2007年VOA标准英语-'March Madness' Grips US

By Sean Maroney
Washington
14 March 2007
 
watch March Madness report  

The men's U.S. National Collegiate Athletic¹ Association (NCAA) basketball tournament begins this week.  This single elimination² competition spans more than three weeks, pitting the nation's best amateur basketball teams against each other.  VOA's Sean Maroney takes a look at the excitement and the overall madness that is the NCAA tournament.

freshman3 guard Greivis Vasquez (21) drives past Duke's DeMarcus Nelson Feb. 11, 2007, in College Park, Maryland" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070528/0915250.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Maryland freshman guard Greivis Vasquez (21) drives past Duke's DeMarcus Nelson Feb. 11, 2007, in College Park, Maryland

It is commonly known as "March Madness," the disease striking college basketball fans from the local bar all the way up to the boardroom.

And it does seem as though many people go somewhat insane to support their team.

FAN:  "It's the Big Dance.  Let's go.  Let's dance.  Let's do it.  Let's play some basketball."

It is the start of the men's U.S. college basketball tournament. 

This single-elimination tournament is a fixture⁴ in American culture, dating back nearly 70 years.  And the madness is driven by the followers⁵ of the 65 university teams competing for the national basketball championship.

It has been the storybook for many great programs, such as the one at the University of North Carolina, where former NBA superstar Michael Jordan went to college. 

Or the fairy tale for dramatic underdogs. Just last year, George Mason University beat improbable odds⁶ to make it to the semi-finals known as the Final Four.

University of Maryland student Nate Baude says it is this atmosphere that helps bring out the emotions.

"It is a small college town around here with a lot of people packed in so it is fierce," he said.  "You have got everyone out there.  You have got everyone rooting for your team, and you do no have many places to go so everyone is together.  That is why it is awesome⁷."

But with so many games, who has time for work or even studying?

Fellow Maryland student Lisa Gordy says everyone must adapt to the non-stop basketball. "The early games, you do your homework during the games," she noted⁸.  "And then at night, you are usually relaxing or drinking during the games.  That is pretty much it - just watch all the games.  It is an overdose."

And for some, like Sammy Myers, 9, the overdose starts early. "When I was about five or six, my dad, he taught me what March Madness was and how it goes," he said.

But really it is about the players who get to compete at college basketball's highest level.

This year's tournament is University of Maryland player D.J. Strawberry's last chance to play for the top prize before he graduates.

"It means a lot to be in the NCAA tournament," he said.  "Every college player dreams about it.  Every young guy dreams about playing in the NCAA tournament."

And fellow Maryland player Bombale Osby says the players know it is the fans who make the games, and winning, that much sweeter.

"The school is just that much more red, that much more white," he explained.  "Everybody has on their Maryland shirts.  Everybody, everywhere you go knows that the game is going on."

When you combine it all in the month of March, you get only one word.

"Madness, just madness," added Bombale Osby.

1 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

2 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

3 freshman   

n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女)

参考例句：

• Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college.杰克决定大一时住校。
• He is a freshman in the show business.他在演艺界是一名新手。

4 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

5 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

7 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。