In the movie Bull Durham, Susan Sarandon’s character says that she believes in the church of baseball.

This weekend, I attended the church of March Madness. More specifically, the Elite Eight sect.

The services made me tears up a couple times. The tears of joy only lasted for about seven-and-a half minutes until they turned to sadness.

I haven’t experienced that wide an array of emotions from a sporting event in a long time.

The high from the last-second three-pointer from Sparks was so great it made it hurt that much more when I fell at the end of the second overtime.

Michigan State may have taken out my Wildcats, but I can forgive them because they exercised the evil out of the tournament just two days before by beating Duke.

I will sacrifice the Wildcats for the greater good of the tournament. It is a very large price to pay to not be Dancing with the Devils, but it’s a payment that I’m willing to make.

I’m hoping that they will take out the Tarheels, too, and go on to win the whole thing.

Very rarely will I ever throw my support behind someone who beats Kentucky, but after what they did for me Friday night, I’ll allow it this time.

Skyhawks should pay special attention to the Illinois team, though, as our own men’s basketball team is scheduled to face them next season.

Hopefully this game will garner as much publicity for UTM as the meeting with Duke did this season.

I promise that next week I will be off this weird March Madness kick...unless Michigan State wins. Then I will be gloating.

I will be back to my old Skyhawk supporting self. But, as the services of March Madness come to a close, I have to change my usual sign-off for just this week...

GO SPARTANS!!!