March Madness 2012: 5 Best Ways to Watch NCAA Tournament

March Madness is arguably the single greatest event in college sports. No event captures the attention of the country for such a long period of time like the NCAA tournament. Preparing for the pageantry is a defined science for many with a host of rituals and traditions that have to occur.

One of the first determinations that have to be made while preparing for the tournament is how you will watch the tournament. What is the best way to catch the game and feel the spirit that flows from the Cinderella team and fans when they win the game they shouldn’t?

While some will have day jobs that hold back the excitement, others can go all out and chase the dream of a championship alongside their team. No matter your situation, here are the five best ways to watch the NCAA Tournament. 

From Your Desk

For those that are unfortunate enough to have a steady flow of scratch and a job they can’t leave as they please, from your desk is the best option. What’s that, your employer has seen fit to block streaming television feeds?

Above is your solution. Grab a portable 7-inch television and catch every minute of your teams run. After all, it is March Madness. Your boss is definitely standing behind you, but it’s because he is trying to catch the highlights as he walks past.

Can you blame him? Great job sports fan. Keep up the hard work.

From the Couch

Pull the mini fridge out from the garage and light up the grill. Sometimes utilizing the fruits of your labor can be a good deal. After all, there’s no place like home.

The couch isn’t a bad venue if you plan accordingly. With the recent expansion of network agreements virtually every television package will carry every tournament game. Thank you TruTV, am I right? What else comes on that channel anyway?

From Your Team's Coliseum

What better place to watch your team march through the tournament than from your home coliseum? Gather with thousands of your fellow fans and take in the game as if the magic was happening on the floor in front of you.

Tripping to your favorite college town is always a great way to spend some time. This is a surprisingly fun way to catch the tournament finals, especially when your team takes home the title.

A Host City’s Local Sports Bar

Can’t find a ticket to your team’s tournament matchup? Maybe it’s just way overpriced and you are a practical sports fan. Either way, heading to a host city and catching the game in a local sports bar may be one of the best ways to catch a game.

You will be surrounded by hundreds of your closest friends and are likely to catch a free beer or two. If you haven’t lived this dream, the time has come for you to do so friend. Feel the magic and take the trip, it is well worth the drive. 

Regional Warrior

For those that take their two week vacation for March Madness, I salute you. Being a Regional Warrior as I like to call it is possibly the best way to take the tournament. College basketball is a unique sport for its following and passion. Traveling fans make the tournament.

There is something to say for home court advantage, and some of the most passionate fans will make the tourney much more difficult than a team may expect. Regional Warriors are a tough crowd and are the heart of what makes March Madness such a magical event.

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For your printable bracket for the 2012 NCAA tournament, click here