Let the Madness Begin!

As a teenager during the late 1960s – 1970s, living in New York City, I was an avid New York Knick fan. Basketball consumed a lot of my spare time. Watching the pros on TV, or going to all the local games around the neighborhood, filled my days with excitement.  My girlfriend Carol and I would spend countless evenings at basketball games. Even after I jetted off to college in New England (home of the Boston Celtics) I stayed loyal to my hometown team the Knicks. College basketball provided a different perspective. I love the fact there is no apparent money involved for the players.  They play for bragging rights and they put their whole heart and sole into the game. It\’s not unusual to see the players crying on the sideline after losing a big game. That\’s when you see the intensity of youth. I\’m enamored by the agility of those college players (not to mention all those beautiful bodies), in conjunction with the stamina and sheer determination making the game even more exciting for me. As a college student I wouldn’t miss a school game – it probably had something to do with the fact that I was the girlfriend of the star player (point guard) on the school team. Anyway, I remember coming home for Christmas break and going to the tournaments that were held St. John’s University in Queens. My mother wasn’t a big sports fan but I convinced her to come with me to a tournament in the winter of the 1970-71 season. We had such a great time that day. We literally stayed ALL day, watching round by round of the tournament. By the end of the day, my mother was screaming and hollering more than I was for whatever team we decided would gain our affection in a particular round. I was so impressed that I was able to get my mother out of her comfort zone for a day and we winded up having such a great time!!!!! Note to self…..sometimes you find just that perfect sweet spot when you step outside of your norm. It gives you a new perspective. I have to remember to do more of that.

Well out of my three children, the one that is the least sports fan is of course the child that is most like my mother – my Maya. She really doesn’t care much about sports even though she did play soccer for a while growing up. Basically, she leaves all those “sports” things to her brother and sister and me. She definitely doesn’t keep up with the stats. When her brother was in a fantasy football league (no money involved), she would tag along when it came to the “draft” and simply by osmosis, she would pick up things here and there about certain players. It’s kind of hard for her to get around not knowing a little something since everybody else in the household are sports gurus. There is always some sport playing on the TV from basketball, football, soccer, tennis, baseball, hockey and even on occasion, golf. As an adult I joined a March Madness pool and have been involved for quite a number of years now. It’s just a way of me staying in contact with some dear friends of mine that have now moved away from the area. Of course I do try desperately every year to win – (which is almost an impossible task). I always implore my children to play as well and we usually get a kick out of watching round by round and seeing how close we can get to winning. Needless to say, the one that is the least interested is Maya – but because it’s one of those “family” things we do, she humors us by playing every year. We all have our unique tourney names; Yamil (Mo Money), Maya (So Cal So Sweet), Nayda (Winning) and my name (Smooth Operator).  I usually do my picks and then implore my brother to help me go over my selections. Sometimes I listen to all the commentators as they give their \”expert\” advice (they are NEVER right). A couple of years ago, Maya failed to get her picks in on time. We have strict rules in the league – picks must be in by 12 noon on day 1, along with the fee to play (just $5). Basically we just play for bragging rights and to have our name placed on the coveted trophy. Would you believe that she would have won that year having picked the winner. The rest of us were so amazed.  Anyway, last year we were determined to do better.  Everybody managed to get their picks in and money paid on time.  Over the years I’ve learned to be sure and pick some upsets – the one and done nature of the tournament lends to some underdog team that most of us have never heard of having a spectacular game and incredulously winning against a number 1 or 2 seed team and thereby blowing 90% of the brackets. There have been some years that I’ve gotten pretty close – but no cigar.  Since Maya would have won the year before had she gotten her bracket in on time, when it came time last year to fill out her bracket she was a little reluctant. Well how about last year after pushing and pushing for Maya to get her bracket picks in – she (So Cal so sweet) was standing alone at the end of the tournament – winning 1st place. I still can’t figure out how that happened. She doesn’t even care about basketball like that. I don’t think she’s ever watched an entire game!!! Out of 64 teams – she happened to pick the winning team. I guess I should just be thankful that a “Pirela” name now sits on that coveted trophy. But I have to ask the question, does it really matter how much you know about basketball? My sweet Maya was able to win not once, but in fact, two years in a row – go figure!!!!! With that being said……..

Let the Madness Begin!!!