Bracketology 101

Growing up, I was a pro basketball fan, which was easy in the 1970s and 80s in New England, because the Celtics were in their British Navy 19th century mode of domination. My marriage to The Dear One coincided roughly with the retirment of Larry Bird and the ensuing British Navy of the 20th century mode for the Celts, and she converted me to being primarily a college hoops fan. It's easy, living in Charlottesville, because you're right in the middle of the greatest college basketball conference in the country: the ACC.

Anyhoo, the first weekend of the NCAA tournament has become my favorite sports holiday of the year. I love the fact that there are a whole sucession of games on for four days straight. It's got all the underdog longshot stories the Olympics used to have before we became the boorish, plodding role the Soviets used to play; it's got all the great coaching and sharp play the pros used to have before it got taken over by the street spirit of the ABA; and it has all the upset drama and real competition that the NCAA football could have if they actually wanted to have real competition and get rid of the damn BCS.