Next week is the start of March Madness, the annual NCAA college basketball tournament that takes place each March. It's one of the most exciting times of the year in sports because small schools that you've never heard of (schools like George Mason Univesity, Southwest Missouri State, Butler University) go head to head with the top college basketball teams in the country (teams like North Carolina, UCLA, Duke). Don't be surprised when Winthrop wins a game or two this year!
There are 32 games during the first two days of the tournament alone, including many last second finishes that all seem to happen within minutes of each other. If you could have 4 tv's going at once and be with tons of other screaming fans, that's where you would want to be. Well, that is exactly what happens in LAS VEGAS!
So, you can tell where this is going... where am I going to be for March Madness? You guessed it, Sin City itself. I've been to LV during this weekend several times over the years and nothing compares to it. The place is packed with gamblers, fans, and college students from all around including many form the California and Arizona schools there to watch all of the games. Because the games start so early here (9 am PST as opposed to noon EST), some people even sleep at the sports books the night before to ensure that they will have a seat to watch the games the next day!
The sports books located within the casinos are a great place to watch the games because you cannot only bet on the games but you can also watch ALL of the games on the multiple big screen televisions they have built in. Nothing compares to having 4 games on at once and people rooting for each side... you might be watching Duke vs. UCLA and then you hear people going crazy and you're not even sure what screen they're watching.
This year, I am staying at Mandalay Bay, which is
definitely one of the biggest, nicest, and funnest casino on the Las Vegas Strip. I've never stayed there but I've gone over there multiple times because it's such a great environment. Now that the MGM-Mirage has bought out Manadalay Bay, I can stay there and get a dramatically reduced rate on the rooms. Of course, if you factor in how much I will likely actually spend on the room factoring in potential gambling losses (inconceivable!), then the cost is probably slightly higher. I'm feeling good this year though, having scouted out some of the west coast teams (UCLA is overrated), knowing the east coast teams like BC and teams like Toledo. I've been doing my homework.
Although I've typically gone to Las Vegas this weekend with my fraternity friends from college, they are actually going next weekend instead. Although the NCAA tournament is still going on that weekend, there are much fewer games so less hysteria. It's generally not as fun. It's also the weekend that Las Vegas hosts some NASCAR race and you've never seen more trailor-toting clowns wearing these gaudy, brutally ugly Home Depot and M&M jackets in your life. I am all set with being in Las Vegas during Nascar weekend.
What will make this weekend particularly interesting is that I talked my friend Kevin Hourihan into coming out from Boston, although he didn't need to be asked twice. Actually, did I even ask him once? I just remember telling him I had a cheap room at Mandalay Bay and next thing I knew he was forwarding his intinerary! And after much hemming and hawing and debating work commitments, Neil will also be able to go as well! It's strange because Neil definitely gets into college basketball as much as anyone even though he rarely has any money on the games. He even called the Florida Gators to win it all last year (at 25-1 odds at the time) early on. His pick this year is North Carolina, but it's only because he's infatuated with Tyler Hansbrough, the 7 ft sophomore for UNC who doesn't look quite as appealing after having his nose broken last week by a Duke player. His nose is a sign that March Madness has begun!
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