March Madness - or rather, March Joy - officially started shortly before noon Saturday on ESPN.

With 4 seconds remaining, Wisconsin's Kammron Taylor swished a three-pointer to give fourth-ranked Wisconsin a win over Michigan State.

Meanwhile, over on CBS, Kansas came roaring back from a 16-point deficit to beat Texas and claim the Big 12 title.

Then CBS took us to Seattle, where Washington upset second-ranked ranked UCLA, then to Ann Arbor, Mich., where No. 1 Ohio State edged Michigan for the Big Ten title.

On Saturday night, Marquette beat Pittsburgh on ESPN.

CBS returned Sunday with three key rivalries - Florida-Kentucky, Southern Illinois-Creighton and North Carolina-Duke.

It was a classic weekend. Let the madness and joy continue through the week as ESPN, FSN and CBS cover conference tournaments.

Next comes the Sunday drama surrounding the announcement of the 65-team NCAA field, with play beginning March 13.

I'm not Columbus discovering America. Millions of college hoop fans share my enthusiasm for this time of year.

Maybe the atmosphere is a bit special this March because the winter has produced treacherous driving on the road.

Now we'll get to see agile driving on the court.

I'm more than ready for the constant non-vital statistics of Dick Vitale and the packaged smugness of Billy Packer.

And like every fan, I have a tournament dark horse.

Keep your eye on Southern Illinois, even though Creighton won Sunday.

I've just learned that Walt Frazier is coming out of retirement to lead the passing game.

DIFFERENT TYPE OF MADNESS: A year ago, I was the legitimate target of March madness as numerous viewers descended on me for basically ignoring women in NCAA play.

Each year, women's college basketball gains more respect and larger, well-deserved TV ratings.

Saturday's coverage was highlighted by FSN's coverage of North Carolina State's dramatic upset of previously unbeaten Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals.

The FSN weekend was capped with coverage of the championship game as North Carolina beat the Wolfpack for the conference tournament title.

FSN has a full schedule this week of women's tournament play in other conferences.

HBO VIEWING: According to many who closely follow men's college hoops, the Wisconsin program has become one of the most admirable in the nation, since coaches and the administration continue to stress academics as well as athletics.

HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (8 tonight) examines this positive situation while interviewing Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan and Alando Tucker, the Badgers' All-America candidate.

• Here's a new slogan for you long-suffering Cubs fans - "Cubby Swagger."

Lou Piniella, the Cubs' new manager, tells HBO Sports' Frank Deford that's what the team needs to get into the National League championship race.

QUIZ TIME: Colts quarterback and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning will celebrate his 31st birthday March 24 by hosting Saturday Night Live.

He's the fourth NFL quarterback to do so. Name the other three. Answer below.

THE HIRING LINE: ESPN has signed Bill Parcells for a variety of football broadcasting jobs. The former coach will be a studio analyst on the Monday Night Football pregame show and will work on SportsCenter. Parcells also will co-host an ESPN radio show next season with Chris Mortensen.

• Joe Girardi, Mark Grace and Eric Karros will be part Fox Sports' weekend major league baseball coverage.

• Former Cubs manager Dusty Baker has signed on with ESPN as a studio analyst on the network's Monday Night Baseball franchise.

QUIZ ANSWER: Fran Tarkenton, Joe Montana and Tom Brady.

DOWN MEMORY LANE: The new U.S. Football League began its 16-week TV schedule on ABC March 6, 1983, as the Los Angeles Express beat the New Jersey Generals 20-15 at the L.A. Coliseum. Keith Jackson provided play-by-play while Lynn Swann was the analyst.

saundersd@RockyMountainNews.com

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