NCAA Brackets: The Non-Fan's Guide to Watching March Madness 2013 Tournament

There are a few simple ways to have fun and not go mad during the madness. 

It's that time of the year when grown men go crazy over how almost grown men perform. It's March Madness. It's crazy. It's unpredictable. Best of all, it's the only time you'll probably use the word "bracket" outside of 7th grade algebra unless you're a mechanic. There are ways to have fun with March Madness without going as crazy as a loon over the next couple weeks. 

1. Watch a game. - Yeah, we know it's not as cool as the NBA. In a way, it's a different game, because each year team's rosters change (thank you "one and done") and the mindset of kids is different from the pressures of being an NBA millionaire. Between the announcers, the excitement in the crowds, and the cheerleaders (that your wife isn't supposed to see you watching), it's easy to get swept up in the madness. Besides, when co-workers ask you about a game, you won't sound completely clueless. 

2. Sign up for several brackets. - Rule one of investing (besides staying away from your uncle's idea of a restaurant chain called Headwounds) is diversify, diversify, diversify. Having more than one bracket and, more importantly, picking different teams will not only make you look smart to your friends, but keep you interested, because some team like Cheeseburger Tech will inevitably destroy your favorite squad. It's the nature of the beast. 

3. Ride the chalk. - Guys like to prove they're smarter than everyone and brag about how they saw George Mason or another 442nd ranked team pull an upset. They're called upsets for a reason. In the end, those underdog teams that "no one wants to face" usually get kicked in the stomach by a higher ranked team. As someone once said "A broken clock is right twice a day". Don't get sucked into the underdog hype. Pick the highest ranked teams to advance. Even in a season where the number one team has fallen more than drunken frat boys during pledge week, it's almost a lock that the the final four teams will contain top-ranked teams.  

4. Listen to experts. - Between ESPN, Fox, Time Warner and your regional gurus, they're bound to have an opinion. It's ok to lean on others advice. However, keep in mind, they're bound to be wrong. Whatever you do, don't let coworkers know you didn't come up with your own opinion. It screams "newbie" and you'll never be taken seriously. 

5. Don't be "that guy". - So you've put money into an office pool or you've put money on an online pool (remember--gamble responsibly), but your teams don't make it. Don't whine or pout. That's childish and people won't want to be around you. Most of all, don't be "that guy". You know who he is. He uses 3 cubic tons of profanity when discussing how some 18-year-old freshman let him down or how some crooked ref "screwed him over". Remember, it's a game. Be able to laugh about it, especially at your own expense. Don't make fun of people who lost. It will only put you in a bad category that will be hard to escape. If you win, do something really cool like buy the office lunch (or at least donuts). Also, don't be afraid to give your winnings to a charity. It'll show everyone in the office that you're not just a good sport, but a good person.