The Outfield Assist

Where's the Slipper?!

75-68 F/OT. Thank god. If there were any tremblings about this year's March Madness not living up to the usual billing, they were quickly quieted after the National Championship Game. Sure, my bracket didn't pan out the way I would have liked to see but that hasn't put a damper on my view of the tournament. Granted we didn't see the proverbial Cinderella go on a tear into the Final Four a la George Mason; Davidson was the closest thing. Although, anyone watching Stephen Curry and Jason Richards had the feeling that maybe Davidson was just a good team. But, we did get something out of it. The top 4 seeds made up the final four for the first time in history. Kansas made easy work of the Tar Heels/Tyler Hansbrough... you ever notice the goofy bug-eyed kid that is somehow good even shares initials with the mascot? Anyway, Memphis went on a charge behind a special Freshman that seems to have an extra hundred horsepower over the next fastest guy. The emergence of stars told the story of this years tournament. We saw a lot of things but I firmly believe that had the National Championship game not transpired the way it did, we would have been left feeling a little cheated. It just perpetuates the mystique of a tournament that seems destined not to fail. Name another playoff system that generates the same excitement and anticipation as March Madness. It is a pool of 64 teams, not even the top 64 teams in the country, mind you, and yet the competition is always second to none. Now draw comparisons to the depravity of the BCS in college football. It really is a shame. So I want to thank you again March Madness for living up to the reputation that so precedes you.