More anticipated than Christmas in my household, the few weekends of March completely and wholly dedicated to basketball have always been the highlight of the year for my family.
The Hall family lives, sleeps and breathes sports and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not sure if the love for all sports — especially basketball — is genetic or taught; if it’s not, there’s got to be something in our water.
Selection Sunday has always been a family affair and with a house divided between Michigan State and Michigan fans, there was always trashtalking about who got the better region or who was a higher seed. Being an MSU fan, I never had to worry about whether or not my team would get in.
But let’s not talk about our record over the past couple years or I might cry.
I was homeschooled until high school and every year, my mom would put off all our assignments and give us a mini break so we could sit on the couch all day and watch the big upsets that always steal the show the first few rounds. Shout-out to my mom for letting us enjoy that while we could, because working and having classes during the games now—for lack of a better word—sucks.
I can honestly say that I don’t understand people who don’t get the hype of March Madness.
Watching history being made when the first ever 16th seed to win a game this year was an indescribable feeling. I don’t understand how people have never felt the heartbreak when your team missed a trip to the Final Four or the euphoria when they pull off a massive upset no one believed they could.
The tournament gets crazier every year and I can’t wait to tell my kids about it one day when we’re all watching the games together. If there’s one thing I pass onto my future kids, it will be that March is the best month of the year and they shall refer to the dates as Izzo 1st, Izzo 2nd, etc.
My team may not be in the running for a national championship anymore but you can bet that I’ll be watching the rest of the tournament, rooting for every upset and especially for Michigan to lose.
Happy March Madness, people. Enjoy the insanity while it lasts.
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