Bracket Busters: The Reality of March Madness

Note: My bracket has been completely and utterly busted. I had Duke in the Finals against North Carolina but they couldn't seem to defeat Lehigh. Yup, their opponents were clearly HIGH. Darn, just got to love the upsets. 

You just got to love the surprises March Madness has to offer. You literally start with a clean slate. Five straight wins before you can crown yourselves National Champions. Sounds easy? It isn't. Entering the tournament, everybody has high hopes and expectations for their respective teams only to find out two hours later that they've lost to a relatively unknown school. (That has to be the case. Who in the world has heard of the school Lehigh? I think the word 'high' is more known and associated with drugs. Probably all the players took or injected some before the Duke game. You'll never know.) That's what people love about March Madness--- its unpredictability and feel good Cinderella stories.

I'm never been a big fan of upsets and cinderella stories for the sole purpose that it looks ugly come the next game and in some instances the National Championship game. (Note: Butler - UConn. Seriously?) Underdogs only do it one game---not multiple. Why punish the stronger team for one off-game? Come to think about it, the organizers will earn more if they had stronger teams in the Final Four but they'll rather ride on the Cinderella story bandwagon.

Amidst all the excitement and unpredictability March Madness brings, I haven't really bought into the fact that 'weak' teams could actually contend for a National Championship. Instead of hearing North Carolina, Duke, UK, or Ohio State, you would be hearing Butler, Michigan, Lehigh, among many others.

You have to be kidding me...

If we are to relate March Madness to life, it'd be pretty much the same. In life, the stronger always get ranked higher and they enjoy certain privileges but that doesn't guarantee a great run in life. Come to think about it, the higher ranked teams in the tournament feel immense pressure to deliver a beating on these low-ranked teams. Why? Because they are unheard off and in the eyes of millions of people, they don't deserve it. In the minds of many, why can't the NCAA Board just come up with a strong field of 16 teams, similar to that of the NBA Playoffs, to contend for the National Championship in a best-of-seven series? (They should look into this... Seriously) 

Simple.

Life isn't about getting numerous chances to succeed. It's about making the most out of these opportunities and living in the moment. If you played poorly, you will just have to find a way to get that W. If you were tired, you would have to find a way to channel your second wind---adrenaline. Live life with no excuses.

Can we do anything to change the system? No. Can we change the teams? No. We have no control over what happens in that tournament. (I bet no one has a perfect bracket now.) All we have to do is sit back and enjoy what ever happens. We would just have to accept whatever happens and live with it.

I think the concept of March Madness was patterned similarly to life--- it's not fair! You would just have to seize that opportunity and pray that everything goes your way. In our journey towards perfection, we understand it isn't possible, but as we continue to work hard, we'd be touching greatness and excellence and that's where we want to be.

Expect an 'ugly' and 'atrocious' tournament with all the upsets but through these upsets, we come to realize that life isn't always about being the person, or team in that matter, who starts out the strongest but who finishes the strongest.

I still got North Carolina for the Championship... Book It! 


Why won't they do it similar to how they do the NCAA Football Championships with different 'championship' games? Fair enough...

Bracket Busted

Well, same scenario every year... MY BRACKET IS BUSTED ON THE FIRST DAY!!!

Good Bye $5,000,000 from Yahoo! Sports.

All thanks to VCU, for the second year in a row.

Maybe I gotta get this shirt once and for all!

March Madness Bracket

My March Madness Bracket. We'll tackle it once the season goes along...

Moneyball: Playing The Game of Life

First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to all of the people who continually support this blog. It's not very often that a person can willingly express his thoughts and opinions on certain universal situations and have people read and understand his opinions. Though I created this blog for the primary purpose of archiving my Stallion articles, it's turn to something bigger--- a place wherein I can express different things and how they resonate with me. Hoping for the continued support. I don't think that's too much to ask for. 

Instead of going factual about the latest happenings around the basketball world, let's just go deeper in tackling about life... It's always been about living the life. 

I just finished watching the movie Moneyball, about ten minutes ago. Indeed it was a great motion picture. I loved how they brought a first-person perspective on how dirty the sporting business is. How teams use money as a leverage to create a 'better' team. A team that will, actually should, win a World Series. Life isn't like that. It's never a fair game. 

I don't believe in the very basis of equality. I completely understand and accept the fact that God created us equally in His image and likeness but in the world we live in today, that's logically, figuratively, and mathematically impossible. People don't receive the same impressions because of numerous reasons---race, color, habit, or even just the way they look or act. Binaries, as what I have learned in my elective class. 

People are never going to be treated equally, given the same opportunities, or even be given recognition for something because it is in the world we live in. Let's say in Basketball, everyone only cares about who scores the most points, who hit the game-winner, or even who made that emphatic slam dunk but they never really appreciate the people who work hard to let these 'superstars' an opportunity to those things. If the center didn't box out and grab the rebound, would you think the alpha dogs even have a shot of going down on offense? What about the guy who sets the screen and constantly gets abused, does he get the credit for slowing down his teammate's defense? NEVER. 

That is how life is lived as portrayed in the movie Moneyball. It's not easy. People are never going to be credited for the dirty work. Heck, they are even not going to be given their own opportunity to shine because of how they act. They might play differently, act strangely, or even look out of the ordinary but the bottom line is does he get the job done. It doesn't matter HOW they do it as long as it's DONE! PERIOD. 

We live in a world full of critics and haters and that's a fact. We don't live in a world where people are given credit for doing the smallest things. In fact, it's supposed to be that way. Let's say a building, everyone knows the architect, designer, contractor, and developer of the building. They are known as the ones  who envisioned that project but do the people who actually do it get credit for executing their plans? NO! As my favorite Vincent Van Gough quotes, "Greatness is not done by an impulse but a series of small things brought together", these people tirelessly and collectively worked on it and it wouldn't be achieved without them and their efforts! We should give credit where credit is due. 

Enough lambasting about the people in the upper class. There's only one thing true about life, if you want something, go get it. Don't allow people to step on you and say you can't. Your better than that! Also, we need to start being more grateful for the people that help us go to the top. Never forget the people who've helped you along the way because as my Dad will always tell me, what goes up must come down. Success and greatness is short lived. No matter what happens, you'll get washed up--- pretty badly. When all is said and done, your going back to the same people. The same people who edged you on in times of struggle. Be humble. Remain humble. As Proverbs 27:2 goes, Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips. 

Just remember, what goes up must come down. In life, you can't have it all but as you take your own journey on life and greatness, thank the guy from above whose constantly showered upon you blessings,  guidance, and most especially His Love. 

Underdog or Just Prepared?

Making the most out of every opportunity; that's what life is about. You may not be blessed with talent but hardwork is the key to success. As it goes, hardwork beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Amidst all uncertainty, you have to be ready to grab that opportunity and never let it go. It's your time to shine. 

Linsanity

Life isn't fair. Oftentimes, talent edges hardwork. Critics harshly judge the up-and-coming superstars. Equality isn't made possible because of binaries. Yes, those are the things that Jeremy Lin has faced throughout his life; a life filled with his share of ups and a ton of lows.

Jeremy Lin was a Harvard economics graduate who coincidently led the Harvard Crimson to its best record in school history during his senior year. Lin is a mix of sheer intelligence, a great work ethic, and humility. A stereotypical athlete has none of the three. Oftentimes, they heavily rely on their talent to get by. They never work hard because they've always gotten away with everything- academics and rigorous training. They are never humble because they always think they're the greatest. They are proud by the fact that they have accomplished everything by themselves and how they wanted to.

Look where are they now...

Jeremy Lin's story is the greatest story during this lockout-shortened NBA season. Who would have expected a regular and undrafted joe from Harvard to turn around the most famous NBA franchise? Who would have thought that an Asian-American could make a huge impact in the game of basketball? Who would have thought that an undrafted player would lead his team to a seven game winning streak minus the team's two star players?

Nobody.

Linsanity, as many of his fans call it, has lit up the bright lights and reenergized the crowd over at the Madison Square Garden. With every dazzling lay-up and alley-oop pass, the crowd goes ecstatic. After every dramatic win, a comeback against the Nets, a career-high 38 points against the Lakers, and the game-winning three-pointer against the Raptors, Linsanity grows larger than life.

To be honest, I thought that New Jersey game was just a coincidence; a man who made the most out of the opportunity. Turns out, I was wrong. Jeremy Lin is doing a Tom Brady and a Tim Tebow in his constant struggle to fight critics and he like all the great football players mentioned above, have proven them wrong.

Lin wasn't the most talented nor was the best player but I can assure you he was the hardest worker. He consistently worked his tail-end off not only to prove his doubters wrong but to be a pleasing instrument to God. He was once quoted saying, "I'm not working hard  and practicing day in and day out so that I can please other people. My audience is God."  That goes to show his humility and his submissiveness that everything comes from Him and he is simply just repaying.

Like Brady and Tebow, Jeremy Lin has a great mind- a psychological asset which sets him apart from many of the players today. He is mentally tough- never giving up on any obstacle. Strong enough to remain confident amidst all failure and disappointment. Hopeful enough to shine when given an opportunity. Jeremy Lin will NOT give up this opportunity. This is the time that he has been waiting for- his lifelong dream.

Linsanity will continue if Jeremy Lin continues what he's doing. He won't win all the games on the basketball court but he has won all of us over with his talent, grittiness, hardwork, dedication, and humility. He has overcame the most difficult part of his life and now just laughs it off. He gives us hope; a hope to succeed and never give up amidst any situation.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

"The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Austin Rivers Legit Tar Heel Killer