Falling in Love with March Madness

March Madness is down to 16 teams. So unless you went to undergrad (yes, only undergrad) at one of the schools left, are in the mix to win some serious money, or are a huge douche, it's time to throw away your bracket and start rooting with your heart (or mine if yours doesn't steer you towards Cornell, Northern Iowa and St. Mary's. Did I forget a team? No. I do not believe I did.).

I'll be the first to admit that each year on Thursday afternoon as the tournament begins, I sit down with my bracket and I root for the teams I've selected. How can I not? The bracket is a major reason why the tournament is so special. However, as large cross outs start to fill up my bracket my mindset changes.

This year, as per usual, as the sweet sixteen rolls around my bracket doesn't give me much to root for. Unfortunately, Siena, UTEP, New Mexico St., Marquette, Oklahoma St., Texas and Richmond didn't make it to the sweet sixteen. In fact, NONE OF THEM EVEN MADE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND! Add the fact that I cheered as my National Championship pick (Kansas) got knocked off and you have someone who doesn't really care about his (2.3% on ESPN) bracket any more... WHICH IS GREAT! Honestly, it's like walking in on your controlling girl friend cheating on you -- You finally have a reason to be free of this unruly succubus. It's time to follow your heart.

If you haven't already, it's time to fall in love. First round upsets are great, but they happen, and if you blink they've been knocked off in the second round two days later. Realistically, a team needs to make the sweet sixteen to fully capture our imagination. The teams that have done that this year? Northern Iowa, St. Mary's and Cornell.

 With a win against Kentucky, Cornell could finally afford some new jerseys.

The reason I don't include #11 Washington in this group is because I hate them. I hate any major conference team that sneaks into the tournament and then thinks they are a Cinderella Story when they win a few games. In my opinion, all under achieving major conference teams should be given 8 or 9 seeds (the seeds of death). Let them play a game and then get bounced by a one seed. Let's look at the past few years of #1 seed action. Yes, Alabama knocked off a horrible #1 in Stanford in 2005, but the other two upsets, both over #1 overall seeds, Northern Iowa over Kansas this year and UAB over Kentucky in 2004. Two scrappy hardworking TEAMS! Those are the teams we want to see more of. Screw off underachieving major conference teams.

So this year we have Northern Iowa, St. Mary's and Cornell. We already fell in love with Northern Iowa last weekend, but she's a real chill girl and lets us be in an open relationship. St. Mary's is more of an on-the-side-lover. We love her when we're with her, but when she's out of sight...she's out of mind. Finally, we have Cornell, ohhhhhhh Cornell how I love thee. Cornell is that girl you are so fucking close to asking out. You want to love her with all the passion of your heart, but part of you knows she couldn’t love you back. Something deep down inside of you knows that if you give her everything you have and she doesn't give you anything back...you may never be able to love again.

That is what makes Kentucky v. Cornell the most compelling game of this NCAA tournament and probably the most compelling game since #1 UConn played #11 George Mason for a spot in the Final Four. No one will blame Cornell if they can't keep up with the size and strength of Kentucky. They made a great run, they don't give scholarships, they're thinking about their homework that's pilling up back on campus, but what if they do?!?!?!?!?! What if they aren't scared? What if they hit their threes and play scrappy “nothing to lose” defense? What if they make it a game and have a chance to pull off the greatest upset in the history of March? What if they do love you back?

What if Cornell does love you but you were too big of a pussy to ask her out? Could you live with that?

Each and every year the NCAA tournament delivers. There are always upsets and Cinderella stories (cough) except last year, but this game is different. It's better! An Ivy League school with two NCAA tournament wins, both coming this year, against an SEC team that has the most tournament wins of all time, 104. Kentucky has two top 5 picks in the upcoming NBA draft and 4 potential top twelve picks (Wall, Cousins, Patterson and Bledsoe)! Cornell players are scheduling job interviews from the team bus.

If you're not putting your heart and soul behind this Cornell team (that it appears hasn't had funding for new uniforms in 120 years) then maybe you should be watching something else. I think there’s bowling on ESPN2…