Saturday evening I was counting the money in my head. No, in my hand. It was there in my hand. Virginia, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Oklahoma. I was imagining how I’d use that office pool money. Something silly? Something useful? Who cares… it’s all about bragging rights anyway, because still I’d do it if the prize were a stick of gum.

My presumptive victory lasted about 45 minutes Saturday night until the Kansas-Villanova game began. Two classic choking teams and I picked the wrong one.

Easy come, easy go.

It was in this spirit, not caring about money and bragging rights, that I watched my beloved childhood basketball team, the Syracuse Orange (in my day they were the Orangemen), complete the most unlikely Final Four run in a decade. Heaven can wait.

And there I found the true meaning of Christmas.

Er, March Madness.