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A lot of racket about filling out brackets

That guy who was cranky in the office Wednesday morning wasn't upset because he just found out how much he owes the IRS or because his dog got out and had to be chased four blocks despite the incessant rattling of a Milkbones box.
He's grouchy because he had Alabama A&M.
The NCAA Tournament sort of, kind of, almost began Tuesday night with the unnecessary play-in game and with it began the first gnashing of teeth for those of you who believe in Bracketology. Which would be just about all of you.
Really, don't you feel naked without a scribbled bracket filled with hopeful winners magneted to your refrigerator?
Filling out a bracket has been as much a part of this time of the year as green beer. I'm not sure when these office pools started but it has been traced back to the invention of the copier machine.
It's not really about the gambling because most of you kicked a dollar or a five-spot in with your ink-stained hands and white-out under your fingernails. It's simply about being a part of the most fun time of the year, feeling like you belong.
OK, so your version of March Madness is when the team you picked as a surprise in the Final Four gets beat by St. Mary's. But for the most part it's as much tradition as it is anything.
You haven't filled out a bracket? Come on, it's as much a part of Americana as steroids and apple pie.
With that in mind, here is my official bracket. And remember, it's for entertainment purposes only.
RICK NEUHEISEL REGIONAL (ALBUQUERQUE): Final Four team: Louisville. The Cards come to the Dance accompanied by chips on their broad shoulders. Their four seed was too low and Rick Pitino will use it as a motivation.
Elite Eight: Louisville, Gonzaga. The Zags are no longer Cinderellas, everybody's early-round upset choices. They are for real.
Sweet 16: Gonzaga, Louisville, West Virginia and Washington. The Huskies were deserving of a top seed, but playing in the Pac 10 will eventually show up.
First-round winners: Those four along with Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Texas Tech.
Biggest surprise: Wake may be a sexy pick to reach the Final Four, but they bow out to the red-hot Mountaineers.
PETE ROSE REGIONAL (CHICAGO): Final Four team: Illinois. The Illini may have a politically incorrect mascot, but they didn't go through the season with one loss by accident.
Elite Eight: Illinois, Arizona. The Wildcats have a difficult draw, but Lute Olsen is a tremendous coach.
Sweet 16: Illinois, Arizona, Alabama and Oklahoma State. The Tide is as talented as any team and should make it this far if they get past UW-Milwaukee in the first round.
First-round winners: Those four along with Nevada, Boston College, LSU and Southern Illinois. The Tigers go far if they can get Tack Minor to play more like a point guard and less like the Tasmanian devil.
Biggest surprise: Alabama coach Mark Gottfried actually makes a good strategic move during the tournament.
TEDDY DUPAY REGIONAL (SYRACUSE): Final Four team: North Carolina. The Heels have some chemistry issues but Roy Williams knows how to win in the tournament and has the most talent of any team playing.
Elite Eight: Carolina, UConn. Despite a poor conference tournament performance, the Huskies have been on a roll.
Sweet 16: Carolina, UConn, Florida and Kansas. The Gators are a different team and shouldn't run into the same problems they have had in the past four years.
First-round winners: Those four along with Minnesota, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Charlotte. The 49ers get some bragging rights with a win over N.C. State.
Biggest surprise: We have to have a 12 seed beating a five, so Villanova goes down as New Mexico's Danny Granger puts on a show.
ART SCHLICHTER REGIONAL (AUSTIN): Final Four team: Duke. The Dookies don't have a lot of depth, but they have enough offense to get to St. Louis.
Elite Eight: Duke, Kentucky. I don't feel good about this because of Kentucky's two losses to Florida, but isn't everybody rooting for another one of these classics?
Sweet 16: Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse and Utah. Five years ago, I was in Syracuse when the Orangemen were playing in the Sweet 16. Do you believe in deja vu? Yes.
First-round winners: Those four along with Stanford, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Cincinnati. This isn't Bob Huggins' best Bearcat team, but they'll get past a pedestrian Iowa team.
Biggest surprise: Mississippi State, considered to be a Final Four contender before the season, continues to be a mystery with its first-round loss.
At the Final Four, I've got North Carolina handling Duke in a beauty with Illinois ending Louisville's wild ride. Carolina wins it all.
And if you are looking at this bracket while filling out yours, you're in trouble.