We Need March Madness [rev.]

Janitor's view ^ | March 21, 2020 | Reasonmclucus

[kathsua]

The NCAA should attempt the difficult task of conducting its basketball tournaments in empty arenas. We need the positive energy of March Madness to offset the negative energy connected to the COVID-19 virus. March Madness can provide something to cheer about.

The entertainment industry has a long history of entertaining military troops on the front lines to help the morale of the troops. Television has made it possible for troops on the front lines of distant battle fields to watch major entertainment events like the Super Bowl.

.We are all "troops" on a battle field a killer virus has invaded. We need entertainers to boost our morale. Unfortunately we tend to have widely different entertainment preferences. March Madness and the Super Bowl have a relatively broad appeal.

March Madness can bring us together socially even if we are physically separate. Physical separation can lead to social isolation and depression which can increase susceptibility to illness. March Madness can give people something to talk about on their phones when many places are closed.

The NCAA could reduce the field to 32 teams and spread the opening round over four days so people could watch all opening round games.

The military could transport the teams to reduce the risk of virus contact.

Participants in a March Madness tournament potentially could be safer than in the general population. All games could be played in the same arena. Participants would all stay in the same hotel(s) along with hotel and arena employees to reduce contact with the general population. People with hotel reservations could be given rooms in other hotels. Military personnel could help disinfect the buildings. Medical personnel would monitor health of participants and employees.

Placing big screen televisions around the arena about basket high would remind players that millions of people are watching even though the arena is empty. The screens would show groups of fans of the teams in that game sent over the internet. The volume would be at the normal crowd noise level.

[kathsua]

ESPN is doing the next best thing by showing past Final Four games from the men's and women's tournaments. The women's games can be as exciting as the men's. Women may not be able to dunk the ball, but a Notre Dame woman hit a 3-point shot at the end of overtime to win a championship.

[crusty old prospector]

One word that says we won’t. Lawyers.

[Kirkwood]

Spoiler alert.

[allwrong57]

I won’t watch another NCAA till all these top tier schools get put on probation for the Adidas scandals. They pay their athletes through a corporate sponsor huge cash, while small programs get put on probation and get scholarships yanked for $200 violations.