NOTE: I will be doing a live chat Tuesday morning at 11:30 a.m. at http://theoaklandpress.com/


I remember the cold manner in which Tiger Woods treated Phil Mickelson during the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills.
Not that Lefty didn't deserve some of it. It wasn't the best time to breakout new equipment, and he played horribly. Woods didn't help the situation, though, when U.S. captain Hal Sutton paired them as a "Dream Team."
There was more to it, which came to a head a couple years later when Tiger's caddy, Steve Williams, who acts like a rogue cop and has done nearly as much to hurt Tiger's reputation as his mistresses, blasted Mickelson publicly.
There is also the matter of what Mickelson is going through with his wife and mother, and how Tiger has taken his family for granted in a classic philandering way.
Mickelson winning The Masters was a fitting twist to Tiger's comeback. It was a tale of perseverance rather than comeback.

Random Thoughts

- I have the Red Wings beating Phoenix in five games.

- Seems like Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour's stock is sinking as the NFL Draft nears. I hear he might be a late-round pick - at best. Don't understand why. The kid has good wheels and his arm and release were good during the Senior Bowl week. He must have had a disappointing pro day.

- The Tigers obviously didn't win Sunday because Justin Verlander allowed five runs in the opening inning. Rather, they won because Verlander didn't allow a run in the next four. It's a sign of maturity. Verlander is very, very good. Could win 20 games this season. Also, early this season, Miguel Cabrera has been every thing he wasn't his first two seasons as a Tiger when his statistics were misleading. He has been clutch.

My column in Monday's Oakland Press on why the Red Wings should come out of the Western Conference and reach the Stanley Cup Finals again: http://tinyurl.com/y949sgc