It’s no secret to anyone who knows anything about me, that I love sports. I grew up in the ultimate sports household – parents who played sports constantly growing up, met because my dad ejected my mom from a basketball game for being too rough (though my mom will deny that to the death), and continued to raise their 3 daughters on sports - and believing they could play with the boys. our childhood movies were less warm and fuzzy, and more ‘league of their own’, ‘little giants’, and ‘sandlot’. a LOT of the sandlot. we all played sports constantly growing up – my sisters focused on their intense hockey team play, as well as lacrosse in the off season, and some dabbling in baseball, soccer, dance, ultimate frisbee etc. I focused on basketball, and also did the whole soccer, baseball, dance, routine. my dad still plays hockey – at almost 60 – and my mom ran marathons and has been active for as long as I can remember. one year, as our family photo, we were dressed in our various sports uniforms, and posed holding our respective props – me in my bball uniform, with a basketball poised on my knee.
we’ve all had injuries – concussions, swelling, etc (my sisters); broken limbs and joints, sprains, strains and knee injuries (me). We’ve cried over loses and celebrated big wins. We’ve hated coaches, and loved teammates. And the other way around. We have stayed up all night to watch games, championships, or even just a sports movie or two (the number of exam procrastination I did with the movie ‘rookie of the year’ is beyond counting). We’ve organized parties, celebrations and important events around important sports moments – postponed birthdays, or other family events due to huge games. We all have team Canada hockey jersey’s with our names on the back – vital for any true Canadian sports family. I have more team jerseys than I have blazers – which, according to my own fashion advice in this article – is a LOT.
This is all to say, my family eats, breathes, and sleeps sports. Super Bowl is our Thanksgiving. Stanley Cup is our Easter. olympics? oh boy…. don’t even try to get through to my parent’s house on the phone. our family events are usually to sporting events like basketball, baseball or lacrosse games.
and for me? March Madness is like the second coming of Christ (wait… third? Anyways…). EVERY. YEAR. As a basketball player throughout high school, and a coach all the way from grade 9 to the end of university, it’s my thing. And when March Madness comes? My life is good.
For 2.5 weeks in March, I am in heaven. Literally. Basketball running almost 24/7. Upsets, Cinderella stories, injuries. It. All. Happens. Here.
so first off, to you non-sports fans (or those who are simply not interested): I apologize. I apologize for the tweets, the facebook statuses and chats. I apologize that my entire life is focused on basketball for this moment in time. I promise you, I will attempt to fill some time with fashion, music, thoughts, to distract you from my incessant chirping on twitter (not even a pun I intended for… but I’ll take that one!) about rivalries, bracket busters, etc. I will do my best. And when it’s all done? I PROMISE I will make it up to you. I won’t talk (much) about sports for awhile. Ish.
for those who understand the madness: thank you. please. engage in the trash talking with me. I love every second of it. and I can guarantee you, I am watching the scores CONSTANTLY. we can chat team strengths, predicted winners, 5/12 upsets… and I will emphasize how much I HATE Syracuse (which makes for a difficult household, as my sister is an Orangeman freak).
and for those who want to follow along, but don’t know much about it? here’s my bracket. you can pretend it’s yours. highlight the winners, and follow the games. I promise you this – one game knockout tournaments? the best way to play a sport.
This is all to say, my family eats, breathes, and sleeps sports. Super Bowl is our Thanksgiving. Stanley Cup is our Easter. olympics? oh boy…. don’t even try to get through to my parent’s house on the phone. our family events are usually to sporting events like basketball, baseball or lacrosse games.
and for me? March Madness is like the second coming of Christ (wait… third? Anyways…). EVERY. YEAR. As a basketball player throughout high school, and a coach all the way from grade 9 to the end of university, it’s my thing. And when March Madness comes? My life is good.
For 2.5 weeks in March, I am in heaven. Literally. Basketball running almost 24/7. Upsets, Cinderella stories, injuries. It. All. Happens. Here.
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| this is what my computer screen looks like for the entire tournament. refresh. refresh. refresh. |
for those who understand the madness: thank you. please. engage in the trash talking with me. I love every second of it. and I can guarantee you, I am watching the scores CONSTANTLY. we can chat team strengths, predicted winners, 5/12 upsets… and I will emphasize how much I HATE Syracuse (which makes for a difficult household, as my sister is an Orangeman freak).
I love this game.
and ps. I have missouri to win. if they win, I will have pulled off one of the biggest shocker brackets, known to mankind. the more likely winner? Ohio State. but what the hell. March Madness comes but once a year.