Media Savvy
Team Play Foreign Concept For U.S.
By Paul Alexander

I was simultaneously taking in dual debacles. The many monitors in the KDKA-TV sports office allowed me to watch both the Steelers implode in Baltimore and the U.S. get it handed to them outside of Detroit.

The loss that troubled me more, however was the United States suffering an absolutely humiliating defeat at the hands of the Europeans. Once again, the U.S. went into the Ryder Cup as the favorite, despite the fact that they have failed to win in seven of their last 10 attempts.

So why are the Americans always favored? Because they have better players. Same with the U.S. basketball team. And the baseball team that didn't even qualify for the Olympics.

I settled down in front of the TV bright and early on Friday morning to watch the Ryder Cup. Captain Hal Sutton had decided to grab the early momentum by pairing the second and fourth best players in the world in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson.

Colin Montgomery and Padraig Harrington of Team Europe had other ideas, and when they bested the best of the U.S., this three day competition was actually over after just one match.

As Monty so adroitly pointed out, 'This is really much more than just one point.' After getting beat in Friday afternoon's alternate shot competition, the Tiger and Phil experiment was rendered an unmitigated disaster.

Tiger defended his less than stellar Ryder Cup record by pointing out to the assembled golf media that they didn't know Nicklaus' Ryder Cup record, but they were sure well versed with his resume in the majors.

Winning a major certainly brings about considerable notoriety and the accompanying fame and fortune. Why doesn't playing for your country foster the same desire and sense of pride?

It's simple. It's all about me. What will winning the Ryder Cup do for me? In the grand scheme, probably not much. Apparently that makes it easier to watch the enemy rub their dominant victory in your face on your soil.

Golf by its very nature is an individual sport. But the Europeans unified as a team. A common goal and the fact that they're playing for something bigger than themselves seems to be a foreign concept to the U.S. players.

That's right, the failure at Auburn Hills points to a fundamental breakdown in the team concept at every level in this country. Too many kids are brought up to think only about themselves and to hell with the team.

The Europeans came together as one. From the onset it was obvious that the Ryder Cup meant far more to them. They wanted it much more.

Those qualities still play a major role in who wins and loses. The better players don't always win. The team that prepares and perseveres often overcomes a deficiency in pure talent. That is the beauty of sports and more importantly, competition.

Hopefully, after getting their brains beaten in, they will finally acknowledge the problem. The Euros get to defend the Cup on their home turf in two years. You better believe they will not take that challenge lightly. The only hope for the U.S. is if they decide that enough is enough. Take pride in playing for your country. Worry about the majors when the calendar dictates.

Talent only takes you so far. Heart and desire have to be added to the mix. Without those crucial elements, you will be destined to underachieve. Right now, that's exactly what the 'U' in U.S.A. represents: underachievers.