NCAA 籃球錦標賽早期賽事正如火如荼進行中
NCAA Basketball Tournament Early Rounds Underway
每年春天，美國都會掀起一場被稱為「三月瘋狂」(March Madness)的文化現象。
Every spring, the United States is swept up in a cultural phenomenon known as "March Madness."
這項規模宏大的賽事，又稱為「大型舞會」(Big Dance)，指的是美國國家大學體育協會籃球錦標賽，共有68支大學球隊以高風險的單敗淘汰)賽制進行角逐。
This massive event, also called the "Big Dance," is the NCAA Basketball Tournament, where 68 college teams compete in a high-stakes, single-elimination format.
錦標賽始於「選拔星期日」(Selection Sunday)，屆時委員會會公佈對陣圖，並為每支球隊分配1到16名的「種子」序號。
The tournament begins with "Selection Sunday," when the committee reveals the bracket, assigning each team a "seed" from 1 to 16.
在「前四強」(First Four)的資格賽之後，64強正賽便開始了。
After the "First Four" play-in games, the field of 64 begins.
在短短幾天內，球迷會觀看數十場第一輪與第二輪的比賽，希望能見證「灰姑娘」(Cinderella)球隊的出現——即一支不被看好的弱旅擊敗高種子對手的「爆冷」(upset)過程。
Over just a few days, fans watch dozens of games in the first and second rounds, hoping to see a "Cinderella" team—an underdog that pulls off a major "upset" against a higher-seeded opponent.
這種不可預測性推動了流行的「對陣圖文化」，數百萬人樂於填寫預測結果。
This unpredictability fuels the popular "bracket culture," where millions fill out predictions for fun.
