The tournament is over. Kansas won. My bracket was a mess, just like those filled out by many others in Columbus and across the nation. Did you have St. Peter’s beating Kentucky? I didn’t. I did know, though, that Purdue wouldn’t make it to the Final Four. I’m used to their woeful performance in the tournament.
I did have Kansas winning it all, but that was about the only thing I had right. But I don’t claim to be a college basketball handicapper or expert.
As the games clicked by, I watched many brackets filled out by the analysts go up in flames. Despite their status and salaries for offering insider knowledge of basketball, their guess was as good as mine. Only Charles Barkley was willing to admit on national television that his bracket was a disaster. By the time he had gone over it with a red marker, it was a bloody mess.
I want to see more of that. I want to see the sports analysts, political pundits, and financial gurus admit it when they get something wrong. I’d like them to come on the air the next day and confess they didn’t know what they were talking about. Then they would apologize and announce to their loyal viewers that they would be pursuing a new career.
I will give the weather forecasters the benefit of the doubt — except when they warn us that a big blizzard is coming and then nothing materializes. That usually leads to throngs of people buying all the toilet paper, eggs, and milk they can find.
When the next day ends up being sunny and 50 degrees, I’d like to see the meteorologists tell us they were sorry and will try to do better next time. I will give them some leeway. Forecasting the weather in Indiana is hard.
I hold the self-proclaimed authorities on finances and business to a higher standard. After all, they are telling us what to do with our money. Before offering their forecasts on the economy and investments, I would like to see their financial statements, tax returns, and W-2s. Only after a thorough examination of these documents will I seriously consider their advice.
I wonder how many times a stock market expert told us to invest in Enron, Lehman Brothers, or Bear Stearns? After that, all I want is an apology and for them to get fired. About the only thing I can guarantee about the economy is that taxes and gas prices, over a long enough period of time, will go up.
In 2012, a British newspaper pitted a team of financial professionals against a cat named Orlando to see who could make more money over the course of a year. Orlando selected his investments by dropping a toy mouse on a stock listed on a sheet of paper. After the year was up, Orlando had won.
Of course, it is easy for me to throw stones. After all, as an historian, I don’t pretend to predict the future. I’m only responsible for the past. Still, there are big parts of history that are a bit murky to me.
I’m not asking for perfection from the prognosticators. I just want some accountability. After all, the rest of us have to be accountable in our jobs.
When it comes time to fill out my NCAA bracket next March, I’m going to turn off the TV and ignore the internet. I’ll ask Orlando the cat for advice.
