Rooting For The Other Guy, but really meaning it.

Oct. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- What a show within a show, within yet another show, was played out this weekend outside of Chicago at the Medinah Golf & Country Club.  This was the site of the most recent biennial Golf competition between The United States and Europe, known as The Ryder Cup. This sport, though at its core was built on sometimes harsh but always strict protocol,  is notorious for its almost exaggerated politeness and civility - and yet , lets all that formality just go to hell for this event, and quickly turns itself into a screaming, fist pumping Rugby or football game with roars coming from not only the crowd - but the normally quiet, polite and reserved gentlemen known as Golf Pros.  

One of the most interesting phenomenons was to see one Pro actually be happy for another Pro's successful tee shot, sand save, or long putt that journeyed to its resting place. Of course this IS a team effort, and one can put forth a reasonable psychology 101 argument that the congratulating Pro was most likely just more happy for himself (being on the winning team, etc.), than for the congratulated Pro. But that isn't what this observer saw in the crystal clear HD broadcast this weekend.  For the first time it really seemed like a true fraternity, a brotherhood ... an actual team effort very much akin to what the New York Yankees often achieve in their games.  I found myself totally distracted from the final score and " who would be the reigning champions".  To my eyes both teams won the event in their collective overcoming and releasing of each player's individual egoism for the joy of being part of something much larger and more nobel than winning a golf tournament.