Bookstore Basketball is a campus phenomenon unlike any other.

Where else could your typical Joe Business Major square off against varsity athletes and other campus icons?

The fact that Bookstore, which began its 32nd edition on Saturday, just recently gained national prominence in the pages of Sports Illustrated last year illustrates not only the staying power of such a popular event but also the magnitude to which it has grown since 1972.

And every aspect of the tournament has contributed to its popularity and success.

For starters, the fact that each and every game is conducted entirely outdoors is a unique aspect of Bookstore Basketball. This year's opening round — assuming today's games go according to schedule — will likely feature not one, but two days in which players will have to endure snowfall.

In addition, in every year that I can remember, games have been won or lost by shots that are definitely affected by South Bend's biting wind. Driving rainstorms are not all that uncommon, either. It is a testament to the teams involved that they can succeed, or even thrive, in what can only be explained as less-than-ideal playing conditions.

Then there are the players. From Joe Montana and Tony Rice, to those guys a couple years ago who covered themselves in sandwich condiments, the players bring a great amount of appeal to the tournament, and not necessarily for their athleticism.

Sometimes, most often in the earlier rounds, it is in fact the teams' lack of athleticism — most often as a result of drunkenness — that brings out a crowd ready to laugh and enjoy themselves.

There is an aspect of Bookstore that appeals to everybody. Whether it is watching your friends shoot airball after airball, or watching Notre Dame's best go all the way to winning the championship, the competition works on every possible level.

Also, Bookstore Basketball is a quintessential springtime activity. Hypothetically speaking, the weather's nice — which is a rarity for South Bend — so why not take advantage of it while it's here? Soaking up some rays, while often just a byproduct of attending a Bookstore game, is a great way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon in the midst of spring.

Everyone on this campus knows that it has been deemed the world's largest five-on-five basketball tournament, but how it got there is a mystery to most.

The first edition of Bookstore featured 53 teams. This year's tournament boasts 10 times as many, with that number peaking above 700 teams 11 years ago.

The number of teams has exceeded 500 every year since Bookstore Basketball XII, 20 years ago in 1983, which broke the 500-team level for the first time, boasting 511 teams.

Fast-forward to this year.

539 teams. Five players per team. That adds up to almost 2,700 students — roughly a quarter of the combined Notre Dame, Saint Mary's and Holy Cross communities taking part in one of the most popular of many Notre Dame legends.

And that's just the players.

Combine that figure with the average turnout for a bookstore game — which can vary widely from team to team and round to round — and you've got a solid majority of these three campuses turning out to support a worthwhile cause.

That's right, not only do these hardcore players play for free, but they also donate a registration fee to charity.

Just another Notre Dame trademark on a campus tradition that has never — and likely will never — be duplicated anywhere else in the world.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Bryan Kronk lives in Knott Hall and is an accounting major. He writes at The Observer during his free time, so he is here pretty much all the time.

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