A Popular Distraction

Over the next two days, the NCAA March Madness College Basketball tournament will begin with it's opening round games. Historically, these games are the most riveting, as the most games are played in the shortest amount of time. In addition, the sheer number of upsets (lower seed beating a higher seed) increases as well, keeping viewers on the edge of their seat.

Even if someone isn't particularly a fan of the 68 teams in the tournament, there is a whole other side to the March Madness season-ending tournament that guarantees excitement: betting. And betting lots for that matter. RJ Bell of Pregame.com, March Madness betting in 2012 totaled 12 billion dollars, versus 10 billion dollars for the next biggest event, say, the Super Bowl! For more on the topic, check out this Forbes article.

"Boss Button" Option

What shocked me the most, is that sports have enveloped the workplace. It was estimated by a Challenger, Gray & Christmas of Chicago survey that decreased productivity in the workplace during these next two days will result in at least $134 million dollars lost of work not performed. In tandem, an estimated 3 million workers average 1-3 hours of watching the games instead of working. CBS Sports offers free viewing of the games on their website, which includes a "boss button" to cover up the games  with a fake email account if one's boss walks by while they are watching the games on the job.

These numbers and are staggering. It's ridiculous to know that Americans value sports enough to let it disrupt their professions. It truly shows how deeply rooted sports are in the American culture. Costing various companies a total of over a hundred million dollars just to watch college basketball games. I'm not saying I don't enjoy watching them, but know the time and place to do so.

A Politically Perfect Bracket

As is now tradition with President Obama, he fills out a bracket before each March Madness tournament begins. When watching this years selection of his, I couldn't help but wonder if there were underlying politics within his picks.

64 teams make the tournament and are placed in 4 different regions, where they are given seedings of 1-16. So, there are 4 one seeds (best overall) through 4 sixteen seeds.

When filling out a bracket, one has to determine who they think will win each matchup of the NCAA March Madness tournament, striving for perfection. Within every bracket, there are certain "upsets" which may take place, which the creator has to consider picking. "Upsets" are when a lower seeded team beats a higher seeded team in which they are playing against. Upsets are risky, but can yield high rewards if correct, as not many people choose them.

For the President of the United States, choosing an upset may be considered radical (due to the scarcity of being chosen), though free-thinking, which is why he must find a balance between the two when making his bracket.

In other words, I feel that President Obama may be voicing his ideals through his bracket. He chooses a few "upsets" to show his free-thinking and innovativeness, while sticking with the best overall teams in tandem. This balance, in my opinion, actually makes a lot of sense for his political sake. Showing both sides of his mindset, all within a seemingly harmless bracket.

A Dangerous Rule Change?

As discussions continue about possible NFL rule changes, one (commissioner proposed) rule change may be jeopardizing players further.

The proposed rule change would penalize running backs for lowering their heads to initiate contact with an oncoming defender. Although for the safety of defenders, the proposed change may actually put running backs in further danger. As seen with the image on the right, the running back is lowering his head to initiate contact with the defender, this results in an imminent head to head collision, which can injure the defender, as the running back normally has built up more speed than the defender on the run. 

If this were to be made illegal though, defenders would still be able to lower their shoulders into a hit, but the running back would now have his head up, meaning a potentially malicious hit on the running back. These occurrences would undoubtedly lead to more brain injuries for running backs, which is certainly not the intentions of the NFL. 

Outcry from running backs have been immediate. Matt Forte, the Chicago Bears running back, called the proposed rule change "absurd". 

Changes surely need to be made to improve the safety of the NFL, but not ones that could inadvertently injure players further.

What do you think about this proposed rule change? Should it pass in your mind?