Duje Draganja: Sellout or just misunderstood?

someone claiming milk lasts forever:
🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Chani, you're a legend.

🙂

Don't push your luck; I'd hate to have to demonstrate exactly what it looks like to be truly unrefined 😉 and stuck in a state of total trauma. 😉

Chani is a woman, though I suspect that wouldn't bother you much anyway. 😉
An argument is an argument, regardless of whether it comes from a boxer. :rolleys:

copperpuma96 said:He isn't switching citizenship just for the money; he’s switching which "club" he plays for because of the money. Get it? Changing the paperwork is just a formality.

No, I don't get it. 🙄 He isn't changing clubs, he's changing his NATIONAL TEAM. That's a whole different ballgame. He's taking on Qatari citizenship. 🤮

copperpuma96 said:Why would he work for some corporation for the next 30 years if he DOESN'T HAVE TO, since he can cash in on what he's been doing for 20 years already? Like playing for an organization like ExxonMobil. While some kids were out studying and enjoying their youth, HE WAS WORKING. He took a lot of risks (even if it was unintentional) because one injury could have ended his entire career.

It's just human nature to want to build things and stay busy. Nobody gets rich overnight. And even if they did, he’d probably still be working some random job until the day he dies. Not because he has to, but because that's just how he is. Just because you're lazy doesn't mean the other 7 billion people on this planet are too. Stop whining.

Dana Rivera4 said:First off, congrats.🙏 You actually managed to string three coherent sentences together; I honestly wasn't sure you had it in you, but perhaps there's still some hope left for you yet. This madhouse will never lose its luster as long as people like you are around to keep things interesting.😉

😂
Retarduse—by all means, keep up the insults if being illiterate is your only way to dodge a simple question after four attempts.
👋

I truly pity your lack of intellect.😉

Kevin Allen10 said:Chani is a woman, though I doubt you'd even care 😉
An argument is an argument, regardless of who's throwing the punches. :rolleys:

Looks like you finally learned something. 👍

I’m just surprised it took me this long to realize she was female. Usually, women have these totally nonsensical, disconnected, ultra-liberal takes. Yeah, women. Or just guys who’ve gone soft. 🙏

RuzanPrljavGlup said:Look, it's true he doesn't have to grind away at some corporate desk for the next 30 years, but it’s basically the same deal as those gold diggers who marry into money just to live large. People find it gross because you essentially traded your dignity for a paycheck.

👍

Here it is—short, sweet, and straight to the point. This is the core of the whole debate.

My question for everyone backing Duje Draganja's decision:

Would you be just as supportive if this was about him taking up citizenship from an enemy nation?

Kevin Allen10 said:😂
Retarduse—keep running your mouth if you’re too illiterate to answer one simple question after four attempts.
👋

I honestly feel bad for how low your IQ is. 😉

Any moderator worth their salt can see when someone can't write a single post without getting nasty. 😉 Guess you just fell in with the wrong crowd. Too bad. 😢

As for answering the actual question: I’ve asked about ten of them now. You haven't been able to touch a single one. But don't sweat it, I'm not surprised. Answering requires a certain level of intelligence you clearly don't possess. 👋

Douglas Williams29 said:Would you guys be totally fine with this if it involved someone picking up citizenship from some other country?

I don't even see the difference, honestly.

Dana Rivera4 said:Any moderator can see when someone is incapable of posting a single sentence without resorting to insults😉 , you really must have fallen in with the wrong crowd, what a shame😢

As for answering your questions, I’ve posed about ten of them, yet you haven't been able to address a single one—but don't worry, I'm not surprised; after all, providing an answer does require a certain level of intellect👋

I suppose you've heard the old adage that offense is the best defense
But shouldn't that be backed up by actual facts?
Go ahead—keep taking pride in your little petty grievances
You asked ten questions😂 😂
If you actually bothered to read the last page, you might realize who started this string of insults, though I certainly wouldn't expect that from someone with such limited capabilities😉
👋

Fio on ignore👋

skeptik said:The real thing here is that when you’re actually struggling just to keep your head above water, it becomes a lot easier to see that some people's bank accounts matter way more than some abstract sense of national identity. People who obsess over being "patriotic" more than they care about their own wallets usually fall into one of two camps: either they don't have any real existential problems themselves, or they're just blissfully unaware of them because someone else is stepping up to handle the heavy lifting, basically smoothing out the edges of reality so they can sit back and fight those lofty, high-minded battles for "higher ideals" without ever having to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Thanks for stepping in and breaking it down for him on my behalf, because I definitely wanted to add my two cents to what you were saying. Honestly, looking at the situation, I’m pretty sure we're dealing with that second group you mentioned in your post, you know? I’d bet anything that like 90% of the people posting on this forum are still stuck in the student grind or finishing up some degree, just coasting along while their parents foot the bill for everything. It’s basically that phase where life is still mostly made up of pure idealism and big dreams before reality actually hits you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, though—it's a fine way to live.

copperpuma96 said:What's even the difference?

From where I’m sitting, there's basically none. Honestly, I expected the gap to be more obvious given how much looser and less defined your perspective seems to be. I'd love to stay and go at it with the irrational crowd, but I've gotta head out. 👋

Douglas Williams29 said:I don't get it. Seriously. 🙄 He isn't switching clubs; he’s switching his NATIONAL TEAM. That’s a whole different ballgame. He’s taking US citizenship. 🤮Look, it’s just human nature to want to build something and actually produce results. Nobody gets filthy rich overnight. And even if they did, he’d still be out there grinding until the day he dies. Not because he’s forced to, but because that’s just who he is. Just because you’re a lazy bum doesn't mean the other 7 billion people on this planet are too. Stop talking crap.

In swimming, you don't have clubs like in other sports—you know, like baseball, soccer, or basketball—so the national team is where the money is. Get it?

Goddammit. Duje Draganja is cashing in on his own hard work in ways you couldn't even wrap your head around!!! Do you have any idea what it means to train 20 to 25 hours a week? Being in that pool twice a day, staring at tiles for 20 years straight... Sorry, but that didn't happen overnight. He isn't some fraud athlete who just happens to be okay at hitting a ball; he’s a man who knows how to SWIM, and you aren't just born with that level of mastery.

Oh, sure, and I guess we need steak and greasy fast food just because, I don't know, that's just "how it is" and everyone else does it?

skeptik said:The thing is, when you're actually struggling just to make ends meet, it's a lot easier to see that survival matters more than some abstract sense of nationalism. People who prioritize "patriotism" over their own bank accounts usually fall into two camps: they either don't have real existential problems, or they’re too insulated to notice them because someone else is footing the bill so they can sit around fighting for "higher ideals."

Can someone please explain what kind of existential crisis Duje Draganja is actually going through? 😂

copperpuma96 said:In swimming, you don't really have clubs like in other sports (cycling, soccer, basketball, etc.), so the national team is basically the main source of funding. Get it?

For crying out loud. Duje Draganja is monetizing his grind in ways you couldn't even imagine!!! Do you actually realize what it means to train 20-25 hours a week? Being in the pool twice a day, staring at tiles for 20 years... Sorry, but that doesn't happen overnight. He’s not some hack soccer player who just happens to be decent at crossing or free kicks; he’s a man who knows how to SWIM, and you aren't born with that.

Oh, sure, and I guess we need steak and greasy food because, hey, that's just what everyone else does?

Sorry buddy, but I honestly don't give a damn about his grueling training sessions. I know exactly what that looks like—a friend of mine is a pro swimmer and holds an American record. She does it because she loves the sport. She isn't quite good enough to make a living off it. But there are plenty of other ways to make money in life.

Kevin Allen10 said:Just block Fio already. 👋

🙏 🙏

One less idiot to deal with.😎

ljiga said:Kudos to 👍

Are you agreeing because you actually believe it, or just because you like how it sounds?😉

ka plus trajno mliko said:Could you please walk me through what kind of existential crisis Duje Draganja is actually going through? 😂

Seriously, can someone point out where I ever said he was! 😂

ka plus some shelf-stable milk said:I see you finally caught on. 👍

It’s honestly wild to me that I didn't pick up on the fact that you were a woman sooner, because usually, women tend to hold these totally nonsensical, disconnected, and completely ungrounded ultra-liberal views, you know? Yeah, women. Or just guys who have been totally feminized. 🙏

so I guess you're just a total macho man then
😂 😂 😂
go watch Rambo and Rocky 6

Even when he was swimming for us, he was rarely anything but an arrogant, self-absorbed guy. He’s a narcissist. Honestly, it’s hard for me to "love" Duje Draganja regardless of whether he represents us, some other country, or a third party entirely. But I have to express my disappointment with the discourse from people defending him under the guise of "professionalism." Look, he’s got a few good years left; it’s his time to grab as much cash as possible while he can. If you're chasing enough money to secure your entire existence, I suppose you can afford to have zero loyalty to your hometown, your nation, or your fellow Americans. But that isn't how I view sports. I can't stomach that gladiatorial approach to athletics. From the arguments used by his defenders, it sounds like his entire life's work was just a way to reach a point where, during his peak years, he could rake in enough money to live comfortably forever. I find that hard to believe. I want to believe—actually, I hope—that people who dedicate themselves to sports do it because of what copperpuma96 wrote in his signature: "Enjoy the sport; don't let that feeling leave you." Ultimately, if his move to represent Qatar is driven solely by a hunt for fast cash, it isn't sporting, and it certainly shouldn't be the example we set for young swimmers. Be fast like Duje Draganja, maybe one day a foreign conglomerate or an oil state will buy you too...

ka plus permanent milk said:Look, man, I honestly don't give a damn about his "grueling training sessions." I know exactly how that goes because a close friend of mine is a pro swimmer—she actually holds an American record. She does it because she lives for the sport. It’s not like she’s pulling in enough cash to retire on it, but hey, there are other ways to make a living.

You really think Duje Draganja swims just because he loves the water?

You think Lance Armstrong rides because he’s just some cycling enthusiast?
You think Baldini runs because he finds running relaxing?

How the hell should you know? You haven't been in their shoes.

Johnny Utah said:blablabla

🙄

It’s a waste of a long post—you’re mixing apples and oranges here. You’re throwing Zumba, Lily, and Dwayne Johnson all into the same bag...

You listed athletes who earn their living professionally playing their sports in various countries and clubs. They pull in massive salaries, so they don't need Qatar to secure their futures. That doesn't exist in swimming. There aren't any clubs out there going to pay you like they would Real Madrid (or wherever Zumba plays). Do you see why your comparisons just don't hold water?