All is fair in love and basketball

With the wrap-up of both men's and women's basketball, we can now reflect on this season and make predictions for the next. 

Men's basketball was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round, while the women went on to the Sweet 16.  Upon this, an acquaintance of mine stated: "I'm so irritated that everyone is just now jumping on the bandwagon, I've been watching the women's games all season." 

Perhaps this is irritating to some, but what they should have been feeling instead was gratitude and appreciation that after the men were knocked out, the women were finally able to get some much-deserved attention.  The women's basketball team has had a stellar season, and though their record was more to brag about than the men's, they received half the recognition. 

The women's basketball team continually does the University proud, but are often overshadowed by the success of the men.  Not that I don't enjoy a weekly men's basketball game, but I was not all that sad when they lost to Syracuse in the second round, because then I could give my undivided attention to the ladies, who had an awesome match-up with Texas A&M. 

Sports, in general, are all about bandwagons.  All teams have a "fandom," or a following of fans that support that team and wear their colors with pride.  College sports are a major facet of American life, sometimes overshadowing professional athletics. 

With professional teams, players are constantly being traded or moving to and from teams in different cities and states.  With college sports though, athletes typically stay at one school, and if they earn their spot, they become an integral part of that college for decades to come.  Their fandom spans from current students, to alumni to people hopeful of attending that college in the future. 

In the case of Gonzaga sports, yes, men's basketball has been a constant money maker and fan favorite, but the women Bulldogs play for the same institution and are just as good in their conference. 

Many argue that men's sports are more exciting to watch because in general the games move faster and the competition is greater, which could be true.  But that does not mean that the women's teams are any less great. 

Regardless of whether it's the men's team or the women's team who comes home with the win, be excited.  After all, we choose to be Zags, and we choose to support our teams, so whether you have been watching the women play all season, or only caught their last game in the NCAA Tournament, I say thank you for contributing to the fandom that surrounds Gonzaga University as a whole.