There's nothing quite like kicking a dead horse. For 20 years now, the media has tried to make Bill Buckner the scapegoat for the 1986 World Series loss.

Yes, the error is a memorable one, but certainly not the only reason the Sox lost.

It's time now, that we as a collective, try to put this game behind us. The latest bit of "news," now suggests that a Cubs batting glove worn by Buckner may have contributed to the curse. Pah-lease.

Doesn't anyone remember that the error happened in Game 6. That the Red Sox had their chances in Game 7 and that Bill Buckner helped get them to the World Series afterall.

As most may be aware, I'm pulling for the Detroit Tigers to take the World Series title.

No, not because they beat the Yankees, though that is another good reason.

The Tigers are a surprisingly well-balanced team with great potential. The young arms though inexperienced are lively and powerful.

And manager Jim Leyland has harnessed that power and potential into a collective winner. The manager of the year continues to make the right moves.

And what more can you say about Kenny Rogers? The crafty veteran used all of the tools in the box last night, including a little rosen, to continue his post season success. The Detroit Free Press has the story and blogger Bill McGraw has more.

But how does a 91-game loser end up in the World Series?

Two words: Divine intervention.

There is really no other way.

Now, you may think me crazy, but I truly believe someone (and I know who) is turning this team around.

Like the rest of the family, my Uncle Dick liked a good laugh. He enjoyed teasing me about my Sox. He taunted me about my Sox right on this very site. And he was a huge Tiger fan.

For years we would debate the merits of the two clubs. And if my team should lose to his, rest assured I'd hear about it.

I had my share of laughs too - afterall the Red Sox have had the edge for quite a few years now.

But he passed last winter. And through some miracle or winning some angelic cribbage wager, he has his team in position for victory.

Maybe it's a way to put closer on his death, giving the family one more happy memory. If not, a way to keep us all engaged in the best-of-seven series.

With every pitch, a smile crosses my face and I think of him and his Dubail smirk. He's most definitely getting the last laugh.

So here's to you Uncle Dick; Go Tigers!

You could not remove the smile off my face two years ago as my team defeated the New York Yankees in what is the greatest comeback in sports history.

That smile returned Saturday as I watched that same New York team get bounced from the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

They have let their fans down yet again, or at least one particular fan - George Steinbrenner. But instead of giving the Detroit Tigers any credit, most of the media has been circling the Yankee clubhouse trying to find out what went wrong and which heads will roll.

But how could a mightly lineup featuring an All-Star at nearly every position lose? How could a team featuring a .340 hitter in the ninth spot in the order lose? How could the team with the most wins in the regular season lose?

I'm going to make this short and sweet: the Yankees will not make it to the World Series in 2006.

I'm not just blowing smoke. While they may have the most dangerous offense in baseball, their pitching aside from (Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina) has weaknesses.

So let the record show, this Red Sox fan is looking forward for the Yankees to fail once again in their attempt at a championship.

It will not be for lack of trying. George Steinbrenner and the boys have put them in contention for sure. They also have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

However, the team chemistry doesn't exist as it does with some less talented teams. And when I say that, I simply mean on paper.

Detroit for instance has a pretty good pitching staff able to shut some opponents down. In fact, if they weren't in New York today, I'd be picking them to win the opener. But the fact remains that indeed they are in New York and that stadium can be brutal to a young guy like lefty Nate Robertson.

Robertson is a hard thrower as are most of the pitchers on the Tigers' staff and matches up well against C. Wang, but in the end that offense and the crowd will be too much for him.

But I'm not ready to concede the series yet.

I don't believe that I've ever seen a Red Sox GM, or any GM for that matter, admit fault.

But Theo Epstein is not just any GM. He stepped up to the plate yesterday and completed a sacrifice to right. Portland Press Herald: Sox GM: Maybe I goofed

Was it Theo's fault?

I was all set to defend the phenom. I was ready to place blame on a number of different factors that contributed to the downfall. But after reading that the Red Sox GM didn't see the Sox weaknesses until the second half, I changed my mind.