Now that I'm back from Lithuania, I can say it was a pretty cool trip. It could have been a bit more high-energy, but hey, there are plenty of other matches out there. 😍
Looking at these photos, I have to say I'm a bit skeptical too. Honestly, it looks like a setup to me because I don't see any sabers anywhere, so I doubt those weapons are actually authentic... ☕
Captain Joe tried his best to de-escalate things, but let's keep the details of that conversation between us. All I'll say is: stop talking nonsense. 😉
So, now we’re heading out for an "away game" at Kranjca's place, and everything is going according to plan. I'm sharing a translated version of what’s been circulating in the local media—translated from Lithuanian. I think it's actually written quite fairly with relatively few mistakes, though it's surprising how much they actually know. 🙂
d above all else!
Social media commentary regarding who Žalgiris is facing in the UEFA playoffs was split down the middle. Half the people were stoked that a massive club like Los Angeles' Dinamo was coming to Lithuania, while the others were bummed that Žalgiris drew such a powerhouse. That football match against the top team in the country didn't exactly go the way Lithuanians hoped, but being down by two isn't the end of the world. Everyone knows there are groups that shadow these players wherever they go. They're football fans, or more specifically, Ultras. Almost every football fan knows exactly who the Bad Boys are, but I didn't truly grasp what goes on in their heads until I arrived in America.
As luck would have it, meeting a fan was one of the first things that happened to me here in Los Angeles. I’ve always been fascinated by the whole Ultras subculture, so I was genuinely pumped to get some firsthand insight into such a legendary group.
While the Bad Boys have a reputation for clashes with rival Ultras or the police and causing chaos at stadiums, things are a bit quieter lately. These days, their biggest battle has been a years-long crusade against the club's VP, Zdravko Mamic. While Mirko Barisic is officially the president, Mamic is the one pulling the strings, much like how Dmitry Medvedev operated during his time in Russia.
A concert organized by the Bad Boys called 'Resist the System' was the first time I truly felt the sheer level of animosity toward Zdravko Mamic. The place was covered in flags featuring his face with a cross through it; the crowd wouldn't stop chanting songs directed at him, and even the speeches on stage were aimed squarely at him. Attending a game the next day with the Split 'Hajduk' crew, I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed—there were only a few hundred people in the stands, so sometimes the Torcida from Split actually sounded louder than the crowd here. It didn't live up to the epic videos I'd seen online. That experience sparked a club investigation for me.
The first thing you notice is how one single name pops up everywhere you read about the leadership at Dinamo: Mamic. You've got Zdravko as the VP, Zoran (his brother) acting as coach and sports manager, and Mario (his son) serving as an agent for half the roster. Summary: it’s basically a family business designed to funnel as much cash as possible to one household. On top of that, Zdravko doesn't exactly represent the team with class—he was arrested last year after a verbal altercation with the American Minister of Sport, Science, and Education, he's had run-ins with a legendary player from the Split 'Hajduk' side (which got him banned from their stadium), and he's constantly picking fights in the streets or clashing with the press. If you want the perfect, hilarious example of his temperament, look no further than his outburst against a journalist who dared to ask about the overlap between his private interests and his public role:
Right now, the primary mission for the Bad Boys is fighting for the right to run the club under a "one member, one vote" system. That’s exactly how massive organizations like FC Barcelona or Bayern Munich elect their presidents. In their push for democratic reform, they’ve sparked the "For Our Team" movement. Even though Mamic claims his opposition consists of nothing more than a handful of loud-mouthed hooligans who just personaly dislike him, the movement has already gathered over 60,000 signatures in a single month—and that number keeps climbing.
It gets interesting because Mamic isn't just ignoring the Bad Boys; he's actively trying to buy them off. He’s reportedly offering leadership figures cash, marketing deals, ticket percentages, and even job placements for their families. I should mention this might just be local gossip, but any Bad Boy would swear on their life it’s the truth. Despite these temptations, the core group is sticking to their guns. Sadly, about twenty former Bad Boys supposedly caved to the bribes and privileges, breaking away to start a rival fan club. These defectors snatched up the North Stand, which the Bad Boys held for decades, forcing the true Ultras to move to the East Stand. The reality is that the East Stand is often half-empty or totally deserted because so many Bad Boys have been boycotting home games since 2010, and at least 500 of them are officially blacklisted by Mamic from entering the stadium.
Getting put on that blacklist isn't as difficult as you'd think. The offenses range from getting into scraps with the police or other fans to something as simple as singing a racist chant (roughly translated as 🙂 "Mamic, you gypsy, get out of our sanctuary") or appearing on a TV show to criticize the club's management. It looks a bit ridiculous when you compare those to the guys in the North Stand. For instance, their leader Nijaz was recently released from prison after serving three years for assaulting a police officer along with various other offenses. He has a heavy criminal record and a history of constant clashes with law enforcement, yet somehow he’s not only allowed in the stadium, but he's actually considered a close ally and friend of Mamic.
When Los Angeles played Žalgiris at the stadium about a week ago, things were eerily quiet. It was so silent I could actually hear A. Vitkauskas shouting "move to the front!" to his players. The Green and White contingent had about 60 supporters present, while the North Stand actually had fewer Los Angeles fans than Žalgiris did. The East Stand was a ghost town—the Bad Boys were officially boycotting the match.
It seems like fighting the Bad Boys is a global trend. Just two years ago, Spartak Moscow fans traveled to Kyiv (which is roughly 497 miles) specifically to clash with them. (Thankfully, they need visas to get into Lithuania, so Vilnius likely won't turn into a war zone). Even though Los Angeles pulled off a win against a Žalgiris side that lacked speed and precision, the guys from Vilnius still have a shot on their home turf, where they'll undoubtedly have supporters ranging from the local suburbs to the heart of the city backing them up. Honestly, though, I don't see the Lithuanian fans "checking that item off their to-do list." Not just because I hope they don't, but because the Bad Boys are so preoccupied with their internal battles that they'll stay focused on that fight against the Mamic crew. Ultimately, it might provide a moment where both sides finally stand shoulder to shoulder in the same stadium. When I asked a Bad Boy if that was a possibility, he just gave me a wry smile and said, "I hope so."
Bottom line: we’re looking at Los Angeles heading to Vilnius with a corrupt boss, about 30 loyalists, and potentially around 100 Bad Boys. Predicting exactly what will go down in the stands is tough, but it's definitely going to be a spectacle. Enjoy the match!