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MEDINAH, Ill. Falcons Matt Ryan Jersey . -- Jose Maria Olazabal stepped off the plane carrying the Ryder Cup, a familiar sight considering that Europe has won six of the past eight times. It was who followed the captain off the plane that showed how much the dynamics of this event have changed over the years. Olazabal flew over from London with only three of his 12 players -- Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari and Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts. Everyone else was already here. Five of the Europeans -- Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Peter Hanson, Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia -- have homes at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla. Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, among four players who were in Atlanta on Sunday for the Tour Championship, are moving to south Florida. Luke Donald lives about 45 minutes away on the north side of Chicago. It wasnt that long ago that Team Europe came over together because thats where so many lived and played -- Howard Clark and David Gilford, Sam Torrance and Mark James, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie. Olazabal didnt see that as a problem. "Obviously, when you look at some of the European players, they have their home base here," he said. "They play the tour over here. They are very familiar with the golf courses around here, with their opponents, and in that regard, I think they feel really more comfortable with the whole situation of coming here to the States to play The Ryder Cup. It has changed in that respect, and also that they have realized through the years that they have been able to compete against the players here. "And that somehow boosts your confidence, and that is a very important part when you are playing match play." Still, there was a certain charm about having the team arrive as one. U.S. captain Davis Love III remembers his first Ryder Cup in 1993 at The Belfry, when Tom Watson assembled his group in New York and spoke of a grand adventure to Europe with the sole purpose of bringing back the cup. Golf is different now. "I miss that a little bit," Love said. "We all gather and fly over. They fly over here. That was a really cool thing. But I think what we have got now is a much bigger event." Noting that so many of the worlds best players are at Medinah Country Club, Love said that golf has become "incredibly better." "What we have in our team rooms now and the camaraderie between the two teams is just incredible, and its amazing how much its changed over the years," Love said. "And were playing against our friends, but its still as intense -- maybe even more -- because we are more familiar with them." One thing hasnt changed. Both teams desperately want that 17-inch gold trophy. Europe is coming off a 14 1/2-13 1/2 win two years ago in Wales, a week of slogging through the rain that forced a Monday finish that made everything worth the extra day when it came down to the final match, with Graeme McDowell delivering the winning point. Medinah, the tree-lined course that has hosted five major championships, doesnt look anything like those events. Love has asked for the rough to be virtually eliminated and the greens to be slick as ever, hopeful thats an advantage to a U.S. team that he tried to stock with good putters. Even though Europe seems to have owned this event, The Americans have lost only once at home in the past 15 years -- at Oakland Hills in 2004. "We are playing here against a very strong team," Olazabal said. "We are playing away. The crowds are going to be rooting for the home team really strong, so in that regard, we have to be prepared for that. I think Ive said it all along, I think both teams are pretty much even and its going to be a close match. From that point of view, I dont see any favourites, and it will have to be decided, obviously, on the golf course." The golf course was relatively quiet on a sunny, breezy day in the Chicago suburbs, which began with temperatures in the 40s and warmed beautifully by late afternoon. Steve Stricker drove from his home in Wisconsin straight to Medinah, dressed in shorts as he worked on his chipping and putting. Keegan Bradley, one of four Americans making their Ryder Cup debut this week, also was practicing along with Matt Kuchar. Assistant captain Fred Couples took four players to the movies. Tiger Woods, FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner were due to arrive Monday night. The first official practice day is Tuesday, along with the team photos. Love said his pairings for the opening day on Friday were close to being finished, and the Tuesday practice sessions would offer a strong hint whom he has in mind as partners. Both sides have been busy. The entire U.S. team and five of Europes team members reached the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship. Snedeker has had only one week off dating to the British Open, while Kuchar has missed only two weeks. Love jokingly said Snedeker would have been at Medinah earlier except that he had to go to the bank and deposit the $11.44 million he won Sunday at East Lake from his victory in the Tour Championship that gave him a FedEx Cup title. "Brandt doesnt ever need a week off. Hes perpetual energy," Love said. "But Ive been stressing to them to make sure that they get some rest, and that they are prepared. We have four guys at the movies with Freddie this afternoon, four guys out chipping and putting and weve got another four coming in all during the afternoon. I think they are taking it easy today and they will be ready to go." Youth Matt Ryan Jersey . Towers spoke to reporters before Tuesday nights game against Colorado and explained that it was other clubs asking, not the Diamondbacks offering, that led to all the rumblings about Upton being dealt. Pink Julio Jones Jersey .A. Kings forward Kyle Clifford in the opener of their Western Conference quarter-final series Wednesday night. Bitz received a boarding major and game misconduct at 12:12 of the second period of the contest as a result of his action. http://www.theatlantafalconsgear.com/brett-favre-jerseys . Upton hit his 100th career homer shortly before his sibling accomplished the same feat, Ian Kennedy threw six effective innings, and the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Friday night. Womens Tony Gonzalez Jersey . Simon Dyson and Chapchai Nirat shared the second-round lead at 6-under-par on Friday when inclement weather forced the players to head for the clubhouse. Jacquizz Rodgers Womens Jersey . Morrison came up big with 14 saves in the final period and he earned the games first star for his effort. "In the last three games in the third period the pucks kind of got away from us and its good to see the guys rebound," said Morrison. MIAMI -- David Wright watched the final four innings from the dugout as his teammates closed out a meaningless final game. Now the goal for the New York Mets is to keep Wright and start winning. Ike Davis hit his 32nd homer, and Scott Hairston got his 20th Wednesday to help the Mets win their finale by beating the Miami Marlins 4-2. The Mets (74-88) finished fourth in the NL East for the fourth year in a row, but they believe things are on the upswing after the settlement of a suit stemming from the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. General manager Sandy Alderson said the Mets will make "every effort" to reach long-term deals with third baseman Wright and 20-game winner R.A. Dickey, and the team might be more active this off-season in the trade and free-agent markets. "The organization is in a stronger position than a year ago," Alderson said. Wright said he is optimistic the Mets will be better in 2013. "Its difficult because of how the season ended," he said. "But when you look back and evaluate this team as a whole, there is a lot of good that came out of this year and a lot of positives that you can take into next year." The Mets hold a $16 million option for Wright for next year. He said he hasnt thought about a possible long-term deal. "Im sure in a couple of weeks Ill be able to think about it a little bit more and just enjoy the process," he said. Rookie Jeremy Hefner (4-7), who hopes to make the Mets roster in 2013, closed the season with his second consecutive strong start. He allowed two runs in 7 1-3 innings. "I know I can pitch here," he said. The Marlins (69-93), touted as playoff contenders after an off-season spending binge, instead posted their worst record since 1999. Miami heads into the off-season with questions about the future of manager Ozzie Guillen and president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest. Owner Jeffrey Loria wasnt at the game, but he hasnt ruled out changes at the top. Following the finale, Guillen met briefly with Beinfest and general manager Michael Hill. "Theyre going to have a meeting soon about it," Guillen said. "Its a very tough situation. WWe all failed, and were all a big part of this bad season. Tyson Clabo Jersey. They have to think about it, and with time see what we need, and think with their mind and not their heart. Right now its too hard to make decisions because everybody is bitter and very upset and disappointed with the season. I think theyre doing the right thing to think about it." The fates of Guillen and Beinfest are in doubt even though both are under contract through 2015. Thats how badly the season went after a rebranding of the franchise and the move into a new ballpark. "Everyone is happy its done," said slugger Giancarlo Stanton, one of the teams few bright spots. "It wasnt a great year for all of us as a whole." With a crowd of 27,418 for the finale, the Marlins drew more than 2.2 million fans, 12th-best in the NL but their highest total since 1997. The Mets were hardly a long-ball team this season, but they showed some muscle at the end. Hairston reached the 20-homer milestone for the first time. Andres Torres hit his third. Wright went 0 for 2 before leaving the game and finished at .306 with 21 homers and 93 RBIs. "Its tough to evaluate yourself the way you finished as a team," he said. "At some point Ill look back and be proud of what I was able to accomplish. Now is not the time for that." Davis, whose average dipped to .158 in June, ended up at .227 with 90 RBIs. "You look at the power numbers and RBI numbers, and Im there," he said. "But I dont consider myself a .220 hitter. Hopefully I get a chance to prove next year that I can do better." New Yorks Lucas Duda was hit in the back of the helmet by a 79-mph curve from Dan Jennings in his final at-bat. Duda was taken out of the game, but after the game said he was fine. NOTES: The Mets finished 12-6 against Miami and tied a franchise record for most victories in a year against the Marlins, set in 2001. ... The Mets improved to 79-79 in Miami. ... The roof at the Marlins new ballpark was open for eight of 81 games, and only once after June 13. ... The Mets Bobby Parnell, who earned his seventh save, didnt allow a run in his final 11 1-3 innings. ' ' '