Every year around this time I get an e-mail from my brother Abe inviting me to his ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge group. It's really a beautiful day when I get the e-mail because I've typically been anticipating it since the last tournament finished. ...or at least since the last time all of my picks were ousted and I was finished with the tournament.
I admit that this year I haven't actually been following NCAA basketball at all. ...and I mean AT ALL. When I was going through the brackets choosing the winners, I basically had to go off of the rankings of the team, their record, and the basketball "force" (which has been failing me these past four years). I think the last time I won (in our group) was in 2002, and that's when I was still relatively fresh home from being a missionary. That's apparently when the basketball force was strong. You know, it was 'round about the time of the SLC Winter Olympics. I'm hoping that since this was a winter olympic year again, I will do pretty well in the picks.
But, I doubt it. I actually had some knowledge about the teams at the time and how they'd done during the season. This year I am clueless, really, truly clueless. I didn't even know that Oral Roberts was going to the tournament. I didn't know that BYU wasn't in the tournament. Utah State: no clue. There were teams that were shocking me all over the place. Although most of my 'normal' picks aren't actually in the tournament, I am happy to report that I can wear a t-shirt of a school that has a pretty decent chance of winning the whole thing. I won't tell you which one because it may affect your picks if you happen to be in my group, and I wouldn't want that to happen. Besides, mine are subject to change until I'm locked out.
Good luck to all those who enter, and may the basketball force be with you. (But not as much with you as with me.)
9 comments:
Gee, Cardine, would that T-shirt happen to be Memphis?!? No sweat. I chose Duke for the win.
Actually, I didn't say that I CHOSE them to win, but I just didn't want to mislead anyone by mentioning it. Hee hee.
I actually can't remember who I chose to win.
I'm wondering if my family will be doing our informal contest this year.
it's pretty much impossible for me to beat anyone, but this may be my year, with everything that everyone else has to do.
Wow. I don't know anything about sports. At my last job, they always had bets on basketball at this time of year, and football in that season, but I didn't pay too much attention to what they were doing.
I like your new profile!
I signed up to play with you! I chose Connecticut to win the whole thing, playing Duke in the championship. I have no basis for my picks, just random selection - whatever "felt" best. So, what is the prize for winning?
Hmmm... the prize for winning. It's not my group, so I don't want to give a prize. It's my brother's group. I suppose that if you will the whole shabang out of the entire group, I will buy you a california roll at my birthday dinner!
P.S. will = win
That's incentive enough for me! :)
I think it would be funny if I won (especially since I think I picked after some of the games had already happened - but I can't be sure, since I have no clue about the schedule). I couldn't even base my choice on color of jersey or mascot (well, I could've... but it would've taken effort).
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