by GABRIEL MORENCY

Believe it or not, it's springtime. If the Canadiens didn't only have five games left, I wouldn't actually believe that the time to start questioning Frank Robinson's late-inning decisions is just right around the hot corner.

Much like TSN's curling coverage, winter in Quebec never freaking ends. Speaking of curling, for a sport in which its participants are always yelling "HURRY-HURRY," it sure takes a long time to wrap up one of their matches or games or whatever the freak they call their competitions. In fact, among the reasons Tracy McGrady cited for leaving the Raptors for Orlando was that, in Canada, it is always cold and there is seemingly always someone on TV screaming "SWEEP-SWEEP-HARD." There is so much curling on TSN these days that I am beginning to wonder if they have changed their name from the Toronto Sports Network, I mean The Sports Network, to The Sweeping Network. Jennifer Hedger may be hot (debatable), but not hot enough to endure highlights of Randy Ferbey and Wayne Middaugh tossing rocks on the sheet 24-7.

That's where the likes of Brad Fay and Jack Armstrong come in. They may not be hot (absolutely not debatable) but they and Sportsnet have got March Madness covered like a straightjacket. Speaking of which, the only thing more surprising than the one seed Kentucky Wildcats getting knocked out by the UAB Blazers in the second round is that, in our day of political-correct insanity, no mental health bureau psychopath has taken offence to the term "Madness" yet. Remember the key word is "yet."

The field of 64 is now 16 and all three Montrealers' teams (Sheray Thomas and Bernard Cote of Kentucky; Terry Licorish of Mississippi State) have been bounced, leaving the SEC, who some thought to be the strongest conference, with just two teams left - and those teams are Alabama and Vanderbilt!

I guess that's where the Madness comes from. That and the feelings you get when some kid you have never heard of and will never hear of again of (hello Travis Diener!), from a place you didn't know existed, hits a shot that busts up your bracket and the good times that would have come with winning it (only the Super Bowl handles more action than the NCAA's). It's then, and only then, you'll see or feel (depending on the size of the wager) why they really call it March Madness!!

Hedge this

The Canadiens are clicking on all cylinders as they head into post-season play and Habs fans are starting to believe that the bleu, blanc et rouge can make some noise in the playoffs. They're not alone in their beliefs. Not only have the Canadiens become a team no one in the Eastern Conference wants to see come playoff time, odds makers have quickly dropped the chances of Claude Julien's troops reaching their first Stanley Cup since 1993 from a season opening 25-1 to 12-1. Even at the lower number it is still a good bet, in that the Canadiens will have a solid chance at winning their first series or two no matter whom they play.

With just two series victories they will find themselves in the Eastern Conference final and you'll find yourself an opportunity to hedge your play (i.e. if you lay $100 to win $1,200 on the Habs and they are playing, let's say, the Flyers in the Eastern Final, put $500 on the Flyers and you are assured a profit of $400 if Philly wins, or $600 if the Canadiens win… get it?). If you believe that not only will they win the East but Lord Stanley's mug as well, the number is 25-1, from its opening of 50-1.

Oddmakers aren't quite as optimistic about the Expos' chances this year. Despite winning 83 games in two consecutive seasons, Las Vegas has set the total wins for this season at 72 1/2. Meanwhile, what the bookmakers should have is an over/under on the number of days, or years, it will take before an announcement is made about where the Expos will permanently play.

March Madness picks

Thursday, March 25
Syracuse –2 vs. Alabama: Syracuse
Oklahoma State –1.5 vs. Pittsburgh: Oklahoma State
Friday, March 26
Duke –7 vs. Illinois: Duke
Georgia Tech – 4.5 vs. Nevada: Nevada

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