Ned Luce

Ned Luce

Again this year the term “March Madness” has a variety of connotations, most of them good, and at least one not so good.

I submit a “not so good” one is the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin precipitated by the most vague list of justifications.

This invasion has lead to thousands of deaths, billions of dollars of lost property, and the creation of a legacy for Putin coveted only by Adolph Hitler types.

Taking a different tack, BJ had some very personal “March Madness” 54 years ago today when she married me. She had no concept of the madness she was going to experience — and create!

On Saint Patrick’s Day last week, I had a conversation with Sonja Hathaway down at her emporium for fine haircuts known as the Bayside Barber Shop. She celebrated the day being proudly adorned in a T-shirt publicizing the semi-annual four-mile “Poulsbo Beer Run.” A beer run would naturally be held on a day celebrating the Irish, at least that is what I have been told.

My conversation with Sonja occurred on Thursday, five days after the run but she was still celebrating with a green “Tutu” and T-shirt.

Sounds pretty mild, right? As it turns out, Sonja and a friend only actually ran about one and half miles. They called an Uber for the remainder of the run. Hey, there was beer to enjoy. Frankly, it sounds like a great idea to me but not in a Tutu! Anybody who does that would be “full-on” contributing to March Madness.

My personal March Madness is “bum hip.”
I got the X-rays and the MRI and I went to Seattle the other day to consult with a highly recommended Orthopedic Surgeon at Swedish Hospital. You ask, what is wrong with getting a consult in Jefferson County or even Kitsap County? Aren’t they good enough for you, Dumbo?

Just try to get an appointment with somebody out here before the end of the decade!
Clearly the law of supply and demand is not operational. If it were, the Olympic Peninsula would have 50 of them.

At my age I was wondering what I needed to schedule first, a new hip or a casket. It was enough to drive me mad, whether it is March or not.

Each year, the Port Ludlow Yacht Club conducts a “Training Day” in the spring. This year it will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at the Beach Club. This is one of those “March Madness” events, like the basketball tournament’s final game, that is not held in March but can still carry a relationship with madness.

The event is open to all with an interest in boating. There are several speakers, activities and a box lunch. The event admission is $19 and lunch is an additional $20. (What do you think, the Yacht Clubbers have gone mad and are giving away food?)

Port Ludlow Yacht Club members can register on the club’s website. Others can get a registration form at the Port Ludlow marina office.

Then there is the basketball tournament that actually coined the term “March Madness,” and I can assure you the event is driving BJ and me mad. I mean, both North Carolina and the University of Kansas have advanced to the “Sweet Sixteen” having won the first two games. BJ has an old friend, Homer Drew, from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis who coached and played his way into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Homer had a legendary coaching career at Valparaiso University. One of his sons, Scott Drew, is now the coach of last year’s NCAA tournament winner, Baylor University. Last Saturday Baylor was behind North Carolina by 25 points at one time during the game but they fought back to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Alas, they lost anyway but I can assure you that there was a special recipe of madness brewing at our house until they got back in the game.

As I told you last week, we do cheer for Duke in spite of the occasional email I get from, Sara, a regular reader who is one of several million people in this country who express disdain for Coach K.

Love a curmudgeon and keep your own brand of madness to yourself.

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident who goes a little overboard with the Blue Devils, but thankfully, not the yacht club. Contact Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)