Duje Draganja: Sellout or just misunderstood?

People are gonna be laughing in Duje's face if he actually decides to head to Qatar.🙂

alfred stokes said:The only issue is that all these supposedly tough, ultra-moral Americans conveniently forget everything about ethics and integrity when it comes to actual life—stuff that actually matters way more than sports or "cheering for America" on the global stage.

Look, before you post this kind of garbage, maybe take a quick glance at the subforum title up in the top left 😉. If you want to talk about other aspects of life, go ahead and vent all you want, but do it in the forums actually meant for those topics. This space is for sports. 😉

I keep rambling on about Bahrain when it’s actually Qatar we're talking about...

pea_2101 said:Can you explain how someone "loses themselves" just because they changed their freaking citizenship?

Look, I really don't give a damn whether he changed his soul or not.🙄 We're talking about Duje switching his citizenship just for a paycheck.

pea_2101 said:So, what, if you aren't American, you aren't a person, or how does that work for you people? Please, enlighten me. 😎 🙄

For God's sake!!! 😵

Is it actually possible for someone to be this dense???? 😕

Yeah, he’s still a human being, he didn't turn into a damn amoeba overnight. But why on earth would you change your citizenship and turn your back on your own country just for money? It says everything you need to know about a guy. It shows greed and a singular obsession—CASH. He's young, fit, and educated; he could make a killing in life without even sticking to swimming. Selling out like this is just gross and honestly unbelievable.

Dana Rivera4 said:To you and those like you, before you decide to post such absolute nonsense, I’d suggest taking a quick look at the subforum title—it’s right there in the top left corner.😉 If you feel the need to pivot toward other aspects of life, by all means, speak your heart out—but please, do so within the subforums specifically designed for those topics. This particular space is dedicated strictly to sports.😉

opet genijalac ovaj rasprava 🙄
This discussion doesn't really seem to have much to do with sports, does it? 😉
Or am I just completely off base? 🤔
This entire thread is dedicated to documenting Duje’s athletic achievements.
I offer my sincere apologies if that was how Tom felt about it. 😂

Kevin Allen10 said:This whole thread doesn't really have much to do with sports 😉

Thanks for showing off your massive brain just long enough for me to realize who I'm dealing with. I could probably send you some links to forums you'd actually enjoy—maybe some science stuff, some conspiracy nut sites, or even food blogs. You’d fit right in there. You’re definitely a little lost in this neck of the woods.👋

It’s his own business—and let’s be honest, you can’t survive on patriotism alone—besides, aren't we all just inhabitants of planet Earth?

Dana Rivera4 said:Thanks for demonstrating your brilliance just enough for me to realize who I'm dealing with. If you're looking for a place to belong, I could probably point you toward some forums on science, conspiracy theories, or gourmet cooking where you might actually fit in; you seem a bit out of your element here.👋

If you’re so eager to share links, why don't you try quoting something actually related to sports on this thread first?
Being an American patriot isn't a sport—so let's leave that off the scoreboard.

Amanda Lee42 said:besides, we're all just inhabitants of planet Earth

😂

🤣

hahah

well then, why don't you just get lost? I heard that's on Earth too👍

Douglas Williams29 said:😂

🤣

haha

so just get lost then; I hear there's plenty of space left in this country. 👍

mudro 🙄

Douglas Williams29 said:😂

🤣

haha

Well, then just get lost—I hear that kind of nonsense is all over this country anyway. 👍

It’s pretty primitive, really... though I suppose we shouldn't expect much more from someone like that.

L. NimoyInvadesMetal~ said:👍

anyway, Shevchenko and those other ghosts:

So Duje turning his back on his country is a "smart move," while the rest of us who wouldn't do the same are basically just fake Americans?

🙄 🙄

🙂

Get real, man.

Yeah, you think he’s suddenly cut all ties with his homeland. Like, oh, I hate America, I hate my hometown, I hate everything about where I was born...

Give me a break, get it through your head—IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY. He’s a pro, okay? He isn't some damn patriot sacrificing his entire life just to stand next to a piece of fabric only to be forgotten by everyone within a year of retiring. He’s a human being; he’s gotta make a living. Being a professional athlete, especially in his sport, doesn't pay the bills if you realize they don't have massive clubs like soccer players or cyclists do; they're out there swimming for themselves.

Trust me, if there were no club teams and just national squads, there would be so many transfers happening that even historical dictators would be spinning in their graves. JUST IMAGINE, someone like Asamoah playing for Germany (for those who don't know, he's blacker than black).

It's simple: people are people. They need to eat. No amount of public admiration or some random journalist's praise is going to put food on the table.

That's just how life works. You'll figure it out once you actually get a job and try working at a company—you won't get hired just because you're an American and you're proud to work in this country and want the best for it and all that crap...

Kevin Allen10 said:If you're gonna drop links, why don't you quote something actually related to sports on this thread?
Being an American patriot isn't a sport—let's just rule that out right now.

Look, I couldn't care less about "patriotism" or whatever nonsense jargon you're throwing around. You clearly picked up those terms from some deep philosophical debate or maybe just some bad personal experiences. What even defines that term for you? Honestly, I don't care. It sounds like your own personal frustrations, so keep them to yourself.😉

To actually see how this topic connects to sports, you need to understand a few things. First, you have to understand what sports actually are—a secondary pursuit people engage in. You need to grasp the weight of events like the Olympic Games or the World Cup. You need to get the raw emotion people all over this planet feel when their national team makes it to a World Cup final or when their flag flies high at a massive competition. Someone who understands that will look back and think, "Oh, right, the 2004 Athens medal for Duje," and finally realize the connection between Duje Draganja-prodana, being American, American fans, swimming, and this whole discussion. You just don't get it. It’s fine, though. There are plenty of other corners of the internet for people like you. Go enjoy yourself there.😉 Enjoy.

Feuerfuchs said:It’s not just about switching citizenship; he changed his whole damn name too. You won't find his old name on any official paperwork anymore. I mean, if you're tossing aside your name, the city where you were born, and your own country... aren't you basically erasing who you are?
What's next? Maybe he'll go change his religion too.

Man... talk about a hierarchy of values there. So, in your book, religion comes first, then the country, then your name? 🙂

At the end of the day, it's all about the individual and their freedom—as long as they aren't stepping on anyone else's toes. If this is how Duje wants to play it, just let him live.
Besides, what does the phrase "selling your soul" even actually mean in the real world?
But hey, since everyone here seems to be stuck in that same cynical, "tough guy" mindset, I think I get the vibe...

copperpuma96 said:Get a grip.

So, you honestly believe he’s suddenly turned his back on everything this country stands for? That he somehow hates America, or the city where he grew up, or any part of his heritage?

Please, just realize that IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. He’s a professional, not some misguided patriot willing to sacrifice his entire life just to stand next to a piece of fabric, only to be forgotten by everyone within a year of retirement. He's a human being who needs to make a living; pursuing his sport professionally doesn't pay the bills when you don't have massive clubs like soccer players or cyclists do—these guys are essentially out there competing for themselves.

Believe me, if there were no professional clubs and only national teams, there would be enough transfers to make historical dictators turn in their graves. Just imagine—you could have someone playing for the US national team who looks nothing like the traditional archetype.

It’s simple: people are people, and they have to eat. A little bit of public admiration or some glowing praise from journalists isn't going to put food on the table.

That’s just how life works; you'll figure it out once you actually enter the workforce and try to land a job at a firm, realizing that being a proud American and wanting the best for the country won't necessarily get you a promotion.

👍 🙏

P.S.
If you think he's a traitor, you're just being basic.
😂 😂

Douglas Williams29 said:Look, man, I honestly don't give a damn whether he changed his ways or not. It's all the same to me.🙄 Now we're talking about citizenship—something Duje is just tossing around because he wants more cash. For God's sake, give me a break!!! 😵

Is it actually possible for someone to be this freaking brainless???? 😕

Look, the guy is still a human being, he hasn't turned into some kind of damn amoeba or anything. But seriously, what kind of absolute coward switches his citizenship and turns his back on his own country just because of a paycheck? It says everything you need to know about a person like that. It’s pure greed and nothing else—just a desperate, bottomless hunger for MONEY. He’s young, he’s good-looking, and he’s educated; he could make a massive amount of cash in life without even touching swimming. Selling out like this is just straight-up disgusting and honestly unbelievable.

Look, he isn't switching his citizenship just for the paycheck; he's just swapping the "club" he plays for because that's where the money is. You get me? Changing the letters on those legal documents is nothing more than a formality.

Why on earth would he grind away at some massive corporation like ExxonMobil for another thirty years if he doesn't HAVE to? He’s already sitting on the payoff from twenty years of hard labor. While other kids were out living their lives, enjoying their youth, and actually having a childhood, this guy was out there working his tail off. He took huge risks—even if he didn't realize it at the time—because one bad injury could have wiped out his entire career instantly.

Dana Rivera4 said:....
for someone to actually grasp how this topic ties back to sports, they’d need a certain level of awareness. First, you have to view sports for what they truly are: a side interest ....[/URL] [/B]

If it hasn't clicked for you why I bolded that part about it being a side interest—and if you still can't connect that to the fact that Duje's life has been defined by his work for years, far from just a hobby—then I honestly feel for you; there isn't much anyone can do for that kind of denseness.😉

And please, stop drinking with this crazy house🙄
I've been on this forum for years, and those tired old lines lost their charm a long time ago.
But then again, grasping the point requires a certain depth; not everyone has the mental capacity to come up with something original when they lack a concrete answer.

Amanda Lee42 said:It’s pretty crude, but honestly, what else could you expect from someone like that...

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Amanda Lee42, you nailed it.

🙂

Don't push your luck, man. If I actually let you go, you'd see exactly what being primitive looks like 😉 and what real trauma feels like.😉

I mean, sure, he doesn't have to grind away at some massive corporation like Goldman Sachs for the next thirty years, but honestly, it feels just as tacky as those socialites who marry into money just to live the high life... people find that whole thing pretty repulsive because you basically had to trade in your soul to get there...

Kevin Allen10 said:I wouldn't deal with this asylum anymore. 🙄
I've been on this board for years and these tired tropes are old news.
But I get why you're doing it—not everyone has the mental bandwidth to come up with something original when they don't have a real answer.

First off, congrats. 🙏 You actually managed to string three coherent thoughts together. Honestly, didn't think you had it in you, but maybe there's still hope for you yet. This madhouse will never get boring as long as there are idiots like you around.😉