TEAM CSR is leaving sunny Southern California for the next 11 days as we report LIVE from the Big Apple and the 416 (Toronto, Canada) for the Malta and Israel qualifiers on September 2nd and 6th. Last year’s inaugural CSR trip was a tremendous success as Denis Svirčić and Ante Kvartuč got to meet many Prva Generacija members in person at Cafe Bar Scorpio in Astoria, Long Island. It was such a success that we’re going to do it all again this year- adding Montreal and Toronto to the itinerary.
Unfortunately, CSR will not be present in Hamilton, Ontario for the 48th Annual HNNS Tournament the weekend of September 3rd. (It’s much, much cheaper to fly into New York and start the trip there).
For all friends and readers of CSR, we would love to meet with you and have a drink during the trip. It’s always nice to put a face to the name and continue building relationships in real life that have grown from CSR conversations. Feel free to email CroatianSoccerReport@gmail.com if you would like to meet up during any of the following dates below:
Thursday, September 1st: NEW YORK
-Fly in from Los Angeles @ 8PM(ET)
-CSR Board Meeting @ 10PM(ET) in Times Square
Friday, September 2nd: NEW YORK
-Croatia vs. Malta Euro 2012 qualifier (1PM ET) from Scorpio’s in Astoria, NY
-2011 US Open (if a Croatian is still in it)
Saturday, September 3rd: MONTREAL
-Morning skate-around with Jaroslav Spacek & Brian Gionta at Bell Centre
-Work on our French (beginner classes)
Sunday, September 4th: MONTREAL
-Try seven different types of poutine
Monday, September 5th: OTTAWA/TORONTO
-Visit the Prime Minister
-Find Andrej L. & the rest of Toronto’s Prva Generacija members
Tuesday, September 6th: TORONTO
-Croatia vs. Israel Euro 2012 qualifier (2PM ET) Site still pending (Where’s the Best Crowd for the Game in Toronto?)
Wednesday, September 7th: TORONTO
-Taking in Toronto (CSR open for suggestions)
Thursday, September 8th: TORONTO
-KING BRONK seminar on match-fixing (Air Canada Centre)
Friday, September 9th: NIAGRA FALLS/BUFFALO
-Important message from CSR co-founder Denis Svirčić
Saturday, September 10th: NEW YORK
-Hajduk Split vs. Dinamo Zagreb (2PM ET) from Scorpio’s in Astoria, New York
Sunday, September 11th: NEW YORK
-10 year Anniversary from Ground Zero in Manhattan
-Croatians Around Europe (Who’s going to help us this weekend?)
-TEAM CSR heading back to California
@ Ante B – polako polako…dude…I've read many of your posts and in the beginning I found them very offensive, now I can see you are just very passionate and although many of your points are bang on…I think you should try to choose your words a little better. I do like and appreciate just how much you love Croatia and our culture, its definitely nice to see but don't take thinks soo personally.
You are right to say you play a role in the success of this site…many times I come here just to see who said what and I often read what you say… but you have a switch…when somebody pisses you off you say some things that aren't necessarily untrue (many times its true) but they are a direct attack! Try not to let people rattle you so much…I know your heart is in the right place but you remind me of my dad…he was explosive…ma jebem ti komunisticki mater, ti jebem! I'm not sure this site is the right place for this…don't take it the wrong way dude! I'm not attacking you…in fact I'm trying to tell you I do see many of your points…but guys like Denis and Ante K seem like they are giving a lot of their time for people like us to come together and read/make comments and view updates on a topic we all love…thats all nothing more nothing less!
Who cares if they are from Dalmacija or lucky enough to be a Zagrepcan or Slavonac like us….at the end of the day they are good Croatian guys doing their best and if the new site isn't up…whatever man…Im still ok with this site and I think we should all be satisfied!
Tamburicu ja, mandolinu ti
@Ante BBB
I have used this expression before and it applies to you.
If you were given a thousand dollars, you would complain that the bills are wrinkled.
CSR staff, do this in their spare time after work and family obligations. Perhaps I am just another lazy Dalmatian, but that appears to be a daunting task.
@CSR staff: You can't please everyone. Keep your chins up and keep up the good work.
Ante and Denis,
I 100% agree that you guys can be so full of shit that even your keyboards turn brown. Since you guys decided to do a dual attack, here's my response.
Understand this: Everything and anything I say on this site is the same thing I say in public when I'm in front of you guys and others. I demand you call me a liar if that's not true. Go ahead. I may not be an asshole 24/7 off of CSR but the things I say are always the same. When I bash you guys and/or CSR, I do it to your faces, on this site and to those who ask about CSR in general. I also give praise where praise is due. I also said after Crottenham weekend that I would call you out if need be and that I would never change. As long as I have been on CSR, I've basically remained the same person and I pride myself on it.
Yes, you guys did do a disservice to the site by not going to the Super Bowl of Croatian soccer in the diaspora. Poor Montreal. I was in Toronto two weeks before you guys were and I know the logistics. If you wanted to, you could've made it…but you didn't. Also, while you guys have a boner for Ziva Istina, whose opinion I also respect and highly value, you have a soft off for me personally. Maybe it's because I am a Dinamo fan and nationalistic that doesn't rub right with you? GoldenChild said he was mad at you guys and not one response back to him. Only to me, go figure. It's ok, I'm a big boy and can take it. Yes, the majority of people whom I have come in contact with from all over refer to this site as a bunch of fucking komunisti. I defend as much as I can but I will call a spade a spade if need be.
Ante, to you personally: constantly, really? That's what I find funny. I text you on occasion to find out what's going on since you send me texts and Facebook messages A LOT. You guys told this entire site we'd have CroatianSports.com up soon and we've been strung along for months now. Yes, strung along. Constantly? I would choose my wording. Hyperbole can be a bitch. I would consider using different words.
Denis,
Baskin Robbins, really? Who are the two guys who have promised us a site in the last three months? There is a limit…on how long we can be strung along. I understand you guys are lazy dalmatinci but even the laziest dalmatinac gets up from his fjaka after three months. I also want to reiterate what I said before: anything I say on the site is what I say to you face to face in person. Call me a liar if I don't. I told you about how I felt about Josipovic and obviously it still strikes a cord with you by your reaction. You can interview him tomorrow, and I would still call it communist and refer to CSR as Index.Yu West, as would the other guys who no longer come on this site from the diaspora. GO BACK AND FOCUS ON THE DIASPORA! Again, I don't have to go to ANTI NDH functions for an interview. I have the facts that I need. Remember, I wouldn't have to throw you under the bus if you made the right decisions. It was a disservice, plain and simple.
You asked me who's team I'm on? Have you guys forgotten what I have done for this site?
Judging by your responses and comments, the answer is a resounding yes.
Right guys? I'm Ante B. and I'm not going to tone down shit.
Bog i Hrvati
Za Dom Spremni
@ Denis,
I agree with you 100% on all of the above.
It's not easy running this little site called CSR, but we've managed to do it over the years. Why? Because we love Croatian soccer and all the opinions of our football fans worldwide.
I won't even begin to comment on how we did a disservice to the site by not going to a tournament when the entire trip was on our own dime.
It's just funny to me how someone who always finds a way to publicly bash on CSR is constantly sending me private messages asking when the new site will be completed.
Let's just take it down a notch over there. We're all on the same team here. Right Baricevic?
@Ante B
Another comment that I saved and now I'm finally getting a chance to reply after returning from NY on Saturday night.
At the end of the day, just like Ziva Istina wrote many times before, it all "comes down to $$$$." Time = $$$. Economics 101 my friend.
1) CSR would have had to pay almost double to make it in time for the tournament in Toronto.
2) CSR would have had to scratch Montreal
3) CSR would have our only guest left disappointed. This is first class SERVICE to the one person that joined us and broke bread on this trip. How do you like that for SERVICE
4) A few people contributed in financing this trip. Those people know who they are and we thank them and chose to hang with them.
5) If and when CSR starts making $$$, then we will talk about where that $$$ needs to be invested.(tournaments, Australia, Canada, etc).
6) As for now, CSR runs for freeeeeeeeeee.. Not only that, but Ante and I are in the negative. You are like a kid at Baskin Robbins wanting more samples for freeeeee. There is a limit on what we can do with what we have.
Unbelievable how you would throw CSR under the bus.
"disservice"
I gave three years of my life to CSR. Hundreds of hours per month I spend in front of the computer… and what do I hear from you?
"Maybe if Josipovic was there it would've helped."
As if CSR flew to Toronto to interview Josipovic. We already went over Josipovic multiple times, I don't have anything else to say on this. If Josipovic was in LA tomorrow, yes, I would go and interview him once again. Not about politics, but about Croatian football, because he is the president of the Republic of Croatia!
Call me communist, say that we are bringing a disservice, say what you will. But in the end, that is a job of a reporter.
You don't have any facts to support your claim of "communists" and "disservice".
Who's team are you on anyways?
Difficult to tell after that last comment.
I was mad at you guys for not going too. That being said, there is always next year.
*Denis laughs and yells "Fucking lebo, next year"*
Brane is doing a great service for the site. Even though we might not have been able to hit the diaspora this year, Brane is getting our name out in other places. Patience and time.
Ziva, that's the point. When I visited Toronto and told the guys who I met that I wrote for CSR, there were two reactions:
1) What the f–k is CSR?
2) Why are you working with those komunjari? Does the C stand for Croatian or Communists?
Keep in mind, we're talking about practice, errr, Toronto.
If the boys would've went, they could've shed light on the playing of non-Croatians in our tournaments that were once only Croatian. True, it might not be newsworthy to the entire world but it is to the Croatian diaspora. I'm sure it would've been an interesting read.
Apart from soccer, they could've advertised and interviewed people there which would bring more exposure in the diaspora–the supposed audience of this site. Maybe if Josipovic was there it would've helped. I know about four guys who were hoping to get there so they could rip them a new one. By being there, it would've helped the image of CSR. Also, advertisment, advertisement, advertisement.
I still stand behind what I said-it was a disservice. That is all.
You guys didn't miss anything in hamilton regarding the soccer. A team filled with cigani won the tournament as they beat another team filled with cigani in the finals. A total of 3 or 4 croatians were on the roster for both teams combined.
Now, outside of soccer, you missed a great time in hamilton. But, those who attend this even every year already know that. The soccer part is horrible with ringers winning the tourney almost every year.
@Ante B,
After reading your comment for a second and third time I was really disappointed with this line:
"it was a disservice to us and the site"
I will let you think about that for a moment.
I guess the proverb "When you give him a finger he takes the whole hand" sums it up the best.
@Ante B,
I agree with everything what you said. As far as
"You should have been there and were not."
We should have been in Zagreb for the Israel game and we were not. We should have been in Sydney and we were not. There are plenty of places around the world where we "should" have been.
Check out the last comment on the "crunchtime for Croatia" post by Goldenchild:
" There's a lot of other stuff we'd like to do, but we do have jobs and don't get paid to do this, so it makes things a bit more difficult. "
We have lives too. All of this that Ante and I and some of you others that have contributed to this site have done so far, we've done for Freeeeeeeeeeeee.
Franjo Tudjman: "By the way, Croatia just got clobbered by Bosnia 🙁
Sad that their best guy is Dontaye (whatever his last name is)."
——————————
It's Dayte Draperovic, I think he's half Serb on the father's side.
CSR was intended to promote Croatian soccer world-wide. You were in the area of the biggest Croatian tournament in the North American diaspora and you didn't show; it was a disservice to us and the site, especially when you knew about it beforehand. That is the bottom line no matter how hard you try to spin it. You should have been there and were not. That's all I have to say on the matter.
Congrats to Chicago for winning the Hamilton tournament. CSR will make it up there one year.
@Franjo,
How far are you from NYC? You should come have a drink with us on saturday for the Hajduk-Dinamo game. shoot me an email: paluka81@yahoo.com
@Dave,
thanks for the update on the Cesena players. CSR will keep an eye on them.
@Ante B,
Missing out on the Toronto tournament has nothing to do with "manhood".
Attending the tournament would mean
1)+ $400 for flight
2) No Montreal
3) 8 nights in Toronto instead of 4 nights.
4) No NY
In the end the numbers didn't add up. Also, we have another San Pedro Croat tagging along with us thats not interested in throwing down extra $$$$ just for a soccer tournament.
These are not excuses as if we promised to cover the tournament. Bottom line, the numbers didnt add up.
Hi Ante,
No, I'm from New Jersey. That's why I was wondering if you interviewed any of the Croatians in the US Open, since I thought you guys were passing by here (just before they were eliminated from competition).
The video is ready but Youtube is not accepting it…looking into the problem.
I have been waiting patiently for the video, can't wait for it. Yeah Friday was awesome…
@ Tudjman,
Are you in the Toronto area?
I am currently uploading the video from the Cro-Malta match. It was a great time with Allen19, Rob and Ivica P. among others at Scorpio's.
Denis and I are currently in Montreal where it is pouring outside. We make way to Toronto tomorrow and will watch the Israel match at Monaghan's in Oakville.
Guys, any update on your tour to NY? Cilic and Karlovic were eliminated yesterday (Saturday), which would have meant the possibility of an interview.
The fact that Karlovic got out of the first round out of the US Open is shocking. He usually just goes through the motions to get out of town.
By the way, Croatia just got clobbered by Bosnia 🙁
Sad that their best guy is Dontaye (whatever his last name is).
Ante B.
RE: translation
Yes, hobotnica! Not only is a fine hobotnica salad one of life's great pleasures, but surely you're familiar with Pleti's nickname… splitski hobotnica?
On a more serious note, I have recently found that Google translation does a decent job getting a translation started. Yes, it misses things and it provides some strange translations but it provides a decent outline that you can build upon if you're determined. Have you tried it?
Hey, did you hear the Bears are likely gonna cut Chester Taylor?
outside of the players….there will not be more than 20-30 fans between the two teams if previous years are any indicators.
There's two teams coming from NY so how do you expect only 20 New Yorkers to show up? Math doesn't add up.
Let's not carried away and say "most" croats. If past history is anything to gauge there will be hardly any from Montreal and less than 20 fans from NYC. The American teams outside one or two cities don't travel in big numbers to Canada for this event. The Canadians do turn out.
Really can't understand why you don't leave on Friday for Hamilton instead of Montreal. Most Croats from NY, Montreal, Ottawa, etc are all going to Hamilton this weekend. There's over 30 Croatian teams playing. Check out http://www.tournament.hamiltoncroatia.com
You guys will greatly regret it if you don't go.
A.C Cesena has a trio of hrvati. just signed Damjan Djokovic,Marko Livaja and Tibor Čiča..
Looks like we need to make a new name for this team..crocena perhaps ?hopefully these guys contribute
it is a good time and I would love for them to show up and do a report on why all the top teams have no hrvati and import mujos, stranci, siptari, etc….beyond the soccer, its a great time.
Hey, for all you tech saavy people out there: PLEASE TELL ANTE AND DENIS TO GO TO HAMILTON FOR THE TOURNAMENT. WHY NOT GO TO THE MECCA OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CROATIAN SOCCER SCENE IF THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO IT?
Go on Twitter or Facebook, or even better, TEXT THEM and call them out on their manhood and (lack of) Croatian-ness.
That is all, spremni.
Also, boycott translation will be up tonight and I will finally respond to all of your questions. Croatian, as a language, sucks hard when trying to translate. Hobotnica, really? Octopus.
I was in Toronto about a week or 10 days ago and it was a lot of fun, full of real Hrvati. A lot of East Coasters (Chicago, Cleveland, GTA, NYC, Toronto) say it's the funnest weekend of the year and these guys are missing out on it. If I didn't go two weeks ago, I'd be there with them today. Too bad they're not going. Again, I was at a wedding full of Hrvati and it's like comparing apples to oranges when a tournament happens to come up. I bet it is a lot of fun, especially for those of us who live in California and aren't familiar with what a proper and huge Croatian party looks like in the diaspora. Pedro Mem Day is fun but is a fart in the wind compared to the tournament.
Its not pessimism at all. We've had teams come in with only a handful of hrvati and some teams have used mujos from BiH and Albanians. If this is the type of croatian unity we want to show, then I don't want any part of it.
Hey ziva.. calm down over there. I'm here in LA, and haven't seen the tournament up there… ever. Maybe if we get footage, everybody else could agree or disagree with your pessimism.
touche ziva istina. touche. thats why im proud of my san jose team that won the san pedro tourney in may because we were all croats who grew up together and spoke the language.
I can't wait to reunite with CSR tomorrow and next Saturday. So excited guys and yes people you will finally get to see me get camera time hopefully.
Yeah, nothing like getting footage of non-hrvati, "muslimani" and other forms or "cigani" at a croatian tourney playing for croatians teams.
You guys should really just say fuck it and go to Hamilton. Everybody wants you there, and you'd be getting live footage of the soccer tourney out there.
if croatia didnt drain my bank account id be there with you guys for sure!
Bobby
If the next two games end in a tie I will post a video on CSR of myself dancing naked with a Hajduk scarf covering my kurac!….or mabey no scarf….we'll see
Croatia beat Finland yesterday 84-79 and play their second game against Macedonia today at 2PM (ESPN3.com)
Chelsea's last offer to Tottenham was 34 Million and Brazilain defender Alex for Modric.
I hope I'm wrong, but, I can't see our national side coming away with more than two ties this weekend. Between the injuries, lack of club football playing time, transfer talk, and some playrs not happy with Bilic, Euro 2012 seems a long way off.
Hope to make the trip to NY. If you had come to Chicago, there would be only one place to go – the Cultural Club on Devon Ave. There were 400 of us for the first Croatia-Yugoslavia matches going wild – the current crowd that gathers is between 50-150.
It would make more sense if you "reversed your trip" and went towards Hamilton/Toronto on Friday night. The annual soccer tournament is being held in Hamilton on the 3rd and 4th and is worth attending (and with all due respect dwarfs your small goals tourney and street party weekend in San Pedro). Just a suggestion…
R. Kovac, Toronto
Make sure you go to O'Hara's pub when you're in Montreal. Then have a drink for me there.
@ Black Zodiac,
Denis is correct. I meant GTA, not just Toronto. We'll meet you. Where's the place to watch the Israel game?
@ Anon,
Should be done when we get back. I know, I know.
will the new website be on the road aswell?
@Black Zodiac,
Come join us for a brew. You in the area? We are planning on catching the Israel game somewhere in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, or Mississauga. Shoot us an email.
Josip Simunic signed for Dinamo Zagreb.
Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/soccer/story/Josip-Simunic-signs-for-Dinamo-Zagreb-29298852
Ilicevic to Hamburg on a 4 year contract.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hlb5eSxDgVrD8Uj2VgzIeW0wNn2w?docId=CNG.056dbc79adcc7f71dbd975925185432b.81
On Dundas & Keele there a lot of Balkan restaurants , also there's the Croatia restaurant.
Address: 1989A Dundas Street East Mississauga, ON L4X 1M1
Or Zam in Etobicoke.
As for restaurants/pubs that will be playing the games I wouldn't know as I stick to Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville area since Toronto can be a little pricy for even a rats nest.