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CHASKA, Minn. -- Its not the noise thats so jarring on the first tee of the Ryder Cup. No, you expect that. Even without the familiar U-shaped bleachers surrounding the perimeter, you know its going to be loud.On this brisk Minnesota morning, it started predictably early. The American fans were just behind the tee, leading chants in their red, white and blue hockey jerseys and Viking-horn hats.The European fans, down the left side, were singing songs and dancing, head-to-toe in blue and gold outfits, topped by tam-o-shanter caps and completed with matching socks pulled to the knees.More frenzied than a football game, more anticipatory than a rock concert, more rollicking than a roller coaster, the atmosphere on the first tee resembles no other.The underlying tone for each faction of fans is something to the effect of: We want to beat you, but, really, were just here to have a good time; but no, seriously, well only have a good time if we beat you.And so they sing and chant, and chant and sing. Back and forth, like a tennis rally of vigorous hopefulness bouncing from one end of the tee to the next.On Friday, they even cheered together. With the Ryder Cup golf bag of the late Arnold Palmer standing alone on the ground below, the supporters from both sides saluted their fallen hero in unison: AR-NOLD PAL-MER! AR-NOLD PAL-MER! It was enough to give your goosebumps the chills.But that wasnt the most jolting part of the festivities. None of the noise was. No, it was the silence.For the 10 seconds before each of the eight tee shots in the opening foursomes session, the noise didnt lessen. It didnt die down or dwindle. It stopped.Dead silence. From raucous bellowing to not a single trickle of sound floating through the air, as if it was all swallowed up by a vacuum. It was like stepping out of a keg party and into a church.Thats why Justin Rose, who hit the very first tee shot of the morning, said beforehand: Its a moment to try and enjoy the best you can. Its clearly nerve-wracking and its not a moment you can really prepare for. Just expect to be nervous, get it airborne and forward.Ryder Cup year after Ryder Cup year, player after player, this opening tee shot is considered the most harrowing, stressful shot in tournament golf.The dichotomy between the boisterous celebration before each drive and the deafening silence during them, combined with the enormity of the moment, is enough to make the surest ball-striker start shaking. At some point, though, they have to swing.And as soon as the clubface makes contact, as soon as the ball starts its ascension into the sky, the party starts up again.The American fans, borrowing an anthem from their soccer brethren, chanted Friday: I believe; I believe that we; I believe that we will win.To which one of the blue-and-gold-clad European fans invariably responded as a solo: I believe that WE will win.Then there are the songs -- and lets make one thing very apparent: When it comes to lyrics, the Europeans have already closed out the match.They sang individual songs for every single player. Kaymer Chameleon (parodying Culture Clubs Karma Chameleon) for Martin Kaymer. To the tune of Thats Amore, they sang, Thats Garcia. And Hey Lee for Lee Westwood, mimicking The Beatles Hey Jude.Even Darius Rucker, who was hanging out inside the ropes at the tee, smiled and acknowledged the phrasing, if not the melody.From keg party to church and back again. Eight times Friday morning, as the foursomes matches made their way to their first tee, each player battling some level of nerves.It was wild. It was raucous. It was eerily silent, then wild and raucous again. As we witnessed once again, there isnt another scene like it in golf. Discount Nike Shoes China . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Wholesale Nike Shoes .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. http://www.cheapshoesnikechina.com/cheap-nike-running-shoes-from-china-117b.html . LOUIS -- St. Clearance Nike Shoes . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Cheap Nike Shoes Online .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. The Miami Marlins agreed to terms on a three-year, $40 million extension with third baseman Martin Prado on Tuesday, a source confirmed to ESPNs Jim Bowden.The Miami Herald first reported news of Prados deal with the Marlins.Prado, who will turn 33 in October, is hitting .305 with seven home runs and 73 RBIs this season. He leads the Marlins with 179 hits.ddddddddddddhe 11-year-veteran, who is in his second season with the Marlins, is a career .293 hitter. He had been scheduled to hit free agency after this season. ' ' '
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