FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Hasn't everybody in golf been screaming about that change for years? Azinger just made the move. Ever since Sutton was captain, Americans have been hollering their lungs out to have 4 captain picks instead of 2. Here's the deal. The Americans deserve to lose again because Finchem (again) didn't make amends by campaigning for Larry Nelson as captain. Nelson is the absolute gold standard for Ryder cup competition (and a Vietnam hero) and instead they put in a tough talker who is a media darling. You know what? Nobody talked tougher than Sutton and he had hind-end handed to him on a platter. You talk tough to the Europeans and they are just going to smile at you. Then you find out at the end of the day you just had your liver put in your hand. Nelson should have been put in, there is plenty of time later for the tough talker.

I agree, Jon. I don't see Azinger being the turnaround guy here.
Nelson will get his shot soon enough. After another **** kicking by the Euros.

I think in reality, it's just going to be a coin toss as to who will win. I am just exasperated that the gent at the tiller (the commish), time and time again has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was never the person for the job. I'm sure he is very personable and a terrific guy but he is just not the tough-minded leader that this sport needs. I'm mean you can go right down the list from the very beginning of his tenure and witness the nonesense that has gone on since he was given the nod. If you had a tough leader in there what you wouldn't have seen is: women on the men's tour; increasingly later tee times; the stupid Fedex Cup; dubious selection of RC captains (Lehman and Azinger are still quite young that they could have been put aside for later) and on and on. Finally, to try to intimate that alot of this stuff can't be laid at the doorstep of the Commissioner I would only say. Who are you kidding? Just like a parent has a firm control over his or her family, the commish carries a lot of weight--if he knows how to use it.

Watching the European tour this week has given me a new perspective into how good the young european players really are!!

They are not nearly as spoiled as U.S. PGA pros are. Hungry -= winners

I'm not an expert here, but haven't tournament purses grown significantly under his watch? Or was that under Beman?

The late eighties was the real turning point. Ben Crenshaw pocketed 80 grand for his win at the Buick Open in 1986. Within a c

Wow! That's it? 80G's? That's paltry by today's standards. I guess it was Beman that brought the purses up.

My comment was garbled. I was going to say that since '86 the purses have gone up exponetially. I really don't think Beman or Finchem had much to do with the rise in money. I think it was the players and the tremendous rise in popularity of the game worldwide. I think it was men like Langer, Norman, Ballesteros, Strange and Faldo who took us by storm in a big way. The pundits always wax-on (ad nauseum) about Nicklaus and the '86 Masters win. That absolutely pales in comparison to what happened between two of the greatest titans in the game ten years later. It was like Muhamad Ali fighting Muhamad Ali. The most powerful man in golf playing in the Masters on Sunday paired with the most intimidating and skilled player of his age (and with a six-shot deficit). I still think about that day in '96. I think it's the exciting players drawing interest that controls the money.

What makes me mad is the idea that it's U.S. against world. They get the entire EU and Britain to take us on. How about U.S. against one country at a time? Afterall, we're just one country.

Zinger will make a great captain and I guarantee a win. Our guys are tired of being embarassed. Tiger will step forward...believe it!

Well they are certainly due, and the odds would eventually have to come into play one would think. They are playing again in the U.S. so that's in their favor. If I could give Azinger one piece of advice it would be to prepare the best he can and be extremely guarded as to what you say privately or publicly.
If he shoots his mouth off, there is nothing that the Euros like better. You know that old saying that Teddy Roosevelt used to say, "speak softly and carry a big stick". Well, that's exactly what the Euros do. And, that's what we need to start doing. Nobody like it better than seeing someone putting a cocky SOB right in his place. I would definitely give the nod to the U.S. team but don't forget who is the driver of the other team this year. I mean just think of the last three captains they've had Langer, Woosnam and now Faldo. I would rather face a nest of friggin vipers myself. You can bet Azinger isn't going to have any fingernails left by Sunday.