THE REAL MADNESS IS THE MARCH TOWARD GROSS REVENUE

          The financial impact of the NCAA Tournament was
     examined by CNN/SI's Bob Lorenz.  The NCAA projects $17.1M
     of gross revenue will be produced by this year's tournament,
     $600,000 "more than last year."  Lorenz also noted how
     tournament exposure benefits schools: "Connecticut [UConn]
     is a perfect example of a program that developed into a
     national power by becoming an NCAA Tournament regular."  In
     '88, the year UConn won the NIT, "the school netted less
     than $20,000 in merchandise sales."  Heading into its
     seventh NCAA tournament of the '90s, UConn's "net licensing
     revenue" now is more than $500,000 annually" (CNN, 3/7).
          HOCKEY: In Boston, Will McDonough wrote that the NCAA
     hockey tournament at the FleetCenter will be the "biggest
     ... of all time."  All three games are sold out, including
     both the afternoon and night games on April 2 (BOSTON GLOBE,
     3/8).  ESPN will offer cable and satellite subscribers the
     first round and nat'l quarterfinal games of the NCAA Hockey
     Championship Tournament on a pay-per-view basis March 27-29. 
     Suggested retail will be $29.95 for the complete eight-game
     package, and $14.95 for all games on any date (ESPN).