by Nathan Halfpenny

Created on: May 18, 2009

March Madness; that pretty much sums it up. The greatest tournament in sports doesn't need to be defended or justified in its position, and it's a good thing too. The reasoning behind the greatness of March Madness is not easily explained. It lies in the buzzer beating shots, the behind the scenes stories and the unthinkable upsets from years past. Bryce Drew, Tyus Edny, and Lorenzo Charles are part of what makes March Madness so special. Bucknell, Santa Clara, Richmond, Valparaiso, and Princeton help make it special too. But on top of all of this, there are the road trips, the school spirit and the tradition and individual character of each school.

The NCAA tournament, or March Madness as it is now officially known, is so special because it is the complete opposite of every other major playoff tournament. It thrives on the little guy, the underdog, wreaking havoc on the juggernaut teams. While the NFL, NBA and MLB all hope and pray each year for the Cowboys, the Lakers, and the Yankees to win their respective championships to boost ratings and revenue, the NCAA wishes for everything but. March Madness is so special because invariably, year in and year out, there is an upset. March Madness gives the little guy a chance every year. Its these moments that stick with us through the years. It's remembering North Carolina State's improbable run to a championship in 1983, and George Mason's trip to the Final Four in 2005 that keep us watching year after year.

March Madness' place at the top of the sporting spectrum goes beyond the David vs Goliath factor though, every playoff competition has an underdog story. The real success has to do with the fans, the passion, and the spirit that is entrenched in each game. It's the stories behind the game that make it great. Starving students foregoing studying, food, and their own well-being to travel 1,200 miles to watch their team play. Amazing athletes, before they are tainted by the money and the fame of the professional game, giving everything they can to move on only to do it all over again in the next round. Scholarship athletes that may not otherwise be able to attend school competing against walk ons that may not ever get the chance to play again. Alumni from each of the past six or seven decades singing their schools fight song in unison with the student section. March Madness lives on these stories, teams, fans, and players and it is all of these in turn that make it a once in a lifetime moment for those involved and make it feel like a once in a lifetime experience for those of us that get to watch every March.

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