Only for Guild Members » So let the madness come

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled forward Jamie Devane from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Chicago Cubs Jerseys . Devane made headlines in the pre-season when he broke Buffalo Sabres forward Corey Tropps jaw in a fight. A full line brawl occurred after the next faceoff, when Sabres enforcer John Scott went after Leafs forward Phil Kessel. The Mississauga native appeared in 22 games last season with the Marlies, picking up two goals and three assists, as well as 41 penalty minutes. Devane was selected 68th overall, in the third round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs. He has yet to appear in a regular season game at the NHL level. Jon Lester Jersey . -- Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he tries to come back from the second major operation on his left shoulder. Greg Maddux Jersey . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings snap a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Ryne-Sandberg-Kids-Jersey/ . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.America goes crazy for its college basketball on Thursday with the start of the NCAA Tournament – or March Madness – as it’s called. Beware the Ides of March, a soothsayer once told Julius Caesar, warning of the great leaders death. Ignoring the soothsayer turned out to be a real brute for the great Roman leader… Anyway, the kings of college basketball - Kansas, Michigan State, Virginia, Oregon, North Carolina - had better watch out for the Ides of March - or the giant-killers.But before all that, lets fill you in with what its all about: College basketball reaches its pinnacle every March What is March Madness?Its a 64-team basketball tournament, spread over three weeks. The first round starts this Thursday and ends late on Friday, the second round in Saturday-Sunday, and then the last Sweet 16 is March 24-25, the Elite Eight is Saturday-Sunday March 26-27, and then its Saturdays Final Four is April 2, and the Final on Monday April 4.In other words, if you love your basketball and all the excitement that goes with it, youve picked the right month.How does it work?If youve splurged a lot of betting money on college basketball this season, its pretty likely that you have been lucky to break even this season. Everyone seems to have beaten everybody. Its been like a big Premier League.And that parity has made things really, really fun. The way that the pre-March Madness season works is that theres a 1-25 ranking, with No 1 the best and 25th a mere marker. Frankly, the committee should be ranking 64 teams, but that would take the glamour out of March Madness, plus it would be 25 ranked teams is tradition.In college basketball there are four quadrants (North, South, East, West), where the No 1 team is matched up with a No 16 team, No 2 team matched up with a No 15 team and so on. If youve had an inconsistent regular season, youre going to be ranked lower than if youve had a good season. Its the same reason why, say, Novak Djokovic is always the No 1 seed at Wimbledon and he rarely ever loses.Theres a lot of money spent…The opening four day of March Madness also the busiest day for visitors in Vegas apart from the Super Bowl, and is generally seen as a quasi-national holiday. And with the first day coming on Thursday, which ties in nicely wwith St Patricks Day, expect a lot of luck to be requested! The annual event has become a mainstay in American sports Who are the favourites?Kansas (6/1), Michigan State (13/2), North Carolina (7/1) are your three main favourites, and theres some love for Virginia and Kentucky (both 12/1). Mike Montgomery Jersey. I happen to think Kansas are a lovely bet at 6/1 for the title, although Michigan State - who wont face Kansas unless its the final - is equally good money for 13/2. Kansas have been in great form since late January and seeing some of their games in the run-in, they are nothing if not impressive.NCAA = NBA future?One of the best things about March Madness is thinking: Will these guys do well in the NBA?Steph Curry, who currently cant do anything wrong in the NBA, was a hero for small school Davidson, taking them to the sweet 16 with a string of incredible performances.Magic Johnson lit up the tourney in 1979 for Michigan State. He was then drafted first by the LA Lakers. He did pretty well after that. Johnson faced off in the final against Indiana State and future Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Stephen Curry #30 of the Davidson Wildcats shone during March Madness Oh, and a guy who played for North Carolina hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 Championship Game. His name was Michael Jordan.We cant wait for the 2016 crop - although well be without almost-certain No 1 pick Ben Simmons from LSU, who isnt making an appearance this year.So let the madness come…The best thing - unless youre a betting man - isnt the domination of the big teams. Its the small schools making history. I still remember where I was watching No 15 Hampton beating No 2 Iowa State in 2001, and No 11 George Mason beating No 1 Connecticut in 2006.I remember No 15 Lehighs upset of the one of college basketballs superpowers - Duke (No 2) in 2012. And No 14 Mercer doing the same to Duke - then ranked No 3 - in 2014. And of course, when everybodys favourite - Kentucky - lost to unfancied Wisconsin in the Final Four last year, we all went a bit mad too.Lets hope for more of the same in 2016! ' ' '