Now that March Madness is down to the Final Four, everyone’s bracket is ruined in some way. Each year we strive to make the “perfect bracket” and convince ourselves that this is our year; this is the year that you’re going to wreck all of your friends. But then the first round of games is over and there were at least six upsets that immediately crushed the dream of your baby. Here are the 5 stages of grief you go through during March Madness.
1. Denial
There’s absolutely no way. No. I refuse. How could that much red already infiltrate my poor bracket? How did I already mess up the Elite Eight after the first round??? It was the refs I just know it, California was the 4th seed, there’s no way they are out this early. Someone must have paid the right guy. How did Michigan State get kicked out by Middle Tennessee? That was supposed to be an easy first round for them. This can’t be happening.
2. Anger
HOW DID I NOT GET ANY OF THESE UPSETS? It’s as if these seeds were randomized and then assigned. March Madness doesn’t simply describe the chaos of the games but the rage coming out of each participant in bracket challenges. You’re stuck watching your bracket die a slow death because of numerous buzzer beaters throwing the game and top seeds crumbling under the pressure of Madness. This stage is when friendships are tested further than your faith in coaches. All you can do is hope no one looks into your standing in the challenge until the points even out.
3. Bargaining
You turn to any form of higher power to reason with them to save the remainder of your bracket. God? Allah? Flying Spaghetti Monster? The Great Ghost of March Madness Past? You’re on it. You offer the $3 in your bank account and subpar GPA as sacrifice for the survival of your broken bracket. Whatever you can give, which isn’t much, you offer up just to be able to get the remainder of the tournament correct. You need the rest of those possible points in order to be ok in the standings in your bracket challenge. You have renewed trust in the decisions of your remaining teams and have faith that they will pull through for you. They made it this far, they could make it to the end, right?
4. Depression
It’s over, you didn’t even get the overall championship winner right. March Madness is over and you sacrificed your first born for a mere extra 10 points collectively. No. More. Madness. What else am I supposed to pay attention to when class gets slow? Social media?? Not even close to exciting.
5. Acceptance
After you have grieved over the death of your bracket you come to terms with the fact that March Madness has come to an end. When confronted by the winner of your bracket challenge you put on your fake smile while internally plotting for their downfall next year. The only thing getting you through this upcoming year without Madness is your plot to win it all next year. You promise yourself that you’re going to keep up with the teams to have the master bracket next year. This year may not have been as successful as you originally planned, but next year is your year. You’re going for all green, and nothing is going to come between you and the greatest victory (except when this all happens again next year).
