I’ve been thinking about the sadness 

Of one of my favorite things – March Madness 

There’s so many losers, so many hopes deferred 

It makes the heart sick, I’m sure 

I remember when playing college basketball was my dream 

But at that level, everyone was good, it seemed 

It’s a tough sport when you’re only 5’4 

Size matters, despite what so many people say 

And it really does take a team to win 

So pride better not get in the way 

A championship team is like a healthy body 

All the parts must work in unison 

I heard a coach on TV tell his players, “Just six more wins; y’all can beat all of them!”

And the players jumped 

And fist bumped 

There’s so many rounds 

Like cancer treatment 

At the end there will be bereavement

It’s like the Hunger Games 

Or Cinderella out too late 

Sixty eight down to 64 down to 32 to 16 to 8 to 4 to 2 to 1 

Like titers in the blood work 

Winning is perhaps exponential 

While losing can drive one berserk 

I used to hate when people told me it’s just a game 

But I see it now – it’s true 

Give it a year or two and no one will remember those players’ names 

But I tune in to the brackets 

And delight in the madness 

Everyone will lose in the end – even the champion 

It’s Ecclesiastes 

But I’d tell those guys to dance while they can

If it makes them happy