Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Walter Grant5 said:Look, I didn't bring it up because that's what the HND says. I brought it up because it's the damn truth. My take has nothing to do with their official stance; it's about the fact that these guys were fired for reasons that are legally and intellectually idiotic.

But honestly, you're better off going this route: tell him he's just as much of a joke as the HND. Just labeling someone like that and tossing out a category they have zero connection to doesn't work. To put it simply: if I say a single-pane cylindrical glass object is a cup, and Hitler says the exact same thing, does that make me an ally of his ideology? No. It doesn't work that way.

Yeah, he went after those crazed extremists in Mostar back then because the idiot can't tell the difference between A. B. Šimić and A. Šantić. 🤣

Didn't read it.

I said it based on my own experience where I haven't run into any factual errors yet. So yeah, there probably are some. There are mistakes. Congrats, you totally destroyed him.

You didn't, though you did write:

Walter Grant5 said:Dežulović's piece from Slobodna

Boris Pavelić from New List got canned because they ran his article quoting Manolić claiming Karamarko was involved with the UDBA

America 🤦

It’s almost like this has never happened before in America! You were asking earlier if they’re still writing for Jutarnji list—yeah, they are. It looks like the big boss just gave them a little reality check by hitting their wallets, basically sending a clear message that nobody should be messing with the Bandić/Mamić crew anymore. Even ZZ posted a perfectly timed cover photo for Globus to drive the point home.

Look, I said it happened because it actually happened, not because I'm backing the HND. I didn't even bring them up. Put those entries back at the top. I didn't mention the HND once. All I said was they got fired and the US 🤦

So what, I didn't comment on the forum before, so now I'm not allowed to either? Like, I haven't complained until now? I don't get it.

Besides, why hasn't anyone been punished for letting those trash articles get published in the first place?

Walter Grant5 said:Look, I said it happened because it actually happened, not because I'm backing the HND. I didn't even bring them up. Put those entries back at the top. I didn't mention the HND once. All I said was they got fired and the US 🤦

So what, I didn't comment on the forum before, so now I'm not allowed to either? Like, I haven't complained until now? I don't get it.

Besides, why hasn't anyone been punished for letting those trash articles get published in the first place?

Haha, hey, nobody’s stopping you! But let’s be real for a second—it’s pretty obvious that some people on this forum are playing favorites and using totally different sets of rules depending on who they're talking about. Honestly, it’s the exact same story with the mainstream media; everyone just dances to whatever tune the big bosses decide to play.

Anthony Jackson2 said:Firing people and death threats—it’s just become Karamarko's standard toolkit for censorship.

Is it... Matija Babić Karamarkov Is Karamarko really that kind of guy?

Noah Carter24 said:Haha, hey, nobody’s stopping you! But let’s be real for a second—it’s pretty obvious that some people on this forum are playing favorites and using totally different sets of rules depending on who they're talking about. Honestly, it’s the exact same story with the mainstream media; everyone just dances to whatever tune the big bosses decide to play.

Is it... Matija Babić Karamarkov Is Karamarko really that kind of guy?

Wait, hold up. Where exactly am I deviating from my own criteria? And why am I being forced out of this "group" when I never even joined it and have zero connection to any of this nonsense?

Why am I even being lumped into some collective group? I showed up here solo to comment on one specific situation. Why am I being tied to one of maybe two perspectives that the average person's brain can actually wrap itself around today?

Noah Carter24 said:Haha, hey, nobody’s stopping you! But let’s be real for a second—it’s pretty obvious that some people on this forum are playing favorites and using totally different sets of rules depending on who they're talking about. Honestly, it’s the exact same story with the mainstream media; everyone just dances to whatever tune the big bosses decide to play.

Is it... Matija Babić Karamarkov Is Karamarko really that kind of guy?

It’s not that I always agree with him, and I definitely don't want to defend him, but you're comparing apples to oranges here. You're grouping him up with an editor at the New York Post being banned from publishing news about Karamarkov working for the UDBA...

Walter Grant5 said:Wait, hold up. Where exactly am I deviating from my own criteria? And why am I being forced out of this "group" when I never even joined it and have zero connection to any of this nonsense?

Why am I even being lumped into some collective group? I showed up here solo to comment on one specific situation. Why am I being tied to one of maybe two perspectives that the average person's brain can actually wrap itself around today?

👋

James Anderson5 said:It’s not that I always agree with him, and I definitely don't want to defend him, but you're comparing apples to oranges here. You're grouping him up with an editor at the New York Post being banned from publishing news about Karamarkov working for the UDBA...

But you totally
😍

James Anderson5 said:It’s not that I always agree with him, and I definitely don't want to defend him, but you're comparing apples to oranges here. You're grouping him up with an editor at the New York Post being banned from publishing news about Karamarkov working for the UDBA...

You're being super selective with what you read, which is pretty unusual! 🥱

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Noah Carter24 said:Haha, hey, nobody’s stopping you! But let’s be real for a second—it’s pretty obvious that some people on this forum are playing favorites and using totally different sets of rules depending on who they're talking about. Honestly, it’s the exact same story with the mainstream media; everyone just dances to whatever tune the big bosses decide to play.

Is it... Matija Babić Karamarkov Is Karamarko really that kind of guy?

Your reply has absolutely nothing to do with my original post 🤷

Regarding Dežulović leaving—followed by Pavičić and Tomić—I’ll just repeat what I said a few days ago: all that was left at EPH was the bottom-shelf stuff. At least when it comes to columnists. Sure, they wrote garbage too, but looking at their whole body of work, their pieces were always better than the rest. It’s probably a matter of taste, but I think most people would agree.

As for their articles in Jutarnji, from what I've seen, they were basically just recycling content from Slobodna with a little disclaimer—so I doubt they'll keep working with other media outlets under the EPH umbrella.

Everyone knew EPH was going to hell the moment Hanžeković took over; it was really just a matter of time.

Avoiding Dežulović is a brilliant tactical move. 👍 Much like the various antics involving Butkovica, Tomica, and their ilk. 👍

I also notice that Karamarko is throwing around threats of liquidation—likely aimed at forum members, which explains why they know firsthand—so this is just his standard operating procedure. 🤣

It’s just Raspudić. 👍 And Index, though that seems to be more of a habit for them.

brightpilot6 said:EPH should technically lean slightly toward the left, or at least that’s what the new owner claimed; however, it functions primarily as a PR playground available to anyone if the boss isn't using it first. Personally, I found the endless praise heaped upon Mamić and Bandić during that first Sunday after the takeover absolutely nauseating. I haven't bought a single EPH publication since then.

By the way, when I caught the cover of the new Globus, I nearly lost my lunch:

You can probably imagine exactly what kind of article it turned out to be.

🤦 🤣 🙏 (not necessarily in that order)
This is exactly the kind of thing that baits random passersby into grabbing a pamphlet just to read the nonsense.

Keith Miller30 said:Avoiding Dežulović is a brilliant tactical move. 👍 Much like the various antics involving Butkovica, Tomica, and their ilk. 👍

I also notice that Karamarko is throwing around threats of liquidation—likely aimed at forum members, which explains why they know firsthand—so this is just his standard operating procedure. 🤣

It’s just Raspudić. 👍 And Index, though that seems to be more of a habit for them.

You're a weird one. 🤔

I can't even remember the last time I picked up an American newspaper—but if anything stuck in my head, it was those killer pieces by Dežulović and Raspudić.

Larry Fox5 said:You're a weird one. 🤔

I can't even remember the last time I picked up an American newspaper—but if anything stuck in my head, it was those killer pieces by Dežulović and Raspudić.

Well, honestly, I find it strange that anyone could think Dežulović is okay. At least we can agree on Raspudić, right? 🙂

Of course, when I say "strange," I don't mean it in a malicious or negative way. ☕

Dežulović, Pavičić, and maybe even Bešker too, though he’s lost a bit of his edge lately. That seems to be the standard formula for what works at Jutarnji. I also find myself reaching for Kuljiš, even if he does tend to get a little carried away with certain topics sometimes.

Of that entire group, Pavičić is the standout for me, particularly because of that knack he has for spotting subtle social trends and drawing clever parallels with events that seem completely unrelated on the surface.

Bešker is the only sane one left; God help the rest of them...

As for them getting fired, well, I suppose they'll find some other outlet to write for, assuming they're truly as "in demand" as everyone claims when they say the whole country is crying out for their columns...

Dežulović is easily the best columnist in the US. He’s maybe the only one who actually knows how to write; stylistically, he absolutely eats the rest of them alive (subjective, I know). Everyone else is just the same old crap—identical vocab, same rhythm, probably all taught by the same elementary school teacher. Look, a journalist isn't a novelist, but a good writer is a good writer, and if you're going to bother reading an article anyway... I honestly don't think anyone would genuinely prefer reading something by Tomić or Bešker over Dežulović. If they did, they clearly don't want to read, or they just don't know any better, and both options would be a total drag.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Dežulović is easily the best columnist in the US. He’s maybe the only one who actually knows how to write; stylistically, he absolutely eats the rest of them alive (subjective, I know). Everyone else is just the same old crap—identical vocab, same rhythm, probably all taught by the same elementary school teacher. Look, a journalist isn't a novelist, but a good writer is a good writer, and if you're going to bother reading an article anyway... I honestly don't think anyone would genuinely prefer reading something by Tomić or Bešker over Dežulović. If they did, they clearly don't want to read, or they just don't know any better, and both options would be a total drag.

Just finished reading a few of his pieces on http://pescanik.net/author/boris-dezulovic/ ...... seriously incredible style, regardless of your political leanings—unless you're some kind of fanatic. The humor, the structure, the sheer passion for writing....

Bešker's columns used to be absolutely electric, though they seem to have lost some of that spark lately; still, he remains leagues ahead of almost every other journalist out there.

As for Tomić... I wouldn't even call his writing a column; it feels more like low-brow bathroom humor that only a certain subset of wounded egos would bother reading.

Dežulović won me over forever with just three pieces he wrote about Zidane back in 2006. Honestly, those are the only newspaper clippings I’ve ever bothered to save. In a way, they even helped ease the trauma from that one infamous final.

I have to point out, though, that in these sports threads, things tend to loop endlessly; usually, it's just some ball still flying through the air while someone, somewhere, on some pitch, is still staring at 🤣

Legend 🙏

Larry Fox5 said:Just finished reading a few of his pieces on http://pescanik.net/author/boris-dezulovic/ ...... seriously incredible style, regardless of your political leanings—unless you're some kind of fanatic. The humor, the structure, the sheer passion for writing....

Did you catch that one about Ivanišević? Total must-read. I don't know any American columnist who’d even attempt a conceptual approach like that, let alone pull it off almost perfectly.

brightpilot6 said:Dežulović won me over forever with just three pieces he wrote about Zidane back in 2006. Honestly, those are the only newspaper clippings I’ve ever bothered to save. In a way, they even helped ease the trauma from that one infamous final.

I have to point out, though, that in these sports threads, things tend to loop endlessly; usually, it's just some ball still flying through the air while someone, somewhere, on some pitch, is still staring at 🤣

Legend 🙏

Yeah, it’s always that same old pattern. You see it all over this post too. It's basically their trademark, honestly.

*Sniffle.*