A cynics view of the Ryder Cup

[Bob_Huntley]

I think we all agree with some of this.

See:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/09/24/sgreas24.xml


Bob

[Matt_Cohn]

Working link:

http://tinyurl.com/s8kwv

[Chris Kane]

Thanks Bob.  It seems like the players are expected to perform for nothing (there was a thread on here earlier this week where one person even suggested they should have to pay their own travel expenses!), while every other interested party is making as much money as possible.  It is a scandal.

I can think of two solutions:
1. Pay the players
2. Donate all profits to charity.

[ForkaB]

Bob

The analysis is spot on, but the "Therefore, what?" is missing.  After several years of quixotic statements about how the event should be minimalized and purified, I for one have decided to just roll over and enjoy it for what it is--the Super Bowl of golf.  Yes it is a cash cow for the Euro Tour (which would probably be belly-up without it) the US PGA local pros (god knows what they do with the money), but that's the way it is, until somebody buys them out of their contracts.  As for the players, I would guess that incentive cluases in their equipment contracts for making the team more than compensate them for a week of living in luxury and playing a bit of golf.

One thing the Ryder Cup has now, and in spades, is raw emotion, which is essential to great sporting events.  It makes the majors look like weekend sessions at Esalen.

The fact that the USA sucks, sucks, but that's another story......

[Ken Fry]

Sorry guys, but what amazes me is when an event raises barely any fanfare and no money, no one complains about who "owns" it.  The PGA Merchandise Show and the Ryder Cup are two events the PGA of America kept going for many years at a healthy expense, not a profit.  Now both events create enormous revenues and everyone is a critic.  Where were all the critics as little as 25 years ago when financially these events were a liability??

Ken

[Joe Hancock]

Ken,

You're too young to know that, and you're too young to be a curmudgeon!

Good point, so now you can lighten up, Francis.....

Joe

[Ken Fry]

Joe,

Any of you homos call me Francis.....  well you know the rest.

Ken

[George Pazin]

From the article:

The vainglorious Smurfit said recently: "I look upon life a little bit like a game of chess. You have your pawns, who are your friends, and they start to pass away. You have your king and queen, who are your mum and dad, and they pass away. You have your brothers and sisters, who are your knights and bishops, and they pass away. What I want is to be the last piece on the board."

This is one of the most bizarro quotes I've ever read. Glad I'm not friends with Mr.Smurfit.

[Jay Flemma]

Yeah, smurfit's quote was ghastly...I'm glad I'm not so greedy or cynical..

Take heart everyone - Clarke gave us a shining example and an indelible masterpiece...what a tribute to heather:

http://jayflemma.blogspot.com/2006/09/it-was-team-effort-but-darren-clarke.html

My .02...if we pay the players, they'll care much less...

I'd give all that I have to play for my country.

[Ulrich Mayring]

BTW, here's how to win the Ryder Cup: you have to want it more than anything else. All those guys out there have ability, the question is not how to hole out the ball, but who wants it more.

I saw this on TV yesterday. This guy wanted it more than anything else and there was absolutely no way he would be denied:

http://tinyurl.com/py83z

The doctor said the jaw was hanging loose and dangled around, every time he was hit the bones moved against each other. Sheesh, I don't recommend that at all, but what a grinder.

With that kind of mental determination and ability to block out even excruciating pain, don't you think that guy would make a few long putts if he were a golfer?

Ulrich

[Steve Lapper]

I think we all agree with some of this.

See:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/09/24/sgreas24.xml


Bob

Bob,

   How about MOST of it!! Ugh.