{"id":14408,"date":"2024-03-19T20:45:39","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T00:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14408"},"modified":"2024-03-19T20:45:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T00:45:41","slug":"here-comes-the-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=14408","title":{"rendered":"here comes the madness!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lions and tigers and bears!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lions and tigers and bears!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lions and tigers and bears!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or so said Dorothy, Scarecrow and the Tin Man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, the diversity\u2026 now turning to madness\u2026 as we have a far grander, sundry swarm participating in this year\u2019s NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. Indeed as the fictional trio referenced\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are the Catamounts from Vermont and Cougars from Charleston, Houston, BYU and Washington State. Still in the big cat kind of family come Bobcats from Montana State and Tigers from Auburn, Clemson and Grambling State. None should be outdone by the lesser domesticated Wildcats, represented this year by Arizona, Kentucky and Northwestern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us ensure we represent the cats and the dogs both, with this year\u2019s set of Bulldogs appearing via Drake, Gonzaga, Mississippi State, Samford and Yale. (Where is Sam not Stan, by the way?)<\/em> The Huskies from UConn are expected to be a little more vicious, with the State of North Carolina and Nevada each bringing their respective Pack of Wolves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin is sending its Badgers\u2026 although I\u2019m still uncertain in what family the short-legged omnivores fit. Boise State sends the Broncos, ensuring once more a half-tamed horse is solidly represented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There exist some other rather large species\u2026 Baylor\u2019s Bears, Oakland\u2019s Golden Grizzlies, Bison from Howard, Buffaloes from Colorado, and Rams from Colorado State. There are Longhorns from Texas and even some Antelopes from the Grand Canyon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also the larger than life Gators from Florida, although I still can\u2019t discern quite how a reptile learns how to play basketball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also never quite understand the intimidation by all sorts of birds on the court, specifically the Owls from Florida Atlantic, Bluejays from Creighton, Jayhawks from Kansas, Seahawks from Wagner, nor Eagles from either Marquette or Morehead State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suppose even less intimidating are the Peacocks of St. Peter\u2019s, but I really can\u2019t talk (\u2026 since they uh, beat my beloved once). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then again, also interesting to evaluate on the intimidating athletic scale are TCU\u2019s Horned Frogs and the Jackrabbits from South Dakota State. Dare I say, each has hops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed there are more in a bird kind of family\u2026 the South Carolina Gamecocks and Oregon Ducks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some creative families represented\u2026 Blazers from Birmingham, Tar Heels from North Carolina, and anyone of Irish-Gaelic descent from St. Mary\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there are those that I\u2019m not quite sure what family to put them in\u2026 Hatters and Hilltoppers, Lobos and Lancers, Cornhuskers and the colorful Crimson Tide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also see some seemingly admirable persons represented, at least by title\u2026 there are Cowboys, Flyers and Spartans\u2026 even both Cavaliers and Volunteers. There are, interestingly, also, two units of actual Dukes. Let me add I\u2019m not as certain on the admiration appropriate for Raiders and Red Raiders nor any shade of actual Devils. Some things weren\u2019t meant to be all that celebrated. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, the Illini come as their own state, while the State of Iowa comes in a storm. Also arriving as a fun favorite is Long Beach State, whose nickname is (wait for it) <\/em>the actual Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us not forget the Aztecs nor pair of Aggies, the latter of which is always a fascinating one to look up. And once again we see the Zips; there may be no better name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least hail this semi-humble blogger\u2019s beloved Boilermakers. What is a Boilermaker? Its origin comes from the perceived burly trade of a 19th Century blacksmith. They were strong and tough and good at what they did. Here\u2019s to hoping in the 21st Century, it means something victorious and even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the madness begin, friends! As always, grateful for the diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lions and tigers and bears! Lions and tigers and bears! Lions and tigers and bears! Or so said Dorothy, Scarecrow and the Tin Man. Oh, the diversity\u2026 now turning to madness\u2026 as we have a far grander, sundry swarm participating in this year\u2019s NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. Indeed as the fictional trio referenced\u2026  … <\/p>\n

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