The "Madness" Evolution

Once upon a time there was a fella who enjoyed hoops who happened to be (seriously) dating a girl who enjoyed hoops.  Each March, their excitement for the game intensified as the NCAA college basketball tournament approached.  Together they would pour over the pages of USA Today, drafting, editing, and finalizing their brackets just in time for the tourney's first tip-off.  They would invite friends to crash at his parent's pad (not embarrassing in the least) for tournament action, hunkering down in the basement for hours of uninterrupted basketball viewing.  As the hours rolled into days, brackets were scored, chips were consumed, aluminum cans piled high as people sweated out their brackets, celebrated victories and mourned loses.  Slowly a slight stench would permeate the basement as boys' men's belongings took up various corners of the basement.  With the exception of commercial breaks, and the occasional viewing of BET, game after game filled the large television screen. It was magical.

 

 

They were young and carefree. 

 

Then one year the strapping young man married the basketball-loving girl.   In marital bliss, their love of the game and all its madness remained.  Slightly older, less carefree the group of friends continued to gather each March in his parent's basement (still not embarrassing), celebrating all that is beautiful about the tournament. 

 

And, then the time came for the couple to have their first child.  Perfectly timed, the baby girl would arrive in the first weekend of tournament action.  With stomach, the size of a basketball and highlighter in hand, the young woman scored brackets awaiting the arrival of her spirited baby girl born in the season of Madness. 

 

And, just like that the tournament was forever changed.

 

 

The following year, friends gathered with duffel bags and babes in tow, older still, a tad more responsible in the spirit of the tournament.  With little ones at their feet, they cheered (a bit softer), consumed food and beverage (with more restraint) and celebrated their growing brood.  It was different, yet still magical, the chaos perfecting the Madness.





 

They would continue the tradition, each year having more to celebrate.  New fans would join the party, each with their tiny mascot-ed tees.

 

Sippy cups replaced aluminum cans, the amount of Gerber Graduates equaling chips, as the noise intensified, a symphony of cries, squeals and cheering. 



 

And, there was always cake, as the first born was celebrated.  Her fire and spirit matching that of the tournament, the little lady born in the midst of all the Madness.

 

 

These days, the once carefree young couple, have grown nostalgic for the days of old.  However, they have come to embrace the beauty of raising little Badgers imparting their love of the game, and the art of bracketology. 

Little bodies now take their place in front of the big screen, filling seats once reserved for rowdy boys men. 

 



 

As pint-sized fans enthusiastically cheer on their favorite colored teams. 

 

 

Aged and responsible, the couple and their faithful friends will continue to gather each March, celebrating the hype, the magic, the Madness of the tournament, as they raise the next generation of fans.