by Dana Greene

We all know the United States produces the best athletes in the world (excluding soccer, of course...but who really cares). Well, you sure wouldn't know it. Lately, it seems like every time the good ol' USA comes together to compete against the rest of the world, we get our good ol' American butts kicked.

Take a look at the Ryder Cup. We've got Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink and Chris DiMarco. These are some of the best golfers in the world. Yet they get clubbed by the likes of Colin Montgomerie, David Howell and Darren Clarke? How does that happen?

And what ever happened to the American dominance in basketball. How could Dywane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony lose to Greece? Greece?!! Next thing you know, the USA womens basketball team will lose. Oh wait. They did! To Russia! Not to mention Team USA's performance in the World Baseball Classic. We couldn't even make the final four with all our best major leaguers playing.

My point is, where is our athletes national pride? Why is it we can consume 60 percent of the world's natural resources, but can't beat Cuba in a game of baseball? My theory is that it just isn't important to our best athletes. Kobe Bryant doesn't care about beating Puerto Rico. He wants Miami. An NBA Title is just more important to guys like Kobe and Shaq than a World Championship. Why? Money. More NBA titles...bigger contracts. More World Championships...more medals. You make the call. 

Tiger Woods can beat anybody on the planet if he's competing in a major. But if the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup is at stake, Tiger plays like he could care less. What's in it for him? And that's the point. American athletes are for the most part selfish. They really have no desire to represent the United States. They do it out of obligation. They only truly care about themselves, and their team. And that's OK. I just wish they'd put a little more effort in when they're wearing the Stars and Stripes.