US Teams Ryder Cup behaviour

I don't know about you guys but the US Ryder Cup team really disapointed me. Ok everyone has bad weeks, and the better side on the week won. But that doesn't ok our guys behaviour. They did not give autographs in the practice days - what's that all about, and were actually booed for not doing so, I mean thats a great start to the week. Then there were the egos, Phill Mickleson who has allways been one of the gentlemen of the game deciding to not practice (preperation he says) and then when he did finally practice it was on another course away from his team. He also changed club contracts the week before, which many of the commentators (pros themselves) said showed his lack of commitment to such a big event. The there was Chris DiMarco who could not stomach the European fans cheering the winners and walked away from congratulating the European players, what kind of image does this give to others who play the game!

Anyway we'll be back for the Ryder Cup in 2006, but hopefully with a team and captain who are better prepared, equiped and mannered to meet the Europeans.

From this side of the pond....it was not the US player's behavior that surprised me, it was that of the local support. Sorry to be controversial, but after some brilliant shots by the Europeans you could clearly see many of the local gallery with their hands in their pockets trying to avoid clapping.

Over here, if an American played a chip shot like Monty did at the 8th on the Friday afternoon (the impossible one that he was doing well to keep it on the green yet nearly holed it) I would have would have been saying 'terrific shot - brilliant'. Yet, look at the gallery, not one American was clapping. And that was not an isolated example!!

Good point guys,

Personally I think that the Americans were trying to hard to repair some of the damage from 1999 with un sporting green invasion, this year they as Googles says, avoided any crowd contact and tried to play with a stiff upper lip. Unfortunatley this is a British thing, Americans are far more flamboyant, they are used to wipping the crowd up in a frenzy. Also there seem to me to be some lack of team spirit between Tiger and Mickleson.

Lets hope that with all the troubles in Iraq 2006 brings a new Ryder Cup that Europe and America can enjoy together, hopefully with the British fans cheering both sides on.

Ian.

I think it's a classic example of American self-centeredness (apologies for my American friends who didn't play for team America - I know you're not all bad). The European team played with fire and pride - really, nothing but bragging rights on the line - and came away with the biggest ass-whupping since Mike Tyson was young.

When the American squad had 14 Major wins vs the Europeans 0, it paints a pretty clear picture why the American team REALLY plays golf.

If you don't behave yourself then.................

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF INDEPENDENCE WILL FOLLOW

To the citizens of the United States of America, In the light of your
failure to elect a commpetent Ryder cup Captain, thus to govern
your team, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence,
effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume
monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories.
Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The Right
Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been
unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister
for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate
will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine
whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown
Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "Ryder Cup" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed
at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter 'U' will be
reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour', skipping the letter
'U' is nothing more than laziness on your part. Likewise, you will learn to
spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters. You will end your love
affair with the letter 'Z' (pronounced 'zed' not 'zee') and the suffix
"ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise". You will learn that the suffix
'burgh is pronounced 'burra' e.g. Edinburgh. You are welcome to respell
Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you can't cope with correct pronunciation.
Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up
"vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler
noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form
of communication. Look up "interspersed". There will be no more 'bleeps' in
the Jerry Springer show. If you're not old enough to cope with bad language
then you shouldn't have chat shows. When you learn to develop your
vocabulary then you won't have to use bad language as often.

2. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents.

It really isn't that hard. English accents are not limited to cockney,
upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier). You will also have to
learn how to understand regional accents - Scottish dramas such as "Taggart"
will no longer be broadcast with subtitles. While we're talking about
regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in
England. The name of the county is "Devon". If you persist in calling it
Devonshire, all American States will become "shires" e.g. Texasshire,
Floridashire, Louisianashire.

3. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the
good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English
characters. British sit-coms such as "Men Behaving Badly" or "Red Dwarf"
will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who
can't cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.

4. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of
football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game.
The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders
may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no
longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football.
Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult
game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby
(which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for
a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like
nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US Rugby sevens side by
2005. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an
event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of
America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your
borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be
allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without
fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

5. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry guns. You will no longer be
allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous in public than a vegetable
peeler. Because we don't believe you are sensible enough to handle
potentially dangerous items, you will require a permit if you wish to carry
a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All American cars are hereby banned. They are **** and it is for your own
good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All
road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving
on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with
immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Roundabouts
and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries
are not real chips. Fries aren't even French, they are Belgian though 97.85%
of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) are not
aware of a country called Belgium. Those things you insist on calling potato
chips are properly called "crisps". Real chips are thick cut and fried in
animal fat. The traditional accompaniment to chips is beer which should be
served warm and flat. Waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with
customers.

8. From November 10th the UK will harmonise petrol (or "Gasoline" as you
will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2005) prices with the
former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and
the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices (roughly $6/US
gallon - get used to it).

9. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or
therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that
you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by
adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone
or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy. Tax
collectors from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure
the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776).

11. Stop trying to sell us the knife on the golf channel, nobody will hit it 180 yds to the green everytime they use it.

Thank you for your co-operation

Ian.

P.s Its only a joke, what would we do without you guys in the Ryder Cup.........

That's hilarious, Ian.

I first saw it 4 years ago, but the cause for the revocation of independence was the inability to elect a leader for themselves in a timely manner.