Beech Tree News Network

March brings many things.  March flowers (even though it’s raining and 53 degrees as I write this), Spring, St Patrick’s Day(the 17th), Easter (27th) and, perhaps my favorite, March Madness.  I will say that 53 is far and away better than the teens and 20’s we were dealing with as soon as a month ago.  I’ve even got my own shirt with Sullivan(an Irish name, btw) on the back, for St. Patrick’s Day. 
With the college basketball season winding down this week and conference tournaments beginning soon, the field is as wide open as ever.  There is no favorite, even while the media likes to tell us there is.  Sounds like a Presidential election, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, I won’t veer into politics.  That’s apparently what all social media outlets are for.
First it was “clear” that Duke might repeat.  Then they fell apart.  I’m not going to lie, this brings me joy.  Now, according to those “in the know”, Kansas is in the driver’s seat.  Nobody can beat them.  Of course, they’ll likely make their predictable early exit.  I do think it’s a little funny that said experts are shocked when Duke and Kansas are eliminated early. 
The last two years, Kansas hasn’t made it out of the first weekend, losing in the second round.  2013 they lost in the Regional Semifinals.  Their last National Championship game appearance, in 2012, they lost to a little-known school called Kentucky.  Perhaps you may have heard of them.  But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story, right commentators? I’ve said numerous times this season that you don’t want to be the #1 team in the country, as you’re likely to lose shortly after you’re named #1: Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Villanova, etc.  Do I even need to mention the Louisville mess? I will not. 
There’s the saying of March coming in like a lion and out like a lamb.  What about if March comes in with a drizzle? Will it go out with a sunbeam? The next three months are, basically, my time of year.  Basketball tournaments this month: conference and NCAA’s, WrestleMania build-up, WrestleMania on April 3 at AT&T Stadium in Texas. This will be the third WrestleMania held in the state of Texas( ’01 and ’09 are the other years). 
I guess you could say that March is a good tune-up for April.  Which in turn is a good tune-up for May and Summer.  I’m getting ahead of myself.  Enjoy everything that March has to offer, including the rain.  Hey, rain isn’t that bad.  At least it isn’t snow.