I started out with a comment on Brandon’s post, then realized it was too long, so here’s the gist:

Our institutions have failed us publicly. Perhaps they were failing us privately before, but we kept up the facade. Ask the media: what sells more papers, stories of success or of failure? Would the water cooler talk have been as vitriolic and hyped if Phil had won at Winged Foot…"Can you believe Ogilvy came in second?” Of course not…as Don Henley sang, get the widow on the set, we want/need dirty laundry.

Our kids don’t win because places 2-125, shirt and equipment companies, and other sponsors pay so well. Our kids don’t win as a team because American culture and capitalism tout the individual, not the team…just look at all those successful players from socialist Europe. Our kids don’t win because they don’t care. The Ryder Cup is an antiquated, between-the-world-wars peace offering from a seed merchant.

We need more Ben Hogans telling young Gary Players to ask Mr. MacGregor for advice, since Player plays his clubs. We need more answers of “no,” “dig it out of the ground,” “play for your own money,” and “go play the South Pole Tour to learn the game” instead of “sign right here, little 16-year old girl, and you’ll be rich.”

Trouble is, we’re farther down the road to mirroring the Roman Empire than the Eldrickian Empire.

Permalink 1 comment

Bookmark/Search this post with: