It's here again, finally. In my opinion, the greatest American sporting event of the year. In a way, it defines what America is all about. Anyone, no matter skin color, race, religion, social background, etc., has a chance to succeed if they believe and are willing to work hard to make the dream come true.
Realistically, about 8-10 teams have a shot to win the national title, teams like Kansas, Duke, Syracuse, Kentucky. Perhaps Villanova, Kansas St. and a few others. However, many teams in the field of 65 have absolutely no shot of winning the title. Their best hope is winning a first round game, and even that, for some is a pipe dream.
However, it has happened in the past. In 1998, Valparaiso University, a 14 seed, made it to the Sweet 16. Hampton, a 15 seed in 2001, scored one of the biggest first round upsets by beating one of the top teams in the country at that time, the #2 seed Iowa St. Cyclones. Perhaps the greatest of all underdogs was the 2006 team from George Mason. They were a #11 seed. You might give them a chance to beat the #6 seed Michigan State, which they did in the first round. However, almost no one gave them a chance to beat defending champion North Carolina, but they did.
Wichita St. wasn't that much of a "Shocker", but absolutely no one, save the boys from Fairfax, VA themselves, saw them beating Connecticut to get to the Final Four. They did just that.
Hampton, Valparaiso, George Mason, Gonzaga in 1999, UT-Chattanooga in 97; these are the ordinary people, the "Mom and Pop" businesses, the people struggling to make ends meet. There is a reason why these underdogs are cheered for vociferously during the tournament. They represent most of American society. They represent the "average Joes". Teams like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse are the IBMs, Chase Manhattans, Microsofts and other Fortune 500 companies. They have the tradition, talent and resources the smaller schools don't have. When someone like Hampton or George Mason pulls off a major upset, it gives me hope as an individual. It reminds me that opportunity for great success is there for me as well. That's why I root for the "Mid-Majors", as they are called.
America itself was an underdog in its beginning. We had to overthrow the greatest military power on earth at the time, Great Britain, and of course, we did it. The concept of "Cinderella" or "Underdog" was part of America's inception. Therefore, in a sense, it is no surprise that many Americans who are fans of March Madness will cheer like heck this year for Wofford, Cornell, Oakland, ETSU and other hopefuls still to be decided. Again, to re enforce my point, most people relate to past teams like Hampton, Valparaiso and George Mason, as well as teams of the present such as Wofford, Cornell and East Tennessee St. (ETSU). They are like most of us; struggling day to day to make ends meet and eventually climbing to the top of the mountain. Bring on the madness!!
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