My Dad Picked Villanova in '85

It's that time of year again: the NCAA Tournament. It's also the time of year for my Dad to remind us that he picked Villanova back in '85. He regales us every March Madness with that great year that he was the master of bracketology. I will attempt to cover the story as he tells it:

"My work was having a pool for the NCAA tournament. I didn't know anything about college basketball. I picked Villanova. They all laughed at me. Then, Villanova won. I won $50! I remember that well!"

The moral of the story is that if you want to succeed at picking NCAA games, become an Indian immigrant. Jay Bilas should become Jawaharlal Bhaskar. What prompted the Villanova pick? It was probably the same logic as to how most of us pick our local judges on a ballot -- it's all in the name. (On a side note, Rollie Massimino could easily win an election for a local judge position based purely off his name. On a further side note, Rollie Massimino would probably get kicked out of his local judge position for corruption based off his name.)

Every time I hear this story, it warms my heart because it allows my father to bask in the glow of one successful tournament about a sport he doesn't even really particularly care about, but it also makes me sad. I can't find the exact Las Vegas odds for Villanova, but they were the lowest seed to ever win the tournament, and all he got out of it was $50? Had he just put a decent amount of money down before the tournament in Vegas, he could have retired back in '85. It could have allowed him to relax with football (the game he did care about) and watch all those Browns AFC Championship game losses without having to worry about working the next morning.

So, in honor of my dad, this year I've named my NCAA bracket selections, "My Dad Picked Villanova in '85." The picks of the father are to be laid upon the children.