Moral Behind the Madness

As the co-creator of "36 in 36" I feel compelled to explain how the idea began. My husband Brent and I are fairly dedicated supporters of girls's high school and women's college basketball. In the course of our own lifespan, women's athletics are also experiencing their own "coming of age." I appreciate and anticipate the growing pains that come along with the maturation of women's athletics. Women's athletics as novelty has come and gone, Title IX has assurred equality, some athletes have become household names (Mia Hamm, the Williams sisters, Katie Smith-maybe that's just because I am a Bucknut), and now women's athletics are in the stages of acheiving legitamacy in the eyes of the American public (ESPN carries all 63 women's March Madness games on their family of networks).

To dedicate oneself and strive for excellence in anything that receives little but intrinsic value, in my opinion, has and always will be worthy cause. As A alluded to on 4/1; as a culture we have lost the beauty and importance of allowing ourselves to experience intrinsic value.

Brent and I have often wondered what the experience of athletes who remain unreconized is like? What about the "practice players," the benchwarmers, the obscure sport participants? Why do they volunteer for the rigors of academia, hectic travel schedules, and gruelling practices especially in the midst of the fervor surrounding particular athletes and athletic events? I'm sure that most of you have seen the commercials being aired during March Madness that say something like "there are 300,000 NCAA athletes, most of which go pro in something other than sports." These ads makes me glad to think that there are people who I will encounter throughout my life who, as young people, had the drive to acheive their personal bests just for the sake of pushing themselves, rather than for the attention they get for doing so. If only we all could dedicate and persue personal bests in regards to those endeavors which are most important to us whether publicly recognized or not.

So, as a tribute to those who strive for excellence regardless of the the outcomes (athletic or non), A and myself (and Brent for as many as possible) will attend events with excitement and gusto. We are unsure of where this journey will take us and how it will effect our psyche but we do know that as fans of sport we are excited to venture into some new venues!