READY FOR "THE DANCE"?

"Are you ready, "baby", as Dickie would ask?
It's time for "the dance" to begin, and everybody
from the royalty of hoops to the cinderellas of
smaller conferences will be hoping to turn an
upset or two and gain some notoriety in hardcourt
annals. The Indianas and UCLAs of the past will
give way to the Duke and Kentucky and Syracuse
of today, as warriors short and tall try to impose
their dominant skills on their opponents.
Individual conference tourneys have provided
a lot of excitement locally, as little-known squads
such as Robert Morris, UTEP, and St. Marys play
like giant-killers, and attempt to make their
schools and conferences proud by playing with
"the big boys"
WHO WILL SURVIVE the rigors of what has been
termed "March Madness"? Will the so-called
favorites take home all of the marbles? Will the
big names from the big schools show why they
are mentioned more often in the pages of the
sports sections? Will a darkhorse emerge to
stun a heavy favorite in Round One or Two, or
even beyond? It's happened often.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS about it all is the
officiating. While usually the "zebras" in the
striped shirts do a commendable job of calling
the games, some of their omissions have been
painfully obvious, while calling some "not-so-
necessary" violations and "apparent" fouls.
Huh?
Granted, Mssrs. Burns and Hightower and
company usually perform at a high level of
professionalism, but some of their miscues in
recent games have not only left me with my mouth
agape, but have drawn the criticism of even the
announcers, who have an unwritten oath to
not question the abilities or calls of the officials.
Huh?
Allowing a dunk which was not completed when
the time expired. Missing a "football run" of a
play last night when a player tucked the basketball
into his arm as he ran down the court. Assessing a
technical or two on the "innocent" participant in
a quarrel or tussle.
Is the season too long? Are some referees over-
worked? Are there not enough qualified college-
level officials? Do some work too many games in
a row or in a week? Does the 3-man system allow
one or two too much backing-off when a miscue
occurs in another man's area? Huh? These and
many other items need some consideration.
AS TO THE BRACKETS - are you ready? Got your
favorites picked? Have a "system"? How did you
do last year and the year before? Will you be in
a pool or two or more?
Unsolicited, the ESPN website allowed each person
up to 10 (ten) brackets in the quest for the $10,000
prize. My first year was so-so, but last year I was
"in the running" well into the tournament. I will
try again next week, as well as the paper picks we
do here at home.
Need a tip? Watch Butler and Chaminade! Are they
both in? Huh? Anyway, GOOD LUCK, and may the
"luckiest" man or woman win.
Have a "hoopy" March Madness, Bill.

P.S. I wish basketball would go on all summer,
so we wouldn't be besieged by that sport that used
to be called "America's game", where overpaid and
overrated prima donnas exhibit their steroid-
enhanced physiques in a game that's barely more
exciting than dominoes. (Yes, I live in the
Pittsburgh area. Sympathy needed & welcomed.)