Meet the man behind March Madness
Who knew the actual NCAA Tournament was a Cinderella story?
It’s that time again – March Madness!Â
Ask any basketball fan (and most Americans) and they can tell you why this time of year is so special. I grew up in Indiana, where you have to pass a basketball test to get your driver’s license. (Just kidding - but we DO love our basketball. Even James Naismith, who invented basketball in Massachusetts said, "Basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport." Take that, Kentucky and Kansas.
But, what’s March Madness all about – and how did it begin?Â
I decided to follow my curiosity to find out the origins of the US college basketball tournament that grew to become a billion dollar industry.Â
But first, a quick intro for those who aren’t familiar with the Madness...
What is ‘March Madness’?
‘March Madness’ refers to a magical three week period, starting in mid-March, when 68 college basketball teams compete in seven rounds to become the national champions of the NCAA Tournament.Â
Why is it called ‘March Madness’?
‘March Madness’ was first used in reference to basketball by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter in 1939. It didn’t become associated with the NCAA until broadcaster Brent Musburger used it during the 1982 NCAA Tournament.
The madness of the tournament comes from the incredible drama and upsets it gives us each year. Small schools beat big schools. Schools with huge basketball programs are defeated by schools you’ve never heard of (looking at you, Oral Roberts!). While top teams tend to make it to the Final Four, there are Cinderella stories every year (like Butler in 2010) where teams greatly exceed expectations and contribute to the madness.
It’s a single elimination tournament, and you never know what’s going to happen.Â
That’s what makes March Madness so exciting – and so fun!
But how did it get started?Â
Meet Harold Olsen – The Man Behind the Madness.
In 1938, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) held their first college men’s basketball competition in New York City. It was sponsored by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, and the games were played at the city’s famous Madison Square Garden.
But they only invited six teams to compete – and two of those teams were from New York.
Harold Olsen, the coach of Ohio State men’s basketball team and chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Committee, wanted to create a true national tournament that could compete with the NIT.
So in March 1939, Olsen worked with others to hold the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It included eight teams from across the nation, with regional games held in Philadelphia (for eastern teams), and San Francisco (for western teams).
The Final Four and championship were played at Northwestern University's gym in Evanston, Illinois – a significantly smaller (and less glamorous) setting than New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Interestingly, Olsen’s Ohio State Buckeyes made it to the championship, but were defeated by the Oregon Webfoots (colloquially referred to as the ‘Tall Firs’), 46-33.Â
The NCAA Tournament is a bit of a Cinderella story itself.Â
Although the tournament would grow to become a huge moneymaker, in 1939, it lost money. Organizers gave away tickets to get fans to go to the games and the tournament ended $2,600 in the red.Â
They also struggled to compete with the NIT for media coverage and attention (perhaps challenging since the NIT was sponsored by the Basketball Writers Association!).
When the tournament began, there was limited national media coverage of college basketball, and playing in New York City gave the NIT and its teams more exposure. The NIT was seen as the most glamorous of the post-season tournaments, and many teams wanted to compete in it rather than the NCAA Tournament.
But that changed.
The NCAA Tournament grew, and by 1951, they had 16 teams competing. By 1975, they had 32 teams.
NBC then moved televised coverage of the NCAA championship from Saturday afternoon to Monday evening, providing the NCAA Tournament with prime-time television exposure the NIT could not match.
By 1985, 64 teams were competing in the NCAA Tournament – and the exposure and interest has grown significantly over the years. Games are now broadcast on four networks, and many fans also livestream the games (watching on their phones, tablets and computers).
Olsen’s dream of a national championship tournament came true. The three-week celebration of March Madness has become one of the most famous annual sporting events in the United States – where even non-basketball fans get involved filling out brackets and competing in office pools.
And the once-prestigious NIT is now operated by the NCAA, and regarded as a secondary tournament for teams that did not make the NCAA grade. It is referred to as the ‘No Invite Tournament’, ‘Not Important Tournament’, and ‘Nobody's Interested Tournament’.
Bonus Fun Fact: One Shining Moment was introduced as the March Madness anthem in 1987 - when the INDIANA HOOSIERS were the champs! If you’re not convinced why March Madness is so special, then check out this video of One Shining Momenta and let it (and the smooth vocals of Luther Vandross) convince you.
Still curious? You can find out more about March Madness in The Ultimate Guide and download a bracket to catch up.
Recent Writing
Should people be cancelled - or educated? Alexi McCammond lost her job as Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue before she even started due to offensive tweets she made 10 years ago. She should be called out for what she said - but how long should she be punished?
Why Don’t Women Speak Up? - Governor Cuomo’s latest scandal has raised questions about speaking up. There are many reasons why women don’t speak up. Here I share why I didn’t.
The Real Takeaway from Meghan and Harry’s Interview - Here’s what I took away from the interview - and what I think Meghan, Harry and the Royals should do next.
How One Woman Changed The Game- Melissa Ludtke’s courage and action changed Major League Baseball - and journalism - forever.
To learn more about how I help people strengthen their communication, creativity, and leadership skills, check out my website.
Until next time!
-Beth
One shining piece! Loved this. Sharing it with my dad, the former Sports Columnist for the WSJ, Fred Klein. Pity about the Badgers and Illini this year.