Tigers could be political X factor

Here's something that could be interesting this year. The Tigers may affect the election.

From the Lansing State Journal

Tim Skubick: Tigers could be political X factor

You're going to laugh at this, but don't. The Detroit Tigers could affect the race for governor this fall between incumbent Democrat Jennifer Granholm and Republican challenger Dick DeVos.

After watching another late-inning comeback against St. Louis the other night, a light bulb went off. These guys are for real - and if they still are playing ball in October, they could be an indirect factor in who runs our state after Jan. 1, 2007.

Normally during a race for governor, the general public does not tune in until October, about a month before the November vote.

But if the Tigers are involved in a hot pennant race and the team actually makes it to the World Series, (remember that admonition about laughing), citizens may not tune in at all.

It is guaranteed the media will give the baseball story banner headline treatment day in and day out. If you don't believe that, just look at a week's worth of newspaper headlines and see how many deal with sports and not real news.

As a result, the governor's contest will be shoved from the spotlight. Anybody who wants any news will have to go on a scavenger hunt. The candidates' inability to break through all the chatter about the Tigers will hurt both of them.

Not only will the media tune out, but the general public will, too. Given a choice between hearing about her "Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow" and his "The Michigan Turnaround Plan" or the latest home run by Pudge Rodriguez, you know which one Joe Six Pack will pick.
(SNIP)