It's that time of the year, where everyone in America (and abroad) go nuts over college basketball. After spending 5 months preparing and jockying, it is down to the real deal of college basketball...the NCAA tournament, now known as the "Big Dance". Everyone from teenie-boopers to crickety old folks, will worship this time of the year, to fill out brackets, make claims, wear school colors, hate neighbors and friends, run home turn on the t.v; hooky work, etc; just to feel the "power" of this time. I, being one that played and participated in this managerie, must say, it is a quite a spectacle and one that brings the hormones and adrenaline to it's highest levels. Making it all the way to the NCAA Championship game was ever so fulfilling and a life time memory for me. Losing by 4 points to Kentucky, with the superb play by the Goose (Jack Gevins) we were left with a hurt that only lasted for a minute but then were became elated of the effort that we accomplished. But what is it all worth? With academia supposivebly the main point, this time of the year speaks only volumes in dollars...period! Television has been the pimp to the NCAA power structure and with the capital gains for each and every university that make it to the "Big Dance", The true meaning of athletics have taken an all time low. Money fuels this period and places pressure on the professors (coaches) and players. Who gains from all this? Well, the coaches recieve bigger contracts and respect in the millions. The universities recieve exposure and capital gains in millions (especially in football) and the reat of the students that cheer on their respected schools, either gain thrills and frills or a deeper sadness that their team didn't win the whole enchilada.
Now, my point. Are we educating or are we just giving the student-athletes a taste of the real world in marketing, finances, greed and anxiety? Now student-athletes that go to school, go because, this is a way to get to the next profession (if you are a football, basketball, tennis, to name few) Many just stay one year, if they are exceptional players (two, now due to the NBA's new policy) and education takes a back seat to their priority of obtaining a quality education. Even classes are excused or canceled during this time. With milliions just waiting for them, would you by-pass not leaving your school? ...Hell no! But there should be a policy that if any student-athlete leaves school early and obtains financial success at that early stage, he/she should give back to the university a donation or set up a scholarship fund for student-athletes that are not in that spectrum of elitism, to leave early and obtain those riches. A college athletic scholarship is truly a blessing and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Sports is a privilge (deem extra-curriculum) and it allows the student-athlete to excel in the sport that they chose. This is a great time in America for sports fans, especially school supported fans. It is Ameica and this is a capitalist country and money fuels this system of our democracy.
So kick back, cheer, yell and act like a fool during this time. Even cry when your team loses in the event of their quest to be ...number 1.
My pick to win the NCAA Championship- Memphis State.
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