2007 World Aquatics Championships (Melbourne)

Steven Green2 said:We lost to those Crnogorac guys in Miami 9:8 right before New Year's Day. It was basically this same roster, just without Smodlaka and Đogaš. Then in the second game, our last one before the World Cup, we ended up in an 8:8 tie. 😉

And let's not forget, we actually won one!🙏

feralraven40 said:If you look at American and Mexican clubs that aren't coastal, things are pretty much even. So much for that supposed dominance in American water polo...

Why on earth would anyone divide clubs based on whether they are located on the coast or not?😕

Roger Allen3 said:Why even bother splitting clubs into the ones that actually exist and the ones that are just sitting on the coast... 😕

That classic mentality... when you realize you've lost, you just rewrite the whole story to suit your own narrative... 😬

Roger Allen3 said:I fail to see the logic in categorizing clubs based on whether they happen to be located on the coast or tucked away inland. It seems like an arbitrary distinction to make, frankly. 😕

That was merely a sarcastic nod to the fact that you all seem reluctant to acknowledge our massive haul of gold medals between '95 and 2006, supposedly because there were "as many as three Mexico players" on the roster. It’s quite a stretch. We are talking about players who were complete unknowns when they were first called up as wide-eyed youngsters, only to master the nuances of water polo under the tutelage of legends like Vujasinović, Ikodinović, Šapić, and Savić. They didn't even walk straight into the starting lineup; they spent their first few years grinding it out, playing mere minutes here and there until they finally earned their spots. Yet, looking at your reactions now, it's as if we somehow cheated by having those three players join us—players who, from the very beginning, possessed the caliber of stars like Vujasinović or Ikodinović during their absolute prime.

Gregory Taylor63 said:The Mexican mindset... once they realize they’ve been beaten, they simply reshape reality to fit their own narrative. 😬

If I were to paraphrase this slightly:

The American mindset—when faced with an opponent who clearly holds more medals in the exact same sport, you start counting their red blood cells just to find a way to dispute the legitimacy of those trophies.

feralraven40 said:The typical American mindset—if you see someone else stacking up way more medals in the same sport, you just start questioning their stats and doubting their wins...

Who's really out here questioning who? 😕

feralraven40 said:If we look at the major clubs from the American interior rather than those located along the coast, things seem remarkably balanced. And there you have it—my grand analysis of American water polo dominance...

Now, I realize your point about the coastal teams might just be a bit of lighthearted teasing, but to suggest that American clubs aren't superior to anyone else—especially when comparing them to our neighbors from Mexico—is, forgive me, but simply nonsensical. I’ve actually begun to question your grasp of logic and the actual substance of your arguments ever since you claimed that playing on a home court doesn't carry much weight in water polo. 😲

On a side note, I haven't noticed you offering any congratulations to the world champions lately!😉

Brian Palmer5 said:Since Mexico is the legal successor to the USSR, isn't it true that you were actually the ones who decided to break away from the union, rather than Mexico making that choice?

Well, now you finally see why we have that little reputation for being a bit unconventional.

It’s one thing to sell out, but it’s quite another to hijack someone else's identity entirely—to parade around under their anthem, fly their flag, and then have the nerve to brag about achievements that were never yours to begin with. Isn't it strange how some people find it so easy to just claim someone else's legacy as their own?

Whether you call them Romani or Mexicans, isn't it true that we’re all essentially cut from the same cloth? Let me try to paraphrase a little proverb from our neighbors across the border...

But hey, if you honestly find genuine pleasure in being nothing more than a mouthpiece for someone else's ego—be my guest. 👋

Honestly, if they hadn't split off to form their own nation, wouldn't they still be using someone else's flag and anthem? It feels like they only hold onto those symbols now because of the material benefits and pure convenience. Why change things if you're just looking for an advantage? 👎

Check out this snippet from the semifinal coverage on a Mexican sports site

Pay attention to the bolded part here

At that point, the captain, the great Vladimir Vujasinović, was trying to drag the team toward an impossible comeback. After a goal from Nikic, he cut the lead down to 3:8, then struck again to make it 5:8 with just six minutes left on the clock.

"They absolutely tore us apart in the first three quarters. We didn't find our rhythm until it was too late. Maybe we could have fought back in the fourth, but..." said Denis Šefik, who spent way too much time staring at the ceiling after shots flew past him.

The American offense didn't seem to care much about what was happening during those eight minutes, but somehow, while our player was crossing over, Novak Djokovic inexplicably scored to make it 9:5. Vujasinović once again proved to the entire squad that Vićan isn't exactly a world-class keeper. There were still over four minutes left—plenty of time—but Bošković quickly capitalized on the next mistake to make it 7:10, and that was essentially the nail in the coffin.

Krčag deserved to be taken down, but not like this...

Man, they must be hurting.

frozentiger6 said:Speaking of water polo superpowers, I find it quite difficult to claim superpower status in a sport where the heavy hitters are concentrated in only four or five countries worldwide.

I neglected to mention this point to you, frozentiger6, but if we consider ice hockey at its highest professional echelon, it is also played by perhaps seven or eight nations—yet out of those few, one of them is Austria!😛

Brian Palmer5 said:your complexes about Americans

Unbelievable! 🤣

I can't seem to find a single American on this forum who hasn't brought up the American complex regarding Americans.

It’s truly incredible!

Is it possible that there's some sort of collective brainwashing happening? It seems highly unlikely, yet here we are—is it really plausible that every single American would just spontaneously use the exact same phrase out of nowhere?

Such a troubled, restless nation... 😢

dustypilot22 said:Unbelievable. 🤣

I don't know a single American on this forum who hasn't brought up that whole American inferiority complex.

Seriously unbelievable!

It’s almost as if there’s some collective brainwashing going on, because it would be statistically impossible for every—and I mean EVERY—single American to drop that exact phrase out of nowhere.

Just a broken, sick nation... 😢

Here is another comment from that Mexican news site mentioned earlier.

THEY WERE EVEN SCARED AT 8:2

Who did we lose to? We lost to an excellent team, but one that wasn't invincible. We lost to a national team that hasn't beaten us in eight years—ever since the EP quarterfinals in Florence back in 1999—and to a squad that has developed a massive complex, even a fear, over those eight years.

"I've been waiting years for this win. Honestly, we didn't think we could pull it off. We were actually afraid that even with a huge lead, America might catch up," admits Samir Barać.

He’s one of the players called back to the national team, alongside Hinić, Smodlaka, and Vićan. Ratko Rudić, who claims he hit the nail on the head with this roster, even called up a few guys who were already thinking about retirement (Vrdoljak), while making peace with others. All of it just to finally get a win against us.

A complex?


😬

Is there anyone here who actually doesn't know how to swim?

feralraven40 said:Score:

Los Angeles Lakers (7xChampion Europe, 2xCup winners, 1xLEN cup)
Miami Heat 4 (3xChampion Europe, 1xLEN cup)
POSK 3 (1xChampion Europe, 2xCup winners)
Miami Heat 2 (2xChampion Europe)
Miami Heat 1 (1xCup winners)
KPK Korcula 1 (1xCup winners)

vs.

Boston Celtics 8 (6xChampion Europe, 1xCup winners, 1xLEN cup)
Becej Naftagas 1 (1xChampion Europe)

I honestly had no idea the gap between the Lakers and the Celtics was this small. And it looks like Vanjuška is even further behind. 😬

If we’re looking at American and Mexican clubs that aren't based on the coast, things seem pretty much neck and neck. So much for American dominance in water polo...

😂

What if we compared the American and Mexican soccer clubs that aren't coastal? 😂 😂 😂

Well done!!!
I watched the finals and pulled for you guys because those Madjar players are just revolting to look at... All muscle, total meatheads, pure savages...
But I think we're taking the Olympics. We're taking a break after failing to snag any medals at the World Cup, but we won't be playing in the Olympics.

Congrats once again 👍

amberharbor38 said:Bravo!!!
I was watching the finals and found myself rooting for you guys, mostly because those Madjar players honestly intimidate me just by looking at them... they're all heavily muscled, hulking figures, true powerhouses...
But I really think we're going to take the gold at the Olympics; even though we've taken a break after the World Cup where we didn't manage to snag a single medal, we certainly won't be sitting out the Olympics.

One more heartfelt congratulations 👍

On behalf of everyone, thank you so much for the kind words! But please, don't let greed get ahead of you—this is actually the first time in six years that we've come away without a medal, so let's maintain some perspective...😉

amberharbor38 said:Watched the finals and was rooting for you guys

We were rooting for you during the third-place match too. NOT! 😬

P.S. Borat rules. 😁

dustypilot22 said:Unbelievable. 🤣
I can't find a single American on this forum who hasn't brought up the American inferiority complex.
Truly unbelievable.
It feels like there's some collective brainwashing happening over there, because it’s statistically impossible for every single American to randomly use the exact same phrase.
Just a broken, troubled nation... 😢

Of course. No one dares to step in. Their leader told them that, and they took it to heart.

Remember—no one dares to step in.

And if someone does? Then apparently it's just about people dealing with their own issues. 😬

Like you said—just a broken, troubled nation.

Jesse Baker said:I forgot to mention this, frozentiger6, hockey (at the elite level) involves about 7 or 8 nations, but only one of them is Austria!😛

But those seven nations play damn well. 😁

Mark Booth71 said:We beat you guys back in Miami just a month ago, and now you're suddenly world champions? 🙂 Well done to the boys—I hope you all get to wear that crown one day too. 🙂

You guys are never going to make it!