It’s March — and in our house, that means one thing: Bracket season. For most people, March feels like the year is flying by. For me? All I can think about is March Madness and the NCAA Tournament. I’ve been filling out a bracket for as long as I can remember. And it all started when I was 11 years old.
Where It All Began
In 1997, Kansas City hosted regional games at the good old Kemper Arena. My Uncle Melvin had tickets to the second round and decided to take me. We watched Minnesota defeat Temple, and Clemson beat Tulsa. I walked out of that arena with a Clemson Tigers t-shirt — and an unshakable love for the NCAA Tournament. That game started something. From that point on, filling out a bracket became a yearly tradition.
The Evolution of the March Madness Bracket
At first, it was just me and my dad trying to predict the chaos. Then it turned into bigger pools with friends. Then everything went digital — and naturally, I started filling out as many brackets as possible.
I typically have three approaches:
- 1. The Heart Bracket – Missouri winning it all (please don’t mention 2012).
- 2. The Chaos Bracket – Upsets everywhere.
- 3. The Real Bracket – The one I actually think has a chance.
My crowning achievement? Winning a graduate school bracket pool in 2013 with Louisville over Michigan. Peaked early.
Then Emily Entered the Picture
When Emily and I started dating, she had never heard of the NCAA Tournament. So obviously, I challenged her. We added a friendly wager: If I won, she had to get bright lime green nails. If she won, I had to get a pedicure with her.
Let’s just say she received plenty of compliments on her lime green nails. We’ve filled out brackets every year since. And here’s the part I don’t love admitting: over the last decade, she’s won more often than I have. This year? That changes.
Selection Sunday Is Coming
Selection Sunday is on the 15th, which means we’ll have two days to finalize our brackets — and figure out this year’s bet. The rivalry continues. We’ll keep you posted on:
- Who we pick to win it all
- What the loser has to do
And if history tells us anything… I should probably start preparing for a pedicure.
Final Thoughts about March Madness
What I love most about March Madness isn’t just the basketball. It’s the tradition. It’s the memories with my uncle. The yearly competition with my dad. The decade-long rivalry with my wife. Some traditions follow you through every season of life. This one just happens to involve a bracket — and occasionally, neon nail polish. Stay tuned.
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