For me, one of the underrated parts of Selection Sunday weekend and the start of the NCAA basketball tournament is that this is the week the weather usually starts turning for the better. At least, it's supposed to.

Usually, it's still cold, but no longer bone-chilling freezing. The sun starts making more than sporadic appearances. Daylight starts lasting longer, and snow storms are fewer and farther between.

Not this year. Friday was a great day to round up everyone and take the family picture for the 2011 Christmas card.

Mother Nature, please let us put down our snow shovels and work on our brackets, OK?

- Howard Primer