Reality Strikes

It's very easy for me to get caught up in emotion during March. Basketball, Spring Break... heck, there's a lot of stuff that distracts me. But in the past two days, I've seen two things that have made me take a step back for a moment.

First, my brother got his mission call yesterday. He's going to the California Ventura Mission, and he reports to the MTC on May 14th. I'm excited, and it made me realize that basketball is less important than spending time with my family.

Second, as I was watching the Alabama-MSU game tonight during overtime, an apparent tornado hit the Georgia Dome. The game finished, and Alabama lost. But somehow, I didn't care. I cared that everyone was okay. I even called a friend who lives in Atlanta to make sure he was okay.

Sure, March Madness is important, but maybe I'll take a step back and not be quite so crazy this year. Don't worry, I'll still be the one to talk to if you want to know what's happening! But maybe I'll relax a bit and appreciate the wonderful things I have in life.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Well, it's that time of year again. The time of the year when office productivity hits the fan, and everyone watches but one channel. It's that time when fans become rabid, underdogs become top dawgs, and all can watch without having to hear Dick Vitale's voice grate like fingernails on a chalkboard.

That's right... It's MARCH MADNESS!!!!

And the madness has already begun. I watched Saturday as the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs and their 7'-7" center Kenny George were upset by Winthrop in the Big South Conference Championship at home. Poor Asheville will be dancing, but in the NIT instead of the Big Dance.

I logged on this morning and found more madness. In the "It's not our fault all our games tip off at 2AM Eastern" West Coast Conference, St. Mary's, a team that had a higher ranking for most of the year than the original Cinderella, Gonzaga, lost to San Diego, whose Spanish translation we won't get into, by a score of 75-69. San Diego, who happens to be hosting the tournament for some unknown reason, now has the chance tonight to upset Gonzaga, take the WCC's auto berth into the Big Dance, and surely screw some poor unsuspecting bubble team's chance to earn a spot in the tournament. Thanks to some dominant wins, both St. Mary's and Gonzaga are almost assured of spots in the tournament, so Florida, Kentucky, South Alabama, and Western Kentucky, you'd better start praying that Gonzaga doesn't get upset tonight.

And a quick last plug - go to ncaasports.com/mmod and sign up for March Madness on Demand. You'll be able to watch every game of the NCAA Tournament online (except for the play-in game next Tuesday), and you'll be able to switch from game to game. It's a great workplace diversion!