Read the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan about whether or not the NCAA Basketball Tournament should expand.
There are some sporting events out there that just attract the masses and get the casual fans involved in one way or another. The Super Bowl is one of them. Millions of people that do not watch professional football all year long come together to watch the Super Bowl, even if it is just to socialize. Another event that brings fans together is the NCAA Men’s College Basketball tournament, affectionately known as March Madness.
It is often said that March Madness is responsible for thousands and thousands of lost hours of work productivity and millions and millions of lost dollars as a result… at offices around the country. Are you familiar with the “Boss Button?” Chances are good that you have utilized it at work. Perhaps your office gets into a March Madness pool. I certainly get in numerous March Madness pools, and, every year, it seems like someone who does not even watch basketball wins the darn thing.
Now, it seems that NCAA officials are having preliminary discussions to expand the NCAA tournament. All of the specifics have yet to be ironed out and this is in the preliminary stages of development. However, the NCAA has an escape clause in its billion dollar deal with CBS after this year’s Final Four, so that is why expansion can be discussed.
One of the possibilities being presented is one in which an expansion from 65 teams to a field of 96 takes place. Supposedly, this would essentially merge the NIT (National Invitational Tournament, where the 32 next best teams are invited). If you have not heard about this idea, folks, you will soon enough – especially with college basketball now fully engulfed in conference play.
But, is expansion of THE tournament a good idea? That is where your favorite website comes into play (eh, that’s us, hopefully!) Both Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan have been invited to the TSD’s “Big Dance.”
Babe Ruthless will argue that expansion is a terrific idea and that more people get a bigger piece of the pie. Bleacher Fan, on the other hand, will argue that the expansion of the NCAA tournament is a horrific idea that waters down the field and, among other things, lessens the amount of reality TV he would be able to watch!
The field has been set. All pools are locked in. Please put your entry fee into the drop box located in the break room. The floor is yours!
