We used to think of March as a month when Spring marches in like a lion or lamb. Now, turn on any TV station (except maybe the Cooking Channel) and you’ll see something about March Madness. Basketball hysteria sweeps the nation during March and even spills over into April. People are talking about teams, players, and bracketology. The buzz around the water cooler revolves around the underdogs and the surprise teams who made it to the dance and the expected teams who are left at home like rejected step-sisters.
It’s all in good fun, right? In most cases, yes. People fill out brackets in the name of light-hearted competition. In other cases, things get a little extreme. Here are some examples of when Bracketology becomes a bust:
- Someone bets money he/she doesn’t have.
- A dad spends more time filling out his bracket and watching the games than he does on his kids.
- A family is so obsessed with a team they spend money they don’t have to go to games or buy special jerseys, hats, foam fingers, scarves, earrings, bracelets, coats, etc.
- A fan becomes verbally abusive to referees, players, coaches, or other fans when a play doesn’t go his/her way.
Here are some ways you can enjoy March Madness and not the madness take over your life or household:
- Involve your family
Anyone can fill out a bracket. Each person gets their own bracket and they can pick whatever team they want. Then, watch the games together. Each day, keep track of whose teams win and lose. You can even add a prize at the end of the tournament. If mom wins, maybe she gets a free Saturday with her girlfriends complete with manis and pedis. If dad wins, maybe he gets a jersey from his favorite team. If son or daughter win, maybe they get a trip to the movies or a sleepover. The prize doesn’t have to cost anything and the competition can be fun. - Plan financially.
If you really want the newest $150 jersey or to go to the game, plan ahead. You’ll know before basketball season if your team is supposed to do well. Sock away a little money each paycheck, then buy only what you have cash to cover. If you don’t have enough money, scale back and buy only what you can afford. - Put up safeguards regarding gambling.
If you have an addictive personality, you probably know what your triggers are-certain people who encourage the poor choices, gambling when under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, wanting to be a part of the office pool so you’ll fit in. Be aware of those and take steps to overcome them. Maybe you don’t need to attend a Gambler’s Anonymous meeting all year long until your favorite season rolls around. Go to a meeting. Talk with a sponsor. Find someone who can enjoy the event with you and not focus on wagers and bets. - Remember it’s a game.
Our society has taken sports and elevated them to an unhealthy level. Stories on ESPN are riddled with teams who have bribed players, professional athletes who get paid embarrassing amounts of money to play a game, and athletes who have been targets of violence so as to handicap them and their teams. Don’t get so wrapped up in a game that you lose sight of the big picture. When you’re at the game and a play doesn’t go your way, it’s okay to be disappointed and even frustrated, but resist the urge to yell at the players and refs. It’s all part of the game. Not every call goes your way and the games are not always fair. That’s just the way it is. What matters is how you conduct yourself and how you treat others.
If any of these issues are hard for you to keep in check, you may consider talking with a professional therapist. A licensed counselor can help you learn the skills you’ll need to enjoy March Madness without feeling like you’re going mad.
If you need a bracket, here’s a link to the official 2013 NCAA March Madness bracket.