The line at the car wash was incredibly long on Sunday, but that provided ample time for quiet reflection on a number of subjects:

Fire insurance: At first glance, the Bucks' 105-102 overtime victory over Washington Sunday at the Bradley Center might not seem like a very big deal.

But, it may have prevented someone from getting fired.

After being pounded by 31 points in a deplorable effort Friday night in Toronto, the Bucks almost committed the unfathomable act of losing a game they led by 11 points with 1 minute 40 seconds left in regulation.

Think about that for a moment ...

The Bucks, who were playing without Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva, were up by 11. The Wizards were ready to pack it in and fans were heading to the exits when the unthinkable almost happened. Washington reeled off 11 points to tie the game with 20.2 seconds left.

Milwaukee's chance to win in regulation disappeared when Mo Williams dribbled out most of the clock before launching a desperation three-point attempt that wasn't close.

Williams, who turned the ball over twice to aid the Wizards' comeback and has reportedly been at the center of some team turmoil of late because of an argument with assistant coach Tony Brown, ended up making two big three-pointers before Royal Ivey iced the victory with a big basket.

The Bucks have an 18-27 record and a winnable game Tuesday night in New Jersey, where the Nets are considering an overhaul. Things aren't totally bleak for the Bucks. Given the context, though, a loss against the Wizards may have prompted Sen. Herb Kohl, the team's owner, to do something impulsive, drastic and completely out of character.

The Bucks are celebrating their 40th anniversary this season. A loss on Sunday would have ranked among the most embarrassing beats ever.

Tiger tales: A lot of sports history buffs become wistful when talking about bygone eras.

"I wish I had seen Babe Ruth play in his prime ..."

If you appreciate history, golf or just plain old excellence, you owe it to yourself to watch Tiger Woods whenever the opportunity arises. The guy is ridiculously good and (gulp!) getting better. His eight-stroke victory in the Buick Classic (they should just go ahead and rename it the Tiger Classic) was a sign of things to come.

Woods has won six times at Torrey Pines, which happens to be the site of the U.S. Open in June. He has won four green jackets at Augusta and finished second 10 years ago at Royal Birkdale, where the British Open will be held this year.

Upon further review: A week has passed, but we still have to ask, "How the hell did Favre throw that pass, anyway? And how did the Packers lose to the Giants?"

Drip, drip, drip: The NBA game between the Lakers and Clippers featured a superstar showdown between LeBron James (41 points) and Kobe Bryant (33). The Cavs won, 98-95, but all I could think about was the 12-minute delay that was prompted when a leak in the Staples Center roof dripped water on the baseline.

Did any other Milwaukee viewers think of Miller Park when that happened? 

The Butler did it: Washington's Caron Butler, who played in high school at Racine Park, is probably assured of a trip to the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 17 in New Orleans.

But, he's not taking anything for granted.

Butler, one of those ultra-rare players who can score and shows an interest in defense, was unstoppable against the Bucks Sunday. Only three players in the league are averaging 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. LeBron and Kobe are locks to start. Butler is the third.

Butler has made 70 consecutive free throws, the seventh-longest stretch in NBA history.

X-Out: The promos on TV said that this was the 12th edition of the Winter X Games. That means I've avoided watching it for a dozen years. That's consistency, folks.

Patriot games? New England quarterback Tom Brady appeared at the team's sendoff pep rally on Sunday without a protective boot or a noticeable limp. Could it be that the hubbub the past few days was much ado about nothing? Was it part of an orchestrated plan to lull the Giants into complacency? Was it a sign that sports reporting is going the way of TMZ.com? Stay tuned.

No love: For the past few years, critics of men's tennis have moaned about the boredom caused by Roger Federer's dominance.

So, what happens when Federer loses a tournament?

People complain about Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic being a nobody. Djokovic, a 20-year-old from Serbia, could be the next big thing in tennis; that could guarantee the sport another five years under the radar.