Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #881407 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The cover is as telling as the words inside: jubilant members of the 1999 US Ryder Cup team dance across the 17th green at Brookline celebrating what they think is victory. Jose Maria Olazabal, meanwhile, stands stunned waiting to attempt to sink a putt that could keep the European side in the match. In Into The Bear Pit European captain Mark James presents his side of the story behind the 33rd Ryder cup. He tells it well, coming over every bit the decent man he did during and immediately after the tournament. However, the quotations at the back of the book speak loudest of the emotions aroused on both sides. One US star, before the final day, implored, "Let's go and kill them", and by the end of that day veteran European Sam Torrance described the events on the 17th (somewhat hyperbolically) as "one of the most disgusting things I have seen in my life". To counter many of the claims of the lack of sportsmanship, defenders of the US side and their support point to specifics, claiming similar instances in Spain two years earlier, branding the Europe side sore losers. As James counters, and most observers can testify, they are missing the point. As winners or losers, the US team have never been subject to such treatment over the course of a tournament. The most telling words here, though, belong to Olazabal, the man stranded on the 17th:

"The whole world saw what happened, and the whole world is going to judge what their behaviour was like. All we ask is respect from our opponents."

Customer Reviews

Great Behind the Scenes Info
"Into The Bear Pit" gives great insights into what it is involved in being a Captain for a Ryder Cup team. Before, one could only guess what it must be like to be on the "inside" of such team golf competitions like The Walker Cup, The Maple Cup, The Solheim Cup, The President's Cup or of course, Samuel Ryder's gem.

Much more in-depth than Tim Rosaforte's account of the 1995 tilt, "Heartbreak Hill-Anatomy of a Ryder Cup", because it comes from an internal perspective. The reader learns what is involved in such things as making the Captain's choices, determining partners, choosing the clothing, and perhaps most interesting, what happens in the team rooms.

One disappointing factor is Mark James seems to use the book as a catharsis as well as a vehicle to vindicate his choices as Captain. For instance, the reader must hear over and over why he decided to sit the same players until the Sunday Singles Matches and how everyone understood and how he would do the same thing again. We got it the first six times it was written!

James also seems to use a self-deprecating humor to justify his somewhat derogatory comments about certain European players and most of the US team as well as American culture in general. He seemingly thinks that if he speaks poorly about himself then it is an invitation to speak poorly of others. This form of writing takes away from the flow of the book.

All in all, if you are a fan of the Ryder Cup, or any team golf competition, this book will do nothing but enhance your enjoyment of the game. It also makes you wonder what other great Captains like Nicklaus, Jacklin, Filipiak, Van Orden, Ballesteros and Palmer were really thinking.

Fellow American's: Check your patriotism at the door for a few hours and take James' accounts and opinions for what they're worth. He gets an A+ for honesty.

Glad he got it out of his system!
The 1999 Ryder Cup was a "sporting everything" and the controversial final day ensured that it wouldn't be forgotten easily by the Europeans. I am glad Mark James got this out of his system. Its an accurate summary of his golfing life and especially the months and weeks building up to the event itself. He comes across as "his own man" and certainly a character, well-deserving his chance to lead the Europeans. The book builds up the tension very nicely but (obviously) only from the European side. The Europeans had a super team spirit but they were playing a great American team on their own turf. I think that the only problem is that it is a little too anti-American with only Payne Stewert (no surprises there) coming out with any credit. I can understand the bad feeling after the heckling, bad behaviour of fans and players but I can also understand the hurt pride that the Americans felt and hence their tremendous comeback. On the last day the tension was unreal, it was bound to explode!
Overall, a good book but I would now like to read an unbiased version of what actually happened.

A good read though somewhat repetetive
A genuine insight into the world of a Ryder Cup Captain. Mark's thought processes in choosing his 'wild cards' are gone into thoroughly and the day-to-day commentary is very good.He is very condemning of the American galleries and a few of the US players too - perhaps 'over the top' in some cases. After all, having experienced Ryder Cup matches first hand at the Belfry, I can honestly sat that some of the British comments to the US players made me cringe.The European team must have expected the worst - and they sure got it! Let's all hope that Sam's book for 2001 shows everybody in a better light.