It's not what's on the back of the jersey...

It has been over a decade since I was the part of an actual athletic team, competing with other individuals for a championship. (And even then, it was a golf team, so that counts as one-third; maybe) So, who is my team now? I can't cheer as an equal of my favorite sports teams. I haven't done the work, spilled the blood, shed the tears. But I've realized now that I do have a team...

The United States of America

No, this isn't a patriotic call to arms, but just a basic observation. Sports become entirely more interesting when the good ol' USA is on the jersey. I've got three recent reasons...

1) The World Basketball Championships - When was the last time you (hell, anybody) cheered for an outlet pass from Tyson Chandler to Andre Iguodala, or a kick out from Russell Westbrook to Rudy Gay? I did this week. Why? Because there are a group of guys who were willing to spend their offseason competing in an ever-improving international basketball competition, while others stayed home. It's the jersey, I swear. I will watch the games online. Yeah, we got the gold back in the Olympics, but the last time America won the World Basketball Championships? Hakeem Olajuwon was the NBA MVP, OJ "didn't" murder his wife and Nancy Kerrigan just wanted to question 'Why.' Yep, 1994. Wow! Get it done boys!

2) The Ryder Cup - Why can't it hurry up and get here? This professional golf season has been more about young American players choking (see Johnson-comma-Dustin or Watney-comma-Nick) than about them excelling, or providing anything worth watching. Look at the golfers who showed up with more balls than just their Titleists in the majors:

a) Mickelson - Been there, done that, and had the cajones to pull this off.

b) Graeme McDowell - Only person who bothered to grab the club tight and swing it

c) Louis Oosthuizen - Didn't read the papers and just kept the accelerator down

d) Martin Kaymer - Knew how to make a putt when it counted

What do the final three have in common? Not from this country. And two will be donning blue and gray trying to bring the Cup back. I want the US to prove they can actually win something.

3) LLWS - Japan finally beat the US at something. In honor of my grandfather, I say this for all WWII Vets and their misguided grudge... "Scoreboard!"

Honorable Mention to the US Open (tennis), for being the major after Wimbledon that allows for (gasp) creatively colored outfits, fist pumps, drunk fans and midnight matches. That's how we play it in Amurrica!

- Will