61.   Not when the Red Sox are kicking away their comfort zone in a playoff race.

62.   Now comes their biggest series of the season with the American League wild-card playoff race hanging in the balance.

63.   On the last trip, the Kings played well and took over the sixth spot in the eight-team Western Conference playoff race.

64.   Ottawa is two points behind the Hartford Whalers for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race with three regular season games remaining.

65.   Out of the game and just maybe out of the playoff race.

66.   Owners praised Selig for reinvigorating the game with interleague play and wild-card playoff races.

67.   Parcells stopped short of calling it a playoff race.

68.   Players were walking tall and talking in relaxed, easy tones in the confident manner of a team still in the thick of the playoff race.

69.   Probably not on the outside of the playoff race looking in.

70.   Some observers expect the Mavericks to wilt under the pressure of a playoff race, but not Michael Finley.