The Ryder Cup being hosted by the U.S. at Bethpage Black on Long Island, New York, will commence shortly on September 26-28. It is one of the great events on the entire sports calendar. (Here’s hoping the jingoistic New York fans don’t diminish the greatness of the Cup this year by their potentially discourteous behavior.) Speaking of greatness, The Band was one of the great bands of all time. What’s the connection, you ask. Well, the U.S. Captain, Keegan Bradley, along with his vice captains, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Gary Woodland, and Kevin Kisner, is picking the six captain’s choices to fill out the U.S. team roster today. One of the intriguing questions surrounding Bradley’s selection is whether he will select himself as one of the six remaining team members. ESPN reports that Bradley would become the first playing captain in the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer led the Americans to a 23-9 rout at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta in 1963. The U.S. team is trying to rebound from a 16½-11½ loss to Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio, outside of Rome. The pressure is on.
Indeed, the pressure on U.S. Ryder Cup team members representing their country is hard to imagine. Add to that the responsibilities required of the team captain, and many observers are hoping that Bradley does not name himself to the team, despite his sterling record on the PGA Tour leading up to today’s announcement.
I remain agnostic as to Bradley's decision. However, The Band may have had some thoughts on the matter. The lyrics to their song, Don’t Do It, with a few parodic changes, may be pertinent to the current situation:
Don't Do It
Keegan don't you do it, don't do it
Don't you pick yourself
Pleeeeease don't do it, don't you pick yourself
My biggest mistake was loving me too much
A sacrifice would make pundits happy if nothing for myself
Now I wanna pick me and bone someone else
Victory may be gone whether I'm right or wrong
I need me baby to keep on keepin' on
You know I'm trying to my best
Oh I'm trying to do my best
Don't do it, don't you break our hearts
Pleeeeease don't do it, don't you pick yourself.
My biggest mistake was loving me too much.
R.E. Kelly Copyright 2012-2025
AMDG
