The US Report: Ryder Cup heartbreak

This week's sporting news from the USA, to keep you in the loop when the conversation turns red, white and blue.

A tough defeat for Team USA

It was a thriller of a finish – particularly by golf standards – but the USA fell just short of a comeback victory against Team Europe in this week's Ryder Cup in Wales.

The Europeans prevailed 14.5 to 13.5, but only after a thrilling comeback from the Americans on the final day.

Team USA trailed by three points going into the singles round but rattled off the wins on the last day, coming up just short in the end as US Open champion Graeme McDowell held on for the Europeans with a win over Hunter Mahan.

The victory avenged Europe's defeat against the Americans at Kentucky in 2008.

And for those on Tiger watch, the now world No.2 was in fine form, shooting seven birdies and an eagle to easily beat Francesco Molinari in the singles round.

An easy win for Team USA

There was one win for the Americans in Europe this week, with the women's USA basketball team matching their male counterparts with victory in the world championships this week.

The Americans defeated host nation the Czech Republic 89-69 in the final to claim their first world title since 2002, having won the past four Olympic titles.

Defending champs Australia didn't fare so well, having been knocked out by the Czechs in the quarter-finals.

Unpopular LeBron plays the race card

LeBron James, the revered basketball superstar who became a reviled villain in American sports after his move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat in July, says racism played a part in the public backlash against him.

James drew plenty of criticism for the drawn-out process leading up to his switch, which culminated in an hour-long special broadcast live on ESPN simply called "The Decision".

To many, it appeared to be a new low in ego-centric self-promotion from an overpaid American sportsman. But James says race played a part in his new lack of popularity.

"I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor," he said last week.

That claim prompted even more public criticism, but the two-time NBA MVP has stood by his words.

"I'm not going to go back on my words," James said. "People are looking too far into it. But at the same time, sometimes (race) does play a part in it. I've said what I had to say and I'll continue to move on."

For those who missed it, here's a slice of ESPN's infamous "The Decision" special.


And, while we're at it, we thought we'd give you another look at a spoof of the big announcement featuring Hollywood funnymen Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd.



A lesson for the kids

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was initially flummoxed this week as to why he was suffering from concussion-like symptoms which caused him to miss six days worth of games.

Then he remembered the cause. Apparently, hitting yourself in the head with a baseball bat – even when wearing a helmet – is a bad idea.

"It was Monday night. In frustration [after a strikeout], I whacked myself on the head with my bat in the ninth. I had my helmet on," Roberts said. "It's something I've done a million times, but I still can't tell you for sure if that was it. But that's the only thing that I can point to because that night and the next morning, I just didn't feel good. So it's been going on since then."

Roberts put the incident down as a lesson to the kids out there.

"I've never had concussionlike symptoms in my life; it's not fun. It's not something you want to go through every day, that's for sure," he said. "It's a lesson to myself, a lesson to the kids to not do that, no matter how frustrated you are."

Boomshakalaka

Remember NBA Jam? It was the video game sensation that arrived in the early 1990s – about the same time Michael Jordan was taking basketball's popularity to new heights around the world.

Boasting a two-on-two format, ridiculous oversized heads, over-the-top commentary and unrealistic basketball action, plus hidden characters including Bill and Hillary Clinton, the game was a big reason why so many Australian youngsters walked around in Chicago Bulls hats or Orlando Magic shirts in those days.

And now it's back. And joining Bill and Hillary as playable characters are the likes of Joe Biden, George W Bush, Sarah Palin and even under-fire President Barack Obama.

So even if America's commander in chief is voted out in the next election, Obama fans can take solace in the fact they'll at least have the chance to see the man himself dunking on the likes of LeBron James on their TV screens some time soon.

Screenshots of Obama and co in action are available on the USA Today website.

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