Here comes the Blame Game: Solheim Cup

by courtgolf on Sep 26, 2011 10:38 AM EDT

I had really hoped this would be avoided after such an exciting finish in Ireland. What was I thinking ? I didn't get to bed before hearing the question on xxx Golf Channel and ESPN.

"Who's to blame for the American loss in the Solheim Cup ?"

And when I heard the actual discussion, it went pretty much where I expected it to go - straight to Rosie Jones. Why ? Because there was nobody else to blame and they had to check that box off from the list of cliche team sports topics.

Can't blame Michelle Wie - she's cute and had a big emotional response to making a putt. (Nevermind that she missed the green at 18 with a lob wedge, and gave Cristie Kerr a sore back the first day)

They tried to blame Cristie Kerr, but she's injured and you can't get mad at the girl who's crying. Rich Lerner gave it his best shot when he interviewed Kerr. He had already talked with Rosie Jones and the interview with Kerr sounded more like a prosecuting attorney cross examining a key witness. "Rosie said..... Is that the way it actually went ?" Eventually, he crossed the Firestone Line and got her to cry, which may have been the entire idea of the interview.

Should she have told Captain Rosie that the wrist was hurt worse than she was letting on ? Perhaps. The media will always say yes, but they're not champion athletes, and champion athletes always want to be in the game. Rosie Jones can't be in all places at the same time. She didn't see Kerr shaking her wrist when she had to play shots from the rough. She knew the wrist was sore - it was taped and she was icing and taking anti inflammatories.

I watched Kerr shaking and rubbing her wrist and my first thought was that Jones would pull her from day 2, or at least from the four balls so she would only have to play half the shots. Rosie knew the wrist was sore, but she coudn't have known how hurt it was, and it might not have been as bad on Saturday night as it was when she woke up on Sunday.

Couldn't possibly be that the Europeans just flat out WON the cup ? Sure looked that way to me. Shots get made and shots get missed. Pressure gets to some and inspires others. That's the way sports works - someone wins and someone loses. Pointing fingers is a ridiculous waste of time...especially in this case.

FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com, editor, Charles Boyer or any other writer or member.

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If USA had won

Rosie would have been applauded for her strategies.

Tell ’em to get lost, Rosie! Did you see how much it mattered to her? The Brit. interviewer had to stop the i/v and start again when she had recovered her composure.
Believe me, we know only too well what it means to lose these things!! Nothing Rosie could have done about that last half hour rally. It was practically in the bag for USA until then.

by WendyUK on Sep 26, 2011 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

Was that interview with Rosie Jones on BBC or Sky ?

If at first you don't secede, try try again

by courtgolf on Sep 26, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Wendys right Rosie Jones was crushed-interviews are on you tube

by scrumsndswings on Sep 26, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Skysports

She couldn’t speak & was desperately trying to fight back the tears. They switched to something else and then came back to her.

by WendyUK on Sep 26, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

If USA had won...

I would still criticize Jones for her strategies. She admitted that she should not have sent the duos of Stanford/Lewis and Inkster/Lang out on the second day. That it went against her instinct. The same instinct that led her to choose O’Toole for her captain’s pick (which was a very successful pick). Successful coaches (Captains) do not let players talk them out of decisions.

by tatkins on Sep 26, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I loved it....

Was a great week, big crowds and excellent fans of the game. I believe the Euro woman simply out-played the Americans. Suzann Pettersen kicked butt and stepped up her game on her final 3 holes of her match Sunday. “FAN” Tastic

"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn

by progolf on Sep 26, 2011 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

Me too

The best golf I have seen in a long time. Good post Court – thanks.

by chip n'putt on Sep 26, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Great Golf

I was up at the ungodly hour of 3:30 am both Friday and Saturday to watch the coverage. I was thoroughly entertained, despite listening to GC commentary. I’m glad Europe won this time because if one team dominates year after year the other team will lose interest. Personally I don’t care who wins, I just like watching good golf.

"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky

by dianemarie on Sep 26, 2011 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

No blame game required.....................

Rosie Jones said that the Europeans stripped the Cup from the US in 35 minutes.
Three games left out there and Europe were down in two and all square in one with few holes left,it looked done and dusted.God knows what came over Pettersen.Hedwall and Munoz but bloody hell they were stunning.In the Euro interviews Suzann said that after the delay the three of them rode the cart back out together and said that they could get the points and win this thing…………………mind over matter………….;0)
Womens golf was the winner

by scrumsndswings on Sep 26, 2011 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know that you can blame anybody, but Kerr really shouldn't have played all four team matches.

And it seems like anti-inflammatories and ice weren’t enough. She probably should have gotten a cortisone shot prior to the Solheim cup.

by rhaegar on Sep 26, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

didn’t she say she hurt it over there ?

If at first you don't secede, try try again

by courtgolf on Sep 26, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Fedex Cup? What Fedex Cup? Thank you Ladies!

Watched every minute, thank you DVR. That was riveting golf, love Match Play.
Re: Blame Game, that’s what Talking Heads do, there’s a lot of air time to fill and speaking of that I thought Golf Channel’s coverage was weak. The announcers were always talking about other (sometimes personal) things than what was actually happening on the screen, many times neglecting to give yardage, club etc. etc.

Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman

by gnossos on Sep 27, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

No Blame

Eh, courtgolf….No question one of the best golf events over the last couple of years. No blame. It’s a Team event. You win as a Team you lose as a Team. A+ to the Euros, A+ to the Y’alls, A+ to the Solheim Family and it was and Five Star event. Match play. Fun to watch!. .

by 1KRats on Sep 29, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions