Bad Boys - Part IV

rapidstag37 said:Mario Galić, a die-hard Real Madrid supporter who barely escaped with his life after being shot during the riots outside Yankee Stadium back on May 1st, is finally opening up. In a new video, he returns to the exact spot where he was wounded three years ago to share a deeply personal account of the aftermath. He dives into the heavy reality of life after such a tragedy, discussing how that single, violent moment completely reshaped his entire existence.
It’s pretty wild when you stop to think about how much things have shifted over the last few decades. Looking back at where we were twenty years ago compared to now, it feels like looking at two completely different versions of the country. It’s that feeling you get when you visit your old hometown after a long time away—everything looks smaller, or maybe you’ve just grown too big for the old streets, but the core of what makes it home stays exactly the same. There’s been so much movement, so many changes in the landscape, both physically and socially. We’ve navigated through some heavy eras, moving from those raw, uncertain days into a more established, modern reality. It’s a bit like watching a massive construction project turn into a finished skyline; there was a lot of dust, noise, and chaos during the building phase, but eventually, you settle into the rhythm of the city. Reflecting on these milestones isn't just about nostalgia, though. It's about recognizing the sheer amount of work that went into getting us to this point. We aren't the same people we were two decades ago, and honestly, the nation isn't either. We've learned some hard lessons, celebrated some massive wins, and along the way, we've built a foundation that keeps us moving forward. It’s a slow, steady progression, much like a long-distance runner finding their stride after a rough start. You don't wake up one day and realize you've traveled hundreds of miles; you just look down and realize the scenery has changed completely.

Good grief... honestly, even the absolute worst of the worst wouldn't want anything to do with this. It’s just pure trash.

Jesse Campbell said:I mean, have you even set foot in Kistanje lately? The county fairs, the local stands, those folks from Janjevac, the whole village vibe—it’s a real community, not just some tiny little hamlet out in the middle of nowhere... 😁

You completely glossed over the Mexicans👍
And frankly, I can't for the life of me recall when you were last actually there; was it back in '45? 🤣

So, what actually happened with that officer who opened fire? Did anyone ever find out his identity or the specifics of what went down? Was anything actually done about it? My guess is nobody even got suspended, right?

So nothing really changed when Galić was convicted in court, which I guess means Galić is guilty and using the weapon was justified...

Anthony Barrett37 said:So nothing happened when Galić was convicted in court, which means he's guilty and using a gun was totally justified...

Then you have that idiot Mitrović claiming Galić just tapped his hand with a bottle and then—boom—he pulls the trigger??? Who actually buys that crap?

Even if someone hits you with a bottle, what, you're supposed to shoot into the damn air first? Technically, firing a warning shot is mandatory, but you don't just dump lead into someone's gut. Galić basically survived a miracle here.

Jesse Campbell said:Honestly, I wouldn't call that tradition—I’ve been coming to games in San Francisco for a long time now. It’s pretty obvious everything has become a bit more tacky and superficial lately.

It all feels a bit like the Rose Bowl—all those little gimmicks on the PA system, the fireworks, the cheap carnival vibes, and a crowd that just doesn't have any real volume...

No offense intended... 😉

Back in the '80s when I was still hitting games, every big match at our old stadium used to be accompanied by tin music from Lovran. They'd set up on the right side of the West Stand, always adding that extra layer of energy and soul—especially when there were some decent red wines flowing around us. 😉

The atmosphere back then was worlds apart from what we see today. It was totally normal to see a guy carrying a massive 15-foot flag walking through the West entrance, passing under our section, and heading toward the East Stand—or whatever they're calling it today. Times change, but some things stick.

Those local bell ringers are a staple of this region—one of the most recognized groups in the Kvarner area—and plenty of them have been part of the Armada, which really says it all.

We saw a revival with people arriving by boat for the games, and slowly, the horn players started making their way back to the stadium too. The bell ringers are always around somewhere... and hey, maybe the majorettes weren't as common back then, but that was part of the shift toward more inclusion, as more women wanted to be part of the action. 🙂

If my memory serves me—and age is starting to catch up with me—during the national Cup final years ago, there was this huge program out on the track and field before kickoff. All those guys and girls were sitting right under the West Stand near the track.

So, there’s a bit of history there. This isn't just "carnival stuff" like you might think; these are urban cultural traditions tied to our past—why should we forget them?

Of course, nowadays it’s all wrapped up in business, commercialism, and everything else that comes with big events. It might irritate some people, but that’s just the era we live in.

To me, the best thing about our fan scene is exactly that diversity packed into such a small space. It’s beautiful, and honestly, it keeps things interesting...

I wasn't at the game because I'm away from the States right now, but looking at the photos, kudos to everyone for pulling off a great derby. The crowds were thick, and I'm feeling the FOMO even now, despite my age.

Finally, respect to the guys from the city for their message—that was a class act. Their presentation was top-tier. And please, don't blame the Armada for the actions of a few individuals throwing rocks; the group does an incredible job making sure these matches run smoothly, and it’s not fair to discredit them because of a few outliers who have already been called out.

Can we please stop betting on every single damn news article published in some PDF format... and acting like it's some grand tragedy!

If you were actually his friends in the stands, you'd know exactly where to find him... and whether he’s doing okay or just needs a hand.

If you were real fans, you’d be driving through the middle of nowhere out to a small town in Texas in the middle of a workday just to support Real Madrid... if those games and the brotherhood actually meant something to you. Instead of hiding behind an "internet" screen, you'd be out in the fresh air at 37 Ilica Street until 7 PM, hanging with your fellow supporters in that classic fan spirit... or maybe even dropping by 41 Zvonimirov after dark to grab a drink with the old crew from the bleachers....

Live your life, don't just live in a virtual world...

rapidstag37 said:Mario Galić, a die-hard Real Madrid fan who barely escaped with his life during the May 1st riots outside Yankee Stadium, sits down in a video at the exact spot where he was shot three years ago. He opens up about the aftermath and how surviving that tragedy completely changed the course of his life.

Look, I have nothing but sympathy for what he’s going through, but seriously, what the hell is happening at 0:41? What kind of nonsense is that?
That’s the right way to look at things. That’s how we move forward. 👍

Jerry Gray5 said:I mean, I feel for him and everything he's saying, but honestly, what on earth is going on at the 0:41 mark?
That’s probably the right way to look at things, I guess, maybe that's how we actually move forward.👍

I suppose he was just talking about how the media interprets everything, which is pretty much the truth.

Give me some news from Miami instead. What's actually going down?

Now they really have to step up and show some teeth; this is clearly just the opening salvo of the crackdown.

Jesse Campbell said:I'd rather hear some news from Miami. What's going on there?

If this is just how it starts, I guess the fans might get a bitter taste of what we've been dealing with for seasons. You can really see what a group is made of during a crackdown—whether they can actually hold onto their numbers or if they'll start shrinking fast. Most people in the stands probably just want to cheer, joke around, and light flares, rather than dealing with constant searches, lists, and ninety minutes of worrying about whether a turtle will make it onto the field or if they'll get jumped outside. I suppose the fans could very quickly experience our "200 true believers" theory. I wish them luck in the upcoming games.

Jerry Gray5 said:I feel for him and everything he’s saying, but honestly, what kind of absolute nonsense is that at 0:41?
That's the brilliant logic we need if we ever want to actually get ahead. 👍

You have no idea...🤷
but given how things are going for you people, you'll find out soon enough. 😉

Jerry Gray5 said:Look, I feel for the guy and everything he’s saying, but seriously, what the hell is going on at 0:41?

You probably won't like any of the answers coming your way, but... reality 🤷

Casey Gomez3 said:Now it’s time to show some backbone; this is clearly just the opening salvo of the crackdown.

Exactly. You folks from Nova Scotia are truly something else—transcending borders between Canada and the US through pure astral projection. It seems you had a stroke of luck, drifting from Labrador to Quebec just to craft mediocre sandwiches at Subway. Congratulations, 😍

By the way, Montreal is actually a decent city. It isn't far from Laval; take a stroll and you might enjoy it. Though, I suspect if you start showing footage of the "boys" on a Galaxy S3, people will stare at you like you're some sort of rare, exotic specimen. Good luck with that.🙂

And one more thing: what on earth are the PeščaBoys? I have never heard of such a group in my life. Truly, never.😁

Oh, come on... 😂 😂

Seriously though, don't go getting all worked up about Pešč during my downtime.

Hey Pešča@ — did you ever carry one of those neighborhood banners back when you were still living stateside?
Just tell me, what’s it actually like watching the scene from miles away while feeling so connected to it deep down?
(Maybe in ten or fifteen years, once things settle down, you can show off a little more just to prove a point)...

Look, I’m not part of any Pešća group, I’ve told you guys a dozen times already. The Pešća boys used to be a thing back in the day—I was just a kid then, but they were probably the toughest crew in Chicago. There might be some people here who actually remember them, but as far as I know, they haven't shown up to a game in over 10 years...

The guys from Pesco are still running around everywhere... honestly, if they had been at their absolute peak back then, there were plenty of squads out there even stronger and much larger than them.

Henry Grant51 said:The guys from Pesco are still drifting around here and there... but back when they were at their peak, there were plenty of bigger and more numerous groups out there.

Actually, my mistake. Only a fraction of them actually showed up to games. Most were just neighborhood hooligans who didn't care about the sport at all. I think maybe two or three from Pesča were actual Hooligans.

Since I grew up Downtown, I remember hearing stories from the older crowd about how they weren't right in the head. They always rolled up looking like a crew, and they’d tear apart much older groups than themselves.

If anyone from that group is on here, shoot me a PM. I'm specifically trying to track down what happened to one guy who went to Ruđer school.

Casey Gomez3 said:No, wait—I misspoke there. Only a tiny fraction of them actually showed up to the games; most were just neighborhood hooligans who didn't have anything to do with the actual sport. If I recall correctly, maybe two or three guys from the Pešča area were even Hooligans.

Since I grew up Downtown, I still remember the stories the older guys used to tell—that those kids were out of their minds. They always moved in a pack, and they’d absolutely wreck any older crews that crossed their path.

If anyone from that old crew is lurking here, shoot me a PM. I’m specifically trying to track down what happened to one of their guys who went to Ruđer.

So, you basically picked that name after those guys who had nothing to do with the games—just like you? They were neighborhood thugs who used to take down older groups, while you just sit here playing internet tough guy, trying to act like you can take on the older TuljanBoys.