by GABRIEL MORENCY

Those of you wondering when the National Hockey League will end its lockout and drop the puck on a season that has already lost nearly 700 games can stop. It's over. The league knows it. The players know it. The agents know it. The beer vendors know it. The only ones who don't are, shockingly enough, television "insiders" who are smart enough to know that if they don't keep on insisting that a 36-game schedule is still a possibility, the only things that they will be "inside" of this winter are their homes. Wednesday's meeting between NHLPA president Trevor Linden and NHL mouthpiece Bill Daly was simply nothing more than to discuss burial plans for a season set to be lost.

It's no longer a question of whether the NHL will actually become the first major sports league to lose its entire season to a labour dispute, but just a matter of when the announcement will be made. Israel and Palestine will settle their differences before the NHL and NHLPA do.

While it's public knowledge that Gary Bettman gave the league's arena operators a 45-day window to book their buildings with the Hilary Duffs and Mötley Crües of the world without worrying about trivial events like NHL hockey games, it has not been made public that they are now free to book as they see fit for the remainder of the season, as there will be NO resolution forthcoming. Bob Goodenow recently told players skating overseas to sign any contract they can get their greedy signatures on for this year and the next.

When it's all said and done, there's no doubt that 2004-05 will go down as the worst year in the history of sport in Montreal. From the death of the Expos to a locked-out NHL season, the city has lost more than just a baseball team or a hockey season. We have lost a piece of ourselves that we will not be able to replace with A-League championships and CFL division titles. You don't know what you have until it's gone - something we'll learn next month, when the Expos report to Melbourne, Florida, as the Washington Nationals. But that's another story. And one the NHL obviously did not pay attention to after Major League Baseball's strike forced the cancellation of the 1994 World Series and nearly killed baseball everywhere, not just here in Montreal.

NBC recently announced that instead of the NHL all-star game, already reduced to infomercial status on television in the States, it will show the National Lacrosse League's midseason "classic" instead. When the NHL eventually does come back, it will be lucky if NBC hasn't given its airtime to the Professional Rodeo circuit. Its ratings are higher and a pissed-off bull is a hell of a lot easier to follow than a puck! And while it's easy to ridicule the NHL for its second-class status, the fact remains that there are tens of millions of dollars lost with every passing day.

Did we mention that you don't know what you have until it's gone?

Pigskin Prognosticator

Sunday, Jan. 23

Atlanta (+4.5, 41.5) at Philadelphia

Whether the Philadelphia Eagles become the first team in NFL history to lose four consecutive NFC championship games or not, one thing is for sure: the Atlanta Falcons won't rush for 327 yards against a stout Eagle "D" like they did last week against the Rams. Jeremiah Trotter will no doubt be ready and waiting for the three-headed monster that is Vick, Duckett and Dunn. Throwing the ball won't be any easier for a Falcon offence that's the only playoff team that didn't have a 100-yard game from one of its receivers.

Atlanta's special teams were the difference against the Rams and will have to play a large role again if the Dirty Birds are to advance to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. These teams met two years ago in the post-season with the Eagles winning 20-6. Expect a closer game this time.

Prediction: Philadelphia 24-23

New England (–3, 36) at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh and New England face off for the second time this season with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake this time around. Last time, Pittsburgh won 34-20, breaking the Patriots 21-game winning streak in the process. After New England's dominating performance last week against Peyton Manning and the Colts, it's hard to fathom how Ben Roethlisberger is going to break down a defence that would have confused Terry Bradshaw. The Pats are one game away from their third Super Bowl appearance in four years and will not let a rookie QB get in the way.

Prediction: New England 23-13

Morency's season record 42-37 (freaking bowls!)

Sports Rage with Gabriel Morency is vented weeknights 11 p.m.-2 a.m. on TEAM 990 AM. This column appears bi-weekly. Comments: sportsrage@team990.com