The field has been announced, and all across the country people are scratching their heads, burning up erasers and trying to figure out what's so damn special about the Missouri Valley Conference.
This time of the year is really something special. For many sports fans, this is the event of the year. Sixty-five teams beating on each other for a few weeks trying desperately to be the last man standing... and as amazing as it is, one team will actually win six in a row and take home the title.

Starting Thursday history will be made. Cinderella teams will emerge from obscurity to end the season for major conference powerhouses. An 18 year old kid will be a hero, and a veteran senior will play his last game. Jim Valvano will run around on the court, Christian Laettner will hit the last second shot and Chris Webber will use one timeout too many.

Your favorite team probably won't win.

But that's what makes it exciting. There's a very clear-cut reason why we love the NCAA Tournament, drama. It's the NCAA tournament that has introduced words like Gonzaga, IUPUI and Pittsnoggle into our national vocabulary (ok, only the people I know use IUPUI... and it's pronounced "ooh-ey-pooh-ey"). It's the NCAA Tournament that gets the attention of even the most casual sports fan, or those that simply aren't.

So, I've started a bracket pool online (as I do every year). It doesn't cost a thing to join, and there's no money to be won... just pride. Anyone that reads this is not only invited to join but encouraged to! Just follow this link, and input ID# 65217 and password blogjam. I hope to see you on the list.