Write Stories About March Madness

March Madness begins this week. There are so many great stories that have been written in the sports world. Some highlight players while others feature entire university teams. There are thrilling stories, exciting stories, sad ones, too.

Our Kansas State team was on the bubble but they made it and will play Wake Forest in Dayton, OH on Tuesday evening. What I'd give to be there, but I will be watching on tv, for sure.

For a writing exercise today,  study that basketball and the basket, then try writing something about basketball. Let your imagination run wild. Here are a few triggers to help you. You could write:

• a story for kids'
• about a team you follow
• about how you know nothing about the sport nor do you care
• feature a player you admire
• about a university team you follow
• about what a basketball coach's life is like
• about what the wife of a basketball coach puts up with
• about a memorable game
• about the way referees give you grief
• about kids on a university team and what they deal with
• about players who get in trouble
• about being the parent of a player
• about being a great fan
• about working at the concession stand during a big game
• about being an announcer at a big game

Make it fiction or nonfiction. Use your imagination with the fiction stories and make your true stories sing to the reader.

Do You Read Sports Stories?

A lot of writers I know have no interest in sports. A lot of women I know have no interest in sports. It's too bad as there are some wonderful stories in the sports world.

Several years ago, a member of our state authors club asked me if I was going to attend the state convention in October. "Sorry," I said, "it's a K-State game day, and going to games with my husband takes priority." I won't tell you what she said as she made a sour face, but let it be known she moved me way down to the bottom of the list of people she admired. She left with one word, spoken with derision--Football!

I do enjoy watching our university football and basketball games. Oh let's be honest---I adore watching them and am passionate about both sports. Because we go to the games, I read all the stories about the players and coaches in the sports section of the Kansas City paper and our local newspaper, as well as some online. For one thing, it helps you learn about and understand the players. They come from all over the country and even some foreign countries, from all different types of backgrounds, and with myriad goals in mind.

The coaches bring their own stories beginning with times they might have been college players themselves, then early coaching days and present day coaching stories. Like the players, they come from around the country, have different methods in dealing with the players, and may receive mixed ratings from the players and fans.

It all comes down to this. The players and coaches are people, and everyone has a story to tell. I read only this morning about Bill Self's early coaching career experiences. For those of you who don't follow sports, he's the coach of our rival school in Lawrence, KS, known to all as KU. Rival he may be, but he's a fine coach and a good person. I admire him, even more so since reading today how he has changed over the years.

Time and again, there are stories written in the sports section about players from inner city backgrounds who have used basketball or football as a way out of a difficult environment. It's no different than reading a coming of age novel where we cheer for the hero who climbs from poverty to a good life.

If you don't read some of these stories, you're missing some good writing and inspiring stories.