Our Valley Santa Clarita MergedFile | Page 24

It’s that time of year again! March Madness! This is the time of year when college basketball fans go big time bonkers as the top teams in the country vie for the coveted national championship. We fans get to watch the very best teams in college basketball and most of the very best players. So bring out the popcorn, the beer and the old college jerseys as we root (so sorry Aussies) for our favorite teams in what can only be compared to a gladiator tournament in the original Forum. There are actually two men’s tournaments going on at the same time. The first one is with the players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans actually in the stands. And the second one, and arguably the most important one, is among the penny ante bettors who play a game called Brackology. In this latter game millions participate causing blood pressures to zoom to heights even the tallest dunksters can’t match. The first round of the real games has 64 teams playing 32 games ending with 32 winners of the round. Since the best teams play the least best teams the end results are pretty much expected. In Brackology, where expert pickers and clueless pickers have equal chances to advance, you have to be a real putz not to get past the first round (the team you pick to win the tournament advances). PAGE 24 OUR VALLEY SANTA CLARITA