Ken the issue with the USM is there, you are oversharpening them and it is emphersising the contrasts, that what USM does. The reason why you are suffering with the effect more than most other people here is because the original shot (from which you posted a crop above) is really sharp and would only need a tiny amount of usm after reduce for web, not the usual amounts that most people would apply and get away with.
You should take that as a compliment of your equipment quality and your ability to use it correctly to get the best results. likewise you should also vary your amounts of USM on a per image basis. The TPF action is a good "middle ground" from where to start but will not give you the best results for every photo and with images like this you will probably find that hardly any sharpening is required.
HTH