CroatianSoccerReport.com caught up with Memphis Grizzlies Spanish center Marc Gasol on April 13th, 2010 in Los Angeles. Gasol spoke about the influence soccer had on him growing up in Spain, Barcelona FC and Dražen Petrović’s impact on foreign players.
On the eve of Barcelona’s second leg Champions League clash with bitter rivals Real Madrid, we find it appropriate to ask a true Catalan what Barcelona FC really means to its people.
* This interview took place minutes after the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, earning them an 8-seed in the Western Conference playoffs. TEAM CSR is taking full credit for the Grizzlies’ success this postseason; defeating top-ranked San Antonio Spurs in the first round and winning the opening game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the western semis. TEAM CSR was the last media outlet to leave the Grizzlies locker that night; and we wished them all a genuine ‘good luck!’
and not only that, the league will continue to be 16 teams next season, then 12 and then 10. They refuse to listen to my valid suggestion of a 4-team league 🙂
Fricken joke.
Hajduk lose to lowly Dragovoljac and Halilhodzic resigns from Dinamo because Mamic acted up again…another week in the HNL lol
@Boris,
Wow!
that was embarrassing.
I am at a loss for words.
I still have Lakers in 6 🙂
lakers down 0-2.
denis, any comment?
@Ante
Not to worry, on this side of the border the jinx works in reverse, see Kesler's OT goal last night! 🙂
This might be the year we add Lord Stanley's mug to our Olympic gold!!!
@franjo tudjman,
Thanks for the story on Drazen and popovich. Team CSR will try to set up an interview next season. David Diehl would be a good interview as well. The Giants are @SF and @Arizona next season. We will try to make it out there.
Also, Owen Marecic was drafted by Cleveland. The Browns are @Oak @SF and @Arizona this year.
@ BBB,
I was recently in Vancouver and thought it was a beautiful city. What makes you think I could jinx them with that information? 🙂
Go 'Nucks!
PS
JP, sorry in advance.
Who would have thought of the possibility of a Hawks/Grizzlies NBA Final before the season started 🙂
@Denis,
Thanks for responding. As a huge fan of the Nets before their announcement of their move to Brooklyn, I vividly remember Petrovic seeking out Popovich as soon as their game was over in San Antonio and the two of them seemed to have a nice conversation on the way to the locker room.
Another suggestion (sorry if someone else has already mentioned this) is NY Giants David Diehl. His mother is a Croat and he has the huge grb on his arm which is hard to miss :O
I've seen hundreds of his interviews and he is extremely bright and VERY media friendly.
Bulls will come back; it's only one game.
Kvartuc has yet again jinxed another team-this time Vancouver. Mark it.
@Franjo,
Excellent suggestions. Popovich is not media friendly. For the most part, I dont think that he will open up about Cro-Serb topic or the video. He might say a few words about Petrovic.
Divac? hah. This site would blow up. 🙂 Why are you promoting serbs? Why are you interviewing serbs? etc etc. Vlade would be an excellent interview ONLY because of the film….
question #1….. How come Drazen's REAL best friend, Stojko Vrankovic was not in the film?
I would bomb Vlade with questions… but he will not open up. Also, no way he gives us an interview.
Mark is a class act guy. I asked him off camera:
"are you releived that you will not play the Lakers and your brother in the first round of the playoffs?"
He kind of smiled and replied, "Well, it doesnt matter who we play as long as we are healthy and playing well together as a team."
Mark must get more questions about his brother than about himself. Looking back on the trade now, the Grizzlies did get the draft rights to Mark from the Lakers in the Pao trade.
As a Lakers fan, I would trade back Pao for Mark.
@Ziva,
You are right. Dirk Nowitzki….
@Ante B,
Your Bulls are in trouble. With or without Rose, they are done against the Hawks. Match up problems for Chicago.
Marc Gasol has been phenomenal in the playoffs with Zach Randolph.
Some suggestions for future interviews for CSR, although these individuals may already be on your "radar":
1) Greg Popovic (San Antonio Spurs Coach)- With both a Croat & Serbian parent, would make for an interesting interview. He's famous for his one-line mocking quips with the media, so more the reason to get him 🙂
and….
2) Vlade Divac- Yes, I saw the documentary as well, which to me was more an infomercial. I'm sure you guys could phrase some questions that would not make him walk out and get some juicy nuggets from it.
Keep the Barry Melrose "hairdid" please
@ BBB,
Sharks were the better team. Did I expect to win that series? NO.
Is it fun ruffling your feathers during the games? YES.
Canucks will own you in the next round…no Cup for SJ. Sorry.
@ Ziva,
All the Euro guys have been class acts and more than willing to give us a few minutes. (Bogut, Scola, Gasol) plus Kidd and Nash. A majortiy of them engage us in the conversation once we say we want to talk about Petrovic or soccer etc.
As you know, these guys hear the same questions night in and night out.
"You had a great game. 20 points, 10 rebounds. How do you feel as the playoffs approach?"
"Yeh I felt good. Had a good game but getting the W is what's most important."
I'd rather ask them about their dog than this stuff. Check out this interview from Nova.
http://gol.hr/clanak/rubrika/kosarka/video-kobe-bryant-prvi-puta-o-braci-drazenu-i-divcu-tuzno-je-to-vidjeti.html
You gotta be kidding me! Asking about what you pray about and what every tattoo on your body means. Dude. Not cool.
I guess they'll let anybody into staples Center these days… 🙂
Kvartuc, why did you chop of the Barry Melrose hair do? It's the playoffs….whoops, just answered my own question.
Interview was well done. Always help when you have a level-headed athlete who will give you a few minutes in the locker room. Its not always the case.
Seems like a cool dude, him and his team playing real well right about now!