So here’s the deal, I’m abnormally gifted at bracketology. Not the bracketology guys go on and on about for weeks leading up to March Madness, the kind that certifies me as a girl wonder when it comes to sports. Men sit around analyzing rebound, stats and predicting seeds. To me, a triple double will alway be an Inn-n-Out burger. Suffice to say I have a hard time adjusting to dude lingo in basketball. But I always crush the boys with my bracket. Like won-fifty-dollars-in-the-office-bracket-contest-for-first-place sort of crush. My strategy? It’s all about location, colors, mascot and cuteness.
You need examples? My friends and I go to Kentucky every year so I have them going to the Final Four. I hate Ohio so the don’t get past they Sweet Sixteen – cough – over rated. I picked Georgia because of Rack ‘Em Willie . Vandy because Tennessee boys are my dream. I give the PAC-10 love because I’m girl of the PAC-10. I almost picked Morehead State over Louisville, but I like the movie Elizabeth town waaay too much. The St. Patrick’s holiday has me taking Notre Dame to the Sweet Sixteen, but my USC pride has them losing to Purdue.
My bracket glory of years past still has me contemplating one match up that leads to my last Final Four team: Pitt vs. Butler. My Pittsburgh prides that sometimes shines through wants me for them, but my Hoosier-dom by way of California can’t help but root for Butler. I mean, it is my Hoosierness that made me love college basketball, right?
I also have a secret weapon: a pep talk from my dad years ago. He told me “livvie, you have to be able to control the mix of head and heart when it comes to a solid bracket. And when push comes to shove, go what feels right.” Not only have I won most of my brackets since that pep talk, I learned a solid life lesson. I think about the Pitt/Butler dilemma and can’t help but think if this is lifes way of telling me it’s time to move on. I love Pitt, and will always come visit the incredible people I’ve met here, but my family is Hoosier. And if I’m supposed to do what feels right, shouldn’t I do leave whats caused me an ulcer and several xanex and just move closer to Indy? I wish I could leverage my Dads great bracket advice to my everyday life.
I know eventually I will learn how, but until then I will try to keep a happy medium between my head and my heart.
