2010 Ryder Cup
You may remember the diminutive golfer from such Ryder Cups as the 1991 installment when he arrived at Kiawah Island on the heels of Desert Storm wearing a camouflage baseball hat.
Well, not surprisingly, Pavin upped the ante this year by not just wearing a hat but bringing in U.S. National Guard veteran Major Dan Rooney to rally his troops.
I think military awareness in the United States is probably at an all-time high. And I think people, certainly in the States and over here, appreciate the military and what they do for our freedoms I think it is worthwhile to recognize that,” Pavin said about mixing military and sports. “Major Rooney is a very inspirational guy and a great patriot.”
That sound you just heard was me throwing up all over my keyboard. Im not exactly certain of Pavins politics, but I am pretty sure he fits the standard, rich Republican profile of most golfers. You know, the same party that started the two wars he used as rallying cries for stupid sporting events, first in 1991 and now in 2010.
Nevermind that sending troops off to war in such cavalier and chest-thumping (and U.N.-defying ways) treats soldiers like G.I. Joe action figures. As long as you pay faux respect to the military when its convenient for your cause, who really cares about the actual costs of war or the fact that comparing an international golf match and nationalistic pride is a grotesque sin. It makes Pavin look cool.
Yea, real cool. About as cool as the rain gear that looks like warm-up outfits for the 1992 U.S. mens basketball team. You may remember when Pavin brought his wife into the fold of Team USA when he became captain, saying she would be responsible for the outfits and spare no expense. She then got more ink than any PGA wife not from Sweden in self-righteously inserting herself into the mix in a tournament in which she wont swing a club. And never mind the fact that youd think U.S. golfers would learn to keep the focus on golf and not acting like the greatest, most supportive husbands in the world after the Tiger debacle.
Of course, as we found out Friday morning, those rain suits protected the Yankees about as well as Tigers password on his Blackberry did. Youd think Pavin would realize that Wales is not exactly California. When it rains, it pours.
The stomach-turning act on display by Pavin echoes the obnoxiousness of Hal Sutton and his oversized, doofus cowboy hat in 2004. Then there was Tom Lehman bringing 100 pounds of chips and salsa overseas as captain. And lets not even get started on the scene following Justin Leonards putt on 17 at Brookline in 1999.
The arrogant, uber-patriot act has been seen time and again with an American team that is notorious for being a bunch of individuals trying to act like they like each other or can have normal pub conversation over shared interests instead of a tight-nit bunch like the Europeans.
While the Americans practiced their false modesty and feign humility while publicly putting their wives and military members on pedestals, the Europeans quietly went about the business of preparing to compete, with European captain Colin Montgomerie bringing in legendary Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros to speak to his men.
“I’ve never known anyone as passionate about sport and golf as him, he said. Seve is our Ryder Cup and always will be.
Young Graeme McDowell took to Twitter following Seves speech “What a legend! Trying to win it for him this weekend. He symbolizes European golf,” McDowell wrote.
What a concept: Real humility, pride, camaraderie and dignity. And a golf tournament that is about golf. If the Americans pay attention, they may learn something.
About the Author
You can plan to stay ahead of the books this year with the sharp eye of Kurt Poway. K.T.P. has been a top performer at Oddsboard from the start. The OB Experts are known for profiting off football and Kurt has ranked at the top by out performing most experts online.
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