John Pitarresi: Ryder Cup doesn't stir patriotic fervor

The Ryder Cup starts Friday.

I don’t know what it is, but half the time I find myself rooting against our team, and I feel bad about it.

Maybe there was a point, before the European started getting their revenge, that I felt the Americans needed to be taken down a peg. Like the Yankees, who have been, or Southern Cal, which I hope will be.

But, you know, I really don’t feel the “us-against-them” thing. They’re all great golfers, half of them are from Europe, and it’s a nice competition. But national pride? No, it’s not really at stake.

Sometimes it’s difficult to identify with “our team.” I remember organizers of the America’s Cup team asking for donations to fund their effort. What? You almost need to be a managing partner at Goldman, Sachs to even get on deck, and you need my $20? Hey, good luck. I hope you have a good wind and you don’t fall off the boat.

Professional golfers generally are much more simpatico, but I can’t invest in their success or lack of it, so I just wish for some great, competitive golf this weekend.