Ryder Cup: A Sooner perspective

The Ryder Cup is golf’s funnest event. It inspires all kinds of innovation.

My brother is a member at Belmar Golf Club, which during the Ryder Cup stages a team competition among members, patterned after what the Yanks and Euros do. Me myself did the unthinkable Sunday — for awhile, I flipped the TV off Saints-Packers and watched some of the golf from Medinah. I will watch the NFL with my hair on fire, yet I watched some Ryder Cup instead of an NFL thriller.

A reader wrote and asked if I was going to address the U.S. defeat, offering some analysis or suggestions. I told him the only suggestion I had for the American cause is to play better golf or get better golfers. Looks to me like Europe has more good players than does the U.S.

I never have really figured out the concept of the Ryder Cup. When it was U.S. vs. England, OK, I got it. Nation vs. nation. But then we started producing more elite golfers in one state than the Brits did in the entire United Kingdom, so the Ryder Cup became nation vs. continent. Maybe it would seem more solid if Canadians and Mexicans were eligible for our team.

I never get too worked about the Ryder Cup. My radio colleague, Jim Traber, was going nuts Monday over the U.S. failure. But I just can’t find the passion for it. I don’t get too nationalistic when it comes to sports. I don’t get misty-eyed when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played at the Olympics. I don’t automatically cheer for the U.S. in international competitions. I get patriotic over things like elections and the military and historical sites. Webb Simpson vs. Ian Poulter? Not so much.

But I know that the Ryder Cup does capture the fancy of American sport fans. And I got a great email Monday explaining the allure.

John Reddell Jr. of Norman is the son of the late John Reddell, a standout end on Bud Wilkinson’s 1950 national championship football team at OU and a member of the 1951 College World Series championship team. John Reddell Sr. went on to become a legendary Texas high school coach; his son, Brad, was an OU punter for Barry Switzer.

Here is John Reddell Jr.’s email:

“I had the privilege to attend the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah this weekend and thought that you might enjoy some of my impressions.

“A cross between the OU-Texas football game in Dallas and a golf tournament. Amazing international nature of the event. European Union colors (blue/yellow), outfits, songs for each Euro golfer about him, anthem (OH-LAE..OH-LAE..OH-LAE..OHLAE…etc.).

“Boisterous USA crowd, very noisy and partisan, golf etiquette out the window except during putts, cheers when opponent misses. Masters people must be nauseous.

“Cool outfits for both sides..sweaters, shirts…like a uniform.

“Medinah is huge. Three 18-hole courses in all. We walked for over an hour just to get from the front to the back on the one course they were using. The rest they used for parking lots, if you can believe that.