Second-round coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV averaged 8.5 million viewers, the most-viewed second round in 23 years and a 5% increase over 8.1 million viewers in '13, according to Nielsen fast national data. The two days averaged a 5.7 rating, up 4% from a 5.5 last year. Friday also marked the most-viewed first Friday of the tourney in 23 years. Friday's games averaged a 5.7 rating and 8.4 million viewers, up 4% compared with 8.1 million viewers in '13 (THE DAILY).

March Madness Live generated 36.6 million live video streams and more than 7.6 million hours of consumed live video through the first four days of the NCAA Tournament, both records for digital coverage of the event, according to Turner Sports. The totals, representing the First Four games in Dayton and Thursday and Friday contests, were up 40% and 11%, respectively, from a year ago. The most popular individual game on MML to date is Thursday’s Dayton-Ohio State game, with 4.59 million live video streams (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). 

NCAA President Mark Emmert today on "Meet The Press" said there is "a lot of confusion" about money generated from the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and the revenue "is not going to colleges and they're sitting on it." Host David Gregory said, "To suggest it's not a business when you're making almost a billion dollars in TV revenue, most of which comes from March Madness, strikes a lot of people as disingenuous." Emmert: "Everything that goes on in college sport is supported by the revenue that comes out of March Madness."

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called for changes in the system to improve graduation rates: "The incentive structures for coaches, the incentive structures for ADs have to be changed so much more of their compensation is based, not upon wins and losses, but around academic performance and graduation. And university presidents and boards have been very complacent and soft on this issue. And you have to really look at the leadership of the universities here" (“Meet The Press,” NBC, 3/23).

It took "less than two full days of play" for Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett to win his bet that "no entrant in a Quicken Loans contest would predict the winner of each game" in the NCAA Tournament. Two upsets -- Dayton defeating Ohio State and Mercer topping Duke -- "wiped out" 99% of the entries. The contest was announced in January and "proved a publicity bonanza" for both Buffett and Quicken (BLOOMBERG.com, 3/22). It only took 25 games "for everyone to be eliminated" from the contest. While no one won the $1B grand prize, the "top 20 scores will still each get $100,000" (AP, 3/21).

The D-Backs-Dodgers MLB Opening Series in Australia "felt like a success" from MLB's perspective, "at least based on the size of the crowds for both games -- near sellouts -- and the atmosphere at Sydney Cricket Ground" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/23). Saturday's game was played "in front of 38,266 fans who were often loud but clearly more interested in foul balls than home runs." Dodgers C A.J. Ellis called the atmosphere "more festive" than typical MLB games, adding it "had that exhibition-type feel" (L.A. TIMES, 3/23). D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson: "There was an electric atmosphere." Sunday's series finale drew a crowd of 38,079 (MLB.com, 3/23).

Some D-Backs players "had to walk the last half mile" to the stadium ahead of Saturday's game "when one of the team buses had a flat tire" (AP, 3/22). The series' opening ceremonies "that were scratched Saturday because of thunderstorms and light rain were held before Sunday's game." The festivities included two Australian former MLBers, as Graeme Lloyd "threw the ceremonial first pitch" to Dave Nilsson (AP, 3/23).

Brazilian officials on Friday announced that the Verizon IndyCar Series will return to the country next season, and that a race "will be held in the capital of Brasilia." IndyCar confirmed that it is "exploring a return to Brazil and is in discussions with event organizers in Brasilia," but that there was "still a lot of work to be done" before the race can be officially added to the '15 schedule. The Autodromo Nelson Piquet would host the race from '15-19 (AP, 3/21).

MLS Toronto FC yesterday played its '14 home opener in a 1-0 win against DC United "before 22,591 fans" at BMO Field, where the grass pitch "was in terrible condition after a long, cold Toronto winter." Streaks of "worn patches blotted the field that looked as though it had been chewed up by a CFL game." United coach Ben Olsen said the field "was as bad as I've ever seen in MLS" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/22). TFC coach Ryan Nelson after the game "wasn't blaming the groundskeepers" for the field conditions. He said, "I blame God for that, for the winter He's given Toronto" (TORONTO STAR, 3/23).

More than 300 people at a Chesterfield, Mo., mall yesterday "showed up to the first public autograph signing" by NFL Draft prospect Michael Sam, who last month revealed that he is gay. The turnout for Sam "bested the crowds at signings by four of his Missouri draft-eligible teammates, including quarterback James Franklin, held at the same location and put on by the same company," the St. Louis Card Co. (ESPN.com, 3/22).

Heavy snow in Montreal postponed yesterday's MLS Sounders-Impact game, but "an improved weather forecast has the teams ready" to play today at 1:00pm PT. More than 25,000 tickets have been sold, which "would rank second leaguewide for home openers" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/23).

Newly signed Ravens WR Steve Smith took out an ad in yesterday's Charlotte Observer to thank Panthers fans. He wrote, "Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the community. You have done so much for me" (THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, newly signed Jets QB Michael Vick penned a farewell letter to the city of Philadelphia, where he spent five seasons with the Eagles (THE DAILY).

"It's like you don't ask questions about someone's ex-wife, do you? You can only get in trouble answering that question, if you're married again" – Syracuse Univ. men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim, on his lack of nostalgia for the original Big East with three of its teams competing at First Niagara Center this weekend (N.Y. POST, 3/23).

"He's been battling this for a while" – NBC analyst and former Colts coach Tony Dungy, speaking for the first time on Jim Irsay's arrest for DUI and possession of controlled substances (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/23).

"I'm just looking forward to it. We have a lot to look forward to next season" – Knicks GM Steve Mills, who has not spoken with the media since October, in his first comments about bringing on Phil Jackson as team President (N.Y. POST, 3/23).

"Listen, somebody calls you a sleazeball, you don't look good. But I don't think he looked very good, either" – MLB Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels, on Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler, calling him a sleazeball in a recent ESPN The Magazine story (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/23).

"I'd go get in my car and listen to the game on the radio. I never came back in. I'm not trying to make any drama here. I'm just saying how it affected me" – Pro Football HOFer Bill Parcells, on his experience as a front office exec after being a head coach (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/23).

"The state of U.S. tennis is not the greatest it has ever been. That's for sure" – Tennis player John Isner, on being the only U.S. player ranked in the ATP Top 50 (MIAMI HERALD, 3/23).

The BOSTON GLOBE's Callum Borchers writes under the header, "Seven Things You Should Know About Sam Kennedy." The Red Sox' COO is a "baseball fan at heart and one who appreciates tradition," so he "occasionally loses sleep over tough decisions."

As MLB nears Opening Day, MLB execs and scouts offer their five best GMs, managers and players at various positions. Also, a Q&A with Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, and why East Valley teams in the Cactus League "tend to draw far better than those in the West Valley."

Elsewhere:

• Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery have "quite a history as 'Dance' partners."
• Hosting major sporting events has "burnished Buffalo's image" in the industry.
• Boston Marathon will have a "sharply expanded field" of volunteers, runners.
• Jim Tressel "should be considered seriously" for Univ. of Akron President.

Two sports-related films will be shown at the final day of the inaugural Freep Film Festival in Detroit: "Stealing Home: At the Corner with the Navin Field Grounds Crew," and "Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself."

N.Y. Daily News' Bob Raissman: "Kellogg basically said he needs an interpreter to understand Barkley. There's not much love in this studio."

Comedian Bill Maher: "March Madness really is a stirring reminder of what America was founded on: making tons of money off the labor of unpaid black people."

Comedy Central's Daniel Tosh: "jimmy buffett is offering $100 to anyone who has a perfect NIT bracket."

CBS Sports' Seth Davis: "Wellman also told me he will not use a search firm to make the hire. My respect for him just went up exponentially."

Soccer writer Matt Bernhardt: "17,517 is the second largest home opening crowd for #crew96 in last eight years."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

The Royals' official Twitter feed posted this image of singer Lorde receiving a signed George Brett jersey before her concert in K.C. on Friday. Her Grammy-winning song "Royals" is said to have been inspired by an image of the Baseball HOFer on the cover of National Geographic in '76.