On This Night We All of Us Sit on the Edge of Our Seats

Why is this game different from all other games?

Source: This is paraphrased from probably the best-known quote from the Passover Haggadah: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" It is usually read by the youngest child at the Passover seder. The four reasons are traditionally the following:

• On all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread.
  
• On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night only bitter herbs.
  
• On all other nights we dip only once, but on this night we dip twice.
  
• On all other nights we eat sitting up or reclining, but on this night we all of us recline.

These are commonly called the "Four Questions," but I swear the Maxwell House Haggadah our family uses does not phrase them as questions. I'll have to double check that tonight.

Explanation:Tonight's NCAA national championship game has different meaning for me:

• For all other games, I watch from any of the numerous positions in my office pool, but on this night I watch from first place.
  
• For all other games, if I pick the winner correctly, I get points, but for this game I get money.
  
• For all other games I wouldn't be upset that I'd be at a seder instead of watching it live, but on this night I'm a little upset about it.
  
• For all other games, if my team wins, I can only taunt some of my coworkers, but if my team wins this game they all of them will be taunted.

Here's hoping I win a lot of bread! (Unleavened, of course)

Special Blog Bonus: To help get pumped up for the game, here's an excerpt of a Billy Donovan pep talk:


If that doesn't do it for you, here's the pregame speech from Any Given Sunday: