Pardon this corruption...

Catch you...a bit off guard, perhaps feeling in a pickle...not sure how much and which teams to bet on, now that they've, the lucky ones invited to what in the NCAA basketball March Madness is also referred to as the "Big Dance" -- given how many teams have been assembled at the collegiate level, it's still pretty exclusive, as in you need an invite. Quite a contrast to how this all began...

Tisket a Tasket...a green and yellow...peach basket. Well, that is what Dr. Jamess Naismith, the PE teacher who conceived of this indoor sport in 1891, had at his disposal, that would serve athletes throughout the winter to stay in shape, as well as be less injury prone as compared to the contract (I meant contact) sports...with the first public game being played on 3-11-1892 (just missed, by one week--air ball!) and complete, I'll bet, with private wagers...being put on, what would eventually become...

Wage earners: from what were simply seen as athletically inclined students, on to what to observers became known as "student athletes" (still sounds pretty un-adulterated, eh?) and on to today's version of what's now seen as NIL...and a throwback to what a lot of those who are betting on getting a piece of the action...the updated version of the "Wild, Wild West...it's a whole new frontier!" (one which now extends down to the high school level). No, I'm not simply referring to what became known as the "run and gun" offensive scheme, which was associated strongly with the coach Paul Westhead (who else?) with the LA Lakers (where else?). Which not only ran up scores but also the amounts of cash that was put into acquiring (I mean recruiting) players (back channels, off the official pay-roll, via alumni, well-endowed 'sponsors'). Only a few factors that have combined to take what was a simple "extracurricular" and make it into a HUGE enterprise, especially around "tournament time!" -- actually just before the first official "tip off" (otherwise referred to as a "jump ball") is seen, big bucks have already been realized for the real tip-offs as to who will be seeded and in what order, before anyone is actually in their...seats (weird, you say?) 

In a pickle? Still feel conflicted? Not yet convinced as to the degree of corruption, the amount of undue influence that the financial incentives have played (talk about offensive!), in undermining the pure simplicity, almost managing to take the fun out of it. Consider the game we grew up playing with only a ball -- the game of "Pickle" (sort of the game of "Tag" with an added dimension, how simple can you get?) Which just recently became corrupted by adding rackets...now just another focus of racketeering, with even the "boomers" throwing games. It was only a matter of time before Vegas discovered us, I guess. So much for a casual, friendly game of Pickle Ball -- now that it, too, has become commercialized, it's added to a hug backlog waiting to play, given the extended court time...

A Sure Bet: For the millions of you filling out your brackets -- up here in what's considered the Midwest Regional, you can always bet that all the slam dunking throughout March Madness will result in April gladness for all the tire shops, that are called on to fix all those bent rims...😠😂

Still up for it? A simple game of hoops? Don't get your hopes up too high...