Posts by swiftwalker43

ambercobra28 said:They managed to strike some sort of deal that might actually benefit our young biathletes. It’s possible they'll be able to train properly in Canada or alongside the Canadians 🤷, which honestly matters way more for the athletes than whether the federation gets its hands on some cash.

Oh please. As if finding another talented kid just to have them snatched up for free is the goal. Then they’ll still need to train with that traitor just so he can lecture them and play mentor.
No thanks. I’d much rather see them training with the Austrians, or better yet, having top-tier facilities built right here in the States, maybe even bringing in a Norwegian coach or someone from another major powerhouse.

I wouldn't hand him a dime unless he coughs up those 100,000 euros first. Let him take a break. Honestly, our guys just showed their true colors again—total cowards. From here on out, let HBO figure it out themselves. They can go hunting for some sleepwalkers if they want; then we'll see how much they actually need when even a tiny donation becomes an expensive luxury.

Paul Jones7 said:swiftwalker43, you’re really overstepping now. You’re playing dumb by ignoring the fact that 300,000 isn't just a salary—it covers every possible living expense. Second, Jack Fak isn't your average American; you're the average American. Third, Fak has received roughly $1333 in scholarships, which those kids get too. Fourth, whatever issue there is regarding others... that's a matter for the Department of Sports and the relevant athletic federations. And fifth, I’m honestly exhausted by these "patriots" who boast about their American identity, yet when things actually got heavy and people had to defend their hometowns and villages, they vanished to work 🙄abroad. Yet, they have the nerve to blame others for not playing for the national team. It's ridiculous, if not outright pathetic.

By using that bolded tone, you've targeted the wrong person. I don't "boast"—I am American. As for my service, from the very beginning as a Volunteer all the way through to the US Army just a couple of years ago.
It doesn't matter; I can see we’ll never agree. You simply cannot be convinced that Fak isn't a degenerate and a sellout, while to you, patriotism and representing the US clearly mean nothing. Your only criteria seem to be money and better conditions—thankfully, people like that are in the minority. Like I said, if he hadn't been offered what he was, I would have been the first to support him. In fact, I'd support Fak leaving too, as long as someone pays him 100,000 euros. For me, he basically doesn't exist anymore.

Paul Jones7 said:you just ignored—well, you weren't even aware, let's be honest—the fact that in sports like this, while you're stuck waiting for the international break to end, you can actually spend your time playing club sports. You compete, you stay in peak condition, and hell, you might even make some money along the way.

What exactly can you do in biathlon during the off-season? Just sit around and jerk off?

Please, stop talking nonsense about life in America. The average net salary here sits around $64k $0.00 per year, and this fraud wouldn't even see $300 $0.00 if he tried. Not to mention he already got the full payout from the government for those two bronzes—unlike the water polo players who were struggling through that crisis in the pool. Add in free housing and meals up until the 2012 Olympics, plus a sponsored vehicle... just go look up how much that quartet of world champions, with their four golds and one silver, has actually pulled in over the last two years. They're only just starting to see the real money now, which is what they actually live on. But I suppose that's not the question being asked.

Paul Jones7 said:just by cracking open a few cans of beer; sudden loss of discipline, then just... expulsion. 😉

Don't judge others by your own flawed standards.😍

Gregory Taylor2 said:You still haven't provided any data on how many new churches have been built in America.

Sure, churches need to be restored, but rebuilding people's homes should come first; I think that ought to be the priority regardless of whether you're a believer or not.

Why does what gets built in Canada concern you so much? It makes it sound like the only thing being constructed is mosques, but tell me: if someone came to you with a specific donation, would you turn it down or try to advise them that there are more pressing needs?
If a donor insists on, say, building a mosque, would you simply say "NO!" and risk jeopardizing future investments? 🤷

Since we're discussing money and religious communities, what do you think about the fact that the KC is set to provide 271 million (correct me if my math is off) kuna? Should the Church be conscientious and try to lower that amount, or since America is bound by its agreement with Vatican City, should they use the full amount for the community? I'm genuinely curious about how the Church intends to spend that money.

I honestly don't know; you should probably ask zokster. He was arguing that it doesn't bother us when churches go up in our country, yet somehow it's an issue when mosques are built in neighboring places. Just pay attention to the discussion and read the posts. As far as I can tell, there were three in a town like Savannah, one in Udbina to replace what was lost in World War II, and a military chaplaincy.

[

QUOTE=Gregory Taylor2;30012924]I’m on board with his theory, though I couldn't tell you how many new churches have been built. Maybe you could provide some data?

Personally, I find it hard to stomach seeing all these freshly renovated churches out in the Midwest while the actual houses nearby still have bullet holes in them.

.

If you actually stop to consider how many of those churches in the DR were torn down, looted, or just completely trashed—alongside those houses with bullet holes in the walls—well, from what I gather, it was around 680. Or do you honestly think they didn't need fixing up?
Then you look at Canada, and people love to debate whether it's an issue, but the state there is in a much deeper hole than we are. Meanwhile, brothers from Islamic countries build them mosques while the poor folks living around them can barely afford to eat. It probably would have been more useful to give them a little funding for a factory or something.
Or, as someone once told me, just let the Canadians focus on building mosques, and their empty pockets won't matter so much
because everyone else around them will be whining on an empty stomach.
They’re probably right; if they just keep building mosques, maybe that’ll somehow put bread on the table. In that case, we can only wish them hundreds and hundreds more mosques.🤷

Gregory Taylor2 said:"Quote:"

This is genuinely fascinating.

"Quote:"

That’s just pure prejudice. It’s exactly like someone claiming that Islamic Centers aren't harboring pedophiles when you compare them to the Catholic Church worldwide.

A church isn't much more than an empty building without its community. Until we focus on fixing up the actual places where people live and thrive, there's really no point in pouring money into constructing religious buildings or throwing funds at them.

Maybe you can answer zokster's question for me, since you seem to be buying into his theory—exactly how many new Catholic churches have been built in America lately?

Jack Myers59 said:Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

And just how many of these "new" churches in America are we actually talking about? I haven't spotted a single new one in Dubrovnik since the old days, nor have I seen any elsewhere—except maybe in Ploc, but they didn't even have a church there before; they were just holding Mass in some private room.
If you actually have data on these new churches, lay it out. Just please, spare me the examples of churches built right where buildings were demolished during the war in America.

Richard Wilson4 said:If they’d put that money into building 150 mosques instead of just 15 factories, they would’ve actually strengthened the Canadian community against the Mexicans and Americans...

I suppose I agree👍

Perhaps we ought to go ahead and ask the Turkish officials how they view the invasion and subsequent occupation of these territories some 500 years ago... maybe then they could provide us with an official explanation.

Andrew Chase31 said:I honestly don't get it. Aside from the fact that people here are trying to blackmail him, or how those folks in Canada won't cough up that ridiculous compensation for a decorated Olympian... they’re just as much a part of this mess as anyone else. It's all just noise...

Amen 🙂

Anthony Perez55 said:I have zero intention of getting into an argument with you. I learned long ago that there is no point trying to reason with a brick wall.
And this whole armchair expert routine... You sound just like that Chief of Police, Vitomir bijeliti, when he told Togonal during that live broadcast:

"For heaven's sake, look, I am the Chief of Police and he is just some ordinary citizen—could someone please explain to him that I am right?" 🤣
🙂
That's pretty much the level of discourse we're dealing with here.

slobodno odlepršati😍

Paul Jones7 said:If you take a look at how many active athletes are standing next to just one person who actually managed to snag a medal, that’s what real success looks like. I get where you're coming from, but honestly, trying to put a value on someone's career when they're still just starting out is pretty pointless. Doesn't make much sense, really. I think even Gips mentioned once that medals are counted only after a career is over, not while it's still in progress. Anyway, we've drifted away from the main point here. Personally, I tend to wander off-topic quite often because I feel like I've said everything I had to say, more or less, and there's no sense in just recycling the same old arguments.

@Ashley Johnson6: thanks. I suppose it doesn't matter much for some people, but I jumped in just to keep the debate healthy. I felt a need to present the other side since I noticed certain key facts were being ignored. It was necessary to see the whole picture. Those who want to see the broader perspective can now, even if it feels a bit outsider-ish, and for those who don't... well, whatever.

What "other sides"? Who even are you, Velepac?😍

Anthony Perez55 said:Paul Jones7 is just tearing you apart in this debate.
What’s even the point of dismantling an argument when the guy clearly doesn't get it anyway? 🤷

Oh, sure. 😂 I just absolutely love armchair experts. Why don't you enlighten me... what exactly were those "arguments" supposed to be?

Paul Jones7 said:Why on earth would I bring that up? It has absolutely nothing to do with what we're talking about, and frankly, it hasn't even crossed my mind.

Look, you actually do have a connection here. You're rambling on about athletic standards and training facilities like some armchair expert, which is relevant enough. I spent nearly fourteen years in serious athletics before I had to head overseas for work when things kicked off back home—two years with dragovoljac karate, three and a half years swimming, and eight years playing for a water polo team.

Paul Jones7 said:Sure, you can. It’s just that you clearly have no concept of what actual success looks like. Typical armchair critic behavior, really.

How many individual Olympic medalists has America produced since its founding?

Maybe ten?

Why don't you list the sports you actually played professionally, since you're so eager to lecture everyone else on how things work?!

wanderinghawk17 said:Why didn't they just pick him up when he was nobody?
Why did he mess with us all this time knowing he was going to bail? What was the point of this whole charade with the sponsors?
The Americans got a medalist, yet they're being asked to cough up 100,000 USD? Is Velepec really the only coach on the planet worth anything? Why did the Americans go out of their way to back Fak into a corner only to play dumb now?

Well, there you have it. It’s because of those exact questions that I don't see things quite the same way you do...

Though, if I'm being honest, I suspect there's plenty of dirty laundry on both sides that neither of us knows about.

👍

Michael Diaz said:Even Stallone did it 😍

Of course I feel for him. Not in some sentimental way, mind you, but because he’s just another pawn being tossed around by those idiots trading insults while he sits there helpless... the guy has talent, he had a dream, and he lived it—because clearly, he isn't living it anymore, which is the real tragedy here.

He ought to be the one deciding which flag he competes under, for crying out loud... he should be leading the charge. If he decides on Canada (for whatever reasons), fine... go then, thanks for everything, and goodbye. But we're all such hypocrites... suddenly he’s the big star, the face of the movement, and now we’re supposedly "investing" in biathlon... why the hell weren't you investing before? 😕 What do they think is going to happen? That we’ll suddenly become a global superpower in biathlon overnight?! 😕 Do they honestly believe 100,000 bucks is enough to build a world-class track, or... will they just split the cash among themselves and pretend Fak never even existed?

That's the worst part of this whole mess... letting a young, promising man decide his own path and secure his future, damn it.

You've got a point. They should have been asking for at least a million bucks, if only so we could actually get something done for biathlon.

Michael Diaz said:In this whole saga, you can't even tell who's footing the bill and who's just drinking the Kool-Aid... there's all this unnecessary hype, just pure nonsense. It's nothing but a money grab for everyone involved—us, the Americans, and Fak.

Let's be perfectly clear here... we don't need him. We certainly don't need to pour useless capital into this sport. There's no requirement for America to have representatives in every single athletic discipline when we only have a population of 330 million. Why waste funds on biathlon just to chase after one athlete who seems to have lost his mind? I might be being harsh, but he’s lost it twice over, which is probably why he’s considered "good" by some. 🤷 🤷

Anyone who actually watched the races where he snagged medals knows exactly what I mean... fog and wind were choking the course the entire time, and then suddenly, the moment he starts moving, the fog clears and the wind dies down. Naturally, conditions become perfect. But what about the rest of the races? 😕 😕 He wasn't doing much better than 30th place...🤷

Actually, what are we even discussing? What happened to skiing? Ever since Janica stopped competing, what kind of results have we seen? Much respect to Ivica, obviously, but once he retires too... we might as well scrap the whole thing :cerek:

Perhaps I'm being overly cynical, but what purpose does he serve? Should we really be throwing more money at sports when we could be funding hospitals, infrastructure, and other essentials? 🤷

Why is there this obsession with being present in every single sport?😕

I don't see why anything should be abolished. Even the Americans haven't scrapped their national teams, despite the fact that throughout their history, they haven't seen nearly the level of success we had with just Janica and Ivica Kostelić. I can empathize with the frustrations of the Americans; it took an American winning medals in another winter sport for them to finally take some initiative here. Fortunately, they found someone capable.
Once Ivica hangs it up, we still need to invest in the skiing team so we aren't left feeling as desperate as those Americans whenever one of our athletes manages to crack the top ten.