65 reasons why we love March Madness

It's the Big Dance. It's March Madness. Call it what you want, but the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is arguably the biggest event on the sports calendar. And whether you're a basketball junkie, a casual fan or watching college hoops for the first time, the NCAA Tournament has something for everyone to get excited about. The David vs. Goliath story lines, the drama of lose and go home, the buzzer-beaters and the brackets. We love it all and here are 65 reasons why.
65. The play-in game. Okay, we actually hate the play-in game, but since the tournament expanded by one, so did we. Nobody watches it, the loser doesn't even feel like they played in the tournament and the winner gets a date with the top seed. Have fun!
64. Listening to the pundits debate "Last four in … Last four out" for the last month.
63. Knowing baseball is just around the corner.
62. Watching future millionaires crying on the court as their national title dreams end. Adam Morrison, anyone?
61. Gleefully listening to big-conference programs cry that they didn't get an at-large bid after finishing below .500 in conference play. Win more games, suckers!
60. Watching the live look-ins on Selection Sunday as teams gather all across the country and nervously await their fate.
59. Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl's bright orange sports coat.
58. There's only so much Dancing with the Stars that this sports fan can watch.
57. Remembering when the Final Four was played in a real basketball arena instead of a mammoth football stadium.
56. The emotion of fifth-year seniors playing in their final game.
55. Winter is finally over.
54. Going online and debating the merits of the MEAC vs. SWAC.
53. The age-old quandary … cheer for your favorite team - or for your bracket?
52. Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone.
51. Picking the champion out of a hat.
50. It's the Big Dance … and it's the only dancing we will do. Ever.
49. Seeing your alma mater go dancing for the first time (some of us are still waiting!).
48. Getting hypnotized by the sound of squeaking sneakers.
47. Scoring cheap tickets for the title game from distraught fans of losing semifinalists.
46. Downing a shot of Jagermeister every time we see a Viagra commercial … and being hammered by halftime of the first game.
45. Post-game press conferences that take on the look and feel of a White House press briefing after a failed stimulus bill.
44. It's the ultimate form of male bonding, just like when Loyola-Marymount's Bo Kimble shot free throws left-handed in honor of Hank Gathers. We hug … We cry.

43. Gus Johnson's memorable calls - like "And it's over. … The slipper still fits!"
42. Laughing at obsessed fans with painted faces - and fondly recalling doing the same back in college.
41. Watching every game - online - for free.
40. Picking the tournament solely based on mascots. Can a Bison beat a Jayhawk? Can a Turtle take down a Golden Bear? And what chance does a Zip have against a Bulldog?
39. Entering online bracket games that promise $1 million payouts for a perfect bracket. Who cares that the odds are better that you'll get struck by lightning while kissing a supermodel?
38. Knowing Kentucky super-fan Ashley Judd is home crying on Dario Franchitti's shoulder.
37. The Pep Bands …
36. … And the Spirit Squads …
35. … and, of course, THE CHEERLEADERS!
34. Does anyone remember Keith Smart?
33. Throwing on a shirt and tie and sneaking onto press row for a regional final as a poor college student. Just don't let the NCAA know, it will be our little secret.
32. Getting to use the terms "Mid-majors", "Bracket-buster" and "Sub-regional"… in everyday conversation.
31. Still trying to figure out why Jerry Tarkanian chomped on that towel.
30. The greatest hoops fraternity of all-time … Phi Slamma Jamma.
29. One Shining Moment. This might have earned a higher ranking because we love the concept. But that music? Ugh. Way too John Teshy for us.
28. Sitting on the couch from Thursday morning until Sunday night, only getting up to (Austin) Peay, refill on Keystone Light (insert your own crappy college beer selection here) and open another bag of pork rinds.
27. Frantically trying to figure out how many timeouts you have left. That's right, Chris Webber. We haven't forgotten about you!
26. Erin Andrews. Need we say more? What's that you say? She works for another network? That's OK … we'll imagine all the sideline reporters look like Erin Andrews.
25. The NCAAs ... where the Big Ten goes to die.
24. They play actual, honest-to-goodness defense.
23. Getting a first look at future Hall of Famers like Bird, Magic and MJ.
22. Dreaming of another perfect season like the one Bobby Knight had at Indiana once.
21. The classic David (George Mason) vs. Goliath (UConn) battles.
20. Wondering if this is the year Dick Vitale finally spontaneously combusts on air.
19. Gathering around a 13-inch TV in the office when a game goes down to the wire.
18. Betting a beer your buddies can't spell K-R-Z-Y-Z-E-W-S-K-I.
17. Pounding the punks in the office pool who only pick the higher seeds.
16. Sweet Sixteen … and we're not talking about your cousin Buffy's birthday party.
15. Remembering the first time a No. 15 seed beat a No. 2 (with apologies to Syracuse fans).
14. Helping the wife make her picks so she doesn't embarrass you in the office pool ...
13 ... losing to your wife in the office pool.
12. Trying to decide which 12-5 upset to pick. There's always one, it's in the NCAA rule book.
11. Water-cooler debates about the greatest tournament game ever played. If you don't think Duke over Kentucky in the '92 East Regional final, God help you.
10. Cutting down the nets.
9. Watching an underdog execute the game-plan to perfection like Gene Hackman's squad in Hoosiers (Rollie Massimino played the lead role in 1985 and Pete Carril reprised it in 1996).
8. The Elite Eight.
7. Waiting for the day when a No. 1 seed falls in the opening round. It's going to happen one of these years, right?
6. Celebrations that make grown men cry, like when Jim Valvano raced around the court searching for someone to hug after North Carolina State shocked Houston in '83.
5. Did we mention the cheerleaders?
4. The Final Four
3. None of the 65 teams are the KNICKS!
2. Brackets, brackets and more brackets. Did we say we love filling out BRACKETS!
1. Watching the tournament at work and knowing the boss doesn't care … he's watching too.