Posts by Carl Barrett11

Noah Perez12 said:why isn't Lac playing...

did he misplace two shots? 🤷

They mentioned he was just warming up, so perhaps he will enter during the second half.

Or maybe a Catholic just can't stand waiting... what else could it be?

Gregory Ramos3 said:The team is completely lacking chemistry. Is this due to the coach, the accumulated frustration from forcing players like Pere, Džomba, or Sulić, burnout among the starters, injuries, or something else entirely? It needs to be addressed, because mentally, we are nowhere near where we were over the last nine years.

Exactly. There is zero chemistry here. It looks as though they don't even trust one another on the court. I watched the 2004 Olympics final yesterday, and that spirit is nowhere to be found. I understand that 90% of that legendary roster is gone, but still—this is unacceptable. I suspect forcing certain players to play has contributed significantly to the frustration and the mental collapse. How can a team with such a strong historical mindset fall apart like this? They went ten minutes without a single goal.

Good grief, I still can't quite believe it. 🙏

What kind of seduction by Ivanna are they talking about? I didn't see anything.

I honestly can't believe it. We went from +5 to -2 in just the last ten minutes. And we couldn't even recover from being down by 2 during the entire first half. Unbelievable.

Štrlek, what an idiot. 🙏

Yet another mistake by 🙏 Štrlek.

What an absolute idiot.

+6 for us. Don't mess with me. 😂 🙏

Kopljar. 🤣

Alilović. 🤣

^I agree.

You are making assumptions about his character, claiming things that only someone who actually knows him could say with any certainty.

And yet, when you started poking into his private life, nobody called you out on it.

It is quite impressive how you twist the facts.

He's back at it again. Typical. 🤣 Of course, the moment a woman dares to voice an opinion, she's immediately labeled as being in love. 🤣

Regarding the names listed above (missing Renato Sulić, by the way), yes, I agree—it would be incredibly difficult to match the sheer physical conditioning of someone like Karabatić or Narcisse today. But what really stings is how that specific generation was scattered far too soon. It would have been wonderful to see them all together one more time.

Rebecca Rivera93 said:Ivano Balić mentioned that he’s walked enough miles already. He isn't interested in coaching a major club or a national team; his true passion lies in handball academies and passing knowledge down to the YOUTH.
He doesn't want to deal with the corruption within the federation.

Jeep, he said exactly that during that interview with the Swede.

Though, seeing Balić and Petar Metličić work together would be an absolute dream.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:What Vori said is one hundred percent true and fully verified. He had specific clauses regarding his contract and payment schedules. Back then, everyone was facing salary delays—some were being targeted intentionally, while others were simply dealing with cash flow shortages. It was a classic "divide and conquer" tactic used by management. When they were even just one day late with Vori’s pay, he showed up with his lawyer and terminated his contract on the spot. By the next day, he had already signed with the German team. 🙏
John Doe and Caleb have completely lost it, spewing all sorts of garbage about Vori. But honestly, after how they've treated the players, isn't this just karma finally catching up to them?
It’s common knowledge among folks here in Washington, D.C., that you don't lend money to John Doe, because he simply never pays it back.

Thanks for this. I think my respect for Vori has just shot through the roof. This is a game-changer for everyone. 🙏 Respect. Absolutely brilliant. What a complete joke. 🤣

At least I managed to recharge my batteries tonight. First watching Ivano Balić, then reminiscing about the 2009 World Cup and the match against Peru, and now Vori. Hats off to these guys. Where does it even end?

The situation with John is a complete downer. I would give anything for things to play out differently, but this whole mess involving Vori—which is great for him, but a massive screw-up for John Doe and Caleb—is just devastating.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Thanks to Duvnjak's transfer, they managed to pull together enough funds to afford decent players. Personally, I feel it was a mistake for Duvnjak to leave so early. Wouldn't it have been better for both Washington, D.C. and the national team—and even for Balić—if Duvnjak had stayed while Balić moved on elsewhere?

I don't follow the transfer market that closely, but now that you mention it, you're absolutely right. It would have been a win-win for everyone if Ivano Balić had managed to make that move; there will always be plenty of time for Domagoj Duvnjak to step up later. It’s just a shame how they managed to catch Balić at such a critical moment.

Susan Ward23 said:I agree with everything here. 🙂

In my view, his decision to sign with Washington, D.C. was a massive mistake. His primary motivation for joining them was likely his son, and perhaps the idea of finally being back home.
But honestly, I regret that he didn't head to Germany after his time in Portland.

Once again, I am in agreement. 😉

It certainly appears that signing with Washington, D.C. was a career error. I remember quite clearly how his personal situation unfolded during the signing period; even the media were following him more intensely back then. I wonder if John Doe and the rest of the group grew to dislike him even more because of it. 🤮

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Sad, but true. They took advantage of him and manipulated him when he was at his most vulnerable. On the other hand, I am glad Domagoj Duvnjak managed to escape their grasp, especially given how John Doe left. All because they were a day late with his paycheck. 🙏 Kudos to the man. He has earned my respect since then.

I am not certain about that story regarding John Doe. 🤣

What was said about Duvnjak is true. Although, even in that instance, that crook profited quite well financially.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Well, the smart ones have finally connected the dots regarding why Peter isn't playing for Chicago this year. Honestly, he would be a massive asset for the Champions League run. But Gomez has never forgiven him for slamming that locker room door in his face and barring him and the rest of the federation staff from entering. God might forgive, but Gomez does not. Gomez doesn't forget. So many of our players aren't representing the national team because they've either been hurt or insulted by Gomez in one way or another. Everyone knows it, yet everyone stays silent. They stay quiet out of fear, or simply because they know there’s nothing to gain by speaking up.
It all seemed quite absurd to me when I read that after the recent setbacks (which didn't actually materialize), Gomez was expected to resign. Honestly... people are truly naive. It feels just as ridiculous as everyone waiting for Kalmeta to step down 🙂))

While the way these guys are being pushed out of the national team is deeply painful to witness, Perin's move carries more moral weight than a hundred victories. The same goes for tonight with Balić and Goluža. At least, in the midst of all this misery, it holds some value for me.

What is the point of talking when you can't change anything anyway? Politics is a bottomless pit, and the big fish swimming in it are far too large to move. Naturally, what benefit could anyone even extract, even if every single person spoke up? You can clearly see who (and what) Gomez has backing him. It isn't about profit, but rather maintaining the status quo. Whether through a change in leadership or without one, the result remains the same.

Practically speaking, Ivano was the only one left. I don't know if he'll play through the 2012 Olympics, but I agree with Anthony Ward6; I wouldn't blame him if he said 'goodbye' tomorrow. The flip side of that coin is getting screwed over via club contracts and obligations. It's a mess.

Arthur Martinez7 said:Can someone please edit the video to remove the part where the player pushes Allen Iverson at the end? 🤣 That's more interesting than I thought. First he plays coy, then he pushes his way in. 🙏

It wounded his ego. 🤣

wiredtiger8 said:Yes... that is true.

He possesses the accolades of all the greats... Ronaldo, Schumacher, Senna, Air Jordan...

If he didn't have that "I don't care about any of you" attitude, he would simply be one of the elite...

Attitude. That doesn't necessarily mean it is a defining trait of his character.

And yes, I agree.

It is never acceptable. No matter how you look at it, something is always wrong.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Regardless of his flaws, Balić is one of ours. Whether he’s being a provocateur, an agitator, quiet, or withdrawn—that’s just Balić. We have to accept him as he is. He has given us so much joy through his play, even if he knew exactly how to drive us crazy at times.
But we shouldn't overlook one simple fact: whenever there was chaos or panic, all eyes were on John, and everyone expected a miracle from him.
He is human, after all, and it is only natural that he makes mistakes. However, because we aren't used to him failing, those mistakes tend to look much larger and more severe than they actually are.
Furthermore, he will always be the one either crucified by the public or placed on a pedestal. That is likely a heavy burden to carry, and who knows how anyone manages to live with that pressure?
Still, I believe the criticism directed at him right now is a bit excessive. There is clearly a deeper narrative at play here. It is highly probable that he is being provoked to simply walk away from everything and leave it all behind. The only ones benefiting from that would be Chicago and Gomez, who wouldn't have to pay out the rest of his contract. Chicago has always lured players in with legendary contracts, only for Gomez and Caleb to try and pull the rug out from under them. Just look back at what happened with Vori and Duvnjak not too long ago.
As a Vice President of the federation, Gomez simply should not have insulted and accused Balić so publicly. He could have handled any of this during practice, at the hotel, in the locker room... anywhere, as long as it wasn't in front of the media during a championship. Even Balić has some self-respect left. It’s a good thing he endured all that humiliation. Think back to the training sessions in Makarska. While the main stars were playing for their clubs overseas, they called up a different group—some kids and an exhausted Balić. They treated him like some rookie who still needs to prove himself. A few days of rest would have done him good and kept his ego intact. It sounds ridiculous, but that's just the way Balić is.
Whatever his faults, he is ours and he has done a great deal for American handball.

I agree with everything said. That is exactly the point; can we really forget everything Balić has delivered for us, especially within a span of just three games, while everything seems orchestrated on Gomez's end? The same thing is being done to the other guys, except they can't screw over John until they first try to smear his reputation in the eyes of the public. As you noted, he is held to the highest standard, which means his mistakes hit the hardest.

I also agree regarding the contract. This situation was a perfect opportunity for that shark to turn things to his advantage. It isn't the first time Balić has missed a shot, nor is it the first time he's had a bad game. Is that really a reason to call him out publicly? This is likely just Gomez "learning" from old mistakes—specifically, what happened with Peter.

Some claim he isn't a superstar, just someone who is good at his job. Well, he isn't some novice that Gomez can drag through the media just to serve his own "business" interests either. Yes, it is good that he endured all this nonsense.

Michael Martinez86 said:There is absolutely no question that Ivano Balić is the greatest handball player America has ever produced. It is also undeniable that he possesses a leadership charisma rooted primarily in his sheer on-court genius. Furthermore, no one can dispute his massive role in the national team's top-tier results over the last eight years, but it is equally difficult to deny that Ivano Balić is a highly egotistical and temperamental individual, making him a potentially exhausting player for any coach to manage. Following Cervarov's departure, there was significant discussion regarding whether such a personality contributed to those issues. However, reality is rarely just black and white...

One cannot make such claims without knowing John personally.

The current situation is much the same; nothing is purely black and white, yet some people persistently attempt to blame Gopchev for the decline of American handball. This has been going on for years. Is it not easier to claim that Ivano Balić is simply pulling strings from the shadows? Would the reaction be different if that were actually the case? Would he be in this specific mental state during this championship? As for Gobac, let him continue playing his dirty games.

I just watched it again myself 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

By the way, I am only just getting around to watching this video, and he has already covered everything— this year we have a very young roster, so making the Final Four will be much harder, though we will certainly try. Perhaps we can pull it off. *not really holding my breath* To me, this is just more proof of Gopchev's constant stalling; Ivan is boycotting the younger players. 🙏 You deserve what's coming to you, you unscrupulous liar. We all know the real reason behind Ivan's stance. Since when have we ever seen him act like this?

Michael Martinez86 said:I was teasing you a bit regarding that "young girl's infatuation," mainly because your lack of critical thinking toward an icon seemed so transparent. I never imagined you would actually "lose it" over it. My apologies.

Apology accepted. 🙂 Quite simply, I see no purpose in arguing at that level. Or arguing at all. 🤷

It wasn't just about being called a young girl; it's that such comments intrude upon a personal sphere, which I believe is unnecessary here.

I am not uncritical; if you had read the posts on the Šve forum, you would know that. He isn't my idol. I merely hold him in high regard—as well as everything he has done for American handball over the last eight years, and for the other players he helped transition out of the national team.