OKLAHOMA CITY -- The whole notion of postponing NCAA Tournament games struck me as silly and nothing more than a ploy to figure out a way to keep early-round games on CBS in case of war.

What was going to change on Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to make Americans more safe after the start of President Bush's war with Iraq? Not a damn thing.

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You can't fight terrorism by postponing life.

Besides setting off panic at our nation's airports, jacking the travel plans of thousands of Americans and creating yet another hardship for NCAA student-athletes, the postponement of games would have allowed CBS to broadcast around-the-clock war coverage for a couple of days and then get back to the business of raking in advertising dollars one shining overpriced commercial at a time.

That would have been the only upside from postponement.

Hey, look, I'm not trying to villify NCAA president Myles Brand. All he said was that the NCAA would consider postponing games if it made sense. He did a little research, talked with Homeland Security and made the right call, announcing the games would continue as scheduled. That doesn't make Brand a bad guy.

But he did kick off debate across the country about whether the games should go on. After all, sporting events were delayed after Sept. 11. But to me, 9-11 was totally different than Bush's Saddam Hussein manhunt. The nation was in shock after 9-11. We were in deep mourning and had no idea what the future would bring. Would there be more attacks? It was necessary and appropriate for the nation to step back and reflect.

Now we know what to expect. Terrorism can strike at any time. We've been preparing for and fearing future attacks for 18 months. Delaying basketball games wouldn't help us prepare.

Now we know what to expect. Terrorism can strike at any time. We've been preparing for and fearing future attacks for 18 months. Delaying basketball games wouldn't help us prepare.

And I don't think that by enjoying basketball games we would be insensitive to our troops or the families of our troops. In fact, I'd argue that we would be doing our troops a disservice by bowing to terrorists. As proof, here's an excerpt from an e-mail I received Tuesday morning:

"I am a former Marine who served during the first war in the Gulf. I was fortunate enough to work in communications so the AP wire was readily available to me and my platoon. Day-to-day life going on at home is extremely important to the troops serving. It provides an alternative to thinking about war and worrying about death and worrying about the people you love at home. ... Everyone was asking about the news. We were the only way to find out who had won any of the games.

I can still remember watching the AP roll across as Derrick Thomas rolled up seven sacks in one game. I still remember reporting on the Bills-Giants Super Bowl. ... Athletes (should) make an effort to show these troops some personal attention. Sign a ball and send it over to no one in particular. Give them a ticket when they get home. Do something other than talk. It matters to the troops."

I'm in Oklahoma City as I write this column. This city knows a thing or two about dealing with terrorism. I can't speak for everyone here, but no one I spoke to Tuesday night wanted the games delayed. Oklahoma City is excited about hosting first-round games that will feature Oklahoma and Kansas. Good times are cherished here.

It sounds crazy, but the best thing we can do for the morale of our troops is to let them know by our actions that things will be good when they get home. We should enjoy the freedom that our brave troops are fighting for.

That doesn't mean we ignore the war. That doesn't mean we shouldn't think about the troops and the sacrifices they're making. As sports fans, when we watch this year's NCAA Tourney, it should remind us that we shouldn't take our luxuries for granted.

Jason Whitlock is a regular columnist for the Kansas City Star (kcstar.com), the host of a morning-drive talk show, "Jason Whitlock's Neighborhood" on Sports Radio 810 WHB (810whb.com) and a regular contributor on ESPN The Magazine's Sunday morning edition of The Sports Reporters. He can be reached at ballstate0@aol.com.