What month is it? Oh yeah, March. Something happens in March, and I just can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps alcohol really does kill brain cells. Oh, I remember, a little something called March Madness. Now I don’t have to quit drinking, sweet.

March Madness is unlike anything I’ve witnessed in sports in my life. It is intense, exciting, fun to follow, fun to talk about; it’s another reason to party with friends, and when games are on during the day, another reason to skip class.

Though my deep love for college basketball didn’t come until high school, my love for March Madness began way back in elementary school.

Apparently I had some cool teachers, because I can remember them stopping the day and bringing televisions into our classrooms to watch which ever Iowa team was playing.

I was about 10-years-old – all I cared about in life was my three girlfriends and playing four square during recess.

But for two excitement-filled hours, I was a huge college basketball fan along with everyone else gathered around one slightly static-filled television.

Back then all I really understood was that these games were important, because if you win you move on, if you lose you go home.

As I grew older and lost my baby face, so went my three girlfriends, but I still had March Madness.

I remember when I was able to drink large amounts of Mountain Dew without my ass getting bigger. During March Madness, it is all about what team you get under your cap. If that team wins, so do you.

I think the best teams I ever got were Pepperdine and UNC-Charlotte. Needless to say, I’ve never won anything. I’ve switched to diet Mountain Dew, but the result is still the same.

March Madness is also a time to get into a betting pool. Whether it’s through work, family or friends, pretty much everyone has a shot because the Madness is so unpredictable.

My mom picked more winners than I did last year, and she chose teams by their uniform color schemes and how neat their names were .

Even if there is no money involved, just the thrill of following the teams you chose to is worth it.

Pools are especially important during a year like this as no team from Iowa will even make the big show and you need a reason to watch the games.

Well, the Cyclones and Hawkeyes do have a chance but it would entail them winning their conference tournaments, which is about as likely as me getting my three girlfriends back.

March Madness is never complete without a Cinderella story. It’s that team that comes to the NCAA tournament from a smaller conference or barely makes it in as a low seed but pulls a big upset and makes it further and further into the tournament.

Wally Szczerbiak and Miami of Ohio was the Cinderella team I liked in 2000.

Of course the chances of a team like this winning it all are slim to none, but to see the fire in those players’ eyes as they win games they weren’t supposed to is nearly inspiring.

Another thrill of March Madness is due in large part to the weather. Madness means spring is coming.

As your college teams are nearing the end of their seasons, the snow is melting off the court in your neighborhood.

As soon as Duke loses, you pump up your basketball and jog to the court to imitate some of the moves you just witnessed.

I have my history of March Madness as I’m sure many others have their own stories and reasons for enjoying this wonderful time of year.

But as you are reading this, I am experiencing March Madness up close and personal at the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. I am a Big 12 tournament and a March Madness virgin, so this should be fun.

Though the Cyclones haven’t had the season most have hoped for, covering them has been fun, and this is the ultimate way to cap it all off.

You never know, we may have the next Cinderella story on our hands.

Kyle Moss