Woo-hoo! Only nine more days until Midnight Madness! For those of you reading this blog entirely by accident, Midnight Madness (or Maryland Madness, as the university now calls it) signals the start of basketball season. This tradition now takes place across the country but it started right here at Maryland under Lefty Driesell.

It’s technically the first practice of the season, but there’s no real practicing. The players do dance routines, there are fireworks, dunk contests, and the like. But not this year. The school is touting a “back to basics” approach for 2009. I don’t know why — maybe the economy? The fireworks downturn, after all, has changed so much, for so many. But in any case, this year’s celebration will only feature “performances by the Maryland Spirit Squad, Dance Team, Band and Gymkana, as well as a few surprises too.” Yes, how very minimalist. You gotta keep those players grounded…only THREE dance performances this year. I heard that for the surprise, they’re gonna shoot an albino donkey out of a cannon. Only one donkey, though! Remember: we’re going back to basics here. The key word is tasteful. Let us go please, Maryland.