As I write this – a love letter to the NCAA tournament, my favorite sporting event – I glance down at my desk.
Sitting next to my keyboard, taunting me while I type, is my bracket. Marked up with so much red pen, it could spark terrifying journalism school flashbacks.
I love it anyway. And none of you predicted Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue either.
Many sporting events have great moments. Few have them on four different channels at the same time for four days, then take a short break and do it all over again.
The only problem is that school and/or work get in the way. If you need your basketball fix, though, don’t think of it as playing hooky. Consider it personal development – a lesson in language and working on your writing. ✍️
March Madness – from Selection Sunday through the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four. Filled with buzzer-beaters and busted brackets. That’s a lot of alliteration. 🏀
Teams on the bubble end up going dancing. Cinderellas challenge blue bloods. Players launch a shot from way downtown or with a kiss off the backboard. Don’t commit the foul of boring language or descriptions. 💃
Want a two-for-one? How about Dick Vitale’s “diaper dandy,” a memorable moniker for a fantastic freshman. 👶
The sound of a ball hitting nothing but net: swish. (And yes, I double-checked how to spell onomatopoeia.) 🗑️
Coming up with March Madness idioms is a slam dunk. Even when facing a full-court press. ⛹️
See, it’s not just watching sports. It’s educational!
P.S. Speaking of using basketball to teach language, my son’s 7th grade English teacher threw in this clue in an assignment about homophones: A B-52’s song and how Mr. O’Neal might sign a friendly letter. Can you get it?