Briefcase on the Kitchen Table

I am sorry it has been a while since I have written. It has been a particularly busy time of the semester.

So it is the beginning March Madness and, like all good folks from Indiana, Avery and I have a healthy obsession with college basketball. We have both looked at the stats, the seedings, the match-ups, geographical advantage, etc. We have bitched about teams we feel are ranked too high (Louisville), rejoiced at teams that aren’t in at all (Kentucky), started choosing our favorite underdogs (Valpo, Minn, etc.), and of course we have each set our brackets.

Avery and I both fill out multiple brackets a year. There is the “pie in the sky” bracket where you pick who you want based not at all on the odds, the “serious” bracket which is what you think will actually happen, and then a “bullshit” bracket where you pick some arbitrary pattern and see how it turns out.

Now, this might sound like a cutesy-couple thing. However, for the most part it is not. Especially with our “serious” and “pie in the sky” brackets, Avery and I almost never have matching brackets and each of us is heavily invested in our bracket doing well. For instance, in the “pie in the sky” bracket. Avery has IU going all the way, most of the Big Ten doing well (he is an Ohio State hater though), and a couple of his other out-of-conference hopefuls/underdogs hitting it big. I on the other hand LOVE the Big Ten; period. While I would say my  favorite is IU, I really enjoy watching all of our Midwest corn-fed players tearing it up old school on the court so I very happily root for MSU, Michigan, OSU, Wisconsin, etc. I am also pulling for SLU and Butler. This is not a fan strategy Avery agrees with. To him I say, tough shit.

I do believe, however, that this introduces a bit of healthy competition in to the relationship. I know some people who will ONLY fill out a bracket with their spouse, concerned that if they disagree and one spouse’s bracket does better than the other, resentment will come into the relationship. That is their choice but, as seriously as Avery and I take college b-ball, I cannot imagine him holding a grudge just because my bracket beats his (see what I did there?). It is true, I don’t like losing to Avery anymore than Avery likes losing to me; the first one happens a lot more than the second if I am being honest. However, I think it is good to compete with each other a little, challenge one another, be the “me” instead of the “us”.

I have competed against Avery in school, debate, scholarships, sporting events, you name it. And I think we are all the better for it. Seeing Avery excel individually, even if it means beating me, is fantastic. Besides, it makes beating him so much more rewarding; especially when the bracket-winner gets to pick the date-night restaurant.