Special thanks to Grgich Hills for sponsoring this show with a beautiful 2007 Cabernet from their collection. Find the rest of their world-class wines at grgich.com.
Tonight, we will discuss the current Euro 2012 Handball tournament as well as the water polo championships Croatia is taking part in. And with only one week left in the winter transfer window, which Croatian nationals will be making a move?
I would start keeping statistics to prove it you, but you would ignore them, just like you do with Modric.
@AllenIrritation:
I have been following this site for quite some time and you comment far more than I do.
I don’t know who this Hulkster guy is, but this guy may be up there with Ziva Istina for “jesus christ, please stop talking” award.
@Ante B:
Where I grew up, there was a clear line drawn in the sand between football and soccer. Perhaps I am a relic of a bygone era in which you could not be a fan of both. I suggest Ante and Denis add an American football section for all relevant stories.
However I still contest that
1 American football is a derivative of rugby
2. There are way too many commercials in American football
3. Athleticism and size trump intelligence in American football (for many positions)
On a funny note, I was looking through my parents photos of their trip to Croatia this summer. In it I saw a relative who had played for Rijeka and the Kansas City Spurs (NASL) wearing a NY Giants T-Shirt. I threw up in my mouth a little.
the League= one of the best written shows currently on tV
I’d rather go to a bar but thanks for the invite. Wouldn’t have guessed you were Mormon. Are you part of the Genesis movement? I thought you guys were supposed to be good at Fantasy Football (enter shameless plug for The League on FX)
@Ante B
Go enjoy a BigMac as you watch the Superbowl at a Jehovah’s Witness Hall.
@Denis
I have been posting under numerous names for quite some time. I only changed it to the Hulkster during a mullet/skullet tangent.
@Ante B,
back in the mix. Good to have you back.
@The Hulkster,
“I just took a mean shit. It was 90% mental.”
You’re starting to fit in quite nicely here. I almost fell out of my chair after reading this.
NFL might be “King” in the states, but “football” is still round on this site.
I love that my Ante Baricevic has returned back to the site from his yearly winter hibernation. Don’t worry Ante, when dinamo turns 100, you will also be able to buy a 100th anniversary shirt.
I wish there was more WNBA on TV.
Also, before I forget…
To Ante Kvartuc,
Horrible, terrible, awful shirt in the video. No wonder nobody was watching this week. Bring back Fisto!
Yeah, you probably lost some brain cells too from pushing so hard. Then again when it comes to talking about the NFL, you didn’t really have them to start as your ignorance has pointed out.
To your other point: Exactly, you get guys who know nothing about the NFL (read: the hulkster) on here talking about sports they know nothing of or about, or let alone have ever played. That last sentenced proved it alone. Go to any football player and coach, they’ll tell you the same thing. Either 70-90% of the game is mental, 10-30% physical.
Ante K and Denis S:
This is what you get when you change it from a Croatian soccer to a Croatian sports site.
@ Ante B:
I just took a mean shit. It was 90% mental.
Your statement of 10% mental / 90% physical is utterly ridiculous.
It that was the case, soccer would be 99.99%mental.
4. The “Hulkster” was a shit wrestler. 🙂
NFL…….physical vs. mental???? I don’t care. I love watching the sport. I think it goes hand-in-hand. You have to be at your peak physcially to be able to master the mental aspect of the game.
I know a lot of people look at some interior linemen (offensive gaurds and defensive linemen) and think they are big fat pigs. They are, but they are conditioned and trained to do their jobs. Every know and then you see a freak of an athlete who is 275 pounds but is able to chase down running backs.
Either way, football is a great TV sport. I can sit down on Saturday afternoons and watch college games from noon to whenever the late west coast game is over. Same with the NFL on Sunday.
I see the hulkster is on a ‘shit nobody says’ kick.
“I could really go for a filet o fish right now.”
“mmmm Captain D’s”
“I miss my dial up.”
“The NFL has no skill.”
You don’t know which statement is more ridiculous.
War more NFL on this site to remind the delta bravos that here in ‘merica, the NFL is king.
Triple U-the guy at the office who catches me yawning at work and responds with “Monday.”
3. Bourbon is shit whiskey (made in dry counties with corn, distilled only once and aged in new barrels)
@Ante B:
I have some other revelations about America that you make take umbrage with:
1. McDonald’s is shit food
2. Budweiser is shit beer (made from corn)
@anonymous:
Rugby players all seem to be fit enough to maul each other for 80 minutes. I don’t think most lineman could do that without losing 60 lbs.
“a 4.5 hour baseball game is fun to watch”
~The Hulkster
line of the week… haha..
Lots of NFL fans and haters as I can see. I heard they started playing american football in Zagreb as I had to order a Riddel helmet for someone last year.
I respect the NFL just as every other sport. However, I could care less about it. I wish David Diehl all the success in the world, but I wouldn’t be the right guy for the interview. Anyone in NY up for an interview?
The hulkster and Ante B both made some interesting points. I played a little football in grade school just messing around with friends. I never understood how difficult it is for the average person to kick a field goal. I was smashing 40 yards blindfolded. For the most part, I played wide receiver as I was fast and skinny, couldnt tackle a little girl.
I feel bad for the offensive and defensive linemen. Their lives are over once they retire.
Don’t get me started on “stickball”. baseball makes golf look like a sport.
@poglavnik,
Lots of hate in the air. You can’t hate the Bruins, come on. I was shooting for Vancouver as well, but Tim Thomas is a legend. Skipping out on a white house visit? classic.
All your opinions are irrelevant on NFL here.
@ Hulkster
get your shit right, everyone knows rugby players are players who can’t make it in american football, that simple. 2nd tier athletes!
Say hello to Mike and the Mad Dog for me.
When it comes to your view on the NFL, to quote the once famous line on the old CSR, “I remain unmoved on the matter.” I think you’re wrong when it comes to the NFL, but we are all entitled to our opinion no matter how ridiculous some of your ideas sound to me personally. To me, you will always be wrong about the NFL and there’s nothing wrong with that. No, idemo dalje…
@Ante B:
I am aware of David Diehl’s tattoo.
IMHO American football is a shitty version of rugby. Which itself is far less skills based than soccer.
I know someone very closely that played as a college lineman and didn’t start playing American football until his freshman year of high school. He played soccer until that time and started as a varsity lineman at a competitive high school.
He is naturally quite large and athletic ,but a football player of similar stature could never make a similar transition to soccer (OchoCinco). He would have been a college level or possibly higher level soccer player if he didn’t make the switch.
Additionally, these college football programs routinely take fit 6’5″ 240 lb athletes and turn them into 300 lb messes complete with beer bellies. Add in head/neck injuries and we have one great sport.
I am shocked that so many “Croats” like a game that is so heavily dominated by commercial breaks. American sports are only good for one thing- PROFIT FROM ADVERTISING.
The NHL is even ruining hockey with the increased amount of commercial breaks.
BTW: I know a total of five people who have played college football at div 1 or div1aa schools. Three of them were lineman and I have had numerous conversations with them regarding their experiences.
If American football interests you this much, perhaps you should visit Mike and the Mad Dog’s website.
No, succesful linemen are picked because of their size and their ability to read their assignments, blocks and their reaction time to said variables. What good is someone who is that size and can’t block for shit and doesn’t know their assignment? Exactly. I’m not making a comparison between the NFL and soccer but what I am arguing is your contention that there is no skill in the NFL. That’s ridiculous, pure and simple. Anybody who has ever played football knows that.
Since you’re on the ridiculous streak, to see why American football is covered on this site is as easy as watching the NFC Championship game yesterday. Look at Dave Diehl’s tattoo…we have an American of Croatian descent.
@the NFL lovers
Next thing you will probably tell me is that a 4.5 hour baseball game is fun to watch
@Ante B:
I am born and bred in America. Played every sport as a kid recreationally or for high school.
Lineman are picked because they are 6’6″ 300lbs and can squat 650 lbs. I fail to see how skill is involved.
Alll plays are called from the sidelines. The players need a good memory and need to be good athletes. It can not be compared to English football regarding skill.
If I wanted to talk about football, I would hang out with every pear shaped loser NFL fan in NJ. American football should be ignored by this site.
It’s true or at least that’s what our former coaches said. You might up that number to 20% but my point is that it’s overwhelmingly mental and beats out physicality.
@ Ante B
I agree that the game (like lots of others) is very mental, but only 10% physical?! Really? Have you ever seen how banged up these guys are when they retire? It’s disgusting! These guys injest as many pain killers as they do food.
The NFL rules! Die hard Eagles fan here for over 20 years and this SuperBowl is just a f**ked up finish to a f**ked up season for us! Can’t root for the Giants for obvious reasons, and I’ve also hated the Pats for a while now too. Also since Im from Vancouver (and thanks to the Bruins) I hate all things Boston!
Can’t wait for that NFL draft now!
The Hulkster,
Did you ever play ‘American’ football before in school? By that last line, the answer must be a resounding no. All of the positions in ‘American’ football require an exorbitant amount of mental and physical skill; the game is 90% mental, 10% physical. Don’t believe me? Look at any offensive line. Any lineman will tell you that…let alone safeties, corners, the quarterback, d-line, linebacker core, etc.
The play calls do come in from the sideline but it’s the players that have to execute them.
American football is a bastardized version of rugby. Honestly, I don’t know rugby’s rules, but it is more interesting to watch.
10 minutes of the clock take 40 minutes of my life due to the constant commercials. I love when American Football fans say soccer is boring but will sit through endless commercials as they take a 45 second break every time the line of scrimmage is moved.
Bottom line most positions are not skilled based and the plays are all dictated from the sidelines.
Zbog žene Hrvatice Nijemac želi postati Vatreni!
http://sportski.net.hr/nogomet/reprezentacija/page/2012/01/21/0343006.html
Brane saying oh yeah while you guys were drinking may be one of the more creepier moments. Weak show but whatever. I’ll be busy next few Sundays so yeah sorry. Fisto and Lebo need to be on the show!
Ratings are probably in the shitter for this episode. Sorry guys, but you have to respect AMERICAN football sometimes. God help you guys in two weeks if you do a show. I’ll watch it now though as I’m very disgusted on AMERICAN football today. Go I don’t know in the Super Bowl. Go free agency
GIANTS GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL BITCHES!!!
I live in Monmouth too, close to the shore. I’ve been to Hoboken once to watch a Euro qualifier, never for the Euros. Try Mulligan’s in Hoboken, they usually show Croatia matches, but the #’s aren’t the same as in Scorps
@Jersey Cro:
What county are you in. I am in Monmouth. Have you tried any Hoboken pubs to watch the Euros? Driving into Queens is too much of a hassle for me.
handball is quite simple really, my only problem with the sport is that the referees can very easily influence the match, as “passive play” is subjective. It would be better if there was a simple shot clock
I am glad you guys don’t fully know the rules of Water polo and Handball. Both are fun, but hard to catch games except during the Olympics.
Stop commenting about American Football