The Final Four: Go Figure!

This is the time of year when all sorts of analogies are made referencing the bouncing ball … round ball … hoop city … the hard wood floor … perhaps a few clever phrases of your own.

I too have been bit by the competitive basketball bug, and I must admit, I root for the underdog. Forced to make a choice, I pick VCU since Butler was the Cinderella Team last year … finishing second.

68 teams were invited to “the dance” and four teams are skipping classes today as they dream of Houston and making it to the final game. This tournament is as competitive as it gets, and as we see by the four surviving teams, there are no sure bets.  As far as seeding goes, we have an 11, eight, three and a four.

So what’s today’s message? Where’s the beef?

All teams “wanted” to win. All teams consisted of skilled young athletes. Everybody played on the same game board and dribbled the same size ball. The hoop’s diameter was the same for all contestants. Everybody “shot” the ball numerous times. Everybody had a coach “screaming” at them and using all sorts of hand gestures – all above board.

So why those four? Because they scored more points than their opponents on a regular basis. Period. They shot … and missed … shot … and scored … shot … and either missed or scored.

“Mike that is pretty deep! You are starting to scare me.”

Fret not my travel agency amigos. If you want to win more, you simply have to get into shooting position … and shoot more … and hope more of your shots will find the hole. You will miss. Make no mistake about that. You will miss more times than you like. Just “keep on shooting.”

Apparently, based on this year’s NCAA Bracket, the world no longer caters to the “favorites.” If you don’t believe me, ask the Butler players or the young men who play for Virginia Commonwealth University. (Virginia who?) Nobody even knows where these two schools are!

So please spare me the excuse that you are home-based, or that you can’t compete with the Big Boys. You can … if you keep on shooting, and put a little speed into your game, and place a little confidence in yourself.

Tune in on Saturday evening and watch Butler play VCU. And take notes while you watch. Chances are, you are watching YOU. Enjoy the game. I know I will.