Is There a Method to This Madness?

It turned out that TV managed to ruin college basketball. With all the expert analysis over the last few weeks, I noticed none of the experts managed to point out how the rules of the game had been unofficially changed.

It used to be that teams like John Wooden’s used their quickness and superior conditioning, combined with the coach calling very few timeouts, to wear down opponents that were often bigger and stronger.

Illinois would have won the NCAA title if its quickness and conditioning had been allowed to work in its favor, but with all the commercial timeouts, players like Sean May, who were tired after running down the court twice, got to rest for five minutes at a time without being taken out of the game.

Illinois beat Arizona because in the last four minutes, the TV gods didn’t have enough nerve to stop the game and Illinois got to play its own style for the whole four minutes.

I heard a new one Monday night: “We are going to break for the under-eight-minute warning.” Ridiculous.

Gust Rouhas

Santa Barbara

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While watching the No. 1 team play No. 2 in the championship of men’s college basketball, it made me realize that maybe the BCS system does work and maybe we can eliminate the three weeks of March Madness.

I mean, what a waste of time. Oh, sure, there were compelling stories of small schools upsetting big ones. Yeah, there were buzzer-beaters and overtime games. Oh, and we saw teamwork that can only be dreamed of in an NBA game. Yup, I think it is pretty obvious that we can eliminate March Madness and just have the top two teams play for the championship. It works for college football doesn’t it?

Jack Feeney

Mission Viejo