So it’s public knowledge that I have a tiny, wee little bit of a competitive streak in me. It is also public knowledge that my face lights up like Christmas when I get to fill out my NCAA tournament bracket. Once I blow out my last birthday candle in January, I can’t wait for March Madness to begin.
This year, the ink was still wet on my final selection when my heart was pulled from my body and smashed on the ground at my feet. There was no smack talking in the lunch room. No snide comments in my facebook updates. Just anarchy and basketball mayhem. Nine seats were beating one seats and before you knew it, my bracket was nothing more than a legal size piece of scrap paper.
Boo.
I was at a bar, as one of the final four games played, and struck up a conversation with the gentleman sitting next to me. He offered me half of his meal, which I was totally confused by but tried to hide (why exactly Mr. Total Stranger would I eat half of your dinner?). He was watching the game on the big screen.
Making friendly conversation, I ask “So you didn’t have either of these teams on your bracket, now did you?”
“Hell no” was his emphatic reply.
Yeah, mine has been garbage for over a week now, which really sucks.”
I was partly making conversation and partly looking for comfort because I’m really pissed about it all. Anyone I see with a Kansas shirt on from now until the summer I’m gonna smack them upside the back of their head like a smart mouth five year old.
Then he said, “Well, if you really love the game, it doesn’t matter and you enjoy it for the sport of it all, regardless of who is playing. You appreciate the game and watch it the same no matter what.”
5 minutes later, he paid his check and left. The score was 7-9, 7 minutes into the first half.
Humph.
I guess “enjoying the sport of it all” just applies to me. After his lecture and attempt to make me feel like “less than a pure fan” he bounced.
But I have seen lots of guys paint their whole bodies in the color of their favorite teams. They love the game AND care who wins.
Besides, he clearly didn’t want to watch this bull, shit either.
Kansas, Georgetown, and Villanova: you are all on my list. Sleep with one eye open.
Strange man at the bar: You can kiss my ass. You’re just as pissed-off as I am. Stop fronting and stop trying to make me feel bad. This bracket season sucks and I’m going to pout about it until fantasy football starts.
Your BC Girl – clearly still mad at loosing $10 bucks in the office pool.
