When Warren Buffett announced that he
and Quicken Loans were going to offer up to 15 million people the
opportunity to guess the NCAA Tournament perfectly and win a billion
dollars, it immediately stirred up a storm. All I have read are a
bunch of articles about how you have no chance at winning. I can’t
stand such negativity. So, I’ve put together the only article out
there as to “Why YOU WILL Win The Billion Dollar Bracket.” Here
are the facts:
1. Mathematical odds/the analytics movement is overrated.
People will say that there is a 9.2
quintillion to one chance of getting a perfect NCAA bracket. To those
people, I respond, “What’s a quintillion? Sounds made up by the
same people that caused the 2008 financial crisis.” With the Sloan
Sports Conference, Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight, and other such
representations of the advancements of analytics, the facts show that
it really won’t work out. For all the success of “Moneyball,”
how many championships do the Oakland A’s have? Exactly. The best
still wins. You’re the best. You’re better than math. You got
this.
2. Warren Buffett is an idiot.
So, this guy is the most noted American
businessman and knowledgeable on economics in so many ways? He’s
worth billions, and has the kindness to donate much of it to
worthwhile charities? He’s one of the most savvy investors in the
world and highly respected by pretty much everyone on Wall Street? So
what? He’s all old now. He’s probably senile. His time is over.
It’s now your time, baby! With his billion dollars!
I really hope a librarian wins the billion dollars.
3. You know college basketball (even
if you don’t).
Come on, you watched practically every
game that was available to you on cable this season. You know these
teams hands down and have analyzed everything that could possibly
happen. And, sure, the NCAA Tournament never has any surprises. Or,
come on, you watched the night that Michigan State played Kentucky
and Duke played Kansas, and never watched a game again this season.
You know college basketball. It’s in your blood.
4. You’re probably due.
Look, life hasn’t treated you well in
some way. You’re certainly not Warren Buffett. You work a crappy
job. You hate your significant other. You’re obviously depressed in
some way. All you live for is sports or lottery tickets. This is that
wonderful moment where you can bring both of them together. God owes
you a billion dollars. Life sucks, and now it won’t thanks to your
perfect bracket!