Looks like the sports world has got the moves in the 24th version of Dancing with the Stars.  Gymnast Simone Biles, ex-MLB player David Ross, NFL running back Rashad Jennings, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and even a professional bullfighter are ready to hit the dance floor.

Also choreographed is the much-anticipated March Madness with all teams picked, placed and ready to go! The NCAA college basketball tournament kicks off Tuesday night. Not to be outdone, NBA teams have some twists and turns of their own.

College Basketball

Dancing shoes are finally on for the 68 schools chosen to compete in the NCAA Tournament, aka “The Big Dance.”

The four #1 seeds go to:

  • Villanova
  • Kansas
  • North Carolina
  • Gonzaga

The tourney kicks off Tuesday with four games, and then the action heats up Thursday through Sunday to whittle down the field to the “Sweet 16.”

How did we get here? Not without plenty of drama…

 

Source: CSN Chicago

Cinderella was reenacted thanks to the Michigan basketball team. En route to the Big 10 tournament in Chicago, the team plane slid off the runway following an aborted takeoff.

Hey man, can I borrow your plane? That’s exactly what Michigan asked the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. The answer was yes and Michigan arrived in Chicago just in time to play their opening game. One minor problem – the squad didn’t have their game gear. Overcoming the wardrobe issues, Michigan hooped in their practice jerseys and won Thursday, and then again Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take home the Big 10 title. #GoBlue

A loooooong time coming…Another ecstatic Big 10 team is Northwestern who made it to the Dance for the first time in school history. That’s 78 years of futility overcome.

Keep an eye on Duke, a young but mega-talented team that has overcome injuries and star player Grayson Allen being suspended for tripping (yes, tripping opponents). Duke won four straight games and the ACC tournament championship over the weekend. What does Vegas have to say about this? Despite being a #2 seed Duke has the highest odds of winning (5-1) at some LV sportsbooks.

Billon dollar babies. UCLA freshman phenom Lonzo Ball has two younger basketball playing brothers (in high school but also committed to UCLA), and their father is willing to let the kids sign a sneaker deal for…wait…a cool billion dollars.

Calendar alert – your office bracket pool picks are likely due by 12:00pm ET Thursday.

On the Women’s side, its 63 versus one (well almost). UConn, winners of 107 straight games, enter the Women’s tournament undefeated this season (32-0) and the heavy favorite to win a fifth-straight title.

National Basketball Association (NBA)

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors had everyone convinced they were on their way to the NBA Finals in June but the first two weeks of March have some reevaluating.

The Cavs are 1-4 in their last five games and forward Tristan Thompson is caught in a Tango with girlfriend Khloe Kardashian and her ex-husband, former NBA champion, Lamar Odom.

 

Source: US Weekly

The Warriors prized off-season pickup, former MVP Kevin Durant, went down with a knee injury and the Warriors have lost three straight games for the first time in years. They fell into a tie with the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the league Monday after San Antonio beat the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs are reeling as well with MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard battling a concussion and star forward LaMarcus Aldridge out indefinitely with a heart arrhythmia.

“Spread love it’s the Brooklyn way.” The Brooklyn Nets, the worst team in the NBA, honored The Notorious B.I.G. with “Biggie Night” Sunday and used the energy in the Barclay’s Center to defeat the struggling New York Knicks.

Soccer

Flamenco or Pasodoble? With a quick step this weekend there was a change atop the Spanish La Liga standings. Barcelona had a shocking 2-1 loss at the hands of Deportivo La Coruna. Barca may have lost focus coming off the greatest comeback in Champions League history, a 6-1 defeat of Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The new Spanish football (soccer in the US) leader is Real Madrid who rode Sergio Ramos‘ late goal to a 2-1 victory over Real Betis.

Source: Eurosport

NASCAR

Ever had road rage at 195 mph? Kyle Busch and Joey Logano did on the final lap at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday. The two drivers crashed and fisticuffs followed. Martin Truex Jr. avoided the chaos and won the race.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

While the MLB season is still a couple weeks away the World Baseball Classic is on to the second round.

Dancing the Hora? The usual suspects, US, Japan and the Dominican Republic advanced but the surprise of the tournament is Israel who went 3-0 to move on to the second round. Dancing in the Holy Land streets stopped temporarily Monday as the Netherlands squad trounced the Israelis 12-2 avenging last week’s loss.

 

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