Tournament Media Rant

This is going to be a rant and it's not going to a pretty one. There's been some recent buzz about Syracuse and their belonging in the Final Four. Even going to the extent that if they won the whole thing, the NCAA Tournament would be a joke.

According to mainstream sports media, such as Mike Greenberg of ESPN, the NCAA Tournament would be the worst way to find a champion of division 1 mens basketball.

I'm sorry but that is simply not true.

I get that Syracuse probably shouldn't have been invited to the tournament in the first place. But they got in anyways as a #10 seed and made their magical run through the tournament. Yes, it may have ended in the Final Four, but had they won the whole thing they would be the best team in the land. They won the NCAA Tournament.

Syracuse played who was in front of them and beat them on their way through the Midwest Region. It's not their fault Michigan State laid an egg against Middle Tennessee State. It's not their fault Gonzaga ended up beating Big East Champ Seton Hall, and then #3 seed Utah handily. Things happened the way they did for a reason in the tournament. That's the magic of this tournament. Anyone can beat anyone. David can slay Goliath year in and year out. That's what makes so many people watch the opening weekend, that's why I think it's the best in sports. The little schools finally get a shot to play the big shots and sometimes they pull out the upset. It's a truly incredibly tournament with literally billions of possibilities.

Syracuse played who they had to play. They won their four games and got to the Final Four. But apparently that wasn't good enough for this team.

Instead of giving a team their deserved praise, they were slammed by many. Thus came about the argument by Greenberg saying that the tournament isn't the best way to decide a champion in basketball.

Let's have a little history segment here.

NO ONE was complaining when Butler made a cinderella like run as a five seed and then again as an 8 seed.

NO ONE complained when UCONN and Kentucky played for the Title in 2014 as 7 and 8 seeds respectively.

NO ONE complained when VCU went from First Four to Final Four in 2011

NO ONE complained when Wichita State did the same thing in 2013.

Where were these haters when the most recent examples of Cinderella-like runs happened? The tournament was great then! Why is Syracuse the enemy all of a sudden? Because they're not a mid-major? Because they're a historic program who had a down year? Do people not enjoy a Cinderella story?

Actually, a majority of the general public like seeing these Cinderella stories make it to the Final Four. We want it to happen every year. And I'm sorry, but if you're a #1 seed and you can't beat a #10 seed to advance, you don't deserve to win the National Championship. Period.

Greenberg went on to say that making the Final Four a best 2 of 3 series to advance to the championship series would make a better way to decide a champion.

RUBBISH

The Tournament is great the way it is. The setup is like nothing seen in sports. 68 teams with a shot to win the National Championship. You have to win six games. That's it. The best part about it is that any team can win on any given day. You have one shot to make it happen. That's why we love seeing #15 seeds beat #2 seeds. That's awesome. If you don't think that way, i'd like to know your thought process.

The point is people, the NCAA Tournament is one of the greatest spectacles in sports. No matter who wins it. No one said that the higher seeds had to win. That isn't an unwritten rule about college basketball. Anyone can beat anyone and if you have a problem with a #10 seed contending for a national championship because they got hot at the right time, then go home. Stop criticizing young men when they should be applauded for what they've accomplished.

Syracuse, it was a tremendous run. I loved watching your team play throughout the entire tournament. I want to thank you for giving america another Cinderella Run through the tournament. Congratulations on an incredible season that ended with a trip to Houston in the Final Four. Most people, especially at ESPN, aren't giving you the praise you deserve. Here's to a great season Orange. Thanks Again.

- Sincerely, America. At least those with their head on straight.