd).  Now one just fills out the CBS Bracket and all the work is done and you get up to the minute standings etc...by the end of the first weekend you can even know if you have a mathematical chance of sharing in the prizes.

Now here is my beef.  One gets to spend four days researching, calculating, erasing, adding, listening to so called experts, listening to your friends, be loud about your picks or keeping them close - all this time millions of dollars are being spent and millions of hours of efficient work being wasted as other economies continue to surpass the US - I am sure lots of European currency changes and Foreign policy strategist use the end of March as a focus to get the upper edge knowing the White House staff is in the midst of trying to one up the President.  This is all pretty much common knowledge and I am as guilty as the next millionth American so it is what it is - It is not called March Madness for nothing and CBS is not the number one rated network for lack of brilliance.

My issue is the way the system is set up - it is one and done, then wait and hope.  This is what drives me crazy about the whole set up.  I get three days to fill out a round of 68 teams and choose 1 winner and all the winners along the way.  Statistically speaking, Sally Jo can pick winners advancing on team colors, names, or cute mascots over my RPI, Saragin numbers and conference strength just as easy and I have no course to adjust.  You see real handicappers need to adjust game to game for injuries, turn over to assist ratios, match up, style of play and hours of the day playing etc etc.  I am helpless as a true lover of the sport statistically speaking and educationally touting my IQ for the game - where I can talk true trash.  Why at this point do I care to research the Marquette vs.North Carolina match up - I have no choice.  My pick has been in since March 16th.  I am virtually talking 'nonessential trash' only because I need NC to advance, not because I think Marquette can win head to head.  Why would I read the experts analysis now - so they can tell me Arizona has a legit chance to beat Duke - great, I'll skip that game on TV.

Actually, I won't because that is the truest of March Madness - so many games and so many incredible moments packed into an emotional time capsule - it's not that silly office pool which I have no control over.  One, that silly office pool does not take into account my handicapping nor Basketball IQ, second, that silly office pool is a false sense of knowledge - would I have ever picked VCU?  Hell no!

As the 21st Century advances I suggest the Bracketolgy advance - I suggest points be given for covering the spread in addition to picking the winner, I suggest there be three readjustments where one could re pick the teams based on the previous round results.  I suggest for the non gambling aspect one gets tokens to buy in to teams that were not picked.  Or, I suggest I just book a three week vacation in Las Vegas.  As of today I currently stand 4th after the first weekend of my 21 counterparts.  If for some lucky drop of the orange sphere in the metal hoop I win - I will pull out that four leaf clover from my back pocket that has been there since noon on March 17th, quietly collect my winnings and ride off into the sunset.  If I lose, I expect Sally Jo to pull hers out and jump up and down and yell - "That VCU mascot is sooo cute!  My second cousin's aunt went to VCU - woot woot."

Back into the Lair until the Redhawks return to action in November.  Ugh! I have to endure a whole summer of Mariners.  Well, there is always my own orange ball, Chuck Taylor High Tops and the local park and the dream.