by Darla Jones

GUEST COLUMNIST

From the beginning of our married life, my husband and I have made it a ritual to fill out the men's NCAA Tournament brackets, tape them to the fridge and wait and react wildly to the outcome of each of the 64 games.

And each year, just as soon as March Madness begins, so does my inevitable descent to Final Four humiliation. Hey, I am always up for an underdog upset. The problem is all those incredible upsets just don't happen as often as I pick them.

Me: I've picked Boise State over Louisville. What do you think?

Husband (smirking): Really?

Me: What? Don't you think it's a good pick?

Husband: Isn't Louisville a three seed?

Me: So. Boise State has a blue football field.

Husband: Umm, what you really need to do is see how each team played in their respective conferences and then match them up that way.

Me: Ahhh. I'm going to change it then.

Husband: Honey, that's the fun about March Madness. Put down whatever you like.

Me: All right, I'm leaving it. I have a really good feeling about Boise State.

Husband: Okay, but remember they're from Idaho.

This marks the first year we have invited our children to be a part of the Madness. Our three oldest elatedly filled out their brackets. (Let me be the first to admit that they are worse than their mother when it comes to picking an upset. I really thought I was a better mother when it comes to teaching my children the fundamentals of picking the superior of two college basketball teams.)

Me: You picked BYU to go to the Elite Eight?

9 year-old son: Yeah! Go Coogs!

Me: And you've picked them losing to Xavier, who you've picked to win the tournament?

Son: Yup. BYU rocks.

Me: And what do you know about Xavier?

Son: It starts with an "X."

Me: Did you know Boise State has a blue football field?

What I hope for is that a whole lot of their father will rub off on them by the time the tournament is over.

My pick: Kansas.

My husband's pick: Georgetown.

And go Lady Utes!

Darla Jones has lived in Tooele for nine years. She has eight children and loves chocolate.