If you’re reading this, you’ve probably called yourself stupid and cursed your bracket already. No games have even been played yet.

Or maybe you’re reading after getting a vasectomy this morning, which is one of the many horrifying yet ingenious ways to squeeze in every minute of the first two rounds. The Department of Urology at the Cleveland Clinic says it sees a 50 percent increase in vasectomy operations in March, and they attribute it to basketball saints who sacrifice having that 10th kid to catch Duke get upset by a 15 seed.

Perhaps you’re reading this while glaring at Phyllis in accounting, who has won the office pool three times in a row picking solely based on how cute the mascots are and what color jerseys the teams wear.

Phyllis must be stopped.

Wherever you are on this glorious day, you’ve patiently waited an entire year for this moment: the start of March Madness.

Tonight marks the “first round” (most of us sane people just say the play-in games), where four teams will begin their journey to cut down the nets. It’s almost a guarantee that none of the four playing tonight will win it all, but there’s still that glimmer of hope, and that’s what makes this whole thing so special.

Ole Miss somehow snuck into the bracket after losing four of its last five games, the last to a bad South Carolina team in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels play BYU tonight on TruTV for a spot in the big bracket that you’ve no doubt already crumpled and thrown away.

Mississippi will also get a taste on the women’s side, as C Spire Gillom Trophy winner Victoria Vivians and Mississippi State look to make a run to the Final Four with one of the program’s best teams ever. They’ll play Tulane on Friday afternoon.

While Ole Miss’ men’s team snuck into the bracket in the 11th hour, Mississippi State’s women have been a lock on the other side virtually since the season began.

It won’t be any easier for one than it is the other, though. This is March Madness.

So call in sick for work (unless you work at The Vicksburg Post, because that would mean I’ll have to work more). Fill out a bracket. Fill out 10. Don’t let your friend fool you into thinking the “one bracket rule” is a sacred tradition. You know it’s going to be full of more red marks than a college essay written by Ed Orgeron.

March is meant for this. There aren’t many things as unpredictable as an NCAA Tournament.

The only thing that might come close is this weather.

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Cory Gunkel is a reporter. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, Ext. 178 or by email at cory.gunkel@vicksburgpost.com