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MARCH 2013


PAGE 27 Sports Closet - March Madness!


What is it about a basket either hanging or sitting on the floor that begs for something to be thrown in it?! We all have at one time or another sat in the office with a crumpled up piece of paper and instead of just getting up and properly dis- posing of it, the Michael Jordan in us comes out and we throw the layup shot!! We watch it hit the rim and bounce onto the floor and find ourselves getting up anyway to throw it away. (We all can’t be NBA stars sorry). Even toddlers and dogs love tossing items in bas- kets. Our Springer Spaniel had a favorite game of dropping a


tennis ball over and over into the basket sitting out when my mom did laun- dry. Also tell me what mother has not searched the house for a lost item only to find it placed in the garbage basket by her toddler!! Maybe that’s why we love


March Madness! 68 of the best Col- lege Basketball teams are selected or qualify for this tournament by virtue of winning their conference. Single elimination games begin the weekend of March 19-20 and end with the final four survivors on April 6th! Talk about a lot of baskets needing to be made! 2013 marks the 75th anniversary of this exciting tournament with the final four being held at the Georgia Dome. (This is the home of the Atlanta Falcons football team and they are inspect- ing the lights as we speak!!) The history of the Final Four


dates back to 1939 when Ohio State University coach Harold Olsen came up with the idea. (See Ohio did come up with something other than a Buckeye!) Final Four is used to refer to the last four teams that will play in the tournament. Others are eliminated in single round games during what is called March Mad- ness!! But let’s get back to our fas- cination with baskets!! Basketball was originally called “Basket Ball” and invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a teacher who just wanted his bored students to stay in shape during the winter months. He rounded up a soccer ball and two peach baskets because the janitor could not find boxes. (So let me get this straight. If he used boxes it would have been called boxetball?!) The simple object was to throw the soccer ball into the peach baskets which were nailed to the lower rail- ing over the gym balcony. The rest is history!!


By Sharon Barta Ironically the logo for this year’s final four has a Georgia Peach on it.


(Probably should have a basket too!). Some Cinderella teams that could possibly sneak into the final four this year are Butler and Gonzaga. These are normally much smaller programs that go up against the big boys such as the Indiana’s and Dukes of the College Basketball world! That is what makes this tournament unique. So don’t give up on trying that lay up shot in the office because it may just go in and sometimes we all can feel like win- ners!! Enjoy the tournament!! Next month Baseball is back!!


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