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Sometimes in sports lady luck is on your side. There are others when a higher power gets called in. It's called the "gods." How else to explain the unexplainable? Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson. The Red Sox in 2004. The Tortoise over the Hare.

In golf, the last time the gods intervened was 1995. Ben Crenshaw's game was a disaster. Then his legendary mentor Harvey Penick dies, his longtime caddie gives him a tip on the range, and sure enough, Ben Crenshaw goes on to win the Masters. He has not been heard from since. It's time to wake the gods up.

Greg Norman was the No. 1 golfer in the world for over six years. On a Tour of librarians, he was virtually the only personality in the sport. Yet the sport he loved and dominated appeared to not love him back. He had a vision for the game that was 10 years ahead of its time. For that, he was ostracized by both the PGA and European tours. Later, of course, they would enact almost all of his suggestions. He also began the Australian invasion of golf today.

Yet the gods seemed to mock him. It's as if they said "he has talent, personality, good looks and fame, so we shall deny him luck." And deny they did. Bob Tway holed the bunker shot to win the 1986 PGA. Larry Mize chipped in to win the 1987 Masters in a playoff. Norman with the lead, driving the undriveable bunker in 1989 to hand the British Open to Mark Calcavecchia. Norman lipped out birdie putts on the 72nd and 73rd holes, and ultimately Paul Azinger would win the 1993 PGA. These were the only major titles of their careers. (Azinger would get cancer three months later so maybe the gods knew something).

Norman is not to be pitied. He is a World Golf Hall of Famer. He is incredibly successful in many areas of business. He is so rich he can afford to lose $100 million in a divorce. He has remarried and claims to be happier than ever. He should be the envy of the world. Yet, why do I feel as if the golf gods owe him one?

Yes, he blew the 1996 Masters. He can never get it back. To most, it his golfing legacy. It shouldn't be. He deserves better than that. Here's hoping the gods don't rest on this Sunday and Greg Norman wins the British Open.

***

In watching Greg Norman contend in the British Open at age 53, I couldn't help but think of Tiger Woods. Despite always insisting he would not grow old in golf, Greg appears to be doing just that, even if on a part-time basis. Do you think we'll ever see Tiger grow old in golf?

Tiger turns 33 at the end of the year. He has won 14 majors. He will pass Jack's total of 18 in his mid-30s. He will be a billionaire by then as well. Where does the motivation come from then? Believe it or not, there will be a day, likely when he hits 40, when Tiger is not the best player in the world. Do you think he grows old gracefully while playing pretty regularly the way Snead, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player and Watson all did? Or do you see Tiger becoming a part-time player in his 40s? Only playing the majors and a handful of other tournaments?

I think we'll see the latter. He only plays 15-18 tournaments now. Add a couple kids, some more business interests, and I don't see him playing nearly as much golf as he is now. Jack won three majors in his 40s. I think Tiger will as well. We'll just see so much more of him in commercials than on the golf course.

***

Ten years ago, after winning the World Series and then dumping all their players, the Florida Marlins began a massive rebuilding project.

Yet, it was the Marlins who acquired perennial All-Star catcher Mike Piazza from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for some young talent. Piazza was with them for a week and played five games. He was then traded to the New York Mets for three top prospects. The Marlins used Piazza to acquire more talent than they had. Simple as that.

With this in mind, the Miami Dolphins should trade Jason Taylor to the Green Bay Packers for Brett Favre. The Dolphins could then hold an auction between the Vikings and Bears for Favre's services. Miami can get more for Favre than they can for Jason Taylor. It's just business.

Speaking of Favre, he needs to stop giving interviews and file the paperwork to unretire. Once he does that, the Packers are "on the clock." Training camp starts in eight days. They do not want him at camp. Ringling Brothers would be jealous of that circus! Green Bay would have eight days to cut him or trade him. Once they trade him, he can orchestrate his way to the team he really wants to play for -- the Vikings.

By the way, the first Monday Night game of the year is Sept. 8 -- Minnesota at Green Bay. Tickets are already printed. Brett Favre's picture is on them. The Packers were planning on retiring his number.

You can't make this stuff up.

***

David Moulton is co-host of "Miller and Moulton in the Afternoon." The show airs weekdays 3-6:30 p.m. on WWCN/AM 770 ESPN Radio. His columns appear every Sunday. You can e-mail David directly at: millerandmoulton@sportsradio770.com