Photography by Lori K. Tate
There’s a cartoon meme floating around social media that features teachers rolling out TVs for the ACC Tournament in the classroom. Obviously these educators are from North Carolina because basketball is as sacred as sweet tea here (brewed sweet tea, not that stuff that comes in a bottle).
When I saw these memes, I immediately remembered my teachers doing just that, along with which classmates pulled for NC State and which ones pulled for Carolina. (I still remember crying on an activity bus after listening to Syracuse knock Carolina out of the Sweet Sixteen on the radio in 1987. I have trouble pulling for Syracuse to this day.)
While March Madness offers incredible basketball, the feeling of community is my favorite part about the ACC Tournament (beginning today) followed by “The Big Dance,” the NCAA Tournament. I don’t watch a lot of games during the season, but when March Madness comes around, I keep the TV on. I might not even watch the game, but I adore the sound of squeaky sneakers, referee whistles, chanting crowds and pep bands. I even like hearing the NCAA Tournament theme song.
As a native, it makes sense. North Carolina is basketball country. I called I-40 Tobacco Road way before I realized that it was I-40. The magic road that connects our state’s basketball constellation (Wake Forest, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill and NC State) is paved with phenomenal victories (NC State’s Jim Valvano running across the court after winning the 1983 NCAA Championship) and devastating defeats (UNC’s loss to Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Championship game). Throughout the years all four of North Carolina’s teams have been powerhouses, and that’s saying a lot for one conference, especially one that started with just seven teams.
When I was growing up, the ACC Tournament began at noon on Friday. If a teacher wanted to get anything in our brains, they knew the deadline. Even if they didn’t bring a TV in, our minds were too filled with visions of free throws and fouls to have room for much else. And let’s face it, the teachers were into it, too. That’s the beauty of March Madness. You don’t have to know anything about basketball to get into the excitement. And isn’t that something we all need now?
With politics and the coronavirus taking up so much of our bandwidth, it’s nice to take a time out and focus on something fun. We know the world has problems — big problems — but sometimes one of the best ways to face or solve problems is by stepping away for a little while. We need a break, and that’s what March Madness gives us.
Instead of worrying about delegates or someone shaking your hand, you can focus on brackets and plays. I love learning about all the schools in the tournament. I love rooting for an underdog (as long as they’re not playing my Tar Heels). I love the team-themed bakery goods at Harris Teeter, and I love hearing the stories about the various players and coaches who have overcome impossible odds to play on these courts. It’s the human experience all rolled into one game, and it’s a positive way for us to connect as a community. That sounds like a win-win to me. Go Heels!