New Media Strategies
Bracket fever taking over the Internet
By Rick Snider | March 18, 2006 - The Washington Examiner
So how is your bracket doing?
March Madness has become something safe everyone can discuss, even nonsports fans hoping to win some extra money and bragging rights over co-workers. There is no shortage of those thinking they’re just the smartest ones in the room. The chat room, that is.
“I think Winthrop is a [heck] of a lot better than a 15 seed and Tennessee isn’t playing very good ball right now,” wrote one hoops hound online before Thursday. “It’s pretty easy to pick that game as the most likely to produce a huge upset.”
That guy was close. Tennessee needed a miracle shot to advance. And because of New Media Strategies, a lot more people knew about that pick. The Arlington marketing company monitors Internet message boards, blogs and fan sites to gauge the tournament’s impact on Americans.
Hint: It’s bigger than the Super Bowl as an overall event given it takes an entire month.
CEO Pete Snyder’s company found fans vented on five central themes -- team omissions, sleeper picks, undeserving seeds, overall picks and selection committee criticism. Sounds like any pool room conversation.
“We know sports fans are passionate, but what surprised us was the level of instant animosity for the selection committee,” Snyder said. “Who knew Hofstra had such a rabid fan base?”
Passionate? New Media Strategies also handled Internet buzz for “American Idol” and said the smash TV show doesn’t come close to the college tournament.
“March Madness is bigger without a doubt,” Snyder said. “Idol has been a sensation for years, but CBS had the largest online audience ever on Thursday.”
Maryland fans weren’t alone in feeling robbed by the committee. Cincinnati, Hofstra and Missouri State fans also felt cheated by the selections of George Mason, Utah State and Air Force.
“Gotta feel for Missouri St (21 RPI) and Hofstra who beat George Mason twice in the last couple of weeks. Air Force?” wrote one blogger.
Posted another: “I feel for Hoffstra and I’m a Mason alum. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad GMU is in. But, it was particularly bitter for those Hoffstra players to be shown on TV waiting for good news to come that never did.”
Guess they not only don’t know how to beat Hofstra in Fairfax, they don’t know how to spell it.
George Washington receiving a No. 8 seed when ranked sixth nationally before losing its Atlantic 10 tournament opener was also a heated topic.
“George Washington at 8?! Pure comedy. Tell me how your national rank during the season is higher than your tourney ranking?!” wrote one.
One fan who hopefully doesn’t attend the Foggy Bottom school posted: “George Washington’s seeding was rediculous(#8).”
Naturally, lots of people wanted to look smart and posted sleeper picks. Eleventh-seeded Wisconsin- Milwaukee validated many backers with a first-round upset of No. 6 Oklahoma, as did No. 12 Montana knocking off No. 5 Nevada. (Wish I had read the latter before posting my bracket.)
Duke and Connecticut are the clear favorites among online fans.
“How does anyone plan on stopping UCONN, especially with that bracket,” wrote one fan who doesn’t know how to punctuate.
Finally, what’s the Internet without anonymous criticism? Committee Chairman Craig Littlepage was regularly blasted. The mildest postings ran like, “This is the worst selection I have ever seen in my time with college basketball.”
Wonder if that username was jwooden@ucla.edu?