March Madness Is the Most Emotional Sporting Event on Earth

Sam Laird2013-03-27 22:05:59 UTC

Ready for the Sweet 16? March Madness's second weekend begins Thursday afternoon, and by Sunday night we'll be down to a Final Four.

The first two rounds last weekend were marked by surprising upsets (top-seed Gonzaga got ousted early), charming Cinderellas (high-flying Florida Gulf Coast became the first 15-seed to survive the tourney's first weekend) and more jaw-dropping plays than we can count.

But actual basketball plays second fiddle to March Madness's real intrigue — the human drama that unfolds before our very eyes as college athletes compete for fleeting moments of glory and once-in-a-lifetime shots at athletic immortality.

Perhaps more than any other sporting event, the single-elimination tournament displays the full range of human emotions. It's sports writ large — a window into the triumphs, connections, frustrations and sadnesses that make up all of our everyday lives. Read on for 10 of this March Madness's best pics of naked emotion:

1. Rabid Desire

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Duke's Ryan Kelly just goes for it during the Blue Devils' first round win over Albany.

2. Utter Confusion

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

New Mexico's Alex Kirk cannot frickin' believe his Lobos are about to lose in the first round, and to lowly Harvard at that.

3. Joyous Bromance

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Sherwood Brown and his Florida Gulf Coast bros feel the love during their second round upset over San Diego State.

4. Cautious Hope

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Amanda Marcum, wife of Florida Gulf Coast head coach Andy Enfield, feels good about the underdog Eagles' chances against San Diego State — but knows they aren't out of the woods yet.

5. Crushing Disappointment

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Pitt's bench players watch their hopes and dreams slip away during the second half of a first round loss to Wichita State.

6. True Sorrow

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

St. Mary's star Matthew Dellavedova can't even look after his stellar college career ends on a last-second three-point attempt against Memphis in the round-of-64.

7. Vein-Popping Anger

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Arizona coach Sean Miller gets heated during the Wildcats' first round win over Belmont.

8. Sheer, Unbridled Joy

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

High five, bro! Gonzaga star Kelly Olynyk is stoked during the Zags' Saturday game against Wichita State. Little does he know his squad's season is about to come to an ignominious end.

9. Alpha-Dude Pride

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Wichita State's Cleanthony Early lettin' 'em know after hitting a big three in the Shocker's upset over Gonzaga.

10. Abject Frustration

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

New Mexico coach Steve Alford is fed up and emotionally drained during his team's early exit to Harvard.

Homepage photo by Harry How/Getty Images

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