Every March, when the NCAA Tournament comes around, it seems like I always have something to do.

Class, work, family obligations - there's always something.

Not this year. That's why I'll be able to watch as much basketball possible this Thursday and Friday. The only thing that could put a wrench in my plans is something serious happening to someone in my family. Even then, I'd have a decision to make because I'd like to believe everyone I'm related to has knowledge of my (unhealthy) obsession with basketball.

Seriously, there's very few things I love more than March Madness (my family, friends, Haribo Gummi Bears and those Beefy 5-Layer Burritos from Taco Bell come to mind).

During my freshman year of college - the year Michigan State won its second national title - I let one of my best friends, who's probably the most superstitious person I know - talk me into sitting in the same position in the same chair for three weeks. It must've worked, right?

Two years after that, I rushed through a test in a history class in order to make it home to watch MSU lose to North Carolina State in the first round. It's safe to say I would have been better off skipping the class altogether.

I've gone from skipping class to trying my best to get out of work the first couple days of the Big Dance.

I even told a boss of mine once that I was a devout Bracketologist and that if he didn't give me that Thursday-Friday off, I'd have the ACLU on him with the quickness.

I don't have to do any of that this year!! Everything is all set for me to only have to leave my couch for one thing. That's still up in the air, too, especially if I come across a bed pan in the next 48 hours.

From start to finish, millions upon millions of people are enthralled by the NCAA Tournament. Even those Butler-UTEP (pick UTEP) and Richmond-St. Mary's (go with the Spiders) matchups will garner decent ratings and shares.

I love everything about this tournament.

From the rowdy, die-hard, sometimes too optimistic fans; to the double-overtime buzzer-beaters from half court; to the awesome play-by-play skills of Detroit native Gus Johnson. College basketball, not the NBA, is truly "Where the Amazing Happens."

And who doesn't know of the legends this tournament has helped make?

Who doesn't remember the skinny kid from North Carolina - with a full head of hair - sinking that legendary jumper from the baseline in 1982 in New Orleans against Georgetown?

Anybody who can't recall Christian Laettner's one bounce, turnaround jumper to beat Kentucky at the buzzer in the Elite Eight during the 1992 tournament should be court marshalled.

And I know everyone around here remembers Glen Rice's phenomenal six-game run in '89. And how Magic Johnson essentially saved college basketball with his play in the 1979 tournament.

It's not like productivity is at a high level during the Dance. An article published by various publications each March says U.S. companies will lose about $20 million a minute paying employees for time spent following the games at their desk, according to an estimate by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

I’m sure worker bees all over the country already have ways set up on how to enjoy the Madness from their cubes. I always have several windows open on my computer so I can keep track of each game. I power walk back and forth from my desk to the television in our newsroom “like an expectant father whose wife is in labor” as our office manager said while I marched back and forth to watch the Big Ten Tournament a couple years back.

So as we get closer and closer to tourney time, I advise everyone to set their DVRs, skip class or call in sick to work.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ahold of my mom so she can help me win my pools. Why do I have her help me, you ask? Because she thinks March Madness is a sale at Lord & Taylor.