Ryder Cup

Europe got a taste of what us Americans cook up. Intense, brutal, and heroic play. The Americans shined at the Ryder cup this past weekend regaining the cup for the first time since 1999. As of late, those Eruopeans have been giving the Americans quite the pounding.

Momentum was taken early by the Americans, leading to a 16½-11½ final on Sunday. Not even Tiger, Tiger Woods Ya'll was needed. A collection of solid, emotionally driven players rose up with sheer patriotism unseen since the Boston Tea Party.

Here was the roster for the 37th Ryder Cup:

Player	Age	Ryder Cup record	Appearances	Hometown
Chad Campbell *	34	1-3-2	2	Andrews, Tex.
Stewart Cink	35	3-5-4	3	Huntsville, Ala.
Ben Curtis	31	--	--	Columbus, Ohio
Jim Furyk	38	6-12-2	5	West Chester, Pa.
J.B. Holmes *	26	--	--	Campbellsville, Ky.
Anthony Kim	23	--	--	Los Angeles, Calif.
Justin Leonard	36	0-3-5	2	Dallas, Tex.
Hunter Mahan *	26	--	--	Orange, Calif.
Phil Mickelson	38	9-12-4	6	San Diego, Calif.
Kenny Perry	48	0-2-0	1	Elizabethtown, Ky.
Steve Stricker *	41	--	--	Edgerton, Wisc.
Boo Weekley	35	--	--	Milton, Fla.
* denotes captain's picks		Total: 19-37-17	Total: 19

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!

Un-Uhmerican Seized at Yankee Stadium

This guy is definitely not an American in every sense of the word:

A Queens man is considering legal action against the New York Yankees after he was ejected from Tuesday night's contest against the Boston Red Sox for trying to use the restroom during the playing of "God Bless America."

During the patriotic 7th inning stretch at Yankee Stadium, nature called on Bradford Campeau-Laurion. When he tried to leave his seat during the traditional singing of God Bless America, however, he says he was stopped by a NYPD officer who said he'd have to wait until the song was done.

"I then said to him, 'I don't care about God Bless America. I just need to use the bathroom.' As soon as I said that, he immediately pinned my arm behind my back," Campeau-Laurion told CBS 2.

"He shoved me out the front gate and told me get out of their country if I didn't like it," he said.

Damn right, get out of our country if you can't stand for God Bless America at Yankee Stadium. After 9/11 the Yankees made it mandatory for spectators to remain in their seats during the song as it played for the 7th inning stretch. Not only did Brad break THE stadium rule, he broke the "common knowledge AMERICAN" rule. I am glad he was apprehended by NY's Finest.

POTW Winner

Congrats to Erik Hubl for this delightful picture at the opening game of the Olympics. The catcher for Team USA who had the good fortune of standing next to our (cough) President is Lou Marson, a rising prospect in the Phillies organization. Lou caught the first pitch from George W.

He ended up coming home with a bronze medal and the honor (cough) of meeting the President.


There was a scuffle in the USA China game. I am searching for some video. It was like camping. . . in-tents!

American Photo of the Week

Claire Reeder has started a frenzy. After notoriously tagging me in this photo on the 'book, I decided to open up a weekly (or every other weekly) photo contest. So please, snap pictures of American things. Or, retrieve some oldies but goodies from back in the day that scream AMERICA!

Claire is the inaugural first week winner! Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln agree. Congratulations.

Send entries to nick.merklin@gmail.com

Olympics

It's Olympic time (even though we are 4 days in) and we are winning the medal count:

USA - 27
China - 22
South Korea - 12
Australia - 12

Feels good to be AMERICAN!

Hopefully tomorrow I will post a video of Bella Karolyi saying some things about the age of the female Chinese gymnastics team. It was legendary.

2 New American Products

Came across these two gems the other while cruising the internet:

Jansport Captain America Bag

Reinforced vinyl bottom for kicking ass and protecting the fine American population.


Phiten Titanium Necklace - Patriot


This necklace aims to:

- Alleviate Discomfort
-Enhance Circulation
-Promote Relaxation
-Stabilize Energy Flow
-Reduce Stress
-Soothe Tension

while making you one hell of an American

Mesa/Scottsdale/Tempe, AZ

I traveled down the Valley of the Sun to see my sister and a couple friends from my younger days. We floated down the Salt River during the day on Friday with numerous Scottsdale natives (Darren, Jason, Erik, Terra, Tess, and the Rachels). This involved a cooler of beer, sun, rapids, tubes, and Darren's Boner Jams '08 CD. It was fun and I got a wonderful base tan. The daytime fun was only the tip of the iceberg leading to a night full of excitement. While hanging out with Erik Hubl (who was part of the NY shenanigans) on Friday night, some American things took place.

First of all, we played Missouri. For those of you unfamiliar with this game, it involves drinking while driving in a moving vehicle. This action is illegal unless you are in the fine state of Missouri, or so the myth says. Whatever the case may be, it is a fun game that should be enjoyed by all.

Missouri took place with a 24 oz. can of Busch Ice. A select beer, Busch Ice has a bite not found in regular Busch. It is "Ice brewed for exceptional smoothness." This is true, for sure. Although some websites have bad reviews for the Ice - 1.06/5.0 and a D+ rating - it did its job.


After experiencing the Ice we traveled to an upscale strip club called Skin in Scottsdale. As one reviewer online put it, "Good anytime.Good food & A+ liquor, no short pours.Parking? "wadda ya want in Scottsdale" No problems or damage.Fine biz anytime of the day or night." Sums it up nice. We also went with 3 women friends, which got us seated quicker. As Cosmo (the worker at the club) put it, "I know you are with dates, so I'll get you seated quickly." He did that and we had a fun time.

On our way from Scottsdale to Tempe, we played more Missouri. Once we found a parking spot it was my job to finish off last sip in the 24 oz. Coors Light we had. As I stepped out of the car to take the last swig I saw a bike cop with my peripheral vision. I placed the CL back in the car in hopes of evading the cop - it didn't work. He walked up to the vehicle, pulled out the can, dumped out the last gulp, and starred at me. I tried to say the can was left over from our trip down the Salt River, he didn't really buy that. He told me I was lucky he didn't see me drinking it or else I would have received an open container ticket ($74.50 according to my brother-in-law). He then ran my ID for any warrants and let me go.

Pretty American AZ Friday. Salt River, Missouri, Busch Ice, cabaret, near arrest. Good times.