Every March, I open up my wallet and willingly throw money at my friends and family and whoever else invites me to fill out a “bracket” and participate in March Madness. This year, I’ve got $20 in an office pool we called the Bracket of Brothers and $10 against my friend who refused to play until I sent him my bracket and his reply was, “I’m taking all the favorites. Duke vs. Kansas, Kansas winner.” The way I fill out a bracket is part superstition, partly distorted memory (Gonzaga comes to mind) and a huge part heart, I was a milisecond away from having my Illini take down Bill Self and Kansas to move to the sweet sixteen.
I’ll be in Hawaii for some of the games, so if my team’s alive, I’ll be screaming ILL-INI in a bar and if they’re out, I’ll be laying in the saltwater waves drinking away my sorrow.
Good luck and enjoy the Dance.