Like many this weekend, I watched as dreams were dashed and brackets were bashed on the college hardwood. With improbable upsets and last-second shots moving from desire to reality, it was an exciting weekend for even the fair-weather fan.<\/p>\n
None was as unlikely or historic as the University of Maryland, Baltimore County\u2019s win over Virginia. Virginia was considered the strongest team in the tournament; UMBC was considered the weakest. With the upset being the first time a #16 seed has ever defeated a #1 seed in the men\u2019s NCAA tournament, (if you were up late enough to watch it)<\/em> history was made. It was an iconic moment in sports.<\/p>\n Let that sink in for a moment. An iconic moment in sports occurred at the hands of a small group of 18-22 year old, amateur, young men.<\/p>\n So as the clock wound down and the upset evolved from the impossible to the unlikely to the seriously-are-you-kidding-me, jubilation was everywhere\u2026 Oh, how we love a good underdog!<\/em><\/p>\n The jubilation was everywhere! \u2026 yes \u2026 except in the hearts of the players and fans from the University of Virginia.<\/em><\/p>\n As fun as it was to watch the unprecedented glee from UMBC\u2019s Retrievers \u2014 \u201cRetriever Nation,\u201d as is now being trademarked (even though a mere four days ago, said \u201cnation\u201d equated to a little more than five thousand fans),<\/em> it was hard to watch the poignant pain of those who cheered on the Cavaliers.<\/p>\n The contrast was striking\u2026 untamed joy on one side\u2026 complete, unexpected shock on the other.<\/p>\n It made me ask, \u201cHow often am I aware of the other side?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n When the madness turns to sadness for a select group of people, do I:<\/p>\n \u2026 deny it? As the upsets continued \u2014 from my Ohio friends working through the unforeseen losses of both Xavier and the University of Cincinnati to Auburn, North Carolina, and Tennessee \u2014 I was struck by the postgame press conference of Michigan State\u2019s Miles Bridges. Bridges is considered one of college basketball\u2019s best players and he just participated in the Spartan\u2019s shocking defeat at the hands of Syracuse, a team which barely eked their way into this year\u2019s bracket.<\/p>\n Said an obviously distraught Bridges, “I really just couldn’t believe that we had lost. I thought we had the best shot to win a national championship. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that. It’s probably the saddest I’ve ever been in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Note that: \u201cthe saddest I\u2019ve ever been in my life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Right \u2014 these are most likely, with all due respect, fairly immature 18-22 year old men \u2014 but it does not negate the fact that one person\u2019s glee is still another person\u2019s agony.<\/p>\n Does it matter?<\/p>\n Should the emotions of another affect me? Or affect how I respond?<\/p>\n While I pray for these young men \u2014 deeply desiring them to realize there is so much more of life to be lived and how God totally teaches each of us in the hard spots, so-to-speak, especially if we let him \u2014 I\u2019m mindful that the elation of one should never blind us to the heartache of another\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026 either on and off the college hardwood.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 Like many this weekend, I watched as dreams were dashed and brackets were bashed on the college hardwood. With improbable upsets and last-second shots moving from desire to reality, it was an exciting weekend for even the fair-weather fan. None was as unlikely or historic as the University of Maryland, Baltimore County\u2019s win over Virginia. … <\/p>\n
\n\u2026 act like it\u2019s no big deal?
\n\u2026 act as if only my perspective or emotion is important?<\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"