America goes crazy for its college basketball on Thursday with the start of the NCAA Tournament – or March Madness – as it’s called. John Kelly Rams Jersey . 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 with 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). 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! Brandin Cooks Rams Jersey .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net. Brandon Allen Rams Jersey . A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. http://www.footballramsshop.us/ . Watch all the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. You can also watch the game live with the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey on TSN.ca and chat throughout the game with TSN. LONDON -- Nicolas Anelka was banned for five games by the English Football Association on Thursday and immediately suspended by West Bromwich Albion for a racially aggravated goal celebration. The French striker performed the gesture, which is known in his homeland as a "quenelle" and has been described as an "inverted Nazi salute," during a Premier League match in December. Although an FA disciplinary panel backed Anelkas insistence that he was not being intentionally anti-Semitic, performing the gesture was still found to be racist and abusive. Anelka, who appeared at the hearing this week, received the minimum five-game ban for racism offences, was also fined 80,000 pounds ($133,000) and ordered to complete an education course. Anelka can appeal, and he must decide within seven days of receiving the panels written reasons. But West Brom responded to the verdict by suspending him while the central England club conducts an internal investigation and awaits the conclusion of the FA process. "The club acknowledges that the FA panel did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle," West Brom said in a statement. "However, the club cannot ignore the offence that his actions have caused, particularly to the Jewish community, nor the potential damage to the clubs reputation." The panel found Anelka guilty of two charges -- that the gesture "was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper," and it was racially offensive. "The misconduct was an aggravated breach ... in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief," the FA verdict said. Anelkas legal team said he was "pleased" to be cleared of anti-Semitism. "He is now waiting to receive the commissions full reasons for their decision before considering whether or not to appeal," the statement said. Aneelka performed the quenelle as he celebrated scoring in West Broms 3-3 draw with West Ham on Dec. Sam Shields Jersey. 28. The gesture involves pointing one straightened arm downward while touching the shoulder with the opposite hand. It was popularized by French comedian Dieudonne MBala MBala, who has been convicted multiple times for inciting racial hatred or anti-Semitism. The Community Security Trust, which protects British Jews, said Anelka has introduced an "ugly anti-Semitic gesture into British football." "We acknowledge Anelkas denial of anti-Semitic intent, but his action was clear and the FAs zero tolerance approach to racism meant there could be no other outcome," CST chief executive David Delew said. "This verdict sends a strong message to Jewish players and supporters at all levels of the game that the FA will act against anti-Semitic acts if they are reported." The European Jewish Congress expressed concern that Anelka was yet to express any regret over the case. "Even if the FA is not convinced that the players intent at the time was anti-Semitic, he surely knows now the origins of the quenelle and the hurt and pain it caused the Jewish community, yet we are still waiting for an apology," EJC President Dr Moshe Kantor said. "Anelkas silence speaks volumes." The organization hopes the FA will use the case to help clamp down on abuse against Jews. "Anti-Semitism remains the fastest growing hate in football, on the field and in the stadiums, and we hope that this episode will be used positively to once and for all stamp out hatred for Jews in football," Kantor said. Anelka avoided the heaviest racism ban imposed recently by the FA, eight games for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea captain John Terry received a four-match ban the following year, before the minimum five-game racism ban was introduced in England. 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