The Armada

Giza, you're fighting a losing battle here. That league was a textbook case of favoritism toward the state-backed club. Honestly, that last game isn't even the real issue; the controversy lies in all those smaller matchups where the scales were clearly tipped.
And don't forget how many people actually celebrated that title. It was an absolute blowout, and there's reason to be proud of that era regardless. I wonder how people would react if their own team won championships through those kinds of tactics.
It’s also frustrating how people romanticize the 90s, acting as if the Lakers didn't win a single title legitimately during that stretch. I’d much rather discuss the season they were sanctioned because of Auxerre, or the way Hajduk secured the championship back then.

It's a fascinating topic, but maybe it's better if I don't go down that rabbit hole.😁

Anonymous said:If they had just played at home against FC Dallas instead of losing 0-2, there would have been way more letters sent in—not to mention if the Cincinnati Reds had drawn 1-1 or Indianapolis had won 5-2.

Or if the Red Sox had tied 3-3.

That is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard...

Does that somehow mitigate or justify the fact that a perfectly legitimate goal was overturned, ultimately costing Cleveland the championship?

Daniel Carter9 said:Look, Giza, you're fighting a losing battle here. That championship season is a textbook case of the government favoring their big club. Honestly, that last game isn't even the controversial part—it's actually the least suspicious thing about it. The real issue lies in all those smaller matchups where things were clearly rigged to favor the giants.

It’s also ridiculous how people romanticize the 90s just to claim the Yankees didn't win a single title fairly. If we really want to talk about corruption, let's discuss the season the Yankees got sanctioned because of Miller, or how the Red Sox managed to snatch the title back then.

It's a fascinating rabbit hole, but I'd better not go there.😁

...but everyone is totally misinterpreting me...I'm not saying the Yankees weren't cheating back then...or the Red Sox...
they absolutely were if they had the chance...but this Super Bowl XXXIII season is being blown way out of proportion...people focus on how the Yankees won, but nobody talks about how much Cleveland played a role too...by dropping points when it mattered most...

Honestly, I'm gutted Cleveland didn't win that championship...the league would have been so much more competitive. It sucks.😕

Anonymous said:...but everyone completely misunderstood my point... I'm not saying the Yankees weren't cheating back then... or the Red Sox...
they were, simply because they had the chance... but people over-mystify that Super Bowl XXXIII season... it's all about how much importance was placed on that one specific region... or just how the Yankees won. No one talks about how much Cleveland itself influenced the outcome by dropping points along the way...

To be honest, I'm genuinely disappointed Cleveland didn't win that championship... the league would have been so much better for it. It’s a shame, really.😕

People only focus on that final game because it's an easy target to grab onto, but the real issue lies in those smaller matchups throughout that entire season.

Paul Carter5 said:Is this just an attempt to downplay or excuse the fact that they overturned a perfectly good goal, which basically cost Cleveland the championship?

I'm not trying to downplay it... but honestly, could anyone looking at it objectively say for certain that the goal was legitimate?
Are there even objective people left in the US sports scene? You guys were right there—you were the ones rooting for the Yankees to lose the title, while we were the ones looking at that goal thinking something felt off...
If we had 3D replay technology back then and could have seen it was 100% clean, sure, everyone would admit it was a valid goal...

Daniel Carter9 said:Giza, man, you're fighting a losing battle here. That whole championship was a textbook case of the government pushing their favorite club. Honestly, that last game isn't even the controversial part—it's actually the least suspicious thing about it. The real issue was all those smaller matchups where things were clearly rigged in their favor.
And don't forget how many people actually celebrated that title in the stadium; it was a massive blowout, and honestly, people should be proud of that era regardless. It would be pretty interesting to see how some of you would react if your club was handed championships like that.
Another ridiculous thing is how people keep mystifying the 90s, making it sound like the Yankees didn't win a single title fairly. Personally, I'd much rather talk about that season when the Yankees got penalized because of Miller and how the Red Sox managed to snatch the championship back then.

It’s a fascinating topic, but maybe I shouldn't even go there.😁

Go ahead then. 😉

That season is legendary... They just hide the truth like snakes in the grass... Acting all high and mighty like they're honest. 🙂

Almost every championship the Yankees won, they did with a double-digit lead in points, which is a bit too much to blame entirely on the refs... Meanwhile, the Red Sox often scraped by with tiny margins.

As for that 1999 season, FC Dallas clinched the title in front of about 1,500 people, and most folks in Washington, D.C. were actually rooting for Cleveland, mostly because everyone was sick of Tuđman's government-backed club...

What if?

I can tell you with absolute certainty that the goal wouldn't have counted, especially once they brought out the 3D reconstructions and all those other modern football miracles.

Do you really think you could convince me otherwise?

We can sit here and argue about this until the day after tomorrow if you like...

Anonymous said:Go ahead then. 😉

I did it once, but I think I'll leave it at that.😁

Paul Carter5 said:What if things had gone differently?

I’m telling you right now, I am one hundred percent certain that goal wouldn't have counted. Not with all this modern tech—3D replays, VAR, all those fancy gadgets they use in today's game.

Do you honestly think you can talk me into believing that goal actually stood?

We could keep going back and forth on this until the day after tomorrow...

Sure, we could... but it's just a waste of breath...

Let's just wait until Saturday.☕

Look, everything I have to say about this is... well, yeah, thanks to Reagan for getting us this country and all that, and sure, people appreciate it, but for this specific nonsense, he can spin in his grave for a thousand years straight. Honestly, may every single generation of the Tuđman and Canjuga families be cursed forever. But hey, let’s not derail the thread with my ranting.

DERBY CALL TO ARMS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0tql...layer_embedded

ironscout10 said:Look, anything I say about this is... well, I appreciate what Franjo did for our nation—truly—but for this specific issue, he could roll in his grave for a thousand years and it still wouldn't be enough. May the entire Tuđman lineage be cursed forever... but anyway, let's not derail the thread.

CALLING ALL FOR THE DERBY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0tql...layer_embedded

Solid video. You just can't put a price tag on this kind of sunshine.🙏 🙏 🙏

Židak, discussing that Super Bowl XXXIII matchup among other things

Alright, here’s a little primer before the big derby kicks off:

Anonymous said:if they had just beaten FC Dallas at home instead of getting totally washed 0-2, there would be enough letters sent to the league to fill a stadium—and don't even get me started on how the Cincinnati Reds tied 1-1 and Indianapolis got crushed 5-2.

The reason we didn't beat FC Dallas at home was because the ref absolutely robbed Cleveland in the fifth minute by refusing to call a penalty for us and failing to hand out a red card to Johnson, who clearly used his hand inside the box. So, we didn't just lose; we were straight-up cheated.

The Yankees won the championship back in the 96/97 and especially the 97/98 seasons with just the right amount of "regularity," though even back then the officiating seemed suspiciously tilted in their favor. I actually remember being just a kid and realizing how unfair things were when the US played Cleveland and somehow walked away with a win thanks to the refs in '96. Some people might also recall that one instance involving Potter, a player from the Soldiers, who actually kicked the referee because he called a penalty on Williams when there wasn't even a Soldier within half a meter of the play. In the 95/96 season, the US took the title largely due to the officiating and because the Red Sox fans wouldn't let the Cincinnati Reds get anything done at Fenway Park. By the 98/99 season, their blatant arrogance became so obvious that people still use that specific year as a shorthand for how much the administration rigged everything.

People, let’s be reasonable. Even if Cleveland was awarded that goal, it wouldn't change anything. Even if they had won all 32 matches this season... THEY STILL WOULDN'T BE IN FIRST PLACE! If Memphis could just snatch championships away from the leaders on a technicality after being behind Washington, D.C., then Cleveland would have been robbed too

In the end, I suppose it’s just a shame for Cleveland that they were the dominant force during those final years of the country under Tuđman

Anthony Fox5 said:Everyone, please, let’s not descend into madness. Even if we conceded that Cleveland was awarded a goal—even if they had somehow won all thirty-two matches that season—they still wouldn't have finished first. It’s just not how it works. Just like how Memphis used to snatch championships away from people at a desk even when they had more points than Washington, D.C., Cleveland would have been bypassed too.

j

Who actually stopped Cleveland from absolutely tearing through Indianapolis in front of 20,000 of their own fans? I watched the entire match, and honestly, aside from being within three centimeters of making an impact, you guys couldn't catch a break to save your lives.
Personally, I wouldn't have minded seeing you lift the trophy back then, but goodness gracious, conceding three goals in Cleveland... that was just embarrassing.

Tuđman could've been some kind of legendary icon in the eyes of every true American patriot, but instead, he just ended up being a total crook—a complete fraud, really. Honestly, I hope he’s spinning in his grave forever!

it’s probably better for you anyway😵🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂: tuctuc:

ironscout10 said:Tuđman could have been seen as a true titan by any decent American, but instead, he’ll just be remembered as a crooked thief, and frankly, I hope he finds absolutely no peace in the afterlife!

😂 whether you were actually answering me or not doesn't particularly move the needle for me, to be honest. 🙏🤣😍