This week I come to you on behalf of the month of April, perhaps the most underappreciated month of all-especially in the world of sports. You see, April comes after the \almighty"" month of March, home to March Madness-a plethora of conference basketball tournaments and The Big Dance.
But one look into the sports schedule of April reveals, in the words of the late Rodney Dangerfield, April gets no respect.
I mean, let's face it, even the final leg of March's madness ends in the first weekend of April. How would UNC and the ACC have had the final laugh if it weren't for the month of April?
Would there even be a women's tournament if it weren't for April? I mean, there's nothing like the first weekend of the year's fourth month to hold a four-team women's bracket... Wait, they had a field of 64? Oh well, at least I turned it on in time to see Michigan State's comeback against Tennessee and in time to realize that if Spartan forward/tight end Matt Trannon was on the women's team, he might actually be the best looking player.
But there is much more to the month than basketball.
April is home to Opening Day! I'm sure you already noticed that the Brewers are 2-0, but when would baseball start if it weren't for April? But instead of being appreciated for hosting the beginning of the baseball season, people continue to bash the month because ""The first month of baseball doesn't matter anyway.""
Maybe it doesn't seem like these games matter in the standings, but that doesn't mean you can't catch a good, early look at America's pastime. After all, the first series between the Crew and the Cubbies is this weekend.
April is also home to ""A tradition unlike any other."" That's right, The Masters. One of golf's four major tournaments, it is one of the few times where you can see Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and amateur Ryan Moore in the same field.
With the first round starting today, all eyes will be on Tiger looking to end his drought in major tournaments, Phil Mickelson trying to defend his championship and Jack Nicklaus, who could be playing in his last Masters.
Today also marks the final weekend of this year's college hockey season. This year's Frozen Four is special in that all four teams come from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Unfortunately, the Badgers were the only WCHA team not to make the Frozen Four, but pencil them in to play in April next year when the Frozen Four comes to the Bradley Center.
The NBA regular season caps off and the playoffs begin... if you're into dunks, three-pointers and good ol' defense. NASCAR hits up Martinsville and Texas Motor Speedway... if you're into watching left turns. The EUFA Champions League continues, the NFL Draft is held, the Badger football team hits the field for spring practice and the list goes on and on.
So before you start thinking that March is like that girl (or guy?) that looks good in the shirt one size too small and that April is the one that tries to pull it off when they shouldn't, think again. The Madness lasts much further into the year than the third month's title would suggest.
If you don't see me in the next couple of weeks, don't worry, it only means that they've taken me away to a room with padded walls because all of this continuing madness may drive me insane.
Eric is a junior planning to major in history. If you, too, are suffering from the extended Madness e-mail him at ejschmoldt@wisc.edu.
