MARCH MADNESS IS HERE! THE GAMES GET UNDERWAY THURSDAY. BETWEEN THE MEN’S AND THE WOMEN’S, THEY WILL PLAY A TOTAL OF 96 GAMES IN THE NEXT FIVE DAYS. IT IS WIN AND ADVANCE OR LOSE AND GO HOME. IN THE MEN’S TOURNAMENT THE BIG 10 HAS 8 TEAMS IN, THE ACC & SEC 7, THE BIG 12 6. DUKE IS THE #1 OVERALL SEED, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, GONZAGA ARE THE OTHER #1 SEEDS. NO MIZZOU TIGERS OR MSU BEARS IN THE MEN’S FIELD. THERE ARE LADY TIGERS AND LADY BEARS IN THE WOMEN’S BIG DANCE, WHICH WILL GET STARTED ON FRIDAY. THE MIZZOU LADIES PLAY DRAKE FRIDAY, THE MSU WOMEN PLAY DEPAUL SATURDAY.

THE DRURY LADY PANTHERS HAVE ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT STARTING NEXT TUESDAY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. DRURY LADIES ARE 34-0 RANKED #1 IN THE NATION IN DIVISION II.

THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IS GREAT FUN, BUT FOX BUSINESS NEWS SAYS IT COSTS EMPLOYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PRODUCTIVITY. ESTIMATES ARE ABOUT 40 MILLION PEOPLE WILL FILL OUT OVER 70 MILLION BRACKETS, WITH AN AVERAGE BET OF $29 PER BRACKET. AROUND 51 MILLION OFFICE WORKERS JOIN OFFICE POOLS. THE TIME EMPLOYEES LOSE IN PRODUCTION COULD ADD UP TO AROUND $4 BILLION IN JUST THE FIRST WEEK OF THE TOURNAMENT.

CARDINALS HAVE A PAIR OF SPLIT SQUAD GAMES TODAY AT SPRING TRAINING, AGAINST THE YANKS AND NATIONALS. REGULAR SEASON OPENER IS A WEEK FROM TODAY AT MILWAUKEE.

ROYALS OPEN THE REGULAR SEASON A WEEK FROM TODAY AT HOME AGAINST THE W.SOX. SPRING PLAY CONTINUES TODAY AGAINST THE REDS.

HOW INSANE IS THE MONEY IN PRO SPORTS RIGHT NOW? THE ANGELS AND MIKE TROUT HAVE A 12 YEAR, $430 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL. THAT MEANS TROUT WILL MAKE $36 MILL A YEAR FOR THE NEXT DOZEN YEARS. IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN FURTHER, HE’LL MAKE OVER $222,000 PER GAME, ABOUT $67,000 PER AT BAT, ABOUT $27,000 PER INNING AND OVER $1600 PER PITCH, FOR THE NEXT 12 YEARS. THE NUMBERS ARE INCREDIBLE.

BLUES HAVE 9 GAMES LEFT UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS, DETROIT COMES CALLING TONIGHT.  BLUES ARE IN 3RD PLACE IN THE DIVISION, 2 POINTS IN FRONT OF DALLAS.

THREE WINS FOR TOYOTA, TWO FOR FORD AND NONE FOR CHEVY ON THE NASCAR CIRCUIT SO FAR THIS YEAR. THEY RACE AT MARTINSVILLE THIS WEEK.