March Madness

Even though I don't like sports, I fell into some of the March Madness of the 2005 NCAA basketball tournament. Although my team did not end up winning, I couldn't help but be drawn into the story. I watched (and rooted for) underdog teams as they beat nationally-ranked teams.

There was nothing else on to watch. There was nothing else to get my hopes up for. In the media, Terri Schiavo was dying, the Pope was on deathwatch, Jessica Lunsford had been kidnapped and brutally killed, more soldiers were dying each day in Iraq--all that crap makes you want to just give up, because things never seem to get any better.

But I found something within myself as I watched those sports teams give their all for their dreams of winning a championship: Never give up, never give in without a fight.

The madness of March is now over, but I will use its lessons wisely.