Posts by swiftwalker43

wanderinghawk17 said:I honestly don't follow your logic, Paul Jones7. We had this guy who made all his deals behind closed doors with the Canadians, leading us Americans on a wild goose chase while we sat there scratching our heads. It wasn't even his intention to compete for the US, and his own comments pretty much confirmed that. There was money poured into him, too; I suppose he had some actual potential once upon a time.

The fact that our national federation is demanding compensation after Jakob Fak’s duplicity and extortion is practically nothing.

I wouldn't go so far as to label him a traitor... well, maybe a little... but mostly it's just that incredibly shady way he played the whole game...

Paul Jones7, what daz wrote here is probably the most accurate, albeit brief, summary of the whole Fak situation. He led us all by the nose. Even before he managed to snag an Olympic medal, that shady associate of his was already bragging about how Fak had promised them everything. So, enough with the nonsense; as I've said before, some corrupt officials won't even hand over a registration form unless they get their hundred-dollar kickback.

George Robinson43 said:Maybe we should put some money—assuming any actually shows up—into our boys, and then just try to forget all about John as quickly as possible.
Being an American isn't some kind of special privilege, nor is it something you get to pick out of a catalog when you're born. It’s just what happens. Honestly, looking at Jakob Fak, it clearly wasn't easy being an American, and he made his choice to be Canadian instead.
Like I mentioned earlier... if he had actually gone through with requesting his American citizenship papers, he would have had them by now. 🙏 Just my two cents... I figured I’d chime in, if only to prove that some of us still actually hold a position on things.
All those pathetic outbursts about his supposed American heritage... honestly, it just proves what kind of lowlife he really is.
Best of luck in hell, Fuck.

The edge. Always right there on the precipice. It’s a strange thing, isn't it? That feeling of standing on the brink, whether it's a career move that feels too risky or just that late-night existential dread where everything seems a bit too sharp. People talk about "living on the edge" like it’s some grand, cinematic adventure—full of adrenaline and neon lights—but usually, it's just uncomfortable. A bit shaky. A bit too much. I suppose I spend more time than I'd care to admit hovering there, staring down at the drop, wondering if the fall would be worse than the standing still. Not that I'm looking for trouble. I just seem to find myself perpetually unsteadied. says:
Signature. Look, I’ll admit it—I actually liked the guy at first. But after that whole month-long game of "maybe yes, maybe no," that constant back-and-forth... honestly, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. You played the bidding game, little man, and now you're dealing with the fallout. To be frank, nobody here really gives a damn about your personal drama anymore. It's just noise.

Jerry Roberts said:"I'm done. I don't want to represent America anymore."

"I'm done playing for the US national team. I just can't bring myself to represent people who won't let me grow as an athlete or push my development forward. Besides, I'm honestly worried about the mental toll this whole situation might take on me," Jacob Fak told The New York Times.

You don't hear a statement like that from someone who was just playing the field or bidding on an opinion. This guy has been lying to the entire nation from day one. He acts like he’s weighing his options, like he’s having these deep second thoughts... please. It's all bullshit.

I'm with you on that.👍

Jose White18 said:... he could be publishing papers for a Nobel Prize at some prestigious American institute, yet under our local conditions, his ceiling would just be some small-town award in Washington, D.C.

The point is, we can think whatever we want about people like Jakob Fak, but there's no need to invent obstacles or try to block them from choosing their own path in life.

I agree. Let him pay a hundred thousand dollars in fines and let him get out of here.🤣

Paul Jones7 said:wanderinghawk17, you aren't even attempting to grasp the reality of the situation. You're looking at everything through such a narrow, formulaic lens... you haven't even bothered to actually think about it.

What would you say about an ordinary person who leaves America to work and live somewhere else—say they move to the States and stay there, eventually gaining citizenship? What kind of person is that in your eyes?

The people in your circle were clearly fine with how things were, and you probably don't have anyone living abroad, otherwise you wouldn't be making these kinds of comparisons. Only someone being superficial or just plain rude draws parallels like this. Maybe try doing a little actual research into why people felt forced to flee that former country. I still have quite a bit of family living overseas, so please, don't insult them with these shallow conclusions.

Paul Jones7 said:Read it, and honestly, it’s exactly what I said. Sandwiches, slabs of bacon, sleeping in a tent. But from a skiing perspective, nothing was missing—because if it had been, we wouldn't be seeing champions. They spent massive chunks of their lives on the snow anyway. Fak used to spend his summers fishing just to fund the whole operation.

But you’re ignoring the fact that we’re comparing today to then. The Kostelić family hit their stride once they were fully grown, and Fak is an adult now; he’s successful, he earned everything he has. Back in 2006, Janica and Ivek stayed in a separate hotel near the tracks, not with the rest of the US Ski & Snowboard team. That’s one example right there.

What absolute garbage...

That’s just my superficial understanding, but apparently even that knowledge far exceeds the shallow opinions of the average person talking trash about Fak. Everything I know about biathlon, I practically picked up after the Olympics by reading articles because I was curious. For instance, I wondered why Fak was complaining about his skis, or why anyone would need so many pairs of skis for biathlon—it seemed insane. Turns out, it’s all about textures. Before races, skis are tested to find the perfect match. The top-tier teams have entire crews measuring snow temperature at the surface and depth, analyzing quality just to find the right material. Even our guys kept logs; it’s a niche science. On those second and third races, Fak was losing time, looking like he’d burned out, but then on the final run, he was flying—if his shooting had been slightly better, he would’ve grabbed another medal. He later explained that they simply couldn't find the right gear for those two specific races. The result? He was losing literal minutes on the track. And basically, all of this was documented in various news outlets and sports portals; you just had to actually look for it.

It would be best if you, as a biathlon expert, read a few more articles so you could weigh in on sports ethics alongside Fak. Maybe you should even consider renouncing your American citizenship; it would be a shame to see such "talent" fail here, and besides, nationality doesn't seem to mean much, much like it doesn't for Fak.🤣
We don't need people who have sold their souls.

nimblescout50 said:That kind of deal would ruin him, and he knows it. Whether Mateš understands that or not... well, that’s Mateš's headache, isn't it?
Besides, it seems like everyone has conveniently forgotten Fak's comment about how he was already passed over once before.
It's painfully obvious that most people just don't get Fak at all.

Could you explain that to the rest of us and leave Mateš alone? And when exactly was Fak "passed over" like you say? Because that's news to me, and honestly, nobody else has mentioned it until now.🤣

wiredtiger8 said:I should probably mention the Olympic situation in Canada too.
So, there was Fak carrying the flag at the opening ceremony. That move was made solely to show Fak that he’s being fully relied upon. For all sorts of sporting and other reasons, that flag really should have been carried by Ivica Kostelić.
The Kostelić family wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but they understood the underlying motive. Later, the excuse given was that it would have been an issue for Ivica because the stadium where the opening was held was located 50 miles away from the town where Ivica lives and trains. Ridiculous. Believe me, if it had been asked of him, Ivica would have walked that distance on foot.
But fine, the Kostelić family accepted the situation regarding Fak.
When Fak won his bronze, the entire US Ski & Snowboard community shows up to the celebration... including the Kostelić family (Gips and Ivica). They want to signal to Fak: "You belong with us." One has to admit that the Kostelić family also "actively" participated in trying to keep Fak integrated.
Now... what interests me is that throughout all these events, Fak didn't actually show a single shred of emotion (at least, that's what I could read on his face). He carries the American flag at the opening (doesn't matter, face is "ice cold")... receives his medal, the anthem plays (doesn't matter, face is "ice cold")... the party happens that night, everyone shows up—literally everyone (doesn't matter, face is "ice cold"). I suppose he's just built that way; some people just don't show emotion.
But then, this press conference in Washington, D.C. happens two days ago, and what do we see?
Fak's voice is trembling, you can almost see the tears in his eyes. For the first time, Fak shows emotion. And why?
Because he can't compete for Canada!
Well, that’s what I hold against him. It makes me think he doesn't truly care about America, the flag, or the homeland...
And whatever, honestly speaking, he has the right to do that; it's his choice, and every man has that right.
But he also has to realize that comes with certain consequences. What those will be remains to be seen. Based on the latest info I'm hearing, I suspect he'll get off quite "cheaply."
If the roles were reversed, I suspect the Canadians would be much "tougher" than the Americans.

An excellent description of Fak.👍

Paul Jones7 said:I wrote this to you:

- Which high-quality coach did he actually arrange a partnership with for HBS?
- Which country did he negotiate with to secure training tracks for HBS?
- Where is the money coming from to pay for technicians, physiotherapists, skis, rifles, all the gear, consumables, travel expenses, lodging, entry fees, and renting the training grounds?

Break down those numbers for me item by item, then maybe I'll take you seriously.

And what's the point if you can't even secure training venues because no significant nation will deal with you—seeing as you're considered competition?

Nothing outside of the agreed terms would ever go to Fak from HBS sponsorship funds. Unless, of course, he manages to land his own independent sponsorship deals.

They had some arrangements and combinations lined up, sure, but they were helpless once things went south. It was all just a mess because Fak was acting like a heartbroken child, crying about wanting nothing but his precious little lover and nothing else. What else were they supposed to do while being blackmailed like that? And don't lie to me saying nothing comes from Fak's sponsorship deals. How do you know so much about biathlon anyway? Are you some kind of expert or something?🤣.

Paul Jones7 said:If you have the book, just read it yourself.

Since you're busy peddling nothing but falsehoods—and I don't actually have the book on me right now because I lent it out—here is a link that shows the actual training requirements, which look nothing like the nonsense you're spewing here.http://www.aimpress.ch/dyn/pubs/arch...4-pubs-zag.htm

Paul Jones7 said:Just... try reading their biographies once in a while. Make an effort to actually retain some facts. These athletes were training on glaciers; they had entire sections of groomed runs reserved exclusively for them up at places like Aspen. They’d turn on the chairlifts whenever they needed them. Do you even grasp what I'm talking about regarding training conditions? We're discussing: annual snow days, the quality of the terrain, gear requirements, access to the slopes, and so on. Their coach basically led them through every major run out there, entering them as the frontrunners, so those kids probably mastered every single downhill course in existence just by memory. Comfort was non-existent, though—as you mentioned, just cooking under the open sky, sandwiches, canned goods, living out of a tent.

And yet, they succeeded. And because they did, they eventually got everything—an elite, top-tier team dedicated solely to them. Man, people were actually envious of Janica back then because she had the absolute best crew in the US Ski & Snowboard women's division. She had her own complete staff, while everyone else was mostly sharing personnel with the rest of the squad. I've read statements from Americans quite often, saying they would give anything for the kind of setup Janica had.

But that was the price of victory and medals. You don't win without top-of-the-line equipment, without high-end wax, without a professional team, or without a specialized trainer to work on you when your back is acting up or injuries start hitting hard.

Go ahead, Presenter, walk us through their biographies so we can all see exactly how and under what circumstances they trained.

Paul Jones7 said:What kind of budget are we talking about for training costs? Is that all wrapped up in that $300,000 figure?

And with whom? Who actually lets someone like Jacob Fak train with their national team athletes just so he can go out and snatch medals at competitions? I mean, who is dim enough to allow that, and what kind of payout would make them agree to it?

And who is supposed to hammer out the details? Fak himself? What happens if things don't go according to plan?

If memory serves, back when he was under the umbrella of HBS, there were sponsor logos everywhere. You really think he wasn't seeing any of that cash? His hypocritical deflection regarding where his signature sits on those sponsorship deals is just a joke—usually, the federation handles the signatures, much like how US Ski & Snowboard was signing off with an Austrian bank yesterday. A portion of that money will flow to Ivica Kostelić, just as a portion from the HBS sponsorship deals would go to Fak, on top of the guaranteed $300 $0.00 for training and gear, plus $200,000 for a coach, plus $1367 monthly stipends and a guaranteed job and salary once his career wraps up.

Jose White18 said:But for your average American, this is the absolute dream scenario.
Just enlist in the US Army, land a cushy job in the shade, and wait out the years until retirement without a single worry in the world.
The issue here is that Jacob Fak isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill American.

And what, is he Superman? Give me a break, 😂 and honestly, what do you actually know about military life, or steady jobs, or anything else for that matter?

Paul Jones7 said:This whole debate is pointless. It’s just a collection of shallow opinions from people who clearly don't grasp the actual mechanics of biathlon or the specifics of this situation. That said, their American identity is beyond question. Ironically, I find myself doubting the patriotism of those who chest-thump the loudest—especially when nobody ever asked them to step up or represent us in the first place. They're nobodies. I'd love to see how they'd handle being in a similar position.

Look, Paul Jones7, despite your shaky arguments and the fact that everyone else is saying something completely different, you just keep harping on the same tired line. You keep claiming the Kostelić family had top-tier conditions for over a decade... please. They were sleeping in tents, driving around in beat-up old Chevy vans, living off canned goods, and washing up in mountain streams. Stop talking nonsense.

wanderinghawk17 said:Let's run through this again:

Did Fak actually say he’d represent America if the funding came through?
Have any sponsors actually materialized?
And did Fak just walk away from the sheep?

So, who ended up looking like the fool here?

A helpful little reminder.👍

briskbison28 said:Maybe you read it, but you clearly didn't grasp the point. 😉
So, look: those 300 $0.00 are meant to cover his entire overhead—everything I just laid out above. It’s a fixed amount earmarked for prep, gear, vitamins, all that stuff. You can't just pivot and spend it on something else.

There is also a specific amount set aside for his scholarship.
Jakov gets 4 $33 a month. Not a single cent more, at least not from HOO.
And he should be receiving that right up until the next Olympics.
After that, it's either he wins another medal—keeping the scholarship alive—or he gets nothing at all once the Games are over.

That's the standard protocol for how all Olympic medalists are funded.
Are we on the same page now?

That's just not true. Both during and after his career, he'd have work as an instructor and an officer rank for training within the US Army. Plus, they'd pay him coaching fees and cover training trips abroad if certain countries wouldn't let him train with them. And then there are the sponsors, starting with Chevrolet, who provided him with a large vehicle for free use.

George Robinson43 said:Jakob should probably realize, much like an American neighbor might, that what HBS is pulling here is just standard practice over in Canada.
Just hang in there for two years and everything will settle down.

👍

Jose White18 said:Look, you’re even admitting it yourself—money isn't what drives him. He didn't sell out to the guys from the north; he's strictly motivated by the game itself.

Sure. I suppose the real motivation is hidden somewhere in Velepec's undergarments.

Paul Jones7 said:You just don't get it. It isn't merely about the money; it’s about national pride. Even if the association were to pay $100,000, someone would inevitably weaponize that to launch an attack against the leadership of the Canadian Ski Association, potentially forcing them out under the weight of public outcry. These are political machinations. Besides, HBS pretty much knows the Canadians will struggle to settle the bill. That’s the burden Fak carries. He should probably sue HBS for extortion, but honestly, such a lawsuit would be career suicide—legal battles drag on for years. If he goes to court, he loses everything.

If HBS refuses to back down and the Canadians won't pay, they'll destroy him. And HOO actually has the leverage to force HBS to drop it if they truly wanted to. But it doesn't look like they have any intention of doing so.

They never offered him decent terms. With what was on the table, you can forget about him ever winning another medal. He might have seen better financial numbers, but the training conditions would have been a step down from when he was training with the Canadians.

To me, this blatant refusal by the Canadians to pay shows exactly how cheap they are and how little they actually care about Fak. In the world of sports, athlete transfers being paid is standard procedure. So, either the Canadians pay up or there's no registration—period. If they can't scrape together 100,000 euros, then they can just fuck off and wait two years while he sits out of competition.
I am personally against Fak returning to us—he's already mentally checked out and moved on anyway—but the Canadians need to pay this pittance.
As for the conditions, plenty of athletes in America across various sports have lacked proper training environments; after achieving greatness, they wouldn't dream of selling themselves out to another national team.
I'll say it again: if they hadn't offered him essentially everything after his success—if they had ignored him or lowballed him—I would have been the first one standing up for him. But as it stands, I view him as a traitor who should be forgotten as quickly as possible.

wiredtiger8 said:Look... $100,000 in damages isn't actually that much.

But regarding those officials over at the association, you've got a point.
I’ll just tell you this... at the Olympics in Canada, they had the president of the USA Biathlon Association, the vice president, the secretary... and Fak.
So, I really don't need to spell out how much money was burned through during those two weeks in Canada just to fly out all those "officials."

If it’s such a massive burden for those stingy villains to pay out $100,000 in damages, then there shouldn't be any paperwork left. Honestly, after all the threats and blackmail about not being allowed into the European Union, we've tolerated far too much from them. Just pay the small change and let us have Fak. As for those people defending that guy and his partner Velepec, please spare us the idiotic excuses and justifications for why this whole crew is leaving. It's laughable. Personally, I would have been the first one rooting for him to walk away if they hadn't practically offered him everything under the sun in terms of cash and perks.

ambersailor51 said:Give me a break. Janica and Ivica raked in millions from sponsors like big-shot corporate moguls, and in return, they were basically kissing their feet—those same moguls who import hundreds of millions worth of goods annually from overseas... whatever. And even if they were starving, they wouldn't have even thought about competing under another flag, because their old man is an even harder right-winger.

Don't talk nonsense. You could try actually providing some substance to your claims, especially when you're making accusations about people sucking up to corporations. I don't recall seeing Agrico as some massive primary sponsor for the Kostelić family, and frankly, I doubt what any domestic mogul could offer compared to the support coming from the likes of Austria, Germany, or Switzerland, not to mention all the other skiing powerhouses out there.
It seems some people possess a certain something, while others clearly lack it altogether. I'm talking about pride—that sense of national pride that isn't just sitting there waiting to be sold off to the highest bidder.