The Tigers have won the world championship twice during my lifetime - in 1968 and 1984. And neither time were they involved in a pennant race. They clinched long before the season ended both years. The real excitement did not really begin until the postseason. Conversely, the Tigers have been in three great pennant races of note over roughly the same period. In 1967, they needed to win at least three out of four games while playing back-to-back doubleheaders against the Angels to close the season. It was to tie the Red Sox for the pennant. They split. The "Impossible Dream" Red Sox won a thrilling three-way race with the Tigers and the Twins. In 1972, a veteran group of Tigers edged out Boston in a close race for the division championship and nearly upset Oakland during the American League Championship Series. It was during my second-year on the Tigers' beat that they rallied down the stretch and beat out Toronto in the final game of the season to win the division. We all remember '68 and '84 so vividly, and don't quite have the same feeling for '67, '72 and '87 even though, overall, those seasons were more thrilling. So - and please forgive my stream of consciousness on this - I do not know if I am quite sure how I feel about the stretch run of the season. On one hand, I remember just how exciting '87 was day-by-day for such an extended period of time. It literally defined the term, "pennant race." On the other hand, I do feel a club can get better prepared for a playoff run if it has time to get ready by clinching early.

Random thoughts

- There is no doubt in my mind the national championship Ohio State most recently won has been stained by what has become of Maurice Clarett. Without him, they do not win the title. And his deportment since leaving speaks volumes about Ohio State as being more of a football factory than an institution of higher learning.

- The charade the Lions insist upon with Charles Rogers and Mike Williams needs to stop. Those two should play more snaps than any of their receivers during the preseason so the Lions can get an accurate evaluation of where they stand. Then, if they do not perform, they can be cut without issue. Burying them on the depth chart does not allow for that accurate of an evaluation.

A fearless prediction: Manny Legace will play better than any Red Wings goalie this coming season. And he will not only lead the Blues to an unexpected playoff berth, but win a series for them.