Crown & Caliber Watch Madness 2019

A History of How March Madness was Coined

Basketball fans rejoice – the moment is finally here! After a long and well-fought season, the cream is finally rising to the top. The annual tradition of March Madness is upon us.

For those who aren’t major sports fanatics, March Madness is the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball single-elimination event each spring. Former Ohio State coach Harold Olsen worked with the National Association of Basketball Coaches to establish the tournament in 1939. However, the term “March Madness” is a relatively new moniker for the competition.

The origins of “March Madness” are in fact rooted in basketball but not the NCAA. It started around the same time Olsen worked to establish the college tournament. A former high school basketball coach in Illinois wrote an article for a local magazine. He used the phrase “March Madness” to describe the annual statewide high school basketball event. A few years later in 1942, he wrote a poem called “Basketball Ides of March” for another local publication. It referenced the “Madness of March” once again.

For the next several decades, the phrase must have continued to circulate around the Midwest. In the early 1980s, Chicago sportscaster Brent Musburger was the first to use the term “March Madness” in association with the NCAA competition. As the phrase grew in popularity, controversy emerged. The Illinois High School Association trademarked “March Madness” in 1989. A few years later, they filed a suit against the NCAA for using the term. However, the case settled, resulting in the formation of the March Madness Athletic Association and allowing both to use the phrase.

Watch Madness 2019 – Play to Win

Today, one of the hallmarks of March Madness is filling out a bracket to predict the outcome of each game. There’s a certain thrill to the process whether you approach it strategically or simply in favor your favorite team. We can’t let basketball fans have all the fun, and that’s why we’re bringing back Watch Madness for another season.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be putting 64 watches head to head until we have a winner. With Watch Madness, you can get the rush of filling out a bracket, even if you’re not a sports buff. This year, participants in Watch Madness are playing for an even sweeter prize. The winner will get a $1500 credit with Crown & Caliber.

A Few of This Year’s Matchups to Consider

As you’re gearing up to fill out your bracket, we’re here to give you a sneak peek. Here are a few of the watches that will be stacked up. There will be classic rivalries. Two examples are the Rolex Submariner vs. Tudor Submariner and A. Lange and Sohne Lange 1 vs. Patek Philippe Calatrava. Additionally, you’ll see intra-brand matchups, like the Audmars Piguet Royal Oak vs. Royal Oak Offshore or Rolex Root Beer vs. Kermit. You can also prepare for some tossups, like the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso vs. Cartier Tank Solo.

Get ready, watch nerds – you too can celebrate the “Madness of March” this season. Stay tuned for all the details on the official Watch Madness matchups. Plus, we’ll let you know how to complete you bracket for a chance to win!