Saturday, October 2, 2010

While You Were Sleeping

There's a reason that of all the iterations of the Rocky series, everybody likes Rocky IV the best. It's us against them, America versus the other guys. In the same sense, that's the exact reason that even the most casual sports fan should be setting an alarm or programming a DVR to catch the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Because the event alternates between Europe and the States, this year finds the golfers across the pond, which means the action is well under way while most of us still have heads on pillows. In much the same way we enjoy watching guys like Michael Phelps make the rest of the world look like they should be swimming with water wings, rooting for the United States in the Ryder Cup just makes you feel good.
In fact, for years I can remember rooting against guys like Colin Montgomerie simply because he was a consistent foil in the Ryder Cup. This event takes the gentlemen in the game and turns them into a group of awkwardly dressed frat boys. Seeing guys turn into Happy Gilmore after a good drive, as Boo Weekley did in 2008 by mounting his driver and galloping toward the fairway, makes golf infinitely more fun.
The Ryder Cup takes all of my favorite golfers, puts them on teams, and lets them get after it. For me, watching the same guys who spend their summers tipping their caps turn into fist pumping, high fiving teammates is one of those moments in sports that make it difficult for me to understand how anyone can say they're not sports fans.
I'm not saying that golf needs to change anything about the regular events, because part of what makes the Ryder Cup so enjoyable is the fact that it is the polar opposite of nearly every other golf tournament. It develops clearly defined rooting interests, and for one week every other year, it makes me want Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy to miss three footers. It's the only event where you'll hear a crowd cheer after a missed putt, and the only one defined by chants of "USA! USA!" or "Ole, ole, ole." The sometimes irreverent fans make the event all that more enjoyable when one of "our guys" sinks a 30 foot putt to win a match.
Much like Rocky IV somehow made us all like bad acting and Philadelphia for two hours, the Ryder Cup is a golf event that even non-golf fans should take the time to watch. If you need further encouragement to give it a chance, find that video of Boo Weekley from 2008, and tell me it doesn't make you want to see more.

1 comment:

  1. Well written and I 100% agree with you! Great Rocky IV reference too!!

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