Mountain Living - March 2016
March Madness is on us again!
March is one of my very favorite months of the year. Just consider for a moment all that is going on throughout the month of March, to wit: Daylight Saving Time begins, St. Patrick’s Day with green beer and corn beef and cabbage, spring begins, and this year, Palm Sunday, Easter and Easter Monday all take place within the month of March. Add to all of that the fact that the phenomenon known as March Madness takes place in division I college basketball, culminating in the NCAA championship game April 4th in Houston, Texas.
For those of us who were fortunate enough to be born in the Old North State (nonnatives got here as the saying goes “just as soon as they could”), two important questions are soon posed when being introduced in a social setting: “What number?” and “What school?” The first question relates to what NASCAR driver do you follow, i.e. the number on the car. The second question is an effort to identify which ACC school you follow in basketball, because in North Carolina this must be disclosed under penalty of law under the assumption that everyone in the state must have a local school they follow in college basketball. When I was in college, several fraternity brothers and I attended what was then known as the World 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte. Got severely sunburned, couldn’t hear for 3 days after the race, and never knew who actually won and thus my NASCAR interests were brought to a screeching halt. However, during my formative years I was highly influenced by an uncle who graduated from the University of North Carolina and encouraged me to become a Tar Heel by taking me with him to many basketball games in Chapel Hill. The excitement of witnessing a live college basketball game with thousands of screaming students and fans was exhilarating and for me the die was cast and Carolina blue began to run in my veins. After college I was fortunate to have been accepted into law school at UNC and spent time in Chapel Hill until, at my young age, I figured out that for me a legal career was not in the cards. But I regress. Basketball in North Carolina is a given presumption. Folks that faithfully follow college basketball simply don’t get it why everyone does not share their passion for the game. If you are a Tar Heel, you hate the N.C. State wolf pack and absolutely despise the Duke blue devils. If you are among the great misguided and rout for State or Duke the opposite is true. Regarding college basketball there are no other teams in the state – with apologies to the Wake Forest demon deacons. When the ACC tournament begins on March 8th and the NCAA tournament starts on March 15th colors will be worn, flags will be proudly flown, other activities will be suspended without regret, and we will all be in front of our flat screens embroiled in the excitement of college basketball. Take in a game and you will be hooked too. Just make sure you have a sufficient supply of North Carolina’s official food – barbecue, and the official soft drink-Cheerwine, on hand as you watch and cheer on the Heels. Besides, if God is not a Tar Heel, why then is the sky Carolina blue?
Mac









