"Chirpy Terp"

It's here. March Magic. March Mayhem. March Madness. How do I know? Because ESPN is spending 80% of Sportscenter covering Cinderella-hopeful games and dunks by players in jerseys that from far away look like they belong to a power conference (Green/White - must be Michigan State!?) when instead they come from an unheard-of 13th-seeded Cleveland State. Thank god - because my 3 mile run on the treadmill this morning seemed so much easier with exciting highlights/upset-alerts to tune into, instead of seemingly meaningless NBA games or baseball spring training bouts that don't even count toward the season.

It's the time of year when people complain about things being unfair. Bubble teams that didn't "deserve to get a bid" (Arizona - who proved their worth last night by upending 5th seeded Utah in a typical 12/5 upset). I will admit - I was on the Arizona-doesn't-deserve-to-get-in bandwagon. I was convinced Saint Mary's (plays Monday night against Davidson - still alive in the NIT) deserved that "last spot". But let's be honest - it was more so just the Sun Devil in me lashing out.

People also complain about the placement of teams in the various regions - stating, for example, that it is unfair Villanova was placed in the Philly Regional. I am curious, how this is any more "unfair" than 12,000 fans in attendance at the second day of the first round in the East Regional - cheering with all their might for East Tennessee State, who was inches from becoming the first 16th seed in tournament history to upset a #1 seed (PITT). I mean - isn't that unfair to PITT? It is hard enough for the committee to seed/place 64 teams from ump-teen different conferences in four various regions - let alone worry about whether or not any of those groups of 16 happen to be from that area. And when does it NOT become a home game? Cripes - in the Women's Tournament - you are purposely placed near home in the first 2 rounds. At Maryland, we have hosted the first and second rounds the past 2 years now - knowing if we advanced to the tourney we would play on our home court. I guess I should wait for the complaining to start - although if you ask me - Dartmouth, Utah and Villanova don't stand a chance against the #1-seeded Terps anyway - we could play in Alaska for all I care.

Back to Men's Basketball though. So the 10th-seeded Terps handled Cal on Thursday and as my friend Joe, Director of Annual Giving for the Bears, humbly pointed out to me - we've now officially beat them twice this year. (Who could forget our football victory - shocking the Bears in a game that kicked off at 9 a.m. their time on that lovely Saturday morning back in September). Honestly, however, I do not feel like a 10-seed over a 7-seed victory is really an "upset". In fact, an 11-seed over 6-seed is even pushing it for me. But hey - I'm going to take Thursday's win. Because today's game for the Terps vs. the 2nd-seeded mighty Memphis Tigers would most DEFINITELY be an upset should the Terps somehow manage to pull off a victory...and the sparring has already began.

Contrary to the Maryland team - who knows each Tiger by name and what his tendencies are - None of the Memphis players have been able to name a Maryland player. Instead, they've noted "good guards" and "lack of size" regarding the Terrapin team. One of their players tried to recall the name of Maryland's mouthy Venezuelan guard, referring to him as "some guy named Sanchez." Um...It's Vasquez buddy. Close though - close. And when Mr. Greivis Vasquez was informed of the lack of name-recognition for him - he spouted back, proclaiming Memphis would have a losing record if they competed in the ACC Conference (#1 Ranked conference) instead of Conference USA (Ranked 10th). Awesome. And the fire on both sides has been topped off with plenty of fuel.

Thus...the inferno that has been ignited can now be put out the only way possible - the reason why this time of year is the best time of year. On the court at 3:20 EST.

I just wish Memphis didn't have such an unfair advantage - being that their fans only had to drive 452.13 miles versus the 1074.92 miles that Maryland fans had to travel ;)