“Historic” is an interesting word.  It might go without saying that few of us would consider this year’s NCAA tournament “historic”, especially considering the sheer lack of significant upsets.  However, there are facets of this year’s rendition of March Madness that are significant from a historical perspective. 

For example, I forget the exact quote, but I heard one of the sideline sports babes on Saturday saying that this was the first time since something like 1979 that no seed higher than a 2 had reached the Final Four.  The success and outright dominance of better seeds this year goes beyond what we’ve seen in years, and far beyond what we’ve seen in recent years.  I’m not sure I even heard the word “Cinderella” even uttered by Clark Kellogg or Seth “The Genius” Davis.  There simply wasn’t one this year.  2006 may have been the year of the Cinderella.  2007 will be remembered as the year of the Ugly Step-Sister.  And speaking of ugly…

The two biggest, ugliest dudes in all of college hoops are going to collide about 18 hours from now.  There’s nothing historic about that, but the two schools they represent have certainly made some history this year.  Last year there was some talk about the possibility of Texas winning a football and a basketball championship in the same year.  That opportunity never materialized for the Longhorns, but it has materialized for the Gators, who can become the first school ever to win College Athletics’ two biggest prizes, the National Championships in Football and Div. I-A Men’s Basketball, in the same year.  Not only that, but history gets the double-whammy in that in doing so, they would have beaten the SAME SCHOOL in both sports.  I am quite certain thathas never happened before.  And as if all that weren’t enough incentive for Florida, a win will also give them the first repeat championship in basketball since Duke did it in 1991-92, 15 years ago.

Speaking of College Football, I was musing today about the uniquely bittersweet nature of the Men’s Basketball Tournament.  In football, 64 teams play in 32 bowl games over the course of about 2 weeks.  32 teams finish the season as winners, and 32 finish as losers, while one finishes as the oft-disputed National Champion.  In basketball, 64 teams play in 63 games, and 63 teams finish their season with a loss.  One and only one team finishes with a win and the (essentially) undisputed national championship.  Imagine the emotions these guys go through.  Just one week ago Georgetown shocked the nation with their stunning comeback against the favored UNC Tarheels, and then their demolition of them in the overtime period.  They cut down the nets and walked out of their regional site wearing their regional champion hats and T-shirts, heads spinning from the euphoria of reaching the Final Four.  One week later they are slinking back to their locker room, vanquished and forgotten.  Perhaps it is the unbending cruelty of this harsh reality that makes March Madness so great, so captivating for we, the spectators.  These are not NBA superstars (yet) who will get their shoe endorsements and fat paychecks win orlose.  For many of these kids who realistically will never see the inside of an NBA locker room, this is their legacy, and they will give everything they have, and then a little more, to be the one team that doesn’t have to go back home defeated.

I think the NBA would be a lot more interesting if the players only got paid when they won. 🙂

Finally, let’s take a quick peek at the contest standings and find out what’s at steak in tomorrow night’s national championship.  I have but one award to give away today, and the rest-the final contest awards-will be given out tomorrow night.

• The It Was Good While It Lasted award goes to Brooke “Carrrr-ne Asada” Johnson, who, unfortunately for her, picked UCLA as national champion.  Take a good look at the scoreboard today, because this is the last day she will be atop it. 

So who’s going to win?  It will be either Kory “Jack Bauer of the Hardwood” Wilcoxson, currently in second place, who picked Ohio State, or Randy “Ranman” Cowell, currently in third place, who picked Florida.  65 contestants have a chance to move up in the standings with a Florida win, while 98 contestants have a chance to move up with an Ohio Statewin.  That means that just over half the contestants still have a chance to score 10 more points.  It is also interesting to note the biggest heart-breakers from the Carnage Report.

• Kansas– 160 had them in the Final Four, and they were 41 people’s champion
• North Carolina– 141 had them in the Final Four, and they were 32 people’s champion
• Georgetown – 17 people’s champion
• UCLA– 14 people’s champion

One more game.  One shining moment.  One contest winner.  One more blog entry with lots of awards.  See you tomorrow.