Why We Love College Basketball
It's March, and that means all eyes are upon the sport of college basketball. And why not? College basketball is primal, peppy, loud, fun, historic, goofy, social, exciting, unpredictable, decisive, brave, clean, and reverant.
The excitement. Taking the day off from classes or work on the day of the big game. The energy that builds before tip off. The buzz in the air. More than the pro game, the energy of the fan base, specifically the students, transcends . . . time . . . and-space . . . to . . . give the college game an enduring primal urgency. The cave is deep in our memory.
The pep bands. Beats the hell out of Jock Rock blasted non-stop on a distorting overhead speaker. Oye Como Va never sounded, uh, peppier.
The students. Oh to be young and boisterous again. Tent cities, face paint, matching t-shirts, free-throw distractions. Sitting in the student section at games, we look forward to bad calls for the reactions they bring.
The partying. There's nothing like getting juiced up with your friends before a big game and then stumbling teary-eyed into the light, noise, and spectacle that is college basketball. Jager' anyone?
The venues. Legendary arenas new and old like Cameron Indoor Stadium, the UCSB Thunderdome, and War Memorial Gym provide intimate yet menacing environs that can truly lift the home team to levels beyond its ability. Tight rows of backless wooden bleachers; obstructed views; banners in the rafters; rafters; balconies; and extremely close proximity to the court are hallmarks of the college venue, and of the college game.
The mascots. Where else can people with really big heads get a fair shot?
The cheers. Offering yet another way for the fans to be a part of the action, cheers range from the supportive ("Let's go Stan-ford"--clap-clap-clap), to the pejorative ("Staaaaaate schooool, staaaaaate schooool"), to the timely ("Brokeback! Mountain!"), to the downright cruel ("Vic-tor-ia!").
The momentum. The swings are so fast and furious. One minute you're dead; the next you're back in the game. The emotion is intense, exhilarating, and draining. And we freakin' love it!
The upsets. Nobody has gone undefeated in Division I men's ball in 30 years, and this list helps explain why. Upsets are as much a part of the college basketball landscape as unsynchronized cheerleaders and flying tortillas. Upsets are to college basketball fans what flaming road rage wreckage is to NASCAR fans--something we anticipate with glee.
The Tournament. The great melting pot of college basketball, when 65 teams from around the country, from conferences of different sizes and configurations, come together to find out who is really better than who. Winthrop, Belmont, Iona, and Orel Roberts (heh-heh, we said orel) playing with the likes of UConn, Duke, Ohio State, and Texas--that's what makes the tournament special.