Madness Indeed

March Madness is the only time  of year that my otherwise sensible husband goes crazy.  Before we had children, and the concept of "leisure time" still figured in to our vocabulary, I knew not to expect too much togetherness in March.  It was sacred time.

My man has college basketball running deep in his blood.  The first time I ever saw him cry was when the Arkansas Razorbacks won the NCAA tournament in 1994, three months before our wedding.  Tears of joy poured down his cheeks, and he planted a kiss on me that may still be the most enthusiastic one I've ever had.  Certainly the most salty.

He has made me promise that I will play One Shining Moment at his funeral someday.  I have reluctantly agreed, and I'm just praying I pre-decease him.  (Which, come to think of it, might not be such a good idea, or One Shining Moment might get played at my funeral.  Oh, heavens.)

As the years have gone by, his passion hasn't waned, but his leisure time has.  The demands of life keep him from watching as much college basketball as he'd like throughout the year, and he's been a real sport about it.  That man makes sacrifices more cheerfully than anyone I've ever known.

But when the second half of March rolls around, I can see the hairs on the back of his neck standing permanently at attention.  Now he has three boys who happily pile on the couch with him (though I suspect they're in it more for the steady flow of cheese dip).  He can fill out a bracket that will usually slay anyone else's.  In fact, I have learned that the easiest way to drive him STARK RAVIN' NUTS is to explain him to the reasoning behind my own convoluted bracket.  My logic for this year's bracket goes something like this:

1.  Always pick SEC teams.
2.  ORU and Oklahoma make it to the Sweet 16, because, well, they live in Oklahoma, and so do I.
3.  I have lots of friends from Kansas State and Texas A&M, so I have to vote for them.
4.  Gonzaga will advance far, because Gonzo has always been my favorite Muppet.
5.  So will Temple, because, well, Jesus worshipped in the temple, right?

[This is where his eyes start to roll back in his head.]

6.  I plan to vote for John McCain in November, so I have to pick Arizona to go far.
7.  Memphis will make it to the Final Four, because they have such nice barbecue.
8.  Duke will take the whole thing, because I feel sorry for Mike Krzyzewski that he has such a difficult last name.

Now you see why I never actually bet any money on this.

So if my blog posts seem disjointed the next couple of weeks, know that it's because I'm being interruped by shouts of joy and anguish coming from the man sitting on the couch next to me.  Well, and all the cheese dip.   

Comments

[holly]

My husband told me to play How Great Thou Art at his funeral. I don't really believe the story that he likes the song and it is not for him.

[mzzterry]

March Madness. a season unto itself!!

[Brenda on the S OR Coast]

Ha! The Scoutmaster and I were married March 19,1994, at the height of March Madness. He is from Arkansas. Can you guess what we did in the honeymoon suite? Good thing that was before we had 6 kids and I still had enough attention span to watch a basketball game!

[Fresh Girl]

Well, I definitely appreciate #7 on your list. ;)

I think I love your husband! Someone else who appreciates March Madness as the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! :) If he, or you, for that matter, needs another bracket to fill out, I'm hosting one on my blog (see today's post) and the person with the most points at the end wins a $20 gift certificate to Amazon. Anyone's welcome to play!

[Queen B]

Your logic makes complete sense to me. You can't root against The Temple. It would be sacrilegious.

When March Madness rolls around, I always think of your hubby. Because he is, in fact, more enthusiastic than any other fan I know.

Best of luck with your bracket...I am filling mine out this evening. I plan on cheating off of someone who has more basketball knowledge than I have. Which could be, like, my dog.

Go Hogs!

[boomama]

Memphis CANNOT make it to the Final Four b/c that will mean that State did not beat them. And that is unacceptable. Good BBQ or no.

:-)

[Jessica]

March Madness is a family favorite with us as well! My entire family, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, all compete against each other with our brackets. I am considering havng a bracket competition over on my blog. I'm hoping to get some people who are interested! :)

[Beth Ingersoll]

My husband is a Dukie, BIG TIME!! Duke should win just because of Coach K, because he is AWESOME! (Gosh, it almost sounds like I actually watch basketball...)

[Greta]

Funny! At least you don't pick teams based on their uniforms.....
I'm mildy guilty of that.
Go Heels!

[Sheila]

Way to pick the teams! That's awesome. Probably why men hate it when women watch sports with them, but it makes about as much sense to me as the methods men use (and it's not like they're right, either !).

Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!

[roy]

I hope my wife agrees with my request for singing of Ps 128.

So much for the token comment relevant to the thread. I noted the books on your reading list. Would really love to read what you thought of "A Distant Grief", especially in context of your recent visit to Uganda.

[Janelle]

If I can't decide between 2 teams I go with which mascot could take the other one in a fight. And kudos on going with K-State. The Wildcats probably won't go far, but I love 'em anyway.

[This Military Mama]

When I lived with a friend of mine her boyfriend [now husband] tried to coach me on how to make a good bracket for that season. I followed along well but by next season I coulddn't remember a dang thing! Basketball to mean isn't fun to watch on T.V....live though now that's great.

I understand about funeral demands...my husband wants a full blown Navy funeral. Every possbible thing he can have, he wants. Me...I want the song 'I can only imagine' and every one in bright colors.

[Brownie]

I really like your logic. I may use some of those reasons myself to irk my sweet hubby. Great BBQ isn't the only thing going for Memphis, so we are rooting for them to go as far as they can! Sorry MS State ;( It is so fun to have something to do together that doesn't require any money or a babysitter. I love events that can also involve sweats as actual attire.

[suburbancorrespondent]

My husband and I have never discussed what we want played at our funerals. I don't think I knew that they play any music at funerals, actually.

Oh, well, at least we have something different to talk about on our next date night...

[Melissa]

Your bracket sounds like mine would! And the reasonings behind it are totally what I would come up with too! :)

[pam]

I won't hold it against you that you forgot our Kansas Jayhawks. Your system makes perfect sense. This year March Madness spreads itself into April. The moans, the yells, the thumping of the poor sofa, the phone calls to old college buddies as they replay each move---I'm glad Basketball is my favorite sport. Three long weeks and then life will resume.

[Candace (Mama Mia)]

Love your reasoning. You even made my husband laugh!
My husband knew that I was a keeper when I let him watch March Madness during our honeymoon! We were staying in a B&B where the only tv was in the common area.

[Tammy]

The only thing that ranks higher than March Madness is the beginning of Alabama football season.... of course, then our season stinks and the only thing to look forward to is March Madness! ;-)

Your blog is hysterical!

[Darlene]

That is so funny and oh.my.word do I know what you're talking about! I read your logic to my hubs and he is still trying to figure it out! They just don't get our logic at all.

[Suzie]

March is the same way for me...I love it...David willingly keeps the three boys and "lets" me go shopping or to a movie...except this year he has a dislocated fracture in his foot. I can't very well leave him with the three boys this time :(

[erin]

Hehe, your method is about the equivalent of mine, except that I take into consideration the color of the teams' jerseys. Purple vs. Orange? Purple wins!

[Margie]

I once won an office March Madness bracket competition because I chose the teams based on which team colors would look best together. You can imagine how angry the "boys" were! To me, THAT'S logical!

[Cindy Beall]

What about my blessed Texas Longhorns? Does anyone show any love to them here in the Sooner state?

No? Okay.

[Dayna]

It's a good year for my husband when his bracket beats mine, which hasn't happened often in our nearly 12 years together. I won't be able to honestly pick my beloved Sooners to go far, but as difficult as it will be, I will give those Longhorns a chance to go far.