The arrival of March begs a quick look at what “madness” means to us.

March Madness we mainly associate with college basketball, of course, with the approaching national onset of bracket-mania surrounding the NCAA Tournament. And this season figures to see Miami more prominent on the dance floor than ever before, after so many years watching the party from the outside.

This is good madness. Loony-giddy-crazy-fun madness.

There is a darker March Madness going on here, too, though.

It is what envelops the Marlins and what Marlins fans are feeling as the new baseball season nears.

This is bad madness. Madness as in mad, angry. Madness as in, “Who’s running the asylum?”

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria this week tried to justify his latest payroll slashing with a public-relations push, with a full-page ad and media appearances, but it was futile. Even as Loria irrationally was saying he had “revitalized the franchise,” a blog poll of mine indicated 98 percent of fans wished he would sell it instead.

It is nearly impossible to get that kind of agreement on any Internet poll question. I could ask if you preferred love or hate and love wouldn’t get 98 per cent.

Loria might now have taken over as the single most unpopular person in South Florida.

“Finally, I’m off the hook!” said Fidel Castro.

Should we now expect a profession of admiration for Loria from Ozzie Guillen?

•  LeBron James decided not to end his elaborate pregame dunking despite criticism on Twitter over his declining to enter NBA All-Star dunk contest. Folks, it might be we’re looking too hard for controversy if the biggest criticism of LeBron is that his pregame warm-ups are too exciting.

• Now Magic Johnson has offered LeBron $1 million to enter the official dunk contest. It has been voted most frivolous cause ever for a $1 million donation.

• The third World Baseball Classic is under way, with second-round games scheduled for Marlins Park starting next week. The WBC isn’t very good, according to Americans incredulously offended that the United States hasn’t won or even reached the final in either previous tournament.

• Overlooked Hurricanes baseball improved to 10-0 Friday by winning in Gainesville to end an 11-game losing streak to the nemesis Gators. Poor Jim Morris should be standing on street corners with a sign reading, “Will Work For Attention.”

• The truncated NHL hockey season isn’t even half over but there already is speculation the slow-starting Florida Panthers might pull the plug and have a fire sale. Wait. When did Jeffrey Loria buy the team!?

• As UM considers its response to the NCAA Notice of Allegations, embattled NCAA president Mark Emmert got a vote of confidence from the group’s executive board. “Our standards are low,” explained the committee.

• UM spring football practice has begun. Three keys to the team’s outlook in 2013: The play of QB Stephen Morris. Improved pass rush. Mood and whim of NCAA infractions committee.

•  Serena Williams, of all people, got in trouble for taking a picture of Tiger Woods during the Honda Classic. Photos of golfers are strictly prohibited because golfers, like many Aborigines, believe a photograph steals a piece of their soul.