The NCAA Tournament is upon us and with it the magic, awe-inspiring moments that makes this playoff system the best in all of sports. This is the only tournament where “David” tries to topple “Goliath”, Cinderella stories invade our hearts, and where amazing talent is displayed for nothing more than love of the game.
The Big Dance is what kids dream of playing in and fans drool over for months on end. When the calendar changes to March every year a certain madness sweeps the nation. That is because this month belongs to college basketball and the NCAA Tournament.
There is no other playoff system quite like the NCAA tournament and that is why it stands above all others. The reasons are simple.
The NFL, NBA, MLB, and the NHL all have the best athletes in the world, in their respective sports, going against each other, especially in the playoffs. The gap in skill level between two schools playing in the NCAA Tournament can have a huge disparity. A mid-major with one, or no star, recruits has the possibility of playing a university that attracts only 5 star recruits adding to the excitement of the underdog role.
The NBA and the NHL have 7 games series, MLB has 5 game and 7 game series, where the more talented and better discipline team tends to prevail. In the NCAA Tournament it is a win or go home scenario, where on any given night even a powerhouse can fall to a nobody.
The knock on the NFL is that the playoffs are short, with only 11 games and 12 teams. In the same breath the NBA, NHL, and MLB could have four to eight times that amount of games, but with multiple game series they showcase the same 16 teams, or eight in the case of baseball. In the NCAA Tournament there are 65 games that exhibit 68 teams from across the country. With all that variety even if your favorite team is eliminated, or never made it in the first place, you are bound to root or at least keep track of another.
The best part of the NCAA Tournament that no other playoff system can compete with is the Cinderella stories. Rooting for the underdogs is instilled within the American tradition. Every year there is that one mid-major team that no one gave a shot to even win their first game in the Round of 64, that makes a run to the Sweet 16, or even further. As they make their run their stories sweep the nation and they become America’s sweethearts who are fighting against all the odds.
Do not tell me when Gordon Hayward took that half-court shot to win the 2010 National Championship Game at the end of regulation against Duke, you wanted him to miss.You were rooting for tiny Butler from the Horizon League to beat the vaunted Duke Blue Devils and Coach K; not because you hated Duke, but due to the fact that Butler was not suppose to be in that position to win the game let alone make it to the National Championship.
The NCAA Tournament comes around only once a year and it never fails to provide dramatic finishes, if it be buzzer-beating shots or an upset no one thought possible. So come this tournament look out for the next Cinderella story or just catch one of the dozen of games, you surely are not to be disappointed.
The Sports Review 
Sure, you want the underdog to win; why not?! Unless, you are a fan of a consistant winning team; like the LAKERS. I guess this season I can relate to the underdog… Where as before, I would cheer for Duke. I’d say let the Devils WIN! Go BIG Blue, but I was forced be a humble fan! AJ, who do you have selected as your final 4?