America’s Ryder Cup defeat sparked ugly behaviour among their fans, but as Britons know all too well, losing can be a bonding experience. Americans rarely endure national sporting despair because they dominate most team sports they care about, from NFL and baseball to basketball and ice hockey. This lack of practice in losing may explain the poor sportsmanship seen at the Ryder Cup, with fans leaving early and failing to applaud the winners or their own team’s valiant effort.
Without despair, there is no joy, as a football-going friend often says. Americans miss the chance to unite in shared disappointment, a valuable experience that fosters national togetherness. The morning after an England final defeat, I passed a mother and her young son of Indian heritage wearing an England shirt. Our sad looks exchanged a mutual understanding: we had all been through it together.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also known such moments of collective feeling. In Croatia, it is said that everyone disagrees until the national football team takes the pitch for a big match. I have watched England lose two European Championship finals and Croatia lose a World Cup final. I went home miserable, but never felt more at one with my fellow citizens. Americans simply do not know what they are missing.
