It's just a bit too over-the-top for golf, isn't it?

There was a time when I considered myself something of an avid golf fan. Knew the players, knew who was hot and who was cold, could probably rattle off the top of the money list and I’d closely watch all four majors, the big mid-majors and if it was a Sunday, I’d probably be prone on the couch alternately napping and watching.

Now? Not so much. The confluence of life and too many Sunday afternoons spent in too many arenas has turned me into a less-than-casual fan; I can’t remember a weekend when I paid rapt attention to what was going on.

And all that’s a way to suggest that the Ryder Cup that’s unfolding this weekend holds very little allure to me.

Not just because of the golf, to tell you the truth.

I’m sure the golf will be exceptional and it may draw me in; I love great shot-making, appreciate the drama of team play and those singles matches on Sunday are more intense that any golf you’ll ever see.

No, what’s turned me off the Ryder Cup a little bit is the over-the-top fans, the flag-waving, booing, jingoistic fervor masked as patriotism.

I guess it began with the War On The Shore at Kiawah whenever that was and it’s just gotten worse of the years.

I have issues, big issues, with the American fans who try to rattle the European players, I have a bit of an issue about the us-against-them mentality that pervades the whole event.

Golf should be a gentlemanly game where great shots, no matter who strikes them, should be appreciated and marveled at.

I have no problem with cheering for your guy or your side but I do have a problem with wishing ill upon the playing partner, cheering a missed putt, mocking a shot that goes awry.

The TV guys feed into it too much, the writers try to make it a bigger deal that it should be.

These are the greatest players in the game, I think they deserve respect; the Ryder Cup fans just go too far over the top for my liking.

That said, I’ll probably tune in – in fact it could be white noise after I get this done and start puttering around on gigantic Nothin’ But Net-like pre-season preview and Raptor camp set up for the first of the week – but I’ll try to ignore the noise.

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I know I’m late to the party on this new Mumford and Sons stuff might surpass Little Lion Man as one of the favourites of this era.

A friend passed on this band a while ago – my sincere thanks – and this is the kind of music I like. A lot.

Not a lot of noise, discernible lyrics and just a solid sound.

Guess they do do some good stuff these days.

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You know what we need?

Another iconic Canadian sports moment.

Look, as we know, I’m quite comfortable with re-living the good old days, or the bad old days, a simpler time.

But, jeez, this whole 1972 pucks thing is really getting old, isn’t it?

Yes, I was as caught up in the event as anyone. I remember getting sprung from school the afternoon of Game 8 and I vividly recall bursting out of my front door when Henderson scored to celebrate with the other street urchins and I would imagine a road hockey game broke out right after.

It was “the” moment of a kid’s life.

And it’s nice that they celebrate it, nice that it’s remembered but it’s been so over-done in the intervening four decades that it’s almost become a joke.

Every year, it seems, we get stories about it, the requisite “where are they now” pieces, we have been inundated with remembrances for too long; maybe the 25th anniversary would have been enough, but not the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th and now 40th.

Don’t you think it’s almost too much?

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There’s always room for more mail, Irregulars.

Click. Write. Send.

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I can’t remember exactly what day it was but there was a day when I was sitting on a stool …

(I could probably start a lot of stories that way, but that’s another story entirely).

Anyway, I can’t remember what day it was but there was a day when I was sitting on a stool doing a wee bit of work and I was hooked into a wireless network thanks to my iPhone and the guy one down from me was watching some video on his phone and the guy one down from me the other way was checking his e-mail on his phone and I’m thinking I can probably put away the old Remington electric typewriter that’s somewhere in the basement and I can probably make sure the old Tandy2000 is relegated to some dustbin and how did we ever get through the last quarter of a century?

Oh, and that my basement bar, whenever I get around to setting it up, is going to be a testament to technological changes over the years.

Something like a grunt’s museum except with a wet bar.

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No exhibition pucks games?

Whatever will we do?

Maybe the NBA will take notice and whack, say, four of theirs per team.

Actually, this has turned out to be perhaps the best pre-season of all time for the HOTH, only seven games instead of eight, four at home, only one in a neutral site which isn’t an issue because it’s Montreal and they put on a great show last time.

Besides, it’s Montreal for goodness sakes, if you can’t find a way to enjoy a Thursday night there I fear for you.

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Okay, I need to say this one more time.

Thank you.

The kind comments yesterday, the thanks, the notes; it was almost too much.

But it was so so so appreciated, I can’t tell you how much.

So, thanks.

 

Comments

[TL]

I think Davis Love got it right at the open of the Ryder, and it seems he's on the same page with you, Doug. He touched on the real battles that real families face in some of the conflict-ridden parts of the world and said" "These matches are not life and death. Golf has to be played with a certain spirit of graciousness or it’s not golf at all... We will start these matches in a spirit of friendship and we will end them the same way.”

[MC_Brad]

If you like the Mumford & Sons, you might wanna check out The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, Cuff the Duke (good ole Toronto boys), the Lumineers, and Of Monsters and Men. These bands are all current bands with some similarities to Mumford. Hope you like!

Blogger's note: I'll find 'em today, thanks

[sam]

I stopped watching golf regularly when it became the Tiger Woods show. I agree the us against them competition of the Ryder cup is a little over the top.
There are however, some interesting stories in the game of golf and that's what attracts more than anything.
I watched game 8 of the 72 series the other night, Like you I remember watching the game as a kid, but in the school library with my class mates. (Hard to believe it's been 40 years)
Watching the game I was struck about how sloppy the play was. I also wondered if Pete Mahovolich knew then about what he knows now about Allan Eagleson if he would have gone to his rescue.

4 more sleeps til training camp opens.

[doug]

I find the American coverage to be so biased in the Ryder Cup especially Curtis Strange, unprofessional...to find a british feed is the key...Lawrie hit a home run finally, please get him out of that lead off spot and into the 3rd spot, and what was with Esobar batting 4th?/...speaking of irritating announcers that Mike Mayock dude was doing the NFL game last night so it gave me a good chance to listen to this hour long clip turned off the volume on the game and listened to Mumford and Sons at Glastonbury and occasionally watched, good tunes add to bucket list of bands to see in concert...cheers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MkpBqGPS7g&feature=related

[511]

Late to the party but, congrats on yet another milestone, Doug. I don't always agree with your take - what fun would that be? - but I always enjoy it and your spot here is a must-read every day. Thanks for what you do.

Blogger's note: You're right, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun. Thanks

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
My nephew turned me onto Mumford and Sons quite a while back. Yes indeed they are good.
But, you realize that your blog can be quite expensive - books, movies, bands, TV shows, etc. recommended by you and/or the Irregulars are very often must buys!

[Linda]

Geez, it was like I wrote your blog today. Like golf but have never gotten the appeal/allure of "team" golf -- it's just not the true nature of the game. And I'm so tired of seeing 1972 and Summit Series in so many headlines, and on so many highlight reels. Really, enough already. The moment has long passed and Paul Henderson gets way too much attention for one bloody goal (sorry, just my opinion).

Belated congrats on the milestone. Only very good, well respected and engaging writers have that kind of success -- you've earned the accolades!

Blogger's note: Thanks so much

[KO]

I wasn't at the keyboard yesterday but reading about the milestone prompted me to comment: an amazing accomplishment and a testament to the great writing. I am an avid sports fan, but not much of a basketball fan at all. However, since the Nothin' BUt (Inter)Net days I have tried not to miss a post and have converted several like-minded friends to your readership. Doug, your relatable style and balanced outlook, not to mention the wealth of knowledge you pass on, makes it a must-read so congratulations to you. It's like Bon Jovi said a few years back: 20 million fans can't be wrong!

Blogger's note: Much appreciated, thanks

[Nick M]

Doug,
You have made this comment about lying prone on the couch a few times now. So I have to ask... Do you really lay prone on the couch or do you mean supine?
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To each their own, I guess:)

[Peter]

Just remember, every hockey scribe who writes about the '72 series right now, is one less hockey scribe being assigned to your beat. :) Just saying.

[david]

Canada's other iconic national sports moment involved Ben Johnson in Korea, hence the romantization of the 1972 Summit Series.

[GM]

I didn't watch the '72 series then and have never seen it since. I remember kids talking about it at school but I didn't come from a sports house. It wasn't until I was an adult that I knew who Paul Henderson was, and that's just because of all the endless talk about that series.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
So, in this room of technological whatnot you're planning, please let me know if you're looking for some more stuff for your exhibit, 'cause I've got a box of legal sized carbon paper, a few jars (never been opened and I dare you to try) of (probably still liquid) whiteout and a Gestetner (remember those!) machine I'd be happy to unload...I mean donate. And, I do enjoy some Ryder Cup - although I have to agree with @doug - the commentary and partisan chanting from the crowd (and broadcast crew!) gets old pretty fast. But, some of the decisions made by the team captains! For example, why, oh why is Davis putting Woods and Stricker out again this afternoon? Tell me it's not about ratings. And I like to listen to Submotion Orchestra during Ryder Cup. And during any golf tournament when Chris Berman's around. Cheers. Perfectly chilled ones!
http://youtu.be/HscJPjNB6fk

[Doug Scholz]

Hi Doug,

Long time reader, first time poster. While I appreciate and agree with much of what you write, the one reoccurring theme in your blog that irks me is that you are too dismissive of today's music. While, I can appreciate why you like Mumford and Sons - they are energetic and fun - I feel you might not give full credit to today's artists. I also feel there are much better representatives of today's music than the often repetitive sounding Mumford and Sons. Some of the baby-boomer artists that you admire in these posts are favourites of mine as well - Dylan, Van Morrison, Stringsteen and the Band. Maybe it is part of your cantankerous person of a certain vintage persona you put on. I get this - it is fun to act grumpy and view every successive generation as somehow inferior to your own. But I second the recommendations of the above poster. The Decemberists and the Avett Brothers are great. So are Bon Iver, Iron and Wine, Beach House, Dawes, the Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Feist, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, TV on the Radio and many others. My recommendation for you is to start listening to CBC radio 2. They mix older favourites with new artists, and I feel they generally have good taste. I won't start to debate you on your opinion of hip-hop music. That is a subject for another post.

[Peter]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/nba/article/1263776--raptors-coach-dwane-casey-overcame-segregation-era-kentucky-to-reach-nba

I just read Cathal's story about Dwayne Casey and segregation. Just thought it should be shared with your readers.

[Mark]

20 million? Holy moly. Great job Doug, and everyone who I see post here day after day as I lurk in the e-shadows. The discussion and sense of community in seeing the same people commenting day after day really sends the whole thing onto a greater level.

And the diversity of content! Speaking of, I was late to the party too, but the party is still a fun one; I watched that same Mumford and Sons video like, ten times yesterday. They've got a great style.

I very much agree with the golf commentary, extending onto just about any sport. Cheering for your side and trying to disrupt/break down/disrespect the other side are very different things, and a great play (or shot) is a thing of beauty no matter who is making it.

I'm off for the first time to San Francisco, it may not be much for hoops but have you spent much time there? As a fellow pint & stool afficionado I would appreciate any recommendations (from anyone!).
Cheers!

Blogger's note: Two musts in San Fran are Buena Vista for Irish coffee, Tomasso's for dinner (it's a PJ Carlesimo haunt and PJ knows his eating) and the Union Square area has some fine stools, as I recall

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Nice write-up on D Casey by Not Grace Kelly. Now "pound the rock" starts to have some real import – coal mining as a summer job... not many scholarship ball players doing that these days, I'd wager. The Raps have the right man in the coaching chair right now. Can't wait to see the results. Cheers. Go Raps!

[james]

Ambivalence has always characterized the 1972 series, at least for me. A courageous writer of the time, the late John Robertson of the late Toronto Telegram, labelled the Canadians "Team Ugly" after they started to goon it up, and accurately referred to Uncle Al as a walking diplomatic disaster. It is interesting that the Russian players apparently hold no grudges. As a celebration of Canadian hockey excellence, I much prefer the 1987 series with Gretzky and Lemieux as linemates. No Canadian hockey player seemed to learn more from the Russian approach to the game than Gretzky.

[john]

Hey Doug,
After reading 511's post I realized it pretty much mirrored my thoughts exactly! I found your blog a few years ago and enjoy it mostly because your angst-o-meter is always grounded, your basketball opinions are well thought out and based on research, not some obnoxious, self-professed expertise of the game. I wish you 100MM more hits!

Cheers,

Blogger's note: I appreciate that, thanks

[doug]

@Lori I agree to me good shots are good shots, and all should be respected but Azinger/Strange and Trico who feeds into them are just terrible...it takes the fun out of it to be honest, like Bradley's reactions are just over the top and the American announcers are soaking it up, what if he was European or Garcia doing that, their reaction would be different...the crowd has been deplorable as welI totally sophomoric and classless have to turn off the commentary and listen to music....and to the poster that says about your lack of talking about present day music it is for me because I just don't have the time to do so nor really the inclination to do so to be honest...it is not to dismiss present day music to me just too many things on the go and I like to mix some present with my golden oldies...cheers..

[J]

It takes a lot of patience and resilience to constantly put yourself out there with all the cheap shot artists trying to elevate themselves by putting you down. Keep up the hard work!

Blogger's note: Thank you