Could The Ryder Cup Be The Miracle on Ice of 2008?
by Ryan Ballengee
on Sep 18, 2008 9:00 PM EDT
Lake Placid. 1980. The US was in horrible shape. Economy was stagnant, inflation was growing. The Olympics were supposed to be a distraction for Americans that were facing so many problems. In the Olympics, they found a reason to hope, and to celebrate this great nation of ours. The men's hockey team, led by Herb Brooks, stormed the Olympic tournament. They made their way to face the supposedly invincible Soviets. And then won. Then they won the gold medal game. It made Americans believe in miracles again. While it may not have spurred the growth that Ronald Reagan generated by massive defense spending, it sure was a morale booster.
Now, 28 years later, the US is in pretty bad shape. House values have been dropping at a record pace. Americans have a negative savings rate. Our debt has dramatically increased as a nation. Gas prices are through the roof. Galveston Island is uninhabitable. New Orleans is still rebuilding. We are fighting wars on 2 fronts. And we lack a real leader.
And, we also have another sports team that is not expected to do much. Six downtrodden Ryder Cup veterans are teaming up with six upstart rookies to take on a European team that has been crushing the Americans everywhere they can since 1999. They are led by a soft-spoken Captain in Paul Azinger who rubs many the wrong way and others as just the man for the job. Kind of like Herb Brooks.
If the American motley crew can find a way to gel, beat the formidable lifelong team of European friends, then perhaps the American psyche will get a desperately needed boost. Also, they may get a well needed temporary distraction from foreclosures, bank failures, and a liquidity crisis that no American truly understands yet.
Were the Lake Placid Olympics a template, then the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky follows it to the letter. Huge underdog? Check. A leader beloved for his enthusiasm? Yes. Facing an opponent perceived to be far superior? That too.
So, then, when facing such a familiar scene, I have to ask... do you believe in miracles?
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WHAT ???
They put Russkies on the Euro Team ??? Nah – if this was the American Walker Cup taking on the Euro Ryder Cup team, THAT would….hmmm…that might be closer than the last 2 Ryder Cups… :-)
Come on RB – it’s been done to death. What made the ’80 hockey team special was that they were a bunch of no name, mostly college kids taking on THE most dominant non-amateur “amateur” team in the world. This is a bunch of world class and even higher ranked professionals taking on a Euro team on a streak. This is supposed to be more of a “fun” clash – not a face off between two not-so-friendly world powers.
Galveston Island is VERY habitable…if you like camping. The risks of building houses on a sand bar about 6 inches above sea level. I got some pictures and a note from a friend in Houston today. That was an amazing storm. His house had some broken limbs in the yard — two blocks away a huge oak tree fell and crushed a house.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Sep 18, 2008 9:32 PM EDT 0 recs
The context
is more in the situation this country faces morale wise. Certainly, it’s a different competition and a lot of people are jaded about the fact that millionaires are competing. It’s fair. But, the US needs a boost…bad. And maybe this is the chance?
Crazy to hear those kinds of stories. I was in my first month of college in Maryland in 2001 when a tornado struck our campus. We were fleeing the building to the basement as the tornado was literally outside my window. Didn’t get me, but got a car on the ground with two people in it and threw the car into the fourth story of a dorm. It’s weird how disasters strike indiscriminately.
by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 18, 2008 10:02 PM EDT 0 recs
scary natural disasters
didn’t mean to bring a porcupine to the balloon factory – projecting once in a lifetime highlights on modern situations just seem to beg for a letdown. comparing a memory to something going on now is asking for trouble because the memory almost always seems better than what’s happening now.
never been through a hurricane, but those tornadoes are terrifying. no real time to move. I’ve only seen the snapped trees and small debris – can’t imagine seeing a car get thrown like that.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Sep 18, 2008 10:39 PM EDT
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Um, I like the attempt Ryan
But the ‘hopes’ of the country do not rest with Captain Azinger and his crew, although I hear where you’re coming from. I do honestly think there’s some analysis that could be done regarding the state of the US in the world vis-a-vis Ryder Cup expectations going back to past Cups. in 91, for example, the pressure was on for the US to ‘step up’ and in ‘99 being the world’s most powerful country, one that at that time was walking tall, but was getting beat in Ryder Cups (handily in 97, really). Thomas Friedman wrote some column about the situation around then.
But for now, I just want this thing to be competitive. Just competitive. Give me something to watch on Sunday.
You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it - Willie Nelson
by Shank You very much on Sep 18, 2008 11:33 PM EDT 0 recs
Agree
The focus shouldn’t be on a higher mission or calling. That would just be arrogant for the RCs to believe that the hope of the USA rests on 3 days of golf. Nor would I think that the hopes of the country actually do rest on them. But, the 1980 team didn’t know what kind of impact they had until they did it. I think they were just happy to beat the USSR and then realized how big of a deal it really was at the time. That same win in 1994 in Lillehammer wouldn’t have meant anything.
Still, I stand by the notion that this could – at a minimum – be a really great distraction for a hurting country. Likewise for Europe, too, since they’re entering a pretty nasty recession.
by Ryan Ballengee on
Sep 19, 2008 10:34 AM EDT
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hmmm
so if the US AND Europe both “need” the win…wait…my brain is starting to hurt. SEE ? This is what happens when you try to project the future onto a present event. Just enjoy the distraction and if there is a lift in moral, let it happen on it’s own. If it is manufactured or linked to something that happened almost 30 years ago – it just doesn’t have the same feel.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Sep 19, 2008 10:49 AM EDT
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Yeah, but
Europe is screwed anyway economically speaking, haha. The EU is going to go the way of the dodo bird.
by Ryan Ballengee on
Sep 19, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
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well....
…if the gubmint allows China to keep buying into these major companies – we may not be far behind.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on
Sep 19, 2008 12:22 PM EDT
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