It's March...Wish It Was August

Many sports fans love March. It makes sense...there's a little tournament nicknamed "March Madness." Normally, I enjoy following the tournament. This year, I don't know if there will be any local teams involved so I may skip it.

In the past couple of years, I've skipped a lot of sports...

Like, all NFL games, almost all NBA games, all MLB games.

Removing sports in my life isn't necessarily a bad thing. I have many friends who follow no sports whatsoever. They use their time doing other things, like writing books. Unfortunately, I haven't spent my time away from sports writing like they do. If I used the time like they do, I've have written millions of words filling volumes of books.

A few blocks from our house there's a semi truck dealership. There are several trailers parked on the lot...one of them is unique. It's the semi trailer for the Utah State University football team, and it's beautiful. I am an Aggie fan. They're my second-favorite local college football team. I will root for them every time they play...unless, of course, they play my favorite college football team. Then, sorry USU...got to be true to my school.

It's March, an incredible time for sports fans, if you like the sports being played right now. But give me August, and even though it's way too hot in August, it's my favorite time of the sports year.

March Sadness...

 I wish there could have been three teams from Utah in the NCAA March Madness Men's Basketball Tournament. But, it was not to be. However, two strong teams represented the Beehive State, Brigham Young University and Utah State University.

Unfortunately, both were one and done.

I used to watch more college hoops. When I attended Utah State before my mission, I went to many USU games that season. That 84 - 85 team beat both BYU and Utah twice, home and away. It's the last USU team to win in Provo.

I was there.

It was great.

When I attended the U, we had season tickets in the Huntsman Center most of the years I attended. One year, we had tickets on the second row. Back then, you got in free as a student. After Rick Majerus and the Final Four team, I think the days of attending for free was over. My Utes have not made the tournament in several years. Now, they're looking for a new coach. We fans hope more successful days are ahead.

I was rooting for the local teams. I watched part of the USU game--strong first half, then Texas Tech began hitting the shots they missed in the second half and that was all it took. I watched the BYU game and it was closer than the score indicated. The Cougars played hard, but a few of the UCLA players were hitting everything and anything they put up...bummer.

Fans can always say, "There's always next year." It's the retort of fans of teams that did not end the season with a win, and there's only one team and one team's fans who don't have to say that...

Unless they think they'll win it all again next year.

What I Didn't Do This Weekend...

I can't remember the last time when I didn't watch at least one college basketball game during the first round of the NCAA National Basketball Tournament. Sure, I have my favorites, usually local teams that have earned the right to compete. The locals fell short of the Big Dance, and bowed out early in the not-so-big-dances.

On a normal Thursday through Saturday late in March I would be at least watching a game or two, usually with my computer plunking out something on a story. This year, I've only checked scores--no games. It was because I was preoccupied with another event in town, one that took so much time and energy. The event's over, and I am as tired as I can be.

Like almost everyone who works during the week, I look forward to weekends. We do grocery shopping, get the laundry done, take kids to the places they need to go. Didn't do any of those things either. It throws things off, messes up the schedule. But is that bad? I suppose it could be. I like having several days to get all those things done. I like helping out with the dishes and the shopping and the laundry.

As our kids have gotten older, I thought things would slow down, but jut the opposite has happened. It could be that things are just as crazy and we're just getting old. After a weekend of standing on my feet talking to people about what they like to read sure makes me feel old.

After a "normal" weekend, I'd go to work early Monday morning a little sleepy, mostly because of the lack of sleep. Personally, I'll consider it a triumph if I can get out of bed tomorrow. Time will tell.