Wesley's Week (March 5-11, 2007)

by Wesley

Starting on Thursday this week, there will be a general slowdown in work done in most parts of the Triangle. (Not here at MMI, mind you, since we always have our noses to the grindstone, but for most other offices, you will definitely notice a change.) The reason why is a simple phrase: the ACC basketball tournament.

I know, I know, the tournament does not mean as much when the NCAA used to limit the number of teams involved in March Madness, to 32, and the only way to make the field was to win the conference tournament or else you went to the NIT. And some purists (or Luddites, if you prefer), may claim that it is now too big with too many teams playing to have much enjoyment even as a TV event. But those arguments are fruitless – people around here are going to watch or listen as much as they can to tournament action even during work hours, particularly due to the compelling story lines going on now.

For example, can N.C. State pull off a miracle and win the tournament, thus assuring them a spot in the 64 teams at play? Despite their mediocre record, they have beaten UNC and Virginia Tech this season, you know. Speaking of UNC, will the damaged nose of Tyler Hansbrough be a motivating factor for them to want to go all the way? And what about Duke, which has looked more vulnerable this year than most of us can recall? Can Coach K guide his squad to a win in a year where there have been fewer reasons for his fans to cheer? All pretty interesting questions, if you ask me.

I have some fond memories of the tournament when I was younger, such as when my parents went up to Maryland to watch the competition in person while I stayed with an uncle for whom the term “grumpy old man” would be a generous assessment. I cannot remember exactly how they obtained the tickets for the tournament, but I do wonder about them letting me and my sister remain with this cantankerous man (he argued against seat belts, for example). Still, we had a good time anyway.

Then there was the year I was working in Hillsborough and one of the local civic groups decided it would be a smart fundraising move to hold a pancake and sausage all-you-can-eat lunch during the tournament while having a couple of TV sets spread out at the dining hall for you to watch the coverage. The idea was a savvy one, but man, they must have used the heaviest pancake batter in the world, because I left with a tummy filled like it was expanding faster than a balloon, and I could not have eaten more than four pancakes. In fact, that memory hangs stronger on me than remembering who even played that day.

A general rule for watching the ACC tournament: Billy Packer is guaranteed to say something that will tick you off, no matter what team you support. Unless you want to yell back at the TV, I suggest you watch it with the mute button, or better yet, tune into a local radio station covering the game and listen to that.

And if you do not know who is playing, or worse yet, even why they are playing, avoid saying anything to a fan who is watching or listening to it. Chances are that person will roll his or her eyes, then try to control his or her frustration at your supposed ignorance of what is regarded as the greatest sports event going on in the Triangle area all year long. It is a hopeless situation for both parties, so consider yourself warned.

Play ball!

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