'United Slobs of America' British media rips 'ugly Americans' for celebration Click here for more on this story Posted: Monday September 27, 1999 05:41 PM   British tabloids slammed the U.S. team for its emotional outburst after Justin Leonard's putt. AP LONDON (AP) -- The Daily Mirror headline summed up the British media's bitter reaction to the U.S. victory over Europe in the Ryder Cup: "United Slobs of America." Monday's newspapers -- tabloids and broadsheets alike -- were scathing in their criticism of the American celebrations on the 17th green after Justin Leonard holed the 45-foot putt that capped the greatest comeback in Cup history. "Disgusting" blared The Sun. "Disgraceful" said the Daily Mail. "Bitter End" headlined the Express. Columnists said the U.S. victory -- winning 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 after trailing 10-6 going into Sunday's singles -- was tainted by jingoism and poor sportsmanship. Players and fans were described as "ugly Americans" and their behavior during the three-day competition at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass., was compared to that of soccer hooligans. "American players and their fans belong in the gutter," the Sun said. "Let us be painfully honest about it," columnist Matthew Norman wrote in the London Evening Standard. "Yes, they are repulsive people, charmless, rude, cocky, mercenary, humorless, ugly, full of nauseatingly fake religiosity, and as odious in victory as they are unsporting in defeat. "The only good thing to be said in favor of the American golfers, in fact, is that, at golf if at nothing else, they are better than the Europeans." The anti-American outpouring was provoked in particular by the scenes at the 17th green, when players, wives, girlfriends, caddies and spectators rushed out to engulf Leonard after his huge putt. Leonard's opponent, Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, had to wait out the celebrations before attempting a 25-foot putt to keep Europe's hopes alive. He missed. Sam Torrance, Europe's vice captain, called it "the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," and accused American player Tom Lehman in particular of improper behavior. Olazabal described the celebrations as "a very ugly picture to see." U.S. captain Ben Crenshaw apologized, saying, "It really was not something that we need to be proud of. For that, we're truly sorry." British papers cited other incidents of "appalling behavior," including a fan shouting at the top of Olazabal's backswing during his approach shot to the 17th green, verbal abuse directed by fans throughout the competition at Colin Montgomerie and spectators sending rookie Andrew Coltart in the wrong direction as he looked for a lost ball. Montgomerie, a favorite target of U.S. golf fans, said his father left the course Sunday because he was so upset at the "hurtful comments" being directed at his son from the crowd. The Evening Standard said the Americans showed "how to win a Cup but lose all dignity." "A fantastic competition was sullied by a football [soccer] terrace culture outside the ropes and an appalling lack of consideration from Team America inside them," the Standard said. The Mirror said, "Football hooligans act better than the way the Americans have treated the Ryder Cup over the last three days. Their antics whipped the crowd into uncontrollably boorish behavior. Sporting relations between the two nations have now slipped to an all-time low." Said the Daily Mail: "Rednecks show it may be time to start trading punches, not pleasantries." The broasheets featured the controversy on front pages, and television and radio networks continued to play it up in newscasts Monday. The Daily Telegraph said the Americans "not only indulged in the worst excesses of triumphalism during and after the match but also turned in a repulsive display of bad manners" at the 17th green. "The cavalry charge, led by the clear winner in the pass-the-sickbag award, Hal Sutton -- was truly appalling, though, it has to be said, no more gross than most forms of American tribalism," the Telegraph said. The Guardian ran the headline, "Joy of Ugly Victory brings out the Ugly American." "The whole distasteful scene was watched by Crenshaw, who did nothing to stop it," the paper said. The Scotsman's headline read: "Americans celebrate victory the day sportsmanship died." "The partisan scenes ... wouldn't have looked out of place at an Old Firm match," the paper said, referring to the bitter sectarian rivalry between Glasgow's two big soccer clubs, Rangers and Celtic.   Related information Stories Sutton shines after 12-year absence U.S. overcomes four-point bulge to reclaim Ryder Cup Decorum breaks down with Leonard's winning putt Photo Gallery: Sunday Celebration Europeans hold heads high in defeat Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.