Croatians had plenty to cheer about at the Water Polo Arena
- Men’s Water Polo: Croatia continued their dominance in the pool as they rolled over Montenegro to set up a gold medal game against Italy, after they stunned Serbia. Montenegro scored the first goal of the game, but it was all Croatia after that. They outscored Montenegro 5-0 for the rest of the half and put themselves in perfect position to relax and force Montenegro to press in the second half. Croatia’s defense was brilliant once again as they forced tough shots for Montenegro and were 9/9 on penalty kills. Josip Pavić continued to show that he’s the best goalie in the tournament as he posted a 73% save percentage. Sandro Sukno led with two goals. The “Barracudas” will attempt to secure their first Olympic gold against Italy on Sunday at 10:50 AM ET, and at 12:30 PM ET on NBC. Italy beat Serbia 9-7 in the semi-finals.
“It was a tough game. Physically, very tough. I don’t know. I never feel so tired like now, but it’s nothing because we are in the final. We played great defense again, and we were aggressive.” –Niksa Dobud
“It’s much, much easier to be in the Croatian goal when your teammates play absolutely fantastic defense, that’s the key of our success.” –Josip Pavić
Croatia was shut down by Thierry Omeyer, yet again
- Men’s Handball: Croatian handball was defeated for the first time these Olympics as they went down 28-24 to France in the semifinals. France played very well and Croatia could not find their way around Thierry Omeyer, the French goalie, who posted an absurd 46% save percentage, compared to Croatia’s 28%. Croatia were essentially playing a road game, as the stadium was filled with French fans and flags. The French got out to a 3-0 lead and led for the remainder of the game as the deficit went up and down and Croatia was able to pull within one but could not stop the offense of France. Ivano Balić was hugely influential when used, with two goals and four assists as he ran the offense. Balic sat out for long periods of the game and Croatia looked lost without him. He will be a crucial piece of the puzzle in Croatia’s attempts to secure the bronze medal. Zlatko Horvat led Croatia’s scoring with six goals. Hungary lost to Sweden 27-26 and will play Croatia on Sunday at 6:00 AM ET.
“Handball games are always loud like this. There was no pressure. You should play in my country, then you will see pressure. They throw bricks at you. We need to find some energy and bring home a bronze medal” –Ivano Balić on the atmosphere
“Every time we play France, Omeyer makes 20 saves. He always has the best day when they play us.” –Manuel Štrlek
- Sailing: Igor Marenić and Šime Fantela ended the Men’s 470 in perfect fashion, winning the race and finishing 6th overall. The duo finished 24 points out of third and had they not been disqualified in their first race, they would’ve been very close to the podium. Croatia ended the Olympics with two 4th place finishes, a 5th place finish, and a 6th place finish in sailing.
Day 13
- Taekwondo: Ana Zaninović was upset in her first bout of the day and was unable to deliver the second Zaninovic medal for Croatia. She competed against Mayu Hamada, 18, of Japan. Ana, who is the reigning World Champion at a lower weight, got off to a torrid start as Hamada landed two head kick to put Ana in a six point hole. Ana landed three kicks to the body to put the score at 6-3 after one round. She got a head kick of her own to put the fight at sixes and then they traded shots and Ana went into the third round with a 9-8 lead. With the fight tied, Hamada had a high kick late in the third round that was not ruled a head shot and her coach challenged the call and was successful, giving Hamada a three point lead and making an upset very likely. Ana tried head kick after head kick but they were blocked by Hamada, who just sat back and waited. With one second to go, Ana tried a hopeful, unorthodox head kick attempt and landed to tie the fight as the bell rung. The points were taken away by the ref who ruled that Ana had held Hamada in her attempt, an illegal. Ana needed Hamada to make the finals in order for her to have a chance in the repechages.
“It wasn’t my day. I won’t blame the judges, I wasn’t at my best and the fault is mine only. –Ana Zaninović
- Athletics: Ana Šimić finished 29th out of 35 in the high jump prelims. She jumped 1.80 meters, and the qualifying height was 1.93m. Ana was in the Olympics as the replacement for Blanka Vlasic and would have needed a personal best to qualify for the final.
- Swimming: Karla Šitić finished 12th in the 10k marathon swim in a time of 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 54 seconds. The race consisted of six one mile loops and she maintained a consistent pace throughout as every lap was around 20 minutes. If she took off 11 seconds, it would have been good enough for 6th, but the top five were over a minute ahead of her.
Ziva = Dick Head , Yugovich .
@Ziva Istina
“Here you go……collection of baseball players who were at the top of their game. Check out these fat asses.”
I notice you mention male fat asses quite often. Maybe it is time for you to come out of the closet.
Take it easy brother, you are going to have a heart attack. It’s all in good fun and you can keep self-proclaiming if you wish.
Colin O’Haravić je kralj!
@Ziva Istina
Self-proclamation at it’s finest.
Here you go……collection of baseball players who were at the top of their game. Check out these fat asses.
http://1000awesomethings.com/2012/07/03/993-fat-baseball-players-2/
http://www.courageperformance.com/uploads/5/8/1/1/5811796/9341980_orig.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lGMMp_PcY8E/Srp_4YEr6jI/AAAAAAAAACQ/JSqm3ZmS5MU/s400/schilling.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8wbatUoMxQ/T5GtpkQ0wFI/AAAAAAAAAXk/GdGofV9CUGo/s1600/fat+guy+10.jpg
http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Original_Photo/2012/04/07/08242008_mp24joba1__1333819741_6219.jpg
http://media.nowpublic.net/images//dd/b/ddba2f2d77129415d1e04c24c2613cae.jpg
That is not even close the what the discussion is about. We all know baseball makes more money than water polo and handball. So does the World Series of Poker, so does competitive eating; they draw in more money and viewers than water polo. It doesn’t change the fact that those who player water polo or handball are better athletes than baseball players.
Just ask Randy Newman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-e4rz-SkVk
@Ziva Istina
The bottom line is the bottom line and baseball players make more money and baseball as a sport makes more money overall than water polo. It is not even comparable and not even close.
Ziva Istina………..A self-proclaiming hypocrite and all around nice guy since the beginning of time.
Colin O’Haravić je kralj!
I’m sure there is. My argument is about male sports and which sport requires more athletic ability.
I have full respect for females at work and in the kitchen.
Hey, just because you don’t pay attention to women’s water polo doesn’t change the fact that there were some verrrrry large and thick (and i’m putting this as nice as possible) women playing the sport.
Of course money the money matters….But, being paid a higher salary does not mean you are a better athlete.
Dragi, I guess it is time for me to educate you, again. And you are in luck, it is a slow day in the office, so, I will.
The salary that baseball players are able to make has nothing to do with their athletic ability. It has everything to do with market demand, the popularity of the sport and how much the owners are able to grab in gate receipts, merchandising sales and TV contracts. There is a bigger demand for baseball from an American sporting public that includes 330 million citizens. Much greater than handball or water polo and most other sports.
Take away what the US or Japan can pay for baseball and compare the salary of baseball players in Mexico, DR, PR, Venezuela and other baseball hotbeds and it is below what handball and water polo players can make in the top teams/leagues in Europe.
Ziva Istina………..educating the uninformed since 2009
@Ziva Istina
You go on and on ad nauseam about money and its importance, and now that your feelings towards money being the number one criteria in life have come full circle to bite you in the ass it does not matter? How convenient…..
Lawyer????? LOL! That is a good one.
You’re an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.
Colin O’Haravić je kralj!
@Colin,……that’s women. I pay no attention to little girls trying to play a sport. Some are good, but are not worth my attention.
Tough to play water polo as a fat ass? You obviously didn’t watch any of the USA women’s team! We had several plumpers on that team. They didn’t have to swim because they were able to float. They just bobbed up and down. An they were bruisers!
Of course baseball makes more……….
You can’t compare the two that way. There is no baseball following in europe.
Tough to play water polo as a fat ass………..We have seen baseball players who are fat asses at the top of their sport.
@Colin………not a lawyer.
@hrvat………not harsh, just objective.
What sport makes more money?
From a player perspective to the entire piece of the pie.
Water Polo or Baseball.
Laku noc.
Ziva, are you a lawyer?
well i’ll agree with you there! and i must admit, you do seem to be right the majority of the time ahaha. although, your pretty harsh !
@hrvat#1…….i always have a valid points. Sometime people are blinded by their biases and don’t wan to hear something they don’t like/agree with.
well out of this whole conversation i came to the conclusion of a few things
#1) Ziva Istina is a stubborn ass hole that happens to have some valid point lol
#2) Tom is a very proud baseball fan, that enjoys the sport.
lets just leave it at that and end this bs debate! everyone has their own opinions
Baseball is a sport that is of no interest to me.
However, it is not considered a sport by some because it does not require cardiovascular conditioning.
Perhaps we will be more civil to each other if we use our real names. Anonymity produces snarky banter.
@anon – Thanks for the heads up, and I appreciate the love and feed back. Guys like you keep me wanting to write the hnl report ever week. Thanks
@Tom……Nemoj tako sinko……..What’s wrong Tommy boy. You appear to be angry? Why?
And not only am I a hrvat, I am a bigger hrvat than you.
Ali, digni glavu gore. Bit ce bolje.
@Colin O’Haravić
For the record I love the HNL reports Colin, keep up the good work. When I write or comment I sign the bottom of the comment section as such… If someone does it on my behalf I will let you know that it was not me. The anon that asked you the question a couple of comments previous was not me.
George Chuvalo broj jedan! or… Roger Maras je kralj!
Darts reguire more athleticism ? Your a real Pizda ! You can’t be Croatian , Please i pray . You are a smug asshole , and probably never worked a day in your stupid life . Go to Starbucks with your gold chains and cig’s and talk to people like the Smug Euro that you are . I hope they pop you one . You realy are a Ziva Dumb Ass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course, I never said baseball did not include athletes. Other sports require more athleticism and there are elite players throughout baseball’s history that were poor athletes. Can’t run, jump worth a damn, but were able to hit a ball.
To succeed in other sports you have to be athletic, you can succeed in baseball without being athletic.
Ah, Ziva… Aways has to get that last little dig in there, don’t ya? lol tisk tisk…
@Anon – Ziva said, ” Some great athletes play baseball.” That was my whole point. We agree. I win.
Ziva Istina is no dip shit!!!!!
Ziva offer all you so much and yet asks for so little.
I’ll leave it on this one. Does baseball require some sort of athleticism? It does. But other sports like water polo, handball, basketball, hockey, volleyball and darts require more.
Colin how can you agree with a dip shit like Ziva ? This jerk is clueless about Baseball , and 95% of everything else . Please Colin , you are doing such a good job
@Ziva Istina
The main and only issue/point in this entire discussion from the start has been whether it takes athletic ability to play baseball. You can like or dislike the sport as that is your opinion but what is not an opinion is that you do need athletic capabilities to play baseball.
Golf is a skill sport not baseball. In golf the ball is on a tee waiting for you to try and hit the ball wherever you like. Not quite the same thing in baseball.
Comparing water polo and handball to baseball is wrong on so many levels. Comparing sports like American Football, Hockey, Baseball, Soccer, and Basketball to water polo is not a correct thing to do. In the aforementioned sports the athlete is visible to the audience. In water polo you are in a pool. The context of the game and the human body element is totally different for that reason. In hockey the athlete is skating, soccer they are running, football running, basketball running and water polo they are swimming. I am not saying it makes water polo a bad sport or a crappy game because of this or it does not take great ability to play the game. You could say that water polo is unique for this reason and that would be correct as well. What I am saying is there is no way to lump it in the same category for the reasons I just stated. The next thing you will say is that water polo is a better game in its purist form than hockey and American Football and once again that would be incorrect for the reasons mentioned and others.
There is much more dynamics to the sport of baseball and I would love to see someone hammered or sober try to….
A – Hit a 90 plus mile an hour fastball
B – Be the catcher for the completion of one opposition batter with a pitcher that throws 90 mile per hour fastball
C – Shag deep pop flies in the outfield hit by the pros or anyone that has the ability to do so.
Would love to see that!
If you don’t like baseball that is fine. However, to say it is a better game in its purist form than water polo is pure comedy. All these people that say it is easy to play baseball are talking about softball. That is a 100 percent totally different game altogether and yes anyone can play that game but we are talking about baseball here not softball. Regardless, who cares how easy or hard the game is? These Triathlons, or whatever you call them are more intense than anything out there but I will watch hockey, baseball, soccer, or football ahead of it. I realize it is not a team sport but give a Triathlon a shot if you want to prove how much in shape you are.
“It’s strange to me too, but we’re talking about practice man, we’re not even talking about the game… the actual game, when it matters… We’re talking about practice …”
If you really want to get technical, I have heard many many times over the years that anyone can play soccer. What is the first thing we do from an athletic perspective from the time we are born? You got it, we kick a ball. Both you and I know there is more to it than that but once again that is the perception to some.
You need skill to play any sport but you also need athletic ability to play baseball. When an outfielder runs 30 yards flat out and dives fully extended to catch a line drive or pop fly in the outfield that is surely athletic capability. For a catcher to gun out someone trying to steal second base after receiving a 90 mile an hour fastball and to unload the ball almost 130 feet away to catch a player trying to steal is athletic ability. If you are out of shape than you will not be able to do the events listed above and if you don’t have athletic ability you will not be able to do such events either.
The issue with baseball is the running time and I understand that and I agree. It is hard to dedicate time to watch a full game. However, there are lulls in soccer as well but the game does not last nearly as long and that is the difference and it is more practical to watch soccer.
“My only point is that hiting a baseball is a skill (a tough sill), but a skill that does not require athleticism.”
Than what does? Let me explain….
Does taking a PK in soccer require athleticism? Does throwing a football require athleticism? Does taking a slap shot in hockey require athleticism? Does taking a free throw in basketball require athleticism? Do you see my point?
Try hitting a home run off a 90 plus mile an hour fastball. I played all the sports and it was by far the hardest thing to do as scoring a goal in hockey or soccer and completing a touchdown pass or making a layup was much easier in comparison. Hitting a ball and making contact requires skill and athleticism much to what nije bitno wrote very nicely. To add, if I may, you need equilibrium as well which is athletics. The entire process of hitting a baseball is based on athleticism and skill.
“Babe Ruth is considered an all time great……He was a pig.”
He liked his booze, smokes, food and his women. Sounds like a true Croat to me!
Roger Maras, John Paveskovich, Colin O’Haravić, nije bitno, i Tom je kraljevi!
Ziva – calling a dead man & an American Legend a pig is not cool .
@Ziva – Ok then… I guess we agree. My job is done here.
@Nije – good point there. I was thinking the same thing about coordination.
Hello????????
Stick to my euro sports???????…….gladly, this is what this website is about. It’s a website about croatian sports and athletes.
Enjoy your tobacco, sunflower seeds and baseball.
Now you have gone too far . You don’t know Shit about Baseball you Idiot . Babe Ruth was Big at the End of his playing days not at the start . Stick to your Euro sports and jebe se . You dumb ass .
anyone can hit a 90mph baseball; they key is hitting the breaking ball.
Babe Ruth is considered an all time great……He was a pig.
Ziva Einstein Thats A Good One
Ziva , trying to hit a ball coming at you at 90+ MPH is the same as hitting a golf ball that is lying still on the ground is the same? Are you for real . Ti si lude . Ziva the New Einstein of our time .
Not a big baseball fan at all. I will get into the playoffs but that’s about it. Just thought i would put my two cents in.
To me coordination is athleticism. I haven’t met any uncoordinated athletes. If swinging a bat requires hand eye coordination than to me hes athletic.
@Colin……I’m not denying that. Some great athletes play baseball. My only point is that hiting a baseball is a skill (a tough sill), but a skill that does not require athleticism.
I think Ziva is focusing on hitting the ball too much. Sure, it’s an integral of the game, but there’s a lot you missing when talking about the game. You’re selling the rest of the game very short. If you look at all the “fat asses” that are all star caliber, they are only good at the plate. How many of the fat all star guys are top fielders as well? Top base stealers? Or good at anything else in the game?
Once in a while, you get the really good fat pitcher or catcher, or maybe first baseman, but it takes a lot of athleticism to be a good field player. Most of these so called fat all stars are usually no more than career designated hitters, or the occasional first baseman. Look at outfielders, short stops, second basemen, and third basemen. There’s a lot to this game and sure, some non-fit guys can find a niche in it and do well, but that’s not all there is to it.
Napoleon complex??????? Pa decki, come on…..everything I comment on is for your benefit.
We are having a nice back-and-forth discussion on baseball and if we think it requires any extra amount of athletic ability to play. I’m not saying there are not great athletes playing the game….there are. But, there is also a great number of players (all star caliber) who are not athletic and happen to be at the top of this sport.
For some, like myself, I think being able to hit a 95mph baseball does not require much, if any athletic ability. It is a skill that requires hand-eye coordination much like golf, skeet shooting, and the driver’s license static visual acuity test…..yes my friends, hitting a baseball is a skill that is slightly above taking the eye exam for your driver’s license.
ZIVA THE PIZDA
@Ziva Istina
You should really see a doctor about your Napoleon complex issues.
I just sat on my couch and watched tv for three hours…….so, basically, I did the exerted as much energy as a baseball player.
Johnny Pesky, Red Sox icon, dies
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/08/13/johnny-pesky-red-sox-obituary.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp
John Paveskovich je kralj
Dr. Colin , Great Job . The L.A. Dodgers . Fran Stop the maddness , Baseball Rules
PS-
Baseball is the only sport where during the action, the camera zeroes in on a fan who usually is bored out of his mind, in the midst of his second knish or is texting the person next to him…..unless they’re uploading a picture of themselves onto Facebook, during which they’ve missed a home run.
I’ve had friends tell me that they had to leave with their kids after the 6th inning since they were bored to tears, but yet, play Little League.
Baseball is not as popular as the media makes you think. Many of these seats are corporate owned and given to employees, partners, etc, as freebies. Major League baseball used to dominate ESPN 10 years ago on weekends and now it’s the English Premier League and MLS matches that take up a lot of the time.
It was fun to watch back in the late 70’s when games were slightly over 2 hours and you had some great “personalities”. Now, it seems like there’s only a handful of white people on each team with the rest of the roster comprised of Dominicans who don’t speak English.
@Tom – Who’s your team in MLB? Also, this isn’t Tom from Winnipeg is it? I assume there are two Tom s?
Dr.Colin , thank you for all you do on this site , but compairing Baseball to handball ? Please , nemoj me pizditi . Handball , O My God , i just dont know how you can find a more Crapy shport. Goodnight now , my Glava is ready to explode . Ziva for Dictator of the World
I love baseball. A lot. I love it enough to totally understand why people think it’s boring. A lot of standing around and waiting. But to my buddy Tom, come on. How is handball not a sport? You said basketball is a sport, yeah? I think it’s a lot like basketball. Quick, full of athleticism, and tough. It was one of my favorite things to watch during the Olympics and I turned a lot of my friends on to it to who now want to try to play it. And don’t get me started on water polo. That’s 100x tougher than any sport. Not only are you doing everything you do in other sports, but your swimming the entire time! Shit’s nuts.
Anyway.. @Anonymous (AKA my biggest fan) Please sign in with a name!!! I want to know ya more! Or do I already know you?
yeah, that must be it….and not being bored by it.
Ziva , now i know why you hate Baseball , it is because you played it , and must of Sucked at it . Sada zna mo . Also don’t only think of $ , like a lot of old Cro’s . Be nice Dr. Phil
Ziva ( ko san ya sam )
@Ante……no worries, I had a good chuckle when it popped up in my mind. I’m sure a bunch of people need to look up the word to find out its meaning.
@Len…….I don’t know all, but I do know more than you. Bookmark the website, I will teach you a thing or two. And, best yet, it’s all for free.
@Tom……..If my kid is left handed you can bet I will see if he is interested in baseball. The price these teams pay for a sub average lefthander is insane. That said, baseball has no interest to me. I played it and did not like it. Just not enough activity.
and….
Colin O’Haravić > Beskraj
Roger Maras > Igor Hinić or Ivano Balić (any time any day anywhere)
The greatest country in the World , The U.S.A.
Hey Ziva the sky is blue . Ziva’s responce , no it’s not it is Light blue . The man know’s ALL
Tom,
Where you writing us from?
I dont think that people are closed minded if they dont like baseball. Toni Kukoc once said that golf is the best sport ever, doesnt mean that I like golf. Golf is a sport for the elderly, just like baseball. 🙂
I am Croatian ,and Proud of it , but our people from back home don’t give Baseball a chance . Learn All the rules , and you just mite like it . I like soccer too. Samo nogoment je pravi shport . Come on . Open up . Someday your kids will start playing the great sport of Baseball , and i bet you will like it. Don’t be so closed minded.
Tom,
I didn’t say all Americans are fat but the overwhelming majority, myself included, fall under that category. My point was that I played the American and Croatian sports growing up and since I am an American fat ass, I could still play baseball easily without even trying. In waterpolo, I’d jump in the pool and attempt to tread water while throwing a ball. I’d be tired within 20 seconds. If I was in somewhat good shape, maybe 5 minutes.
Odi u kurac I’m still laughing for you picking that word. I haven’t heard it in years!
Ziva,
Please don’t take this the wrong way. I am laughing as I’m typing this and mean no insult or anything like that…
Ombudsman?! Ma svaka cast
“Ziva Istina…….educating the lost since 2009.”
That should be the new T-Shirt.
@Tom,
Where are you writing us from. Tell us a little bit about your Croatian background. I appreciate you signing in.
As far as baseball is concerned, I’m not a fan. The only time the game gets interesting is when the manager gets into the face of the umpire. Always great for a good laugh. Also, thats the only time the fans show a pulse at the stadium. I also get a good laugh when the camera cruises through the fans and every 10th person is passed out.
I do respect the sport though. Its not easy hitting a 90 mph fast ball. However, any fat f*&k can play first base. I have a little baseball tradition myself. I’ve attended 2 baseball games in my life(1992- dodgers, 2002 – dodgers) and this year will be my third. I have a one game every 10 years tradition that I will pass on to my children one day.
Actually, I attended a Cleveland-Seattle match in cleveland back in 2004. People were making their way to the exits in the 5th inning after Seattle was up 12-0 or something like that and I walked in without a ticket. I stayed for 20 minutes or so and made my exit.
What turns people off the most about baseball is that 300 lb fat asses are called “athletic”.
Baseball is Gay
@Ante B….I’ll take this one.
@Tom……I guess it’s time for me to educate some of you. I do that from time-to-time on the website. You see, I’ve annointed myself as the ombudsman of this website. So, every so often I have to set the children straight.
Hvrati may smoke and drink, but they are still in much better shape than Americans.
The United States is #1 fat asses. 34% of the adult population in the good ole’ US of A is classified as obese. 1 out of every 3 Amere.
Now, Tom….I’d like to call you Tomo, but for some reason I don’t think you are Croatian, so I’ll refer to you as Tom. Tom, you may not like a sport, which is fine. But, just because you don’t like a sport or think its “gay”, that does not mean it is not a sport that requires athleticism.
Tom, go ahead and attend your baseball games and make sure you order the oversized bucket of popcorn with extra butter and some nachos, with extra cheese. Sit down in that tight seat and enjoy the game of baseball next to your American friends. but, make sure to leave plenty of leg room because one of three won’t be able to squeeze by.
Ziva Istina…….educating the lost since 2009.
Handball SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Ziva & Ante B , are you guys stoned? Most Cro’s smoke and drink like theres no tommarow , but we American’s are all fat ? Come on . Are you for real?
Tom , don’t listen to Ziva . He is always negative. If you say that you like handball , he will say it is no good. If a team wins 3 -0 Ziva would say , o they should of won 4-0 . Never satisfied . Him know everything like Dr. Phil.
@Tom………..the price tag on the Dodgers is all about what market they play in and the TV contract associated with it. Baseball is America’s game….we get it…..and most Americans are overweight, fat asses…..which makes perfect sense now. America’s game is perfect for American fat asses.
You like baseball….that’s fine.
But, don’t talk nonsese that another sport that you have no clue about is not a “sport” in your view. Your an American, so go to ESPN.com or another website to talk about your American sport.
Leave the discussion of croatian sports to actual hrvati.
I’m sorry, I’m lying. Not 37 seconds…maybe 17 seconds
I played baseball growing up and then when I was on Brac, I tried to play waterpolo. 37 seconds later my ass was sucking buttermilk. To compare the two is simply idiotic. I can play baseball now as a fat ass, wasted and with no motivation. You cannot do that with waterpolo. Another anecdote: my coach told me once that baseball is an easy sport: you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Baseball is a sport of anticipation and thats why so many people think its boring. Then again, I root for a club that hasn’t won a championship since 1908 and no, I’m not talking about Hajduk.
@Tom
You are the man!
Roger Maras, Johnny Pesky, Mickey Lolich, Tom i Colin O’Haravić su kraljevije!
Handball ? I don’t think i have heard of a Handball team sell for 2.1 billion $ , like the L.A. Dodgers . Who would give a $ for that Crap ? Great sport , don’t make me laugh
@Tomi
Handball(rukomet) is a thousand times more interesting to watch from my point of view.
To each his own i suppose. Baseball in my opinion is like watching paint dry. I wasn’t brought up watching baseball, not many are where i’m from. So maybe that has something to do with it, but from the few games i have seen on my cable T.V i really cant get into it.
Handall is way more action packed, fast, athletic, enjoyable.
Who keeps up with handball?????You must not be croatian.
Ok, you are born in the US, so it apparent you don’t keep up with it. But, handball is huge throughout Europe.
The handball players in Cro are bigger stars than all of our athletes except for the soccer players. Handball is huge in Scandanavia, the former yugo countries, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary.
Listen, just because you don’t understand a sports, does not mean its not a sport or played by athletes.
I don’t care for baseball because there are way to many slow spots in the game. To those who can watch a full baseball game I applaud you.
Shinobi , IvicA , Ziva , and little Cro . I like soccer , and waterpolo , but handball is a sport ? Who the f-ck keeps up with handball ? You guys must be born in the old country because only you would think that these sports are better than Baseball .
No athleticism in baseball?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oHWD94jgaw
Congratulations barracudas! ZLATO! 1st U svijet!
A lil’ bit of pelinkovac to celabrate, hey thats all i had on offer, and it tastes sweet in victory for our nation.
@Tom
Cricket is more enjoyable to watch than baseball, and thats not saying much.
Hey guys, just checking my favorite Croatian Sports website and I see we have a waterpolo versus baseball debate going on here. Let me chime in…
Anybody who thinks a sport like Baseball requires more athletic ability than Water Polo & Handball are either delusional or clouded by exteme bias. Water Polo is a murderously taxing sport when it comes to strength and stamina. Has anyone here seen a Croatian water polo player in real life? These guys are absolute freaks. They make basketball players look like pussies.
The problem with this “debate” is that a lot of guys on this board are born and raised Americans, so naturally, they’re going to get emotional if they are big baseball fans and someone knocks their sport as being unathletic. Although you need strength and skill to hit that ball out of the park on a consistent basis, there is no way this sport requires the athleticism that both water polo and/or handball.
@Tom….samo ti igraj tvoj baesbal
Hey Ziva , what r u drinking ? Whiskey or Beer ?
Ziva , your welcome . Now put down the bottle and leave the great sport of Baseball alone………
I think mali is 13 yr old girl
@Tom:
Puno hvala.
totally saw this argument coming, my fantasy football league spent about a week arguing about what a sport is
Ziva And the little Cro , you guys are a pair of Jerks . I can kick a soccer ball drunk too , but hit a 90 plus Baseball drunk , i dont think so .mali kurz idiot
@Anonymous:
Pick a name and it will be easier to address you.
Here are some ideas.
BaseballDude
Yankeez4Eva
WaterpoloIsNotASport
TooSensitive
VELIKIHRVAT
ILOVEWADEBOGGS
@Tom…….I may be drunk. Quite a few celebratory beverages went down this morning/afternoon after the gold medal. Still, baseball is a boring sport that can be played by fat, drunk men.
@mali HRVAT
“You are too sensitive.”
I never ever said that water polo was not a sport and your quote is quite hypocrtical.
@Tom:
While I am drinking, you are reverse 69 finger banging your Wade Boggs Inflate-A-Date.
If water polo & Hand Ball aren’t sports than neither is hockey, basketball, swimming or lacrosse.
@Zach Gilfix
Agreed!
Fantastic Olympic coverage Zach! Thank you for the hard work and professionalism!
I think Ziva , and the little Cro are Drunk . The way they are talking they must be smoking or drinking something .
Niko finally played well, Mandzukic was terrific against Dortmund in the Super Cup, should start until Gomez is back
Niko Kranjčar ‘eksplodirao’ u Dinamu: Pogledajte sjajna dva pogotka
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/svjetski_nogomet/niko-kranjcar-eksplodirao-u-dinamu-pogledajte-sjajna-dva-pogotka.html
Water polo, not a sport? Go eat a Big Mac and drink the American Cool Aid.
I can play a whole game of baseball hungover or drunk. I could not play a whole game of water polo and I am very fit and a decent swimmer.
You are too sensitive.
@ Tomo…….dragi, hvala ti.
You guys can love your baseball. Boring activity. Heck, you can play baseball while drinking. That shows you what type (or lack of) athletic ability you need to play it. Don’t believe Ziva Istina, then just check out what the Boston Red Sox players admitted to last year.
And by the way, for some of you, Hrvatska was good in water polo before today’s gold medal. Long, proud history in that sport.
@ mali hrvat . A lot of soccer players smoke , and drink alcohol too . Plus a 0/0 soccer game is usualy VERY Boring
1) Congrats to water polo team. Serbs watching on during the playing of the national anthem…..priceless.
2) Not sure why the conversation got turned to baseball on the final day of Olympics where Croatia wins a total of 6 medals, but since it did…… check out the book that came out on Roger Maris a few years ago which talks about his grandfather coming from Croatia.
Exact location is not definitively known since several different regions were given.
I like soccer , but BASEBALL RULES
Great job on the Gold!
@Ziva Istina
“and, I would not call baseball players athletes. Hitting a ball is a skill, not really an athletic ability.”
If you substitute Golf for Baseball than your statement would be accurate.
Try hitting a 90 mile an hour plus fastball pitched all over the plate and not necessarily where you want it. Baseball combines skills with athleticism and you have to be athletic to hit that ball. A very nice symmetry.
Putting water polo and handball in the same sporting relevance and greatness as Hockey, Baseball, and American Football is quite funny.
“Cecil Fielder, his son, Albert Pujols, John Kruk, Adam Dunn, etc…….all all stars at some point, which proves you don’t need athletic ability to excel in baseball.”
You can be big in stature and carry extra weight and still be athletic. Albert Pujols is a fat ass? Now that is a good one.
If water polo is a sport than Baseball is the Sport of Kings. Nothing against water polo but let’s call a spade a spade here.
@mali HRVAT
“I laugh when American baseball fans say that soccer is boring.”
It is the rules, or the lack of rules that make soccer tough to watch. The diving, the inconsistant/consistant bad officiating and the lack of technology incorporated into the rules. I say all that and I love the game as misery loves company.
Baseball is a sport that needs to be played because it can be very tough dedicating yourself to a full game. Soccer can be boring but the difference is there is no stop time and two 45 minute half’s. It is more practical and it does not take up as much time. Baseball does have skill and athleticism and if you need proof just refer to Bo Jackson, Dieon Sanders, Baba O’Riley, Peter Sellars, Lon Chaney and Carl Sagan.
Roger Maras i Colin O’Haravić su kraljevije!
Mali Cro & Ziva both = PIZDAS. Not every player is fat in Baseball , just like everybody on this are not Dumb Asses like you guys
@Mali – lol I’m working on it. Will be up after dinner sometime. But first, I’M WATCHING A BASEBALL GAME! Go Rays!
@Colin:
Quit gabbing about America’s pastime and post an HNL report please.
Thanks in advance.
congrats to the Barakude
what a bunch of beasts that team is – Sandro Sukno and Maro Jokovic were monsters in the gold medeal game
Rickey Henderson, Griffey, his son, Willy Mays, Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Micheal Bourne, Matt Kemp. Some great athletes that weren’t/aren’t fat asses and have been/are stars in baseball. Gotta give baseball some credit, man.
Catching, hitting and throwing does take skill and ability, but you don’t have to be fit to play.
Playing can be fun, but watching MLB and its endless commercials is impossible. I laugh when American baseball fans say that soccer is boring.
hitting a baseball does not require athletic ability……Take a look at all the fat asses who are or have been all stars in baseball..
Cecil Fielder, his son, Albert Pujols, John Kruk, Adam Dunn, etc…….all all stars at some point, which proves you don’t need athletic ability to excel in baseball.
Hey small Cro , you hit a ball coming at 95 mph – doofust , your not funny
Baseball is a “sport” that you can play with a beer belly. No cardiovascular fitness is required.
Yes, I don’t understand about the horse event. How is it fair that the guy gets the medal and the horse gets squat?
Croatia wins Gold in Waterpolo , i am very proud. Ziva as usual U don’t know crap . Baseball is one of hardest & best sports to play
and, I would not call baseball players athletes. Hitting a ball is a skill, not really an athletic ability.
@Jarac…..everyone has their won opinion and you are entitled to yours, but handball players are great athletes. Only slow, overweight on our team is Vori, everyone else is a very good athlete.
@Tomas,
You are exactly right my friend.
BARRAKUDEEEEE!!
GOLD
YIPEEE!!! WE BROKE OUR MEDAL RECORD!
GOLD MOTHERFUCKERS! GOLD!!!!
5-3 for the good guys, and the 3rd is almost over.
Game is live in Canada.
@Jarac
Your comment is typical for most white dopes. Why do you think American blacks dominate in sports? They were bred like cattle during slavery.
another thing some of you guys and your regional issues if your croatian your croatian i dont care where you are from but w.e…. -U-
umm im pretty sure suker is from livno… ya he is born in osijek but hes family is from livno and he says he is from livno.. its a known fact that hrvati from herceg-bosna are the best soccer players.. some of you need to do some research before you comment.. kovac bros, suker, klasnic, corluka, stanic, simunic, srna, mandzukic, rakitic, jelavic, petric just to name a few… they even did an article in the croatian news i think it was jutarnji.hr before the euros started and listed all the players from present and past that are majority from herceg-bosna
Seriously, I mean lets be real here, the highest caliber athletes play soccer, football, basketball, baseball (its a sport, but a very boring one), follow the paper trail and u will find out how to differentiate a real sport from a game.
You don’t watch handball do you? By that logic, throwers (track), American football, and rugby aren’t sports
@Ziva
Rukomet a sport, haha yea since when does a bunch of chubby white men qualify as a sport.
1) Looking forward to the Water Polo Final. The Italians are talking a big game. Lets see if we can sink their battleship.
2) Any Croatians up in the Bay Area? I will be in San Francisco visiting the great Ivo Miljanovic from Sunday – Wednesday. Shoot me an email: denis@croatiansports.com
3) EPL fantasy…. lets go… lets go… lets go…. We had 125 players last year. .. League starts next weekend. Registration is free and winner will get a Croatia away kit and an opportunity to talk shit like I have the last three seasons after putting Ante “Scully” Kvartuc to sleep and collecting $20.
https://croatiansports.com/?p=10021
.
@Jarac
I think your forgetting speed walking as well! not to mention olympic soccer is usually a joke. like what is egypt doing in a major competition? and for female, canada in the semi finals?! when does canada even make a competition let alone make the semis.
There’s no clear way of defining a sport but I agree that horse things are definitely not and I think judged sports should be modified so there is a standard way of scoring. BMX is a sport regardless of it’s popularity. Just because something is a sport, doesnt mean it should be in the Olympics though and that’s the real issue.
if you don’t think rukomet is a sport than you have issues. To be good in that sport you have to be athletic
I don’t like gymnastics, but I’ll give credit to the girls for being athletes in order to compete in it.
1. Rukomet *correction my bad
2. diving
3. that underwater swimming team shit in unison
4. the gymnastics where they dance with hula hoops
5. pink pong,
6. any one of the gun shootings
7. anything u ride a horse on
8. bmx
9. fencing (although i do enjoy sword fights)
10. archery
1. rukoment (not a sport, dont care that hr is great at it)
@Ante, haha to je istina.
Want to bring up these olympics and how long this olympics will be around. In years past they have seemed like horrible investments for greece and china, with there once beautiful stadiums going to waste. There are lots of amateur sports. I mean half the shit in the olympics arent even sports. I will start the list with what isnt a sport, fell free to add on to my list. Lets see how long we can make it
Covik nije roden da radi. Why does a Dalmatinac have a chair next to his bed? So he can rest after he wakes up
*constant bashing on the Hercegovci* damn autocorrect
@ Ziva
I must say, you’re constant Hergovac bashing gives me a chuckle every now and again lol
dalmatinci win gold for doing everything “lagano”.
here is one thing we can’t argue about……best lopovi and thieves are hercegovci…they won the gold for that and still continue.
I stand corrected
You forgot Glaser and Gucmirtl. Neither are purgeri as well.
But that’s ok. It was a good effort.
😉
Matesic reference wasn’t meant to be a Purger, only served as comparison. Zambata, jebi ga, I got the squirts writing and thinking of old Dinamo greats.
Also, the guys you listed aren’t all Purgeri. You threw in a few Dalmatinci and Slavonci in there as well.
🙂
Ante,
You also forgot Zebec and Bobek. I’m a big fan of all those guys, but unlike you, I don’t live 100 years in the past.
As great as all those guys have been, it’s the players in recent history like Suker and Boban that has put this Croatia on the map, and guys like Modric and Srna that continue to keep us relevant.
Ivica,
You forgot it didn’t start with the Vatreni. Go back further…first one, probably one of the best in history: Bajdo Vukas. Debatably one of Hajduk’s greatest players with Frano Matesic. Kranjcar Sr., Kranjcar, Wolfl, Glaser, Cajkovski, Soldo, Gucmirtl, Jazbinsek, Zambata, etc.
IvicA,
Try this website
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/datablog/interactive/2012/aug/07/olympics-2012-alternative-medal-table-visualised
Better soccer players? Nah.
Since ’91, all of Croatia’s best soccer players were either Dalmatinci or Slavonci (Suker, Boban, Boksic, Prso, Srna, Modric, etc). Purgeri were always good for being those role player types who could fill out a starting 11, but not as impact players. Kranjcar had the potential to be that one Zagreb star for us, but it looks like another Dalmatinac (Perisic) will be squeezing him out of the starting lineup from now on.
So are you going to do the research to see where Croatia stands in the success by population statistic or what?
Ivica,
First off, my condolences on being a dalmos. Nobody’s perfect.
I think Dalmatinci are the better athletes because of their physique and Southern temperament. However, since us Purgeri are shorter, we’re better soccer players and viceroys. Yes, viceroys and anything related to being royal.
Well, we’re up there.
Very few countries of Croatia’s population size can manage to put together competitive team sports such as waterpolo, handball, soccer, basketball, etc.
I’d like do some research to see who’s better but I’m a Dalmatinac. I’ll just let some Purger on this board do it instead.
While I do agree with about the team sports, I wouldn’t say “nobody top Croatia”
When it comes to REAL sport, nobody tops Croatia.
I value gold medals in Waterpolo, Handball, and Basketball waay more than I value a gold medal in Women’s Trampoline.
It’s much more difficult to put together a TEAM of athletic freaks to win you a medal in, say, basketball than it is to put together only one athlete that could win you several medals in multiple variations of ONE sport.
@MarkyMarkP
Yep, the french are definitely our bogie side in all sports, and i’m sick of losing to them.
At least the vaterpolo side did it’s thing and avenged their loss from the last olympics.
They (barracudas) have done our nation proud.
We do have a good medal count to population size ratio, but i think New Zealand has the best.
New Zealand: 4 (G) + 3 (S) + 5 (B) = 12 (Total)
Population: 4.4 million
We cant get past the French curse, we cant beat them, in any sport!
Hopefully the Cowboys can bring home a bronze, and the Barracudas bring home the Gold.
We must have one of the best medal count to population size ratio in the entire Olympics, Za Dom!
yep, you’re right. Did the time difference wrong
One correction…. The water polo game on Sunday is not airing live on NBC. The game will be done by the time it is shown on NBC. Game is at 10:30 am ET.