Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham denied any rumors of playing in Croatia for Hajduk Split Saturday night; moments after the Galaxy’s 4-1 loss to European goliath Real Madrid at the Los Angeles Coliseum. However, is it true that the former English star has not even heard of the famous Croatian club, especially in their 100th year while hosting a friendly with European champions Barcelona this Saturday, July 23rd?
@ziva I never said it was journalism, I said it should be study material at journalism school. There is a difference between journalism and entertainment even though they seem to be crossing over. CSR is a community that is also participating in the melting of journalism and entertainment and I promise, they will study this melting in in journalism school. Is the Daily Show or Cobert Report journalism? I think sometimes these shows are the best journalism…
Brane got a little excited. Its ok. You both make excellent points.
I still consider Colin's interview with Klasnic better than my 5 seconds with Beckham.
We were all entertained for a minute, and now we move on as the HNL season just started, transfer rumors still going around(Becks to Hajduk), and champs league-europa league around the corner.
I'm not tooting my own horn on this one. Just another day on CSR.
easy there….that was anti-journalism.
I get it and understand why it was done. But, none of that involved any journalism. You don't make yourself part of the story….
that was more TMZ-ish….trying to get page views and drive traffic.
I don't care either way. A little publicity never hurt, but don't mascarade that as being journalism.
@Ziva "95% of the time you get generic answers." that have no value. That is why Denis' question is so brilliant. In the end CSR gave Croatia a shout out, a wink and a laugh.
This video was #32 in Germany yesterday, #33 in Sweedent #117 in Italy… over 30,000 views in about 30 hours.
What CSR did with their 10 seconds of access is absolutely genius and should be study material in journalism school.
Come on guys, these group interviews after games like this are a mad house. They are mostly for the reporters writing a game story on what just took place. They are usually a waste of time. The reporters get their 3-5 minutes and ask away and then the players is removed by the team's media relation staff.
95% of the time you get generic answers.
I agree with Denis 100%. Keep up the good work.
If there was a legitimate Croatia related question for Beckham, I am confident you would have asked it. Perhaps if David would grant CSR a 5 minute interview, you could talk football. Hopefully, this was the icebreaker you need to get future access.
I know I mentioned it in another post, but I am almost finished with the Roger Maris biography (Baseball's Reluctant Hero). The book chronicles his struggles with the NY sports media including transcripts of interviews. It provides in interesting insight into the press/athlete dynamic. Baseball is of no interest to me, but I would recommend the book to CSR readers.
@Mladen @Dennis @Ante
I see what Mladen is saying here, and it's a valid point. I know it's hard after an exhibition, but you should dig deep and try to get some hard questions in…even if players don't like to answer them. I feel you'll get a little more respect from the player as well as the media people around you.
10 seconds go…You guys have the whole game to come up with questions. And don't tell me you are actually working hard up in those press boxes. =)
You complain about the same questions the media always ask. Ask something more difficult and educated about the game, and I think you'll get an amazing response.
Aside from this, Denis' tone of voice while asking the question cracked me up. Completely serious and even made the guy next to Beckham smile.
Seriously though, harder questions.
@Anon ^^^
Let's start one… They'll win! 😀
Why don't we have a Dinamo CL discussion topic up when the game is tomorrow? Just curious.
@JerseyCro,
Celtic or Tottenham, same shit if he is #3. AS long as he gets playing time, he can play for Dinamo Bucharest for all I care. Whats the latest on Runje?
@Slavonac,
fair enough.
glad to hear that you appreciate the other interviews. I was making it clear that we do come prepared and we do our homework as shown in the previous interviews.
@ Denis…I really do like almost all of your interviews and reports…i truly appreciate them…i just didn't care for this last one…it seemed cheeky and irrelevant!
Pletikosa has been released by Spartak…close to Celtic
@JP,
good questions.keep them coming
@Slavonac,
You make a good point. However, we do things here different at CSR. We are not typical reporters asking the same boring questions. Believe me, we do our homework and "come prepared". Have you seen my Igor Stimac, Andrew Bogut and Marko Petrovic interviews? Have you seen Ante's Bogut, Nash, Kidd, Kranjcar, Redknapp videos?
@anonymous english guy,
thanks for the comment. Most Americans wouldnt identify Croatia with Europe much less point them out on a map.
RTL Report on Beckham "rumor".
"evo nikad nije cuja za Hajduk"
"(Beckham) never heard of Hajduk"
from the RTL reporter with a little smirk on his face.
(31:20)
RTL Link
I'd much rather prefer you don't ask a question at all…come on man…that was embarassing although Beck's took it in stride! I'd be careful of not making the brand of Croatian Soccer report not look like a joke of the industry…most journalists do their research and come prepared!
the Becks question was great work guys, nice job!
at your next shot, maybe ask the Real guys… "At what level do you think the MLS is compared to the Spanish leagues… first division…? "
Raul to Dinamo would be a huge coup imo… he's pretty much unparalled as a goal poacher in his career…. you could also ask the Real guys what they think of this…?
also, ask the "special one" if he knows about Phil Jackson, the special one of the NBA coaching… is Mourinho a Zen master too…?
I'm English and a Tottenham fan. Sadly, those of you who say that most English players couldn't even point to Croatia on a map are probably right.
Recently, on a 'Spurs fans forum, there was a discussion about what a good team you could put together, using players from the countries, which were once Yugoslavia. One of the posters genuinely thought that Yugoslavia was part of the former USSR!
Sometimes, the ignorance of my countrymen embarrasses me!
Link about Raul:
http://www.mondo.rs/s212179/Sport/Sport/Fudbal/Mamic_najavio_bombu_-_Raul_u_Dinamu.html
24sata.hr also reported this!! LOL!!!!!
http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/david-beckham-o-kraju-karijere-u-hajduku-ma-to-nije-istina-228202
LOL
@Ante Kvartuč and Ivica…..I still doubt most of the English players could find Croatia on a map even after euro 08 qualifying.
Remeber when Arsenal drew dinamo a few years back. When some of the Arsenal players and management heard they drew dinamo, they thought they were going to Bucharest to play dinamo Bucharest.
Hahaha! That was great! Loved his reaction. "Never heard of them" – I hope he was talking about Hajduk and not the rumors.
@Anon – Thanks for the link.
@Denis – CSR hall of fame, huh? Woah. Sounds like its time for me to buy a mic.
That should be the prime candidate for quote of the year.
"Never heard of them". Rack him.
"No, Never heard of them"
BAHHAHAH
AHAHAAHAHAHHA
HAHAAHAHAH
AAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
CLASSIC!
you are king… will he play in hajduk… hahahaha
The tipping point for the Kalinić transfer?:
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Blackburn-Rovers-face-transfer-crisis-as-Phil-Jones-to-Manchester-United-money-used-for-overdraft-and-Chris-Samba-could-leave-for-Arsenal-or-Tottenham-Hotspur-article771592.html
looks like gol.hr found it interesting:
http://gol.hr/clanak/rubrika/u_zaledu/david-beckham-karijeru-necu-zavrsiti-u-hajduku-to-nije-istina.html
A Croatian dude speaking English with a German accent!
@Mladen S,
I'm not saying that my 10 second interview with Beckham will make CNN or Jutarnji List. We are here to report on Croatian soccer and to entertain.
For the most part no one on this website cares about what David Beckham has to say unless its related to Croatian football.
Also, like Ante said, Beckham has been training what to say to the media. Even if he's thinking about the EPL, he wont say this to the media. He might say something like "I'm happy here in Los Angeles." the end.
Crack a joke, put a smile on their face, make things interesting and entertaining thats what we are here for.
Lastly, we are not desperate to talk to David Beckham. We showed that we dont give a shit how Beckham played, how he felt playing against Real, How the Galaxy are playing. We are just interested in Croatia. Once he answered "no" interview was over.
Don't worry about you "starting an argument", we know that is not your intention. We are always open to suggestions. Prove me wrong and I will ask Beckham if he is returning to the EPL next time I'm rubbing shoulders with him at the playboy mansion.
Ante and I will be in San Diego on Wednesday night covering Chivas-Real Madrid…
Anyone out there have any suggestions? Questions for the galacticos?
Again, its not just Ante and I here. This is our website. This was proven yesterday with Dr. O'Harovic. Minus a mic, this guy came through for CSR nation. Klasnic interview is in the CSR Hall of fame.
@ Mladen S,
Asking a player/manager about transfer talk is a no-go. You might as well ask them what color the sky is.
You know what answer you're getting.
David Beckham is a class act guy. Spent about 20 minutes or so with media last night. Major props to Becks.
@Ivica,
They might play as if they dont know where or what Croatia is, but trust me, they do.
@Perdurabo,
Na, we like the anonymous people. They come up with quality stuff. They just dont want the recognition 🙂 They are just a little shy.
@Jack,
Yes, Beckham's body guards were gigling in the background and they both gave me a cool look. Glad I made someone smile. Even Beckham gave me a grin.
All the other loser reporters asked questions like "how was it like seeing all your former teammates?" aw… how cute.
@Ante B,
I was going to say "Dinamo" instead of "Hajduk", but I was afraid he would get confused with Houston Dynamo or any of the other 50 Dinamos
First one that came to mind is what he thinks chances are he plays for Tottenham or any other EPL team….
I'm assuming you guys had more than 10 seconds to prepare. I'm also not saying I could do better or trying to start an argument….it just kinda seemed like the question you guys went with made Croatia seem small and desperate to get Beckham to talk about the country/Hajduk.
Time up…not so easy is it?
We've covered many MLS events when teams come over from Europe and the media experience is horrible. The Real Madrid game the other night had over 250 media members, all pushed on a single barricade 30 yards long.
Big cameras with super-hot model reporters on the opposite side get all the face time with these athletes.
I'm not being defensive here, just telling you how it is. We make the best of what we got. The only questions we heard were all cookie-cutters? How was it playing your old team? What can Galaxy learn from this experience? How was Ronaldo's goal?
All boring questions. I'd rather ask something different, something they don't get every day than one of those cookie cutters.
Even if we asked him "How was it training with Modric at Spurs", Beckham would go "obviously the guy is an amazing talent an and asset to any club he plays for…blah blah".
Most athletes, especially the Beckham's of the world, are trained to give politically correct answers all day.
So once again, what do you ask him??? And what kind of answer would you expect in return? That's the more important of the two.
@Malden S,
What would you like me to ask Beckham?
@Mladen S
What "real" questions could you possibly ask this guy after an exhibition game?
"What will Posh be wearing tomorrow?" "What is your opinion on the Ante Gotovina verdict?"
Mladen S,
You have 10 seconds to ask Beckham anything, go!
He's missed so many games for the LA Galaxy over the years, he needs a GPS to get to the Home Depot Center, let alone find Croatia on a map.
What a waste of an opportunity to ask him a real question.
Don't worry Becks, we don't know or care what Hajduk is either
I'm pretty sure that after those Euro2008 qualifiers, every English player could point out Croatia on a map.
Very funny. The guy in the adidas shirt and the bald man also found it humorous.
You must have an east coast affiliate ask Henry the same question.
@ Ziva,
Beckham is very polished when he speaks with the media. It's almost as if he is a spokesperson and soccer delegate first, and soccer player second. I would put the house on him knowing where Croatia is on a map.
Question is: When he said "never heard of them". Was he talking bout the rumors or Hajduk?
Thoughts…
And yes…we try to be as slick as possible 😉
you guys should start getting rid of anonymous comments. It'll help get rid of the keyboard warriors.
I get the joke…..
To be fair to Beckham I am sure he is unable to name one club team in Croatia and he even played in ZG against Dinamo (Croatia Zg at the time). I'm sure he couldn't place Croatia on a map.
what a very slick way to try to grab attention onto yourselves. honestly, this isnt even worthy of an article.