Posts by rustystag7

mellowbadger8 said:rustystag7, it’s obvious you’ve never actually handled 500k, because there is a massive difference between that and 5 million. Seriously, saying they're comparable is just nonsense.

Look, I don't support how things are going either. I wish people here could pull in those kinds of numbers and that big corporations—you know, the huge international brands—would sponsor our athletes the way they do for foreign stars, but that's just the reality we live in. It's the reality of a small country where even a giant like Nike isn't really interested. The market size for a bunch of broke Americans is just too low, so our athletes have to scrape by just to get by. That’s just how it is. Honestly, it would be better if that unnamed guy just set aside a few hundred thousand to fix up the beach in Miami or something similar. In everyone's eyes, I think he'd finally redeem himself. It would also be better if State Farm fixed up some elementary school gyms, or if the government actually supported young athletes instead of dumping cash into guys like unnamed, stadium projects for the local pro teams, or other failed ventures.
When I see how much is poured into youth sports here in the US and the kind of opportunities those kids get, it’s no wonder our athletes are so elite. There are tons of factors, but I think that foundation is the most important thing. Free parks. Nowadays, you can't even go play tennis without paying a fee. There aren't enough public courts or open spaces. That's what we're missing—well-maintained city basketball courts, soccer fields... man, if we had those, imagine the talent pool we'd have. As it stands, only the kids with money can afford to play sports, and there aren't many of those folks around here.

Listen, nobody is saying 500k is the same as 5 mil, I'm just talking about the scale of the difference and how many times larger one is than the other!! You can't tell me that earning 50k is the same as what someone like a high-level executive makes, because the way people get money varies, and 50k doesn't mean the same thing to everyone.

It is definitely not the same earning 25 $0.00 a month versus 100,000 a month!! And let me ask you, if someone offered you 200,000 bucks, who do you think is going to swallow a load faster, if you catch my drift...

I agree with some of your points, but I totally disagree with your take on finishing the stadium!!
All we can do is regret that the previous administration didn't call for another year to finish that stadium, because once the leadership changed, the work just stopped, and now it's just an eyesore for the city. They stopped construction so abruptly that the roof started leaking and ruined a huge chunk of it!!
We definitely need to invest in unnamed and his crew because they are our future. Just remember that third-place finish in France and tell me if investing isn't worth it. But the investment needs to be unified, not just so certain kids can play simply because their parents have deep pockets...
What can I say? When I was going to school, the guys playing were usually from families that had money since they were 5 or 7 years old $0.00 back in the year 2000 or so...
And now, I've got this kid telling me—he was sent out on loan from the local club's affiliate—that they finally replaced the coach who was just pocketing money. He says he can finally focus and try to make the first team again...
It's pure absurdity. He says players who were top of their class last season are all being sent away on loan or kicked out of the club, while "nepotism babies" step onto the scene and finish the season near the bottom. And nobody can do anything about the coach...
Now that he's finally got a decent shot, a normal coach has taken over, and he says those guys coming back from loans are absolutely dominating the "nepotism babies" at practice, beating them by 7 or 8 goals every time. For a real talent, that can mean years of wasted potential, and it's just as bad for the club.

Earthling said:I just gave you a taste of your own medicine when it comes to all that demagoguery😉

So how do you explain the fact that the public—the group you’re acting like the ultimate moral authority—actually supports the Duo's decision by like, 66%? On one hand, I'm totally fine with what those swimmers from South Africa and Poland decided... and honestly, I'd much prefer if the Duo stayed put, but hey, I'm not judging him or anything... I wouldn't exactly go out of my way to shake his hand and say "congrats on leaving," but still...

There are plenty of things I just can't wrap my head around (everything from the pyramids to the Colossus at Rhodes, down to some of those wild solutions from Ott barica and Neven Spahija... 🙂 ) - and regardless of that point about how "rational thinking through a purely materialistic lens doesn't offer an explanation"...😁

I'll tell you what... once you've got $500,000 sitting in your pocket, $5 million doesn't even feel like that much anymore!! It's a ton of money, sure, but it's ten times that amount, so it's awesome that you can make it happen fast!!

But look at your average American worker who might get lucky enough to pull in $50k a year$0.00 and then ask them if they'd pack up and move to another country for $5 million. To me, that seems pretty obvious, and I'm actually surprised only 66% of people said they'd do it.

mellowbadger8 said:It's just my take and I'm not trying to judge anyone, unlike some people in here who start throwing shade at everyone else once they run out of actual points to make.🙄

Fair enough, props to you for that one.👍

Ashley Brown81 said:Honestly, I feel like this whole thing is heading toward a breaking point. Elite sports have totally crossed the line lately. Everything is dictated by market trends and hype now, but just because it’s trending doesn't mean it's right. You see these insane, astronomical numbers being demanded by top athletes, and even some actors or musicians too. Look, if you've got talent, sure, go get paid, but those kinds of figures are just... 🙂 swimming isn't nearly as profitable as, say, football, and anyone looking to make a career out of it needs to realize they're playing in a completely different economy.

Just think about how many American schools don't even have a basic gym. Not even a decent playground.
Here's a real-world example—just imagine the state of the local swim and water polo clubs in a city like Miami. My brother has been training water polo for ten years, and during the winter, they'd constantly miss practices. Why? Because the one indoor pool used by three different water polo clubs and several swim teams always had heating issues and desperately needed repairs, but there was zero funding. And honestly, you see cases like that in pretty much every other sport too.
I say let them go, all those people demanding millions in sponsorships just because they're "talented." If they want that kind of money, they can just grab a different passport and represent a country they've never even stepped foot in before.

You're spot on, but there's really nothing anyone can do about it!!
They could try capping transfer fees or contract amounts, but nobody would ever vote for that. Once you have someone like Roman Abramovich coming in, he's going to hike up player prices by at least 40%, no question!!
I remember a few years back, they were offering something like 70 million for Zidane, which felt like the absolute ceiling since he was the best in the world. But then, if I recall correctly, the last big figure for Ronaldinho was around 125 million euros, and he actually turned it down! Later on, word was that Barcelona could ask for whatever they wanted, and Abramovich would pay it. Now, all the bigger clubs are just scrambling to stack up as much cash as possible so they can keep buying players whose prices just keep climbing every single season!!

Rita said:Hey man, what kind of athletic results did you actually pull for America?
I’ve been living in the States for the last few years, but I spent my entire competitive career back home, competing for the US for years.
Back in '90, I had scholarship offers from a bunch of universities in the US sitting right in front of me, but nah, I stayed because I didn't want to be stuck far away from home during the war.
Look, you can't live off those tiny government stipends or whatever crumbs they throw at you under Franjo; especially not in a sport like swimming. And even after you retire, trying to break through the red tape and the "inner circle" crowd—you know, the people who get everything handed to them while you're just trying to start something and getting shut down—is a nightmare. Draganja, you can basically take those post-grad opportunities here in America and toss them in the trash.
And honestly, you're being ridiculous, claiming stuff is easy when you've never actually been in a position where someone offered you a choice like that.
What's even funnier is how nobody complains when foreign-born athletes come over and win medals for us. Total hypocrites. Ljubicic wouldn't have had a shot playing for another country back when his wasn't an option, but if he did, he would've played without a single worry. People love Pesalov, and all those volleyball medal winners too. Irina is our girl; you guys don't get it, half the women in America are basically Irina, right?😁😁 😁 You guys are driving me crazy.
👋

Wait, hold up, explain your whole theory to me because I am legitimately curious.???

Seriously, this forum is set up so everyone can say what's on their mind, but in every single post, I see you trying to act like you're somehow better than everyone else, so I gotta ask, why???

So what, just because you're an athlete doesn't mean you're smarter than me or that your opinion carries more weight than mine....

Respect to your achievements, truly, but I think—and I'm not speaking for everyone here—that we can talk about Duje without insulting him. Nobody is disrespecting him, we just don't agree with his decision. I think I have every right to say what I think because I'm not looking to sell out to anyone...

Regarding Ljubo and Duje, let me argue this again: I can't even compare them. Ljubo has those roots on his mom's side and says he's always leaned toward America, whereas someone like Duje Draganja doesn't have any ties there; he left purely for the money....

Then look at Eduardo da Silva—he's Brazilian, wanted to play national soccer but couldn't do it in Brazil, so he did it here, and that has nothing to do with cash. So how can you say Duje didn't have a spot on our national team???

I could go on about Pesalov and Kirilova, but I have no clue why they ended up here. If anyone knows, let me know.

Zale said:Look, instead of us all obsessing over whether Duje is some kind of traitor, let’s just give it up for Kozulj and that bronze medal. He earned it. 👍

So, uh, does anyone actually have the inside scoop on whether Duje is seriously gonna be forced to swap his name for some Arabic version? Like, is there any real info out there?

So they tell you that you can only change your name if you switch religions or something. Man, give me a break. Honestly? If someone offered me another million bucks, I wouldn't be surprised if I changed my religion too!
Look, I’m not trying to be offensive here, I really mean this. When you head over there for a $5 million payday, what wouldn't you do? If you're that easily swayed by the money, why wouldn't you just switch up your faith for another $5 million? It's like, who's actually going to care or even notice if you're following their religion or not? At the end of the day, it's all about the bag.

I’ve been on Brandon Castillo4's side for a long time now, but honestly, it hits even harder lately because nobody seems to be listening. 😁I’m just trying my best here.

Brandon Castillo4 really hit the nail on the head, so there isn't much point in me rambling on, other than saying I'm 100% with him. Though, unlike him, I tend to bring up our veterans way too often—so you probably think I'm some hardcore patriot who acts just like Duje...
The truth is, you can't buy certain people with money, no matter how much people claim they can. And yeah, I'm one of those people.

Carl Brooks22 said:So, what’s actually the subtle difference between representing the colors of Iran (Ivankovic), Bahrain (Peruzovic), or Libya (Loncarevic)... versus why Michael Phelps decided to go this route?
Is there some deep nuance when those three guys sing the anthems of countries we feel close to—singing "God Bless America" and holding their hands over their hearts, or just showing loyalty to the American corps while they're out there grinding away with their teammates in Africa or Asia?

And seriously, why was nobody asking about Pilica's health during a quiet Sunday afternoon... I mean, how could a guy who is supposed to be a moral compass take three salads under a different flag (even if it was under the banner of Germany—and why does he sound like a first-gen robot when he speaks American?), and why do we keep obsessing over praising Our Magnificent Bald Guy—when, on the same level as BeHa, he's basically a traitor (and by the way, a lot of those "Western imports" ended up settling right here in America)?

But hey, screw principles—if you aren't flexible, what's the point!

I totally disagree because you don't have to sell your soul to make money; there are plenty of other ways to get paid!!
It doesn't matter if someone goes off to the middle of nowhere to earn a bigger paycheck, as long as they aren't switching citizenship just for the cash. I'm not a fan of any of the examples you brought up, but they're way above Duje in this regard. When they compete, the American flag and the name United States are right there next to their names, but for Duje, it's just not written like that....

And as for the Magnificent Bald Guy, man, he's an American through and through, and he just moved toward the side he prefers and feels more connected to....

Look, my mom is a lifelong New Yorker, but my old man was born in Chicago, and even though I was born in NYC, that's where any resemblance to the city ends. Everything I love and everything I identify with is back in the Midwest, so what can anyone say to me??? Realistically, I'm a New Yorker, but that's just not how I feel inside.

But that's within the same country. Imagine if it were two different countries—like if Ljubo hadn't competed for Canada and then moved to America after ten years, but instead had been competing from the start for the country he actually had ties to!!
If Duje had gone to the US, I would've said I wouldn't judge him that hard, but going to Qatar just for the money? That's just silly, especially when he tries to make excuses about not having the right training conditions.🙄

Carl Brooks22 said:So, Duje is gone today, but honestly? It’s not even a fraction of the disaster we’d be facing if all the brains from the Markov area decided to just pack up and scatter across the globe... I mean, just picture it: Sex as President of the Mongolian Parliament, Tomcic running the show at the Republican Party, or Pusick heading things up in Zaire... We wouldn't just be left clueless and hopeless when it comes to joining the Union; without some seriously heavy-duty lobbying, we wouldn't even get a foot in the door to talk about joining the African Union.

Totally, I'm with you on that.😁

It’s really not even half the tragedy it would be if our Congressmen were drawing salaries under a different flag.😁
I feel like the whole fight over Sex and the crew would turn bloody, and instead of having State Farm backing them, we'd be stuck paying for it out of the federal budget just to keep the talent from leaving!!

placidcanyon16 said:It’s not just my opinion—it’s actually the reality. A single year at an average American university for an international student runs about $20,000, which adds up to a massive $80,000 over four years. And that’s not even counting travel, hotels, gear, sneakers, tracksuits, bags... everything.

They aren't really getting much out of him 😕 😲 ??? I mean, he wins countless races at the NCAA finale every year, and in the USA, that is a huge deal.

You honestly have no idea how much weight college sports carry over there. You wouldn't believe the crowds that show up for games, meets, and all kinds of athletic events. It matters to them, and they will absolutely hand out a scholarship to some foreign kid just to have them swim for their school.

Okay, fine, I didn't know if that was true, and props to you for the solid info—I’m being dead serious here.👍
But the fact remains that for all those things you mentioned, Duje gets that stuff from sponsors. Man, he once totaled a Mazda RX-8 and they just handed him another one!!

At the same time, as far as I know, his home city provided him with scholarships for school, but honestly, we're just spinning our wheels talking about this because the bottom line is, I don't think the guy handled this the right way!!

To be honest, I used to think he was a real athlete, but this whole sell-out move really soured him for me!! He got enough support from the government to make a killing through smart investments and build a great life, but this? This just trashes the reputation and name he built back home. Maybe even globally, too, because I doubt people will respect a guy who sells out to another country just for the cash—and not just any country, but Qatar!!

I really feel like he could have made it big without this stain on his career...
You need some serious guts to make a call like that, but I don't even think he realizes what a massive blunder he's made. That decision is going to haunt him forever, and let's be real, it's not like he was desperate for that 5 million to survive...
The truth is, he had the car he wanted and he was doing what he wanted, but deep down, he just wasn't making enough money to satisfy him. That has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with greed. It's not the "sportsman spirit" he used to represent, which is what you expect when an athlete truly represents their country.

mellowbadger8 said:Seriously, what are you guys even thinking? Any college in the USA would hand an athlete like him a full ride in a heartbeat. Did you honestly think his family was just footing the whole bill themselves? Come on, give me a break.🙄 Or did you think he paid out of pocket?

I don't know who actually cut the check, but the word in the papers was basically that he couldn't afford to keep studying in the States without some government help. And why would the government step in if he didn't need it? Like, what else pays for tuition besides family or the state?
Don't tell me you think the US government is just handing out free tuition because they're feeling generous... they don't get much out of him personally. It’s more like a deal, you know? They provide the training, the facilities, and all the support, and in exchange, he goes out there and swims for us.

lonemarlin said:Word is in the States, Phelps is basically the only millionaire in the pool. Like, where’s Hansen at? Where’s Persol? Where’s Crocker ?... Duje wants millions just for two silvers. Think about how much Ančić and Ljubičić would need to pull in to make Davis Cup worth it if $500k isn't even cutting it for him. People say they don't need the cash, but those guys are grinding all year long, traveling the globe and hitting balls on every continent, while Duje only pops up once a year.

yeah, but why wouldn't they take 5 million if someone's offering to buy them out🙄 !!

fair point, but where are the real heavy hitters? I mean, Duje’s a solid swimmer, but he’s not even in the same league as a Phelps or Thorpe or that whole crew. And honestly, I'm wondering how much these guys are actually pulling from the government???
that's what I'm thinking too, but honestly, feels like the solution is just getting paid *****....
get a little something and call it a day, but they haven't headed over to Qatar yet!!
I heard all the top swimmers are getting massive offers from Qatar because they're trying to build themselves into some kind of swimming superpower....
I'm just curious to see who actually bites, especially since most of them—as they say—aren't exactly rolling in it yet...

mellowbadger8 said:Man, I’m really curious—how many of you would actually take $500,000 (who knows if they’d even give him that much, honestly, I wouldn't trust them) and turn down $5 million? You guys are totally fearless, 🙄 just waiting for an opportunity to jump. You’d probably play for osama himself if he offered enough cash, 😁 😁

There's zero chance I'd ever sell out because that's just not who I am. You can't buy me!!
But what exactly am I supposed to buy with that $500,000 that I can't buy right now???
A house???
A car ???
A boat???
All of that gets old fast, and I'm not about that life. I truly believe I'll make something of myself on my own, because if my old man could pull it off, so can I!!
Hard work is the only way out. Let me tell you one thing though: there was this guy in Chicago who could have played anywhere, but he stayed. There are plenty of guys who stayed put because they didn't want to move, but let me tell you, I don't know a single person who had a guaranteed spot on their national team and then sold themselves out...
And nobody—Kranjcar left for other reasons. He didn't go to Qatar, he went to a team in Florida, and it wasn't about the money, it was about his career. People were talking about bigger paydays in Russia, but that wasn't it...

Duje chose his own path in sports. Like I said before, some people train because they love the game and want to hit certain goals, not just to stack up cash!!

Just look at tennis players and the Fed Cup. All the wealth in Qatar couldn't buy that kind of success, because that comes from grinding, not from selling out for a paycheck.

Gregory Taylor63 said:So basically, he’d have to be happy with just the crumbs. Like, who cares about $5 million when you can settle for $50k? Makes total sense! 👍

Hold up, are you seriously claiming it's impossible to turn $500,000 into $5 million through real estate without, you know, selling your soul to Qatar???

Look at how some big-shot developer flips luxury condos because they actually have the capital—then suddenly some reporter decides to write an exposé claiming they're totally broke just to stir the pot. 🙄

Boozer said:Oh, so now he’s a traitor just because he wants a decent life for himself and his family? Duje is a legend, period. Just keep moving forward. It's funny how people call you out when they don't want you around—especially those pathetic "patriots" who pay their taxes in Monaco and drive Ferraris with foreign plates, yet they're all shouting about being true Americans and waving flags at every chance they get.

Just tell me where exactly they don't want him?? And seriously, which player actually got an offer better than his? I'm pretty sure the national team offered him a $300,000 house and $13,000 $0.00 a month without even needing some massive insurance policy from something like State Farm???
Who on earth is getting paid more than what was offered to Duje!!
The thing is, that amount seems small to him, but let me remind you—he earned a paycheck for every single medal he won, and that adds up to a lot!!
Look, we’re a relatively small country here. We can't compete with the oil tycoons, and honestly, we shouldn't even try. If we did, we'd have someone like Ančić or Ljubičić show up and say, "Hey, I'm a world champion, hand over $10 million right now, or I'm heading straight to Qatar." Because why spend a year training hard just to make $5 million when you could walk away with $50?

brightcobra10 said:honestly, what can I even say? you guys are just young and clueless😁 😁

yeah, totally clueless... we're basically idiots because we aren't jumping at every chance to sell ourselves for an extra few thousand bucks...
man, we could be big shots living it up in Vegas if we just took the money they're throwing around, like an extra million or whatever.
The way players like Ancic and his crew handle things is just wild... they could easily be walking away with $10 million instead of just $2 million. absolute morons.

L. NimoyInvadesMetal~ said:Come on, tell me—besides Draganja, which other swimmer is actually going to jump ship and swim for another country just because of an offer like this one this year?

So Qatar just had Duje on their radar? 🙂 ?

Just let him be, Brandon Castillo4... honestly, it’s like we’re all just supposed to be idiots here!!
It just drives me crazy seeing these hypocrites who act like the country is some sacred thing whenever there's a big national event, but the second someone needs to sell themselves for more than a few bucks, suddenly they couldn't care less about patriotism!!
That’s my explanation, and I'm not even bringing up veterans or volunteers or anything else.🙂

And regarding the whole sale thing, I saw on the news today that Qatar offered these contracts to all the top swimmers, one by one!! I’m genuinely curious to see who actually leaves, but again, I gotta ask: how much more is their government offering them compared to what we're giving Duje Draganja???

brightcobra10 said:man, you’re seriously tripping. don't even start with the veterans or the service members, because if you asked them today, they'd tell you they’d do it all over again. and look, politics and sports just don't mix, period. plus, when we're talking cash, compare what tennis players pull in versus some guy swimming... it's not even close.

trust me, none of these guys would ever sell out to Qatar. they know what it means to practically give their lives for this country!!
and honestly, someone once said you can live pretty damn well on 500,000 euros, and Duje already had that kind of money!!
plenty of people have moved away to find better opportunities, sure, but nobody went out and grabbed a Qatari passport just to do it—that's the big difference right there!!
anyone who had at least 50,000 bucks sitting in their bank account didn't feel the need to sell their citizenship!!
and listen, money in tennis isn't about selling your soul; it's about the grind and the sweat, no matter the sport. some athletes make bank and some don't, it is what it is!!
you don't get into sports for the paycheck; you do it because you actually love the game. if it was all about the money, everyone would be trying to go pro in the NFL!!

Here’s Duje Draganja-prodana for you. Just look at how Americans cheer when someone actually lands a massive win, like winning the Davis Cup in tennis!!
You couldn't buy something like that if you had all the money in the world, seriously. It’s just not on the market.
What I'm really wondering about now is what all those hypocrites who back him are up to. Are they suddenly out there cheering for the US and feeling all patriotic, or are they just busy figuring out how to sell themselves out for the biggest paycheck possible????

mellowbadger8 said:I haven't even caught up on this thread yet, nor have I read that one article about John Doe's descent into madness, but honestly? I'm all for him. He gave plenty to a country that probably didn't give much back to him in terms of sports—or financial—support. So look, John should just take whatever he can get while he can. Life is too short and "patriotism" is usually just overblown hype anyway. People drop their American citizenship for way less than what he's looking at 😉 and you can't exactly pay the rent with fame and a pat on the back.

I don't get what there is to support here?? I'm really trying to wrap my head around it, but isn't this like watching someone who doesn't even have enough bread for his kids, just chasing every scrap he can find? Don't tell me you support him being greedy after $400,000 wasn't enough, so now he's running off for $5 million that he could've earned on his own!!
I guess some guys just prefer everything handed to them on a silver platter rather than grinding it out the hard way, but hey, good luck to him I guess!!

In my opinion, America gave him plenty since John would've been the highest-paid American athlete in history if it came from the government!!
And for us, that's not exactly pocket change!!
I'm actually curious, what kind of stuff do guys like Thorpe or Phelps get from the US government? If anyone knows, let me know so we can compare.