Revitalizing American Greatness

It is unmistakable that current American culture is more passionate about athletics than anything else.  The only thing that rivals it today is an anthropomorphic interest in Fido.  As such, how about employing this abundance of passion to promote our best interest? 

Recalling the exceptional division one NCAA men’s national college basketball championship in 2014, one can’t help but consider why we are not treated to such an enjoyable spectacle every year.  There is no reason why this excellence needs to teeter on the precipitous of extinction.  In 2014 there were no flukes, no Cinderellas, no underdogs as finalist – only the finest - the VERY best in Duke, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.  There were no absurd celebrations over mediocrity which has fueled a decline of American excellence, influence and prestige over the years.   

To begin with, this tournament is intended to determine a national championship - which team is the finest - the VERY best in the country.  Therefore, it would logically follow that only the finest - the VERY best, based upon outstanding regular season performance and accomplishments, should be invited to compete.  However, greed driven collegiate wisdom, invites teams that have no hope of winning anything – teams that not only fail to meet the qualification of the finest - the VERY best, but teams that, every year, get embarrassed by huge defeats.  Something close to 50% of the initial games typically prove noncompetitive and an absolute bust in that they are either flukes or blowouts.   So for openers, the field of teams needs to be reduced.  

 When the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985, former Marquette head coach and television commentator Al McGuire sarcastically suggested the NCAA invite every division one team into the tournament.  When McGuire won the NIT championship in 1970 only 41 total teams competed in BOTH the NCAA and NIT - 25 teams in the NCAA and 16 in the NIT.  In 1977 when he won the national championship there were 32 teams in the NCAA field.  John Wooden won his ten national championships (7 in a row) from 1964 to 1975.  Twenty-five teams competed in the NCAA tournament from 1964 until 1975, expanding to 32 teams in 1975.  These two fellas had to compete and succeed by playing only the finest - the VERY best every year. Revamping the tournament to 32 teams would be an excellent place to begin in determining if the field should once again contain 25 teams. 

Next the seeding process must be amended to resemble some sort of sanity. 

Every year the seeding is doctored.  The NCAA stacks the committee with members who focus on America’s obsession with the underdog.  They manipulate the process by creating ludicrous game match-ups through their seeding.  This naturally strengthens the emotional irrationality of underdog fervor while, most importantly, enriching all involved in this charade.  This has gotten way out of hand.  The committee is now in desperate need of basketball devotees and experts – those who love and study the game – those who will be committed to creating a fair system of competition leading to far more exciting and memorable contests.  There is no reason why almost every game, every year, cannot be competitive – ABSOLUTLY NONE.  

Finally, this would have the effect of returning the NIT to its worthy prominence of basketball respectability.  Those of us who remember when the NIT was prestigious can validate how much more enjoyable it was to follow two foremost tournaments.  When McGuire’s Marquette Warriors won the NIT in 1970 (only 41 teams competed in BOTH tournaments) they were heralded as the NIT champs on the marquees of every school they visited the following year - a marvelous accomplishment – something a school and a whole community could be proud of . 

Revitalizing a renewed respect and excitement for excellence in America would not only be refreshing but would greatly aid in returning America to the honor of a great country.  Continuing our reverence for the underdog and our enthusiasm for mediocrity – the lucky achievement – the fluke - will certainly not serve us well in the future.  Our committed determination toward excellence spawned our greatest achievements and a wonderful sense of national pride – a pride we could once experience through landing on the moon as well as John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins.   If we truly aspire to greatness – to being the finest -  the VERY best – then demanding exactly that of NCAA college basketball tournament would be the perfect place to begin that revitalization process.                                      

 The only thing that prevents us from once again being the greatest country in the world is our will - our commitment to sacrifice for the achievement of excellence.