National holiday (observed)

...at least in my house.

Forget national holidays honoring politicians, civil rights leaders, people who have to work for a living (I usually don't get those days off unless I request them or some scheduling fluke works in my favor). This is my national holiday. The NCAA Division I Basketball National Championship. The end of the college basketball season, of the insanity that is rightfully called March Madness, and the end of another dreary winter (I hope - just two weeks ago I was mowing my lawn in shorts and t-shirt; since then I've been bundling up like Nanook of the North and considering buying Ark Building For Dummies if this rain keeps up).

Some championship games are, of course, better than others. This one promises to be among the best. First of all, this is the first time in the history of the tournament that all four number one seeds from each bracket made it to the Final Four. That alone should be enough to guarantee a Final Four to remember. However, sheer mathematics can't even begin to describe Saturday's semifinals - the Jayhawks and Tigers both playing as if they could hang with any NBA team, much to the dismay of their opponents, UNC and UCLA, respectively.

In the title game you've got Kansas with a school record 36 wins against Memphis with an NCAA record 38 wins on the season. One of those teams will add another notch to their "W" column. The other team will close their season with nothing to be ashamed of. If the Jayhawks win, it'll be their third national crown. If the Tigers win it'll be their first, which could give them the psychological edge. I don't like to use the term "common wisdom" because it's pretty much an oxymoron, but the Tigers are by most accounts the favorite. I think they'll take it. It won't be easy. The Jayhawks won't roll over and play dead, but Memphis is a team of hungry cats. They can taste it. Not being a betting man I won't venture to predict a score, but I think the spread will be six points or less. It's gonna be great.