Everybody says they're all for "excellence" but everybody doesn't think through what that really means, the implications of putting excellence above all else. Watson is committed to excellence, in the meaning of both those words: "committed" and "excellence." Commitment to excellence in everything: broadcasting, playing golf by the rules, playing golf.
From the Greek concept of areté to the Raiders' slogan, commitment to excellence is not easy for many to accept in its pure, unalloyed form. When it's a slogan on a t-shirt, sure, I'll take two. But in practice...why is it hard for many to accept? In the main, because commitment to excellence crowds out everything else. In Watson's case, it crowds out activities like babysitting professionals at the top of their games and any goal or action that at worst interferes with and at best is irrelevant to excellence, which in this case meant winning the RC. A fake Ryder Cup? Please. That's offensive -- give me the real Ryder Cup, don't patronize me with a fake. ...What, now you're upset I don't want a fake Ryder Cup?! Now I'm supposed to apologize and hold your hand?! You know what I have to say to you? You know what "gift" I want? Just win, baby.
Aristotle struggled with something akin to the debate about Watson: if the areté is known, why do many not pursue it? Why do they purposely choose the less-than-excellent path? Part of Aristotle's answer is to dispense with the notion of a singular conception of areté. Those who choose to sit in judgment of a person's actions have to consider that person's notion of excellence. The Watson we see is the Watson striving to be the best Watson he can be.
Or as the headline to the Posnaski article puts it, aptly: "U.S. got the Ryder Cup captain it hired."
Of course, this narrative, this assessment of excellence, doesn't fit the narrative required for the circumstances, and so "the people" ignore or dispense with it. And what is the narrative the people require? Leviticus 16:20-22.