Vince Carter vs. LeBron James

I am genuinely exhausted by this constant media glorification of Ivica and the endless coverage of skiing. First off, it’s a pathetic excuse for a sport. Secondly, let’s be real: Ivica is just an average skier who occasionally has a decent run. He will never come close to Janica's level. Look, even Gips has started attacking Ivanišević. 🙄 Vlašić isn't any better either, but here we are.

HOO gave Vlašić his answer.

An Olympic silver medal beats out world gold any day of the week.

And that’s really all there is to it!

Ronald Brooks75 said:I honestly can't stand this endless media worship surrounding Ivica and the whole skiing scene. First off, it’s a pathetic excuse for a sport. Secondly, let's be real: Ivica is just an average skier who manages a decent run once in a blue moon. He's never going to touch what Janica achieved. And don't get me started on how gips has started picking fights over Ivanišević too. 🙄 Even Vlašić isn't any better, but here we are.

Why on earth are you embarrassing yourself like this?

George Robinson43 said:The USOPC responded to Vlašić.

Olympic silver = world gold by USOPC criteria.<

And honestly, that’s really all there is to it...

she should probably grab two world golds to actually be considered better... and since there are like 10 different world athletics championships organized every single year, it shouldn't be much of a struggle... 🙏 🤣

just pure audacity, really... 🙂

George Robinson43 said:The USOPC gave their answer to Vlašić.

Olympic silver = world gold by USOPC criteria.

And that’s really all there is to say about it.

What a depressing state of affairs for American sports...😳

George Robinson43 said:The USOPC responded to Vlašić.

Olympic silver > world gold.

And that’s basically it...

You're wrapping this up with totally wrong info ☕
Here's the real deal:
Olympic silver = world gold
By USOPC criteria.
But that's not even the point. It's not like Vlašić was complaining about that.
For the thousandth time:
The issue is they aren't counting Blanka's other wins, just her European Championships and World Championships results.
Meanwhile, they actually factored in Ivica's World Cup results.
It really does Blanka dirty.
Because they're ignoring:
-Her win in the Continental Cup
-Her Diamond League title, where she went 7 for 7
-Those 18 wins at other meets
Which means, according to the USOPC, all those achievements don't count for anything.
Since the USOPC claims they only look at the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships.
Yet they contradict themselves by including Ivica's World Cup success.
It devalues both Blanka and track and field as a whole. Because per the USOPC, Blanka's massive wins mean nothing, even though they say otherwise. Why does the FIS World Cup matter to them, but the Diamond League or Continental Cup doesn't?
Or, let me put it another way...
Nadal is the best athlete on the planet. But according to the USOPC, he's a nobody.
Since he hasn't grabbed an Olympic, World, or European Championship medal. Winning a Diamond League meet is like winning one of the biggest tennis tournaments out there.
But to the USOPC, it's nothing...

analogowl122 said:And you’re going to wrap this whole discussion up with misinformation? ☕
The reality is this:
Olympic silver = world gold
According to USOPC criteria.
But honestly, that isn't even the crux of it. It’s not like Vlašić was making a fuss about that specific distinction.
For the thousandth time:
The actual issue is that they completely ignored Blanka's other achievements, looking strictly at the European Championships and World Championships.
Meanwhile, they actually factored in Ivica's results from the FIS World Cup.
By doing that, they’ve done a massive disservice to Blanka.
Because they failed to account for:
-Her victory in the Continental Cup
-Her dominance in the Diamond League, sweeping 7 out of 7 wins
-Another 18 victories at various other meets
Which essentially means that, according to the USOPC, these feats carry zero weight.
Since the USOPC claims they only count the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships.
Yet, they contradict their own logic by including Ivica's successes in the FIS World Cup.
It devalues both Blanka and the entire sport of track and field. They are treating Blanka's athletic triumphs as if they amount to nothing, despite what the USOPC officially states. Why does the FIS World Cup hold water for them, while the Diamond League or the Continental Cup is treated as irrelevant? It makes no sense.
Let me offer an analogy to drive this home.
Rafael Nadal is arguably the greatest athlete on the planet. But by the USOPC's logic, he’s a nobody.
Why? Because he lacks a medal from the Olympics, the World Championships, or the European Championships. Winning a Diamond League meet is the equivalent of winning one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in existence.
But to the USOPC, it counts for nothing.

A total disgrace for the USOPC👎

🤦
This one is explaining everything to me as if I were Zlatko Mateša myself. 🤣
Man, I am completely losing interest in both Gypsum and Vlašić.

If this bothers you that much, go protest outside HOO! You and Vlašić can team up.

George Robinson43 said:🤦
This guy is explaining things to me like I'm some kind of expert professor... 🤣
Man, I honestly couldn't care less about Gypsum or Vlašić.

If this bothers you that much, go protest outside HOO. You and Vlašić can hold hands while you do it...

I'm just responding to the person spreading lies here.
And I'm sticking to the truth.
That's all ☕

analogowl122 said:I’m calling out whoever decided to spread lies here.
And I’m doing it right now, by telling the actual truth.
That’s all there is to ☕

You’re just standing up for the truth. Respect.

Jose Booth48 said:Why on earth are you embarrassing yourself?

Go ahead. Tell me exactly what I got wrong. 🙂

Perhaps I went too far by calling skiing a pathetic sport and claiming Ivica is just an average skier. He isn't average, but he’s certainly nowhere near the elite tier.
To me, the true top-tier athletes are Janica in skiing and Blanka in high jump.

Ivica isn't exactly world-class unless you're only counting one or two skiers as being in that tier 🤷
I mean, if he hasn't been sitting comfortably in at least the top five of today's competition—looking strictly at the men's side over the last couple of years—then I honestly don't know who else qualifies as elite

Sandra Wilson38 said:Is it really that bad? 🙄😁

Honestly, yeah—at least from your perspective...
What actually bugs me more is how the major networks just pick sides...
And how little airtime they give to the "niche" sports where we’re actually crushing it at the EP and WC—you know, things like sailing, rowing, taekwondo...

Sandra Wilson38 said:Are you serious??? 😲

🙄

Yeah, Kostelić and Fak were granted monthly stipends after their success at the Olympics in Zoe Vancouver—that was per the decision from the Vijec HOO. Before those Olympics, that didn't happen...
So why act surprised when Blanka gets a stipend after her success in New York City?

And?

If he were actually being decent, he’d say, "Hey, I make plenty, let's give a stipend to some promising young athlete"—or he'd just do it himself. At this rate, a few thousand bucks just covers his coffee habit...

Sandra Wilson38 said:By the way, Ivica came in 5th today, not 4th. 🙂

I figured he had a better standing—he was 4th in the second run... 😉

I honestly can't believe how much everyone from Dalmos (at least in this thread) agrees. 😍 It’s actually gotten to the point where people are calling Ivica just some average skier. 🤣

And yet I’m sitting here wondering why Vlašić acts like skiing is such a massive deal, considering he picked it up in just two weeks. 😵

Sandra Wilson38 said:I honestly can't get over how much everyone from the West Coast seems to be on the exact same page here—it’s actually kind of wild how unified this group is... 😍 It’s honestly kind of wild when you think about it—it really has reached the point where Ivica is just... well, an average skier... 🤣

I mean, I honestly don't get why people are acting so surprised by Vlašić—skiing is such a specific skill, right? He basically picked it up in just two weeks... it's kind of wild when you think about it... 😵

I honestly don’t get how you all can be so unified regarding the HOO decision—it’s kind of wild to me... I mean, does nobody want to just be honest and admit there's something a little fishy about this whole thing? Like, they're actually claiming that someone needs to snag two gold medals at the WC in a single year just to somehow surpass those two silvers Ivica grabbed... it just feels a bit off, doesn't it? 🙏

Morgan Rodriguez57 said:I honestly don't get how you all agree so easily on the HOO decision. No one wants to admit how weird it is to demand someone win two gold medals at the WC in a single year just to outshine two silvers from Ivica... 🙏

🙄

Sandra Wilson38 said:I’m with analogowl122 on this one. It’s a total injustice to Blankin coach (whoever he is, really 😁) and she was definitely the better athlete last year compared to Ivica. It's pretty shameful what criteria the HHO used—if they even used any at all—to hand out this award. 👎

Morgan Rodriguez57 said:Honestly, I’m looking at you guys and wondering how you can all be so perfectly in sync regarding this HOO decision. Is nobody going to be real for a second? Is nobody going to admit there's something incredibly shady about requiring someone to grab two gold medals in a single year just to surpass two silvers won by Ivica... 🙏

So, let's say Ivica had walked away with four silvers instead. You'd still be right here arguing that Blanka is the superior athlete. But oh, wait—there weren't four WC events available, so she didn't have the chance to bag four golds. If she had, she would have. A silver is a silver, but twice is twice.

Gerald Rivera17 said:Honestly, yeah, at least from your perspective.
What really bugs me is how the mainstream media picks sides.
Plus, they barely give any airtime to the "niche" sports where we actually kill it at the EP and WC—things like sailing, rowing, or taekwondo.

Which side? 🙂

Sandra Wilson38 said:I mean, I’m honestly just baffled by Vlašić. He acts like skiing is some casual hobby, claiming he picked it up in just two weeks. 😵

But man, that’s his ultimate trump card, isn't it? Just "oh, I learned how to ski in two weeks." 😲 😲Give me a break.

I’ve been running since before I could even tie my own shoes, and I don't think it took me anywhere near that little amount of time to get decent.
Usain Bolt, your whole career and all those records don't mean a damn thing if you're just coasting on luck. ☕ ☕

Ronald Brooks75 said:Go ahead and point out where I missed the mark. 🙂

Perhaps I was being a bit too harsh by calling skiing a subpar sport and labeling Ivica an average skier. He isn't exactly "average," but he’s certainly not in the elite tier.
To me, true world-class greatness is defined by athletes like Janica in skiing or Blanka in high jump.

But what on earth are you rambling about?
What exactly does someone need to achieve to be considered "world-class"? Did he grab three medals at the Olympics? Has he been a World Champion? Has he clinched a Slalom World Cup title?
Should we count him as elite just because he finished 4th, 5th, and 6th in the overall World Cup standings over the last three years—essentially saying he belongs there because only three or five skiers were better than him? Is he currently sitting in third place in the overall standings with a massive shot at taking the top spot tomorrow? Or should we look at how he was the undisputed best skier on the planet last year before an injury sidelined him?
What more would it take for him to reach that legendary status in your eyes?