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It won't take a lot for the U.S. Ryder Cup team to get fired up for the biennial matches at Medinah. With a home course advantage and the 2010 Ryder Cup likely still in the back of their minds, there's no question captain Davis Love III and his entire team will be motivated to wrest the Cup away from the European squad.
But just in case motivation becomes an issue at any point during the week, Love has someone on standby who's more than willing to ignite*the squad with a fiery speech. That "someone" would be one Michael Jeffrey Jordan -- winner of six NBA Championships with the Bulls, and Chicago's most beloved basketball figure.
As the Guardian noted on Thursday, Love will have Jordan inside the ropes during Ryder Cup week serving as an adviser and motivator for the team. Needless to say, Jordan's given a motivational speech or two in his career, so the decision to add him to the squad makes sense -- especially with the matches in his own backyard.
"I've talked to him. Michael's going to be hanging around with Fred probably a lot and be an influence," Love said. "I told Michael this a couple weeks ago. One of the neatest things I ever saw in the Ryder Cup was Michael riding in the golf*cart with Tom Kite. He came out to watch Freddie and I play and I thought that was one of the coolest things.
"So I want my team, like Fred and I did, to get to see Michael. Rather than him sneaking around in the gallery, I want him to be seen and I want him to be in our team room, be hanging around and be a great influence."
Jordan also served as an assistant captain for Fred Couples' squad at the 2009 Presidents Cup --*he had to back out of the same role last year due to the NBA lockout --*so he has some experience being around the U.S. players on golf's big stage."So I want my team, like Fred and I did, to get to see Michael. Rather than him sneaking around in the gallery, I want him to be seen and I want him to be in our team room, be hanging around and be a great influence."
Will his speeches be the difference in the matches? Probably not. However, the fact that Jordan's going to have a role during the week should add a little something extra to the Ryder Cup.