We have been spoiled for the better part of a month now. Starting with the Super Bowl and then on to the Olympics, we have had non-stop sporting excitement that just keeps going and going, and it is showing no sign of letting up anytime soon.

You see, the March Madness is upon us. That's the name given to the college basketball playoff system that will pre-empt every and all midday and morning soap operas on television for a week or more starting tomorrow and will once again give me an excuse to do only what is absolutely necessary for its duration.

Sure, only American colleges participate in the madness, but quite honestly, nobody would want to see a Canadian equivalent of this type of tournament, since all of our great college basketball talent heads south anyhow. Plus, we live on the border. I can see the States from outside my window.

Let me explain how this works. Sixty-five American post-secondary schools are chosen by a bunch of basketball ‘marks' using a complex system that takes into account the School's overall record, their strength of schedule, conference versus non-conference record, and whether or not the team's name is all that fun to say.

For example, the Wofford College Terriers is far more enjoyable to say than, lets say, the Oregon Ducks. Wofford is not all that easy to pronounce nor does it roll of the tongue, while Oregon and Duck are both rather generic. Wofford makes it into the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) basketball tournament, Oregon doesn't. Simple, right?

Next, these 65 teams all play in their respective match-ups, which were once again chosen by a league of gentlemen, and not by standings, to try and give us the most enjoyable games to watch.

They also assign seeding to each team to make them seem more important, because without a ranking system, a number three school could not take on a 13 ranked school with a chance at an upset. The number is important.

For instance, if a number 13 seed beats a number three seed, it is exciting stuff, but if Wofford beat Oregon, no one would care. See the difference? The number means more than the name. Most of us who sit in front of a television for the entire tournament, and shame on you if you are one of them (if you need me, stop by, I will be home), watch with engagement waiting for the almost certain upset to happen.

Typically, it happens to ‘my' school, Villanova University, who so happens to be a three seed, but hopefully it will happen to yours instead. Because like every other year, this is our year. Woot Woot.

So, 65 turns into 32 teams (still uncertain about the math), which is then shrunken to 16. At this point the organizing committee amps up the lingo, and the final 16 teams are then referred to as being in the ‘Sweet 16.' Sixteen goes down to eight, or should I say the ‘Elite 8' with those eight further being reduced to the ‘Final Four.'

Four goes to two, and two to one, and a championship team is crowned. Typically, and this year is no different, the ‘Final Four' is in April. So apparently, March Madness does not apply to the top four teams.

They play through the madness, and eventually it goes away. Like a cold.
And there you have it. A complete rundown of March Madness.

Sixty-five teams fall to 32, which is further declined into the ‘Sweet 16' and then down to the ‘Elite Eight.' The winners of the ‘Elite Eight' will then form the ‘Final Four' and from that will come the N.C.A.A. national champion, which will be played in April.


Buckle up, because like every other year it will be entertaining. So, pick your pony and let it ride. Just don't pick mine. Villanova hasn't won since 1985.

And don't pick Wofford either, because any post secondary school that name's it sports team after a smaller sized dog is not going to go far in a tournament full of Wildcats and Bears.

My advice, pick the University of Kansas Jayhawks or the University of Kentucky Wildcats if you want a realistic chance of picking the winner, but if you do, don't talk to me ever again, because once Nova is out, so am I. Happy choosing.