The Big Dance

Tuesday was the first day of play in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  My husband loves college basketball.  He usually only watches college games when an Iowa team plays, but each March when the tournament rolls around he can pretty much watch basketball nonstop. 

I like basketball, but to be honest I have to really like the team or the coach to be able to get involved on an emotional level and watch a whole game on TV.  In person it is a different story, but I can't just sit and watch any old team play on the tube.  

So Tuesday night after the news Michael turned on the NCAA Tournament. I was not at all interested in watching the tournament so decided to make good use of my time and get some greeting cards finished.  Since my craft area is the dining room table I am able to see the TV from there.  After about 30 minutes I glanced up and saw my husband looking at the channel menu.  

My heart leaped!  

I thought, "Yes!  He is already tired of basketball! Score!"  

So I said, "Honey, are you tired of basketball already?"  

(I really tried to sound disappointed.)  

His response could not have crushed me more.

He excitedly said, "No, I'm autotuning all the basketball games, so even if I'm not home they will come on!"  

My response? A dejected: "Oh... great!."

Let me be clear.  He autotuned every game possible.

I really think retailers are missing out on a large group of people who will not be glued to the TV for the duration of The Big Dance.  They should be enticing us to flee from our homes and find solace in retail therapy, days and days of retail therapy!  They should be flooding our mailboxes with great coupons and in-store promotions!

By the end of the tournament I am going to have one really clean house, a huge greeting card inventory, have shopped til I dropped, have read every book in our Little Free Library, or be really really bored. Perhaps all of the above!

Don't send me hate mail. I really do like basketball.  I will watch Iowa State play and will probably watch Creighton when I can.  I will likely count the number of times the announcers refer to DeAndre Kane as "The Transfer From Marshall," and groan each time.    

204 hours of basketball (no OT included)

68 teams

67 games
32 division champions
19 days of hoops

7 rounds of play
+ 4 channels carrying coverage

= 1 woman tired of basketball

But who's counting, right? 

Anyone want to go shopping?  We could get a Papa Murphy's pizza too, I'll buy! But can we bake it at your house?   There will be basketball on at mine.