WHO NEEDS A ĆORLUKA INTERVIEW WHEN YOU CAN GET IVO MILJANOVIĆ INSTEAD?..
…AND HVARSPLIĆAN
CROATIANSPORTS.COM
Uniting Croatian Fans Around The World
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Uniting Croatian Fans Around The World
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Just got the shirt boys, thanks. She's a beauty!
50 comments and not a single one from Dinamofan :)…. he's laying low for this one..haha.. we still got your back dinamofan
@dinamodennis
"99% of people dont care what Dennis Fistonich thinks. "
Your numbers are off my friend..
"Okay and what are Kranjcar and bogut ?? Fake ? Because they dont want to have a beer with you? hahha."
I never said Kranjcar, Bogut and Redknapp were fake….. nor that I wouldnt have a beer with them..
Bogut is a class act guy and a veliki hrvat in my book… Do I expect to sit with him and have beers after the game, NO.. Does this make them clowns or dickheads? NO…. Am I hoping one day that I have brews with these guys after the game? NO…. I am hoping that I have brews with prva generacija one day.
Me wining? about what? Like I said, these players play for us.. If all the fans said "fuck soccer" and no one shows up to the games… players would be on their knees begging us to show up for games…
"They are asked to do 100's of interviews! So dont be sad when they dont want to do yours. "
1) This is called a job. Do you have a job?
2)Im not sad, and Im not wining, Im just stating what happened. I can care less if Corluka declines our interview… just be sure that this will be reported each and every time.
3) Let me tell you this… it doesnt look good for a player, coach, owner, whatever he may be… if its reported that he declined interview or declined comment multiple times. These players have an image to protect..
I wonder what Redknapp said to the goones in the bus after spending 15 minutes or so signing autographs and showing up on the bus wearing a Crottenham shirt and carrying two others.
"Why are you on this website?"
"For Croatian Soccer Reports"
really? thats all you can say… how original.
"Most athleates dont like the media! Thats a fact! So suck it up!"
This is because they ask the same stupid questions over and over again.. Niko, Luka, and Carli were loving us from the bus, looking on what the fuck was going on when the crowd was screaming like little bitches over a Crottenham shirt.
@Ante B
I have no hard feelings towards Corluka or Modric. First off, we didnt see Modric take off while we were interviewing Niko, so Modric is off the hook. Vedran got a good laugh after the match looking on from the bus. He'll remember us. Every player has an interview bye here and there. Corluka just used his first. Lets see what happens next time.
No, no politics… calm down Ante… its ok… lets not get crazy… "its still eaaaaaaaaaarly"
@Slaven
Please dont change your name to Bob and blog on bastardsoccerreport.com… hilarious by the way…. I think what Croatians due best is turn against themselves. The last thing we want here.
Everyone has their own unique definition of "how croatian one is"….
CSR will be in your town one day… I assured you of this a long time ago… just not in the winter, cold as fuck up there… as Cali boys are not used to that.
@Ante Kvartuc
"Like I mentioned before, the setup they had for the press to talk to the players was retarded!"
I agree.. San Jose Earthquakes dont have a clue.
excellent comment, sums everything up… nothing more to say.
@Dennis Fistonic
Thanks for answering my question.
@Anonymous
please sign in…
"heritage requirement " What is the heritage requirement? How come Cvitanovich didnt get approved by FIFA? He qualifies under the heritage requirement.
"Don't go telling me or anyone else whether they're Croatian or not."
I disagree with you on this. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
@ziva istina
"Its no different than the tennis players who establish their residency in Monte Carlo and Florida so they dont have to pay taxes in Croatia. "
I agree with you on this one… A few of our tennis players have been residents of Monte Carlo for years to avoid paying taxes… no different than Croatians living abroad.
"Its one thing to have "honor" and "pride" for croatia in your heart, but it quite another to actually understand what it being said and how the locals react to certain situations. To me it means knowing what is going on in the country and not just flying the flag or wearing the colors during a soccer match."
to everyone
again, my opinion, and I agree with you on this…. The locals feel like most of the diaspora is not one of them. This is why I dont consider myself "as Croatian" as the locals. Does this mean that I am not Croatian, or can't call myself Croatian? NO… that would be extreme.
For some reason, the diaspora has a scale for "How Croatian are you?" and "Are you a veliki Hrvat". This is bullshit. Diaspora Croatians, at least the ones here in LA, tend to compete as to who is more Croatian. Just like when dudes floss their girls around town thinking they are hot shit. If you think she is so great, you keep it to yourself, knowing that you have something great… If you think you are a "veliki Hrvat" you keep that to yourself… this isnt a contest..
When you sit down and evaluate yourself, you come up with your own conclusion. However, don't lie to yourself on this one.
I can't say that I am as Croatian as someone thats
1) lived there
2) fought for independence
3) speaks the language fluently on an everyday basis.
Again, just my opinion, doesnt mean that Im right, just sharing my thoughts..
tell a Croatian veteran that you are as Croatian as he is….
@ Everybody (regarding the interviews)
There is no one to talk shit about in the case, or even point fingers at. Like I mentioned before, the setup they had for the press to talk to the players was retarded!
We obviously wanted to get all 3 Croatian players, naturally, but that was never going to happen the way the MLS set everything up.
Regarding Corluka: he came out of the the dressing room first and already had the mindset that he wasn't going to talk to anybody. No big deal. I talked to most of Tottenhams press and they told me that no media are ever allowed in the dressing room in England. That hurts reporters right away. It's completely different in American sports because players jump out of the shower, still in their towel and the interviews begin. It's more relaxed and both parties have more time.
If anything, I could have been a bit more aggressive with Corluka but he was my last priority interview. I wanted Kranjcar and Modric first. Kranjcar came out first and gladly talked to us for a few minutes. If you have watched the video, you see me rush through the interview because 1)I know he doesnt give a shit and wants to bail and 2) I know Modric is on on his way out.
Modric walks right behind Kranjcar and escapes the scene. Nothing we could do. So don't judge these players based on Corluka and Modric not giving CSR interviews.
When I was giving out shirts to the crowd, I ran out and one guy yelled some kind of F Bomb obscenity at me cuz I didn't have one for him. You can't please everyone and keep your sanity. Simple as that.
However, what Redknapp did that day was special. He didn't just sign and take pictures with everyone down that ramp, but he seriously had conversations with people. The only reason we caught him for an interview in the gym was because he was hanging around. We waited patiently and approached him. All the players went straight to the bus from the showers….
I apologize for the long comment but that's my take on things….and I was there….so there ya go.
Yes you're quite right ziva, HDZ these days are complete sellouts but not on the scale of SDP.
Want politics? Ajmo. Da vidimo tko je na kojoj strani. I'll start:
MI SMO USTASE!
MI SMO BRACA FINA!
NAPICEMO SE KRVI..
SRBA IZ KNINA!
=U=
…went there.
@ All
we got a nice stream working here!
i think it's good that some rational political discussion is breaking out and evolving too.
perhaps that's where the diaspora can help the homeland the most these days…
@ Slaven
AHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!
@ Ziva
I agree.
@Ante B
So because there is a mic with the Grb they owe that person a interview?
You guys are just fucking sucks!
Like Ziva said it has nothing to do with croatian, american, or australian. Most athleates dont like the media! Thats a fact! So suck it up!…Son
@Fistonic
Im raising in to 3.5%!!
wow, according to some of you guys I'm not Croatian. I guess I'll change my name to Bob and blog on bastardsoccerreport.com
interesting comments….
let me add this as someone who has been in the mixed zone and locker room after games, most players do not give interviews and are actually barred from giving interview by their clubs if they do not play. So, in the case of Corluka, that may have been the case. maybe not.
Most of these guys dont give a crap about the media; croatian media, english media, american media; its all the same to them.
If you knew how some of these guys are outside the game, trust me, you would not want to even grab a beer with them. Some are good guys, but many of them are a pain in the ass with their egos and are no different than the modern day american athletes. We cheer for them because they wear the colors of the national team; nothing more, nothing less.
DinamoDennis,
Not looking good for you, and you've just started posting. Pretty soon I'm going to have to bring out the yellow card.
First, regarding Fisto, he's a thief of hearts and a ladies man. His number is higher than 1%. Read his article about Kranjcar and more importantly, the comments.
About the Crottenham players:
Don't be a fucking moron. Look, those guys do do hundreds of interviews but last time I checked there was NO Croatian media presence there except Croatian Soccer Report; no Index, no Sportske Novosti, no Vecernji, no Jutarnji, NOTHING in little San Jose. NOTHING! This isn't New York. The least the CROATIAN players could do for the CSR crew WHO HAVE A CROATIAN GRB ON THEIR MICROPHONE is to say a couple of words. Svaka cast Kranjcaru but Modric and Corluka shit the bed with their attitudes. For fucks sake, look at Redknapp! The guy is practically an honorary Croatian in my books.
My respect level towards them has gone down like mine is slowly going towards you. And yes, after meeting players like Luka and Corluka, I'd rather have a beer with Prva Generacija. That in itself says a lot. Respect Prva Generacija.
Step your game up, son.
@DD
And all this time I thought 100% of people didn't care for what I thought… :p thx for the 1% credit
@Denis
Niko doesnt care what Dennis Fistonich thinks…99% of people dont care what Dennis Fistonich thinks. So what I think Niko ment when he said he plays for himself was he doesnt play for people like Dennis Fistonich.
"prva generacija" is real…..
Okay and what are Kranjcar and bogut ?? Fake ? Because they dont want to have a beer with you? hahha. If you had a choice to drink with "prva generacija" or Kranjcar, Bogut and Redknapp im pretty sure youd pick the latter.
Kranjcar "plays for himself", and Corluka "didnt play" which suposedly excuses him from a post game interview, much less have a few brews with us after the game.
Stop whining! They are asked to do 100's of interviews! So dont be sad when they dont want to do yours. They are busy guys and dont have time for every single fan, media person, family, friends…you name it.
question for you: Why are you on this website?
For Croatian Soccer Reports
@ Anonymous…..don't know where you are bringing in SDP into this discussion. That is the last political party I would vote for. In regards to HDZ; they did steal. Looks at their popularity since the war ended to where it is now; its a gradual, but consistent decline. Forget the emotional attachment associated with each part (yes SDP = yugo red star to mee too).
As for the hague and the SDP sending our war "heroes" to the
Hague. Brother, get your facts staright, the HDZ while they have been in power have sent more people to the Hague than Racan and the SDP did. Lets remember it was Sanader who sent Gotovina to the haugue. Again, I don't like the SDP, but get the facts straight if you want discuss this correctly.
As for war heroes….all are war heroes are those who got fucked in the end and are injured and hurt right now. most of the generals who are now in the hague or in Cro prisons deserve to be there for some of the shit they did outside the battlefield. What they did on the battlefield is fine, but these guys were war profiteers and were living with no rules. There are more of them running around who should be in jail (Rojs) but rally around the flag when it benefits them.
Some good points that I agree with and some that I don't. But, good comments either way.
Back to the question posed of how locals view us because we don't pay taxes…. Its a valid point on their part. I have property over there and have shipped a car over just so I dont have to pay taxes in Cro on a car if I purchased it there. There are others ways to curb the tax issue.
I view it this way; I make my finanical living in the US, so I rather pay my taxes in the US. Its no different than the tennis players who establish their residency in Monte Carlo and Florida so they dont have to pay taxes in Croatia.
Overall, we all seem to view this diffently, mostly because it benefits some of us a certain way. I can see why a person who cant speak the language would say the langauage issue has no impact if a person is a "hrvat" or not. I think differntly. I think language and understanding the culture, mentality and mindset has as much to do with it. Its one thing to have "honor" and "pride" for croatia in your heart, but it quite another to actually understand what it being said and how the locals react to certain situations. To me it means knowing what is going on in the country and not just flying the flag or wearing the colors during a soccer match.
One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing kids/guys wearing the cro jersey and singing ustase tunes and they have no clue about the history of the usatse. Many of these kids have family members that wwere neautral or killed by the ustase and they do thsi because they don't know any better. Again, this is no knock on the Ustase (i had family on both sides of the divide).
@Dennis – If you have a grand parent of Croatian heritage and you have not played an 'A' game for another nation you can play immediately for the national team (such as in the case of Simunic). If you don't meet the heritage requirement (like Eduardo) then you need to reside in the country that you will represent for five years.
@ Ziva Istina – turn it up mate are people meant to vote for SDP for your liking. Sure the diaspora have a bit part influence in election outcomes but the majority of the country still vote in HDZ most of the time. Tell me, why would they vote for a party which still openly celebrates with Partizani songs, who sends war heroes to the Hague and who trash Tudjman whilst hero-worship that faultless man Tito.
You spent too much time with the communists whilst in Croatia you should have got out a bit more where people aren't nearly as narrow-minded, bigoted and up themselves as you are.
Don't go telling me or anyone else whether they're Croatian or not. You're not much better than actual idiots in the diaspora who say you're not a true Hrvat if you're not exclusively an Ustase.
@ Denis Svircic
I can answer your question in a couple different ways. First off, a little background. I am a dual citizen (American/Croatian), I speak the language fluently with some minor hiccups, I am in love with most things Croatia (music, food, culture, etc), most of my family still resides there. However, the most time I have spent there consecutively is 4 months. So, obviously according to the FIFA requirements, I wouldnt be eligible.
That being said, my desire and passion "to play" for Croatia outweighs playing for anyone else by far. On the flipside, people like Cvitanich, Bilos, etc thought about joining Croatia because of the simple of fact of having a better chance of playing for a major national team in the world and using their heritage as a vehicle to get there.
Correct me if I misunderstand the "Croatian enough" factor, but in my opinion, there is no such thing. Yes, language, culture, etc are all important, but being Croatian isn't something you choose. It is who you are, regardless in how much you "practice your croatianess." So yes, I am also frustrated with the people who barely speak the language and all that jazz (excluding Ivo Miljanovic), but it doesn't make them less of a Croatian. You could perhaps classify them as a bad croat, but one isn't necessarily better than another.
Ultimately, to answer your question, from your definition, if i were that capable of a footballer, am I "croatian enough" to play for the HNS? My answer is yes, for all the reasons I mentioned in the 1st paragraph.
I must say what Stefan is doing is quite remarkable and I wish him nothing but the best of luck. It takes a lot of balls to do what he is doing.
Sorry for all the comments, my last one I promise…
You guys all remember Stefan Skrinjaric right….
This kid, still a teenager… moved to Zagreb and trained with NK Zagreb juniors trying to make it in the HNL and ultimately for a chance with the national team. This kid speaks the language and lived(and worked) in Croatia.
He my friends, is a Croatian in my eyes.
@ziva istina
"Well, I never said that. But, if a person learns the language he is more of a hrvat than someone who has croatian blood and can't speak a lick of the langauge."
here you went a little too far. Language is very important, however, its not everything. This "hrvat" that doesnt speak a lick of Croatian might have been raised under Croatian cultural and traditional believes. This person might enjoy Croatian cuisine, cooks croatian foods, practices Roman Catholic religion, attends Croatian mass, is in a tamburica group, dances kolo, list goes on and on..
@Ivo Miljanovic
Like I said in my previous comments, I am not here to judge who here amongst us is Croatian and who is not… or worse yet, who is a bigger Croatian…
I dont think that you have to prove yourself "if you are croatian, and how big of a croatian are you".
You my friend are a valuable member of the diaspora in my eyes.
"I don't agree that not speaking the language makes you a less valuable member of the Diaspora "
I agree… key words being "valuable member"… I'm picking you up on my diaspora team.
I do have a problem with Cvitanovich… the guy bleeds Argentina from head to toe… Not talented enough to make the Argentina squad… so why not suit up for Croatia to have a crack in the world cup.. I just dont believe Cvitanovich…
I will tell you right now, I dont feel that I deserve to be considered for the Croatian national team… I never lived in Croatia. I dont think its fair for the others. Again, this is just my opinion.
question for you: You are almost in the same boat as Cvitanovich… would it be ok if you suited up for Croatia? Lets just say that Peru declined you…
@Dennis Fistonić
excellent point on "How about those Croats living in Croatia who "croatianize" american/english words (i.e. frendica, extra, etc) I look down on those people" I frown upon this as well. I especially am fond of the word "exxxxxxxxxxtra" for something fabulous.
Like I was saying earlier about language…. without a doubt, in my opinion this is #1… its a must but its not everything…
question for you…
Do you qualify as "Croatian enough" to represent Croatia on the national team? This question is obviously debatable. No right or wrong answer.
@ziva istina
"Personally, I also am of this belief. If you can’t speak the mother tounge, than don’t call yourself a hrvat."
I agree. However, nothing wrong with Ivo Miljanovic remembering his heritage and making it a part of his life today.
"You can be proud of your roots, but to the locals if you cant speak the language then you are an outsider."
I agree once again. If Ivo was to visit Croatia, people would think he's a fake. However, I think Croatians living in Croatia would respect him if he presents himself as a Peruvian with Croatian blood flowing in his viens.
Your analysis was on point, I agree with each and every one of your examples. Yes, I remember the Cro-Yug qualifier back in '99… I was in Sibenik at the time for a funeral… boy was I tempted to make the trip to Zagreb…. however, it was a difficult time for my family at that time, 20 inch TV worked just fine.
Question for you:
What about those Croats that feel the diaspora "abandoned us" or "didnt put in the blood, sweat and tears that Croatians have the last 40 years"? We don't "pay taxes"…
I feel that a lot of Croatians think "they left, fuck 'em"…
How do you feel about all this?
Also, why are you on this website?
@DinamoDennis
"If you cant speak the language that sucks, but who really cares ?"
I don't get what you are trying to say?
look at Ante B's comment right after yours… nothing left for me to say..
"If you are going to pride yourself with being Croatian, then at least speak the language."
I am not here to judge, nor would I want to judge someone if they are Croatian or not. However, language has got to be #1…. If you want to be a "bigger" Croatian, then speaking Croatian is a must.
@Slaven
I agree with you on "the diaspora was responsible for a great majority of support (financial, weapons, politics, etc) during the 90s. "…. however, this wasnt even close to the price Croatians have payed with their lives for Croatia. Fifa has a good rule on how a player is eligible to represent a country. If not born in That country, a player must have dual citizenship and live there 5 years I believe. In the end it comes down to, "what have you done for Croatia?"…. Have you lived there, fought for the flag, payed taxes, speak the language, etc etc…
You and I will be Croatian by blood, this is a fact. This is not something to be proud of, we didnt have a choice on this. In my opinion, to say that you are Croatian, you would have to give something back to Croatia… speak the language and live in Croatia a minimum of 5 years.
I am with Ziva istina on this one..
"Also, I just dont understand how any of us who are born to two croatian parents in a city with a large croatian community can not speak or write the langauge. Every community has a church and a croatian school. It just baffles me when I see guys/girls my age or even younger and their inability to speak croatian. I understand the need to assimilate when our parents first arrived, but to me there is no excuse in not knowing the langauge if both parents were born in Croatia."
@dinamodennis
""These are the real stars.. guys like Niko Kranjcar "play for myself""
HAHAHAHA Would you be happier is he said he played for you?"
Even if Niko does feel this way, he should keep this concealed. Niko plays for us. Soccer is entertainment. Niko was hired by us to entertain us… No fans at stadiums = no money for players = no job for Niko = Niko looks for a kicker job with the New York Giants.. Also, Niko should be playing for the name on the front of the shirt and not the name on the back.. I wonder who Niko is playing for when he throws on the checkers?
Obviously, he's not gonna lose sleep over what Dennis Fistonich had to say about him, but he should keep that to himself. I thought he was a little out of line by saying "I play for myself". Cause if everyone played for themselves, there wouldnt be anyone in the stands…
"That we should visit this site for "diaspora" and not for the boguts kranjcars ect. ?"
I am not saying that Boguts, Kranjcar, and Redknapps mean nothing to this site. All I am saying is that "prva generacija" is real.. At the end of the day, we can all sit together at one table, have a beer and talk Croatian football…. This is why this site is up…
Kranjcar "plays for himself", and Corluka "didnt play" which suposedly excuses him from a post game interview, much less have a few brews with us after the game.
Let me know if I have cleared any of this up for you… Don't always to extremes.
question for you: Why are you on this website?
@ Ziva Istina
I agree with with most of your comments pertaining to the subject. However, I have to disagree with one part of your arguement. Both of my parents are Croatian, raised 6 km apart from one another. My knowledge of the language is pretty good, with some minor grammatical errors here and there. My 2 younger brothers can understand Croatian, but their ability to speak it is satisfactory at best. My point is just because they don't flaunt the flags, and speak the language well, it doesn't make them less of a Croat. Ideally, it would be great if they could. However, especially growing up in America, Croatian is still who they are. Period.
And yes, I agree with you on the "Southern Hillbillie" comparision. For the sake of arguement though, lets turn the tables. How about those Croats living in Croatia who "croatianize" american/english words (i.e. frendica, extra, etc) I look down on those people more than the alternative. More importantly, I look down on the major croatian publications who do the same thing (Slobodna Dalmacija, Jutarnji & Vecernji List, etc) Croatian is such a beautiful language and they butcher it up using this non-sense.
btw.,
on the nogomet tip, the U-19's are still alive for a berth in the next round.
http://www.uefa.com/under19/matches/season=2010/round=15348/match=2002381/report/index.html#croatia+italy+square
It's quite obvious that a few of you feel like outsiders in Hrvatska.
I've never encountered such issues. In fact if anything, the opposite is true, so understand that.
Oh, and also, lets not forget that all Hrvati in Hrvatska are far from perfect.
The other side of the coin not being mentioned here is that native-born Hrvati can also display serious envy (among other things) to the diaspora. "Everything's easy over there for you, you're rich,"
blah blah blah.
Anyway, moving beyond that… us diasporites we're all by definition bicultural.
Those who don't speak the language are less bi-cultural, and have likely assimilated more into the transplanted culture. Ivo would seem to be an example of that.
The more "equally" bi-cultural that you are, the less likely you are to feel "at home" in either nation (or any for that matter). Ziva would perhaps be an example of this.
Logically speaking, we can't even be a member of the diaspora, if we're not Croatian by somebody's estimation. Since we were born human, before we ever realized that we were Croatian, someone had to teach us this fact. If they taught us that we were Croatian, then I think it's pretty safe to say that they were Croatian as well. How else could they teach us the culture?
What Ziva is really saying is that "those who don't speak the language, are not as bi-cultural as me, and so they are not good enough to meet the standard that I am setting"
This will get you started:
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=946738
I wrote:
"(Although Cvitanich doesn’t speak Croatian he has stated how honored we would have been to represent Croatia)".
It should have been:
"(Although Cvitanich doesn’t speak Croatian he has stated how honored HE would have been to represent Croatia)
Interesting debate. I want to make some points here:
1. As I said, I am Peruvian of Croatian descent. Nothing more nothing less.
2. I tattooed the Grb because, as I stated before, I am proud of Croatia and my Croatian blood. I tattooed the phrase to honor my grandparents and what they believed in. Don't get me wrong, they were not ustase. I was never thought to hate anyone, and I don't.
3. I am not happy with the fact that I don't know the language. As Denis said, I am part of that group that only knows 50 words or so. However, I don't agree that not speaking the language makes you a less valuable member of the Diaspora (I am not quoting, just interpreting).
The way I see this is that what makes the difference is how much you care about Croatia. Doesn't matter if you are a 100, 50 or 25% Croat. Does not matter if you speak the language fluently. It’s all about your Spirit and how do you feel. For me, Dudu is as Croatian as Josipovic, Klasnic is as Croatian as Cvitanich (although Cvitanich doesn’t speak Croatian he has stated how honored we would have been to represent Croatia), and so on.
Sorry for all the verbosity.
Well, I never said that. But, if a person learns the language he is more of a hrvat than someone who has croatian blood and can't speak a lick of the langauge.
"Knowing a few songs and cheering on the national team does not make one croatian. Again, me personally, if you cant speak the langauge you are not a hrvat."
So some Indian guy goes to school and learns to speak Croatian and then "POOF" like magic hes Croatian cause he can speak the languge……? Interesting….
My friend is
good comments from you guys….
my response to the comment about the diaspora being responsible for a great majority of support during the 90s.
Very true, but what the locals will also tell you is the how many from the diaspora actually came back to fight and join the army. Not many, but they sure came back after the war to take advantage of gifts from HDZ and made a nice profit. Look at how many of the businesses were privatized and who got control.
We can go in circles with all of this. I am just trying to give the perspective of what the locals think and feel relating to us in the diaspora community.
Knowing a few songs and cheering on the national team does not make one croatian. Again, me personally, if you cant speak the langauge you are not a hrvat.
Also, I just dont understand how any of us who are born to two croatian parents in a city with a large croatian community can not speak or write the langauge. Every community has a church and a croatian school. It just baffles me when I see guys/girls my age or even younger and their inability to speak croatian. I understand the need to assimilate when our parents first arrived, but to me there is no excuse in not knowing the langauge if both parents were born in Croatia.
This talk about alleged disrespect between Croatians inside and outside of the country has me a bit upset. The fact is, the diaspora was responsible for a great majority of support (financial, weapons, politics, etc) during the 90s. We or our parents may have left the country for a more promising future but our hearts are still at home. Croatian was my first language but I gradually lost the ability to speak it well over the years of living in an English speaking country. Am I any less Croatian? I don't think so.
DinamoDennis,
It's not dumb, it's ignorant on the side of the person who doesn't speak the language. No offense to Ivo, he straight up said he's Peruvian. If he was to say "oh yeah, I'm Croatian, Ustasa, rah-rah-rah" and didn't know the language, then I'd call him out. Being Peruvian, you would have to assume his tata or dida was an Ustasa so he does have the right to tattoo Za Dom Spremni on his arm.
If you are going to pride yourself with being Croatian, then at least speak the language. Yes, it is hard because the grammar is the hardest in the world but at least know some to carry a conversation. I personally wouldn't go so far as ziva istina in saying that you're not Croatian if you don't but I understand where he's coming from.
Ziva hit the nail on the head. I too have spent some time in Croatia in the off-season to see what real life is really like and am familiar with the culture and how things work. The domovina Hrvati don't hate us; they look down at us and laugh at us. Svircic eluded to it it before, mi smo Amerikanci and that's pretty much the end of it. It's up to us to change their minds. So far, we as a whole are not doing a great job. Myself included. I think my Croatian speaking skills are decent but I do use Ustasa rhetoric here and there. Big negative in Croatia, especially Zagreb.
If you cant speak the language that sucks, but who really cares ?
So if someone tells you there Croatian but cant speak the language you will tell them they are not ? Thats kinda dumb.
good question on "why the diaspora is hated" by Croatians living in Croatia.
I don't know if hated is the right word, but I think "looked down at" or “looked down upon” is more accurate.
I've been fortunate enough in the past to live in Croatia for a number of years because of my work, so I think I have an understanding of the everyday culture that is out there and not the culture that most diaspora see when they visit for a few weeks in the summer time.
Remember, these are all generalizations on how I perceive the majority of the population.
They do view us as "amerikanci, kanadani, australci, etc. more than they view us as hrvati. They tend to consider the croatians in germany, switzerland, etc more croatian than they do us in N. America or Australia.
The biggest issue is the language skills many of the N.American hrvati have. Many can’t speak the language in a fluent conversation. Personally, I also am of this belief. If you can’t speak the mother tounge, than don’t call yourself a hrvat. You can be proud of your roots, but to the locals if you cant speak the language then you are an outsider.
The second reason is the political beliefs of N.Americans and Australians. Our parents left Yugo because of communisim and we grew up hating communisim and anything associated with yugo or the words Serbia or yugoslavia. We, the first generation of hrvati born outside of Croatia, have a very patriotic feeling for Croatia. The average citizen in Croatia does not. They are more worried about their economic realities than anything else. To them the war is long over and its time to move on. They see what the HDZ did while in power and all the money that was stolen during the war and after the war. While, in N. America and Australia the hrvati still support HDZ by an overwhelming margain.
There are other things….Too many hrvati in N. America go around saying “Ja sam ustase” or have a checkered flag tattooed and they think they are Croatian. This is all coming from guys whose ability to speak Croatian is zero or very bad. Can’t tell you the number of times I have witnessed hrvati from N. America butcher the language as they try to order drinks at a bar or café. People just laugh at them.
My cousin gave me the best example. He spent time in the US during college and he equated the N. American hrvati in the same manner as what we think of southern hillbillies here in the US. We laugh at guys from the south who have the confederate flag tattooed and are obsessed with NASCAR. Well, people in Croatia laugh at the diaspora when they see some guys wearing Ustase t-shirts or have a grb tattooed but cant speak a sentence grammatically correct.
Anyone remember the Cro-Yugo qualifier in Zagreb back in 1999 when we tied 2-2. If you do or if you were there like me, you’ll recall there was Croatian guy from N. America who was killed the night before the game during a bar fight. Guess the reason he was killed??? He was told to stop with his ustase stuff by a local. He didn’t and the rest is history. Now, that is on an extreme level. But, I think I have painted a picture why the people back home have a certain image of us hrvati born in N. America and to a lesser extent in Australia.
@Denis Svircic
"These are the real stars.. guys like Niko Kranjcar "play for myself""
HAHAHAHA Would you be happier is he said he played for you?
What are you saying ? Not just this quote but the whole post ?
That we should visit this site for "diaspora" and not for the boguts kranjcars ect. ?
I failed to mention something about this post….
Sure the Niko Kranjcar, Harry Redknapp, Igor Stimac, Andrew Bogut, and I know I'm missing a few more, have most of you returning wondering whats next…..
….. Let's not forget about us…. the little people(not you Ante, your face is all over Europe right now)…
Ivo Miljanovic, Ivica Peros, Andrej, Stefan Skrinjaric, Peter Hazdovac, Ante B(refusing to get on camera), Golden child, Vatreni, and I apologize if I left anyone out..
all from the "diaspora" who I had the privilege to meet and shake their hand.
All weekend I've been telling the guys, "I have to call Ivo, we have to meet Ivo"…
These are the real stars.. guys like Niko Kranjcar "play for myself"
Next stop, New York City, September 2-9
We want to meet you, and see your Croatian tattoo…haha
@anonymous #1
"beautiful ladies in san fran?"
Yes, especially in Castro district.
PS: get a name, please sign in
@Andrej
CSR will be in Toronto one day…. next stop…. The Big Apple first week of September… I feel like we are on tour.
The interview made Fox Soccer Report? online or on TV? and when?
@anonymous #2
Don't be like Annonymous #1, and get a name… sign in..
Why do Croatians that live in Croatia hate the diaspora? Im not gonna mention names, but I have been around plenty of Diaspora that sport a grb tatoo, visit Croatia only in the summer, speak 50 words of Croatian and consider themselves "veliki hrvati".. These people give the diaspora a bad name..
Ivo MiljanovicMiljanovic is in no shape or form a phony but a hero in my book for refusing to give up on his roots. Without your roots you are nobody.
I am interested to here your thoughts on "why the diaspora is hated" by Croatians living in Croatia….
The problem that I am facing is that when I go to Croatia, Croatians call me "Amerikanac", when I return to the states, Americans call me "Croatian". What the hell am I?
@Goldenchild
yup and yup.
@Ivo
Dennis Fistonich, Kvartuc and I are honored to call you "one of us"… whether that be "croatian" "diaspora" or "Castro" (scratch that last one.)
"I happen to have croatian blood in my veins, and I am proud of it. Luckily, my family never forgot it's roots and what they believed in. Period."
…… without a doubt the huge line of the month….. well said..
@ Anonymous
You're a clown.
If there exists any "hate" for the diaspora (which I've personally never encountered), then it's because those people are small-minded people like you, who have likely never left the continent. Those of your ilk are never happy, even when the streets are paved with gold.
And don't worry, sadly we've got clowns like you in the diaspora too.
@ Ziva
Your biases are far from subtle. Would you be calling Dudu that if he looked like Dunga? Or would he then be the "Brasilian-born of Italian and Portuguese roots Croat"
I don't hear you calling out the "Bosna born Croats" or the "German-born Croats" etc.
Come on man, it's the 21st century. Put away the "divine right of kings" bullshit.
Ivo is the hardest croat out there…if you have a name like that with red and white checkers inked on; you automatically count as a Croat…who really argues that (someone who wishes they were Croatian???)
yo guys, give me some updates on the U19 championships…i heard spain barely beat us…whats the deal, who's playing??
Well said Ivo.
@ Anonymous:
I am not going to explain to you why I don't know the language, it's a long story and I don't want to bore anyone.
I hate to teach you history but the "Za Dom Spremni" is not, originally, an ustasa salute, it comes from the Ban Jelicic times.
Finally, I am not Croatian but Peruvian. I happen to have croatian blood in my veins, and I am proud of it. Luckily, my family never forgot it's roots and what they believed in. Period.
At least sign with your name so I'd know to whom I am talking to.
Eduardo's 4 year deal with Shaktar just went through..
hey fam hit me up with details for those Crottenham Shirts,get at me & leave me some details on how i can make the payment for 2 shirts..peace
That's what she didn't say.
To all anonymous out there….at least come up with something creative as a name before you have something creative to say about someone or something.
And we need a version 2.0….1.0 went soft.
Uh oh, I think we have ourselves a AnteBBB version 2.0 Druga Generacija on our hands. Decki, pripremite se.
This is why many croatians who live in Croatia hate the diaspora. Dude has a "Za Dom Spremni" tatto (which over the half the country disagrees with) and can't speak a lick of the langauage, but wants to call himself a croat.
@ Anonymous
Yea there sper sexy…there just packign a little bit extra if you know what i mean!
@ Ivo,
"Great day in SF. The only sad thing was not finding uncle Jesse…I know you guys wanted to interview and give him a Crottenham T-shirt."
I wouldn't have given him a shirt because I know he wouldn't have taken it. Uncle Jesse is Greek, remember? I don't think that would fly with his buddies on the Greek team since we have them in September.
It was fun hanging out with all the Castros Ivo.
@ Anonymous,
Great line. But sign in and sign up. Don't hide that sense of humor. Fisto got done dirttty!!
hhaha I love guys like Ivo reppin their heritage.
Your interview with Harry was all over the internet and on Fox Soccer Report…good stuff boys
and when are you coming to Toronto? you know you need a Saric interview
haha, i was surprised myself… word of advice, stay away from Castro St.. u wont find them there
beautiful ladies in san fran? really??