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It's That Time Of Year

© Bill Howard

I find it hard to believe that anyone will have the time to read this column. The NCAA Basketball Tournament absorbs the majority of our sporting attention this week. This is as it should be.

The only noteworthy golf happening I can think of is Tiger finding his way back onto US soil at long last. His appearance fees no doubt preceded him via wire transfer.

While wallowing in the abundance of college hoops this week, I find myself fascinated by a few of the similarities between basketball and golf.

Golf on television and the last two minutes of televised basketball games are the two most glacially paced occurrences one could possibly sit through. The payoff is normally worth it in both cases.

You can see fear in a poor free throw shooter just as you can in a poor putter. The body language and the eyes betray their uncertainty every time. A poor stroke will fail you in either circumstance.

The Golf Gods and the Basketball Gods both occasionally allow ugly shots to go in. They also share a perverse sense of humor when it comes to bounces.

Analysts in both sports talk much while saying precious little.

Tattoos are all the rage with players in both sports. Actually, this is not true. It's a test to see if you are still paying attention.

I could go on, but the second half is starting. The athletes participating in this year's NCAA Basketball Tournament deserve our undivided attention. Turn your computer off and watch some basketball.

Go Gators.