[DonnaKay]

mr38, I often agree with lots of your points but I'm having trouble understanding why playing a GOLF TOURNAMENT, even the US Open, in which one earns money for oneself and does nothing for one's Nation's health or welfare has to do with "national pride".

Maybe, just maybe, competing in the Olympics is a National Pride thing, although with all the money "amateur" athletes earn these days, I'm not even sure that applies. Nor do I think competing in the Ryder Cup has much to do with love of country - more to do with love of competition, self-worth, and once again, money.

Ken Perry made a decision to try to compete in the Ryder Cup because he saw it as a capstone to his career and it was being played "at home". Didn't hear a lot from him about the "national pride" thing.

Your values seem to make "national pride" a touchstone for proper behavior and that's fine.....right up until you start trying to get other people to live by your values.