CHASKA, Minn. -- Memo to the 11-member U.S. task force organized to break Europes near-chokehold on the Ryder Cup:You did well. Now take the next couple years off.The most lopsided win for the American team since 1981 in the bag, there doesnt seem much need to change the formula that carried the U.S. to a 17-11 win Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Probably not much need to change the captain, either, after Davis Love III came up a winner in his second time at the helm.But Phil Mickelson is both a tinkerer and a thinker, and he doesnt figure to leave well enough alone. Hes also the most influential member of the task force, and may tweak a few things for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris.For us to go to Europe and try to win the Cup is a whole different feat, Mickelson said. Thats going to require a whole different level of play, of solidarity, of fortitude and we are going to have to build on this in two years if we want to try to retain the Cup.Europes dominance dating to 1985 remains impressive: they still claim six of the last eight and eight of the last 11 Ryder Cup wins. Worse yet for the Americans, they havent won on foreign soil since capturing the Cup in 1993 at The Belfry in England.And that has Lefty thinking a bit.The thing about this is that we need to build on this, Mickelson said. Otherwise its all for naught.Some other takeaways from the U.S. win:NEXT U.S. STAR?: When the task force does get back to work, its No. 1 priority should be to find more guys like Patrick Reed. Dubbed Captain America by his teammates, the 26-year-old Texan went 3-1-1 in the event, capping his performance by staring down McIlroy, Europes top player, in the critical opening singles match that delivered some thrilling shots from both players on the front nine.Reeds gutsy showing in all five matches was exceeded only by his bravado. After Tiger Woods, serving as a vice captain, told Reed hed likely be held out for one of those sessions, Reed replied, Youre not sitting me for any matches.Convinced, Woods pushed captain Love to use Reed -- who went 3-0-1 as a rookie two years ago -- and partner Jordan Spieth in Saturdays final slot. They responded with a third win over the tough European pair of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose.---NEXT EUROPEAN STAR?: Thomas Pieters took his first Ryder Cup swings with a stocking cap on his head on Friday morning. It didnt take him long to get really comfortable.Pieters went 4-1-0 at Hazeltine, the best debut performance ever for a European. Three of those wins came when he was teamed with McIlroy, giving Europe a solid foundation heading into the next Ryder Cup and possibly for years after.Ive got a partner beside me for the next 20 years, McIlroy said with a smile, putting his arms on Pieters shoulders. Im not letting anyone else have him.---FAN BEHAVIOR: A record crowd of more than 50,000 packed Hazeltine for all three days of the event, including some fans who shouted vulgar and obscene things at some of the Europeans. One was removed from the course after an exchange with McIlroy.But the players and captain Darren Clarke commended the U.S. team for helping police the crowds and said 99.99 percent of the fans were exceptional all weekend. McIlroy was asked if the American team should expect similar treatment from European fans in 2018, when the Ryder Cup will be on the line in Paris.We wouldnt encourage any sort of retaliation, McIlroy said. Thats not who we are. Thats not what we do. There wont be. And well be making that clear.---NOT YOUR AVERAGE SPECTATORS: One way to gauge how much the U.S. win meant: Few people were more emotional about it than Woods and Bubba Watson -- and neither hit a shot. Instead, they put their egos and games on hold and served the team as vice captainsBeing a part of the team -- didnt actually hit a golf shot, but to go out there and be with these guys, we are truly a team, Woods said. And we have that mindset coming here with our captain and we did it, we accomplished it and we won it together.This is the greatest thing Ive done in golf, said Watson, who owns two Masters green jackets. This team was amazing. They took me in their arms and let me be a part of it.Woods generally kept a low profile, but convinced Love to put Reed and Spieth back on the course for a fourth consecutive match late Saturday. Reed made the decision look smart with seven birdies and an eagle on his own ball to seal the third win over the Rose-Henrik duo.Watson used his experience to help golfers like Brandt Snedeker stay sharp in big moments.Hes the reason why I got my point today, Snedeker said. He was in my ear all day. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Air Jordan China . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. https://www.jordanchina.us/ . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Clearance Air Jordan Store . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Air Jordan Discount . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray knows that he and his teammates have some work to do if they want to reach the playoffs.At 5-6, the Titans might have to run the table to earn their first postseason berth since 2008.You want to stack up as many wins as you can, especially in our position, Murray said. Were in a scenario now where we have a chance to do that. Were a good football team, and were going to keep fighting.This week, the Titans will take their fight north as they square off against the Chicago Bears (2-8). Tennessee will try to climb back to .500 before heading into a bye in Week 13.Meanwhile, Chicago is looking for anything positive to build upon in what has become a nightmare season. The Bears have lost two games in a row and five of their last six as they prepare for what likely will be quarterback Matt Barkleys first NFL start in place of an injured Jay Cutler.The game will mark the first appearance at Soldier Field for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. The 23-year-old Hawaiian has enjoyed a breakout season with 2,772 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 100.3 passer rating. He needs 228 passing yards to become the first 3,000-yard passer for Tennessee since Matt Hasselbeck in 2011.Mariota also will try to improve upon his franchise record by throwing for multiple touchdowns in his eighth consecutive game. He reached seven straight games last week to move past Hall of Famer Warren Moon, who had six multiple-touchdown games in a row in 1987.The second-year quarterback credited his teammates in the huddle for his success. He said his receiving corps, which includes wide receiver Rishard Matthews and tight end Delanie Walker, provided him with confidence on every play, including deep routes downfield.They make it easy on me, Mariota told reporters at the Titans practice facility this week. If I get it to a spot, I know those guys will go get it.Murray also has proved to be dependable in his first season with the Titans. The 28 year old is second in the NFL with 1,000 rushing yards and has punched in 11 touchdowns (eight rushing, three receiving). He has scored at least one touchdown in six straight games.The duo of Mariota and Murray could challenge a Bears defense that is reeling from another round of injuries and suspensions. Rookie linebacker Leonard Floyd -- Chicagos first-round pick in 2016 -- will miss the game becauuse of a concussion after he was carted off the field last week.dddddddddddd The teams leading tackler, linebacker Jerrell Freeman, also will be out after he received a four-game suspension this week for violating the NFLs policy on performance-enhancing drugs.Freemans absence in the middle of the defense will create more playing time for rookie linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski, a fourth-round pick out of West Virginia.On offense, the Bears appear to be in even worse shape. Cutler injured his right shoulder last week against the New York Giants and likely will be sidelined for at least one game, if not more. The Bears already are without Pro-Bowl guard Kyle Long (ankle) and Pro-Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who will serve the second game of a four-game suspension for PED use.Bears head coach John Fox said Wednesday that Barkley would start at quarterback if Cutler cannot play. David Fales, a San Jose State product who rejoined the team this week, would be the No. 2 option.Barkley, 26, is four years removed from his playing days with the USC Trojans. He has appeared in five NFL games as a backup, throwing for zero touchdowns and six interceptions.Fox said the numbers did not tell the entire story. He said he liked Barkleys poise Oct. 20 against Green Bay as he came off the bench to complete 6-of-15 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions.These guys are on the team for a reason, Fox said. Matt has been in big spots. He wont blink. He didnt blink -- not being very experienced with us -- in Lambeau.Its not going to be too big for him. Hes been in big games. He understands what it is to be a good teammate, and hell do everything he can to be as prepared as he can.Barkley will have plenty for which to prepare.Tennessee boasts a dynamic pass rush that includes linebackers Brian Orakpo (nine sacks) and Derrick Morgan (eight sacks). Both players are vying to become the first Titans defender with double-digit sacks in a season since Jurrell Casey registered 10.5 sacks in 2013.Overall, the Titans rank No. 8 in the NFL in scoring (25.5 points per game), but are No. 23 in the league with an average of 25 points allowed. The Bears rank second-to-last in scoring (15.7 points per game) and are No. 19 in the league with an average of 23.7 points allowed. ' ' '
