Duje Draganja: Sellout or just misunderstood?

Andrew Barnes29 said:Give me a break. Clearly you've never faced any real existential crises. The government is practically coddling you, as long as they can bleed you dry until there's nothing left.

Just get lost...
The government never handed me $800 $0.00 like they did for Draganja.
And what kind of "existential problems" could a guy have with $800 $0.00 in cash and a state-funded master's degree?
Honestly, I have no idea why anyone stays in this country when the system is designed to strip you of everything.

skeptik said:Can you please explain where I actually said that?! 😂

Hold on a second... In your own post, you claimed that people can't wrap their heads around Duje's move because they've already got their existential crises sorted out and don't have to worry about them. Any halfway decent thinker would conclude from that that the only ones who *do* get what Duje is doing are the ones who still have those unresolved issues. And if we assume that those who understand him are actually standing in his shoes, then logically, Duje hasn't got his existential problems figured out either.

So, who's the crazy one here? You, for saying something and then immediately backtracking, or me, for even bothering to argue with this kind of logic? 🙏

Andrew Barnes29 said:That thing is hitting me pretty hard, too...

What’s it actually like, dealing with constant pain down there? Do you use ice packs or something?

Andrew Barnes29 said:Give me a break. Clearly you've never dealt with actual, real-world problems. The government's basically coddling him while they strip him bone-dry.

What, you think Duje is out here struggling to survive?
The issue is he's got it too easy. Guy always wants more.
He's just chasing a paycheck instead of being a true winner. A real elite athlete doesn't care about the cash; they're supposed to be role models for the next generation.

Carlos said:So you're basically a total macho man then, huh?
😂 😂 😂
Go watch Rambo or Rocky 6 if you want that vibe.

I wouldn't call myself a "macho man"—just a regular guy who likes beer, women, and football. I get how that looks like being "macho" compared to someone as metrosexual as you, but please don't insult Stallone by comparing me to him. 🙂

Douglas Williams29 said:Hold on a second... You claim in your post that people who have their existential crises sorted out can't understand Duje's move. Any logical person would then conclude that those who *do* understand him are the ones still struggling with those same issues. If we assume that understanding him means standing in his shoes, it follows that Duje himself hasn't solved his existential problems yet.

So, who’s actually losing it here? Is it you, writing something just to immediately contradict yourself, or me, for even bothering to argue with such nonsense? 🙏

Honestly, for all these people whining about their "existential struggles," the best solution is to pack a suitcase and head for the border. It would be great to see 250,000 employees and a million retirees vanish from the country. Think about it: we'd lose 40,000 lazy people who refuse to work but never stop complaining about how hard life is.
It's a win-win.

-Shevchenko- said:You really think Draganja swims because he loves the sport?

Nope. That’s exactly my point. It’s obvious he isn't doing this for the love of the game. And now, it's equally clear he isn't doing it out of any sense of patriotism, either. Seems like Duje is just a greedy capitalist who sees every opportunity as a way to stack cash, regardless of the cost—and by cost, I mean things you can't actually buy. He was raised by an American mother, yet he's selling himself out to those guys from the Middle East. There isn't a shred of pride left in him, personally or nationally. Honestly, I couldn't care less about someone like that.

Not to mention, he's sucked nearly two hundred thousand dollars out of the American taxpayer over the last year alone...🙄

rapidbison42 said:Give me a break..
The government never handed me $800 $0.00 like they did for Draganja.
And honestly, what kind of existential crisis is this guy having over $800 $0.00 in cash and his grad school and master's degrees being fully covered by the state?
Seriously though, I don't even know why you people stick around this country when it just bleeds you dry until you die.

Why do you even care? It’s just pure envy and jealousy. Instead of being happy someone actually landed some real money, you're out here trashing him in the name of "patriotism" or whatever fake nonsense. How would you even know his bank account situation or how he spends his dough? The guy's talented and he put in the work. Sure, he's incredibly unlikable, but I'm not about to start a war over him just because he got a better offer and is moving on...

sara4 said:Seriously, take the hit on the expenses for such a sexist comment. 👎

🙏

feralbison62 said:What's your point? That Duje is having some sort of midlife crisis?
The real issue is that he doesn't even have enough problems—man probably wants even more drama.
He’s out there chasing a paycheck instead of actually trying to be a champion. A true elite athlete doesn't care about the cash; they should be setting an example for the kids coming up next.

We all wanted capitalism, right? Well, here we are.

Blandona said:Most of you "american" would have jumped ship after getting just one mediocre offer for a mid-range job.
It's easy to talk trash when it isn't your life on the line.

Out of this whole nonsense post, there's only one part actually worth talking about. Sure, maybe half of us "american" would have chased the money, just like generations did before us. But we're regular folks, and Duje was supposed to be an American icon—someone representing our best on the world stage. More importantly, he’s pulling in serious cash for it, so he isn't being bribed. It's just obvious his heritage means nothing to him. To him, it's just some word on a document. For people like us, it should be everything.

Andrew Barnes29 said:We asked for capitalism, and now we’re getting exactly what we ordered.

The problem is, we wanted capitalism—not a bunch of soft, pampered athletes who don't have an ounce of dignity or any sense of patriotism left in them.

If Duje decides to go "all in" on this, he’s nothing more than a common street walker in my eyes, just selling himself off to the highest bidder.

rapidbison42 said:Oh, please... just get lost.
The government has never handed me $800 $0.00 like they did for Draganja.
And what kind of existential crisis does this guy have with having $800 $0.00 in cash and getting his college tuition and Master’s degree fully covered by the state?
Honestly, I don't even know why you people bother staying in this country when the system basically picks your pockets until you're dead.

I lay out actual arguments, and all you can do is go "blah, blah, blah."
And now you're bringing up paid tuition and a Master's degree?! Do you even realize his studies are partially funded by the club (the coastal region team, a bit from the Union, and mostly from the old guard)? You don't know, and you don't care, because you've already decided he was paid a specific amount. A Master's degree?? He hasn't even started his graduate work yet, and you're already claiming the government picked up the tab?!! And who said anything about Duje having existential problems? He never has.
I'll say it again: he has actually paid more into this country than he's ever taken out (and there's plenty of proof), while other people—who spend half their time messing around and the other half typing away at someone else's life—spit on things they don't even understand. Oh, and by the way, did that extremist owe the government anything? And if he did, who was it actually owed to?

maler said:What’s your problem? Is this just envy? Instead of being happy someone landed a massive payday, you’re attacking him based on some fake sense of patriotism. How would you even know his financial situation or what he does with his money? The guy is talented and worked his ass off. I can't stand the guy personally, but I'm not going to start a war over him just because he took a better offer and is moving on...

Maybe try actually reading my posts instead of using the vocabulary of some local punk who's just bitter from drinking too much cheap beer back in high school.
I simply said: "Draganja.. good luck to you."

All I want is for the US government to treat him like anyone else who renounces their citizenship, their country, and their identity just for a paycheck.
Think about it... everything from waiting forever for a tourist visa to being blocked from buying property in the States. Treat him like any other citizen of Qatar.

Douglas Williams29 said:Honestly, looking at this whole ridiculous post, there’s really only one part worth even bothering to address. Sure, maybe half of us "typical Americans" would pack up and head south for a better life if we had to—just like generations before us did. But we’re just regular folks, whereas Duje is supposed to be an American icon, someone who represents us on the global stage. And more importantly, he’s getting paid handsomely for it. So, no, he isn't being bribed. It’s just painfully obvious that his heritage doesn't mean a damn thing to him. To him, it’s just some label on a document. For people like us, that kind of identity should be sacred.

I know I'm starting to bore myself here, but seriously... what "big money" are we even talking about?!!
And all those good deeds he supposedly did? As if any of those self-righteous types actually give a damn about anything other than protecting their own skin.

quietcobra30 said:I lay out the exact same arguments, and all you do is give me some "blah, blah, blah" response.
And now you're bringing up paid tuition and a Master's degree? Do you actually know that his studies are partially covered by the club (the coastal region team, a smaller portion by the Union, and most by the veterans)? You don't know, and you don't care because you've already decided he was paid a specific amount. A Master's? He hasn't even started one yet, and you're already claiming the government footed the bill? Who ever said Duje Draganja had any existential struggles? He never did.
I'll say it again: he has given more to this country than anyone, despite what people claim (as if there's any proof). Meanwhile, you have people sitting around, doing nothing, judging lives they know nothing about. Tell me, has that extremist owed anything to the state? And if so, whose debt is it?

I've sacrificed far more to this country than Duje Draganja ever could. What I've been through couldn't be bought by Qatar or ten Olympic gold medals.
Get it?
Masses of people have offered their entire lives for this country, while Duje just takes whatever the highest bidder offers.
So stop whining about personal business or how much Duje has paid for things... and suggesting he’s some sort of ambassador for the USA is pure idiocy.
99.99999999999999999999999% of the world has no idea who Duje Draganja is.
Just as 99.99999999999% of Americans have never heard of swimmer Hrvoj Barić, the man who brought home our first major international medal.
Who the hell is Draganja?

quietcobra30 said:Seriously, even I’m getting bored of this: what "big money" are we even talking about??!!
And all those things he supposedly did?? Please, as if anyone actually gives a damn about his soul.

You're being a nuisance to everyone, honestly. We've already talked about how much this whole money thing has been dragged out—probably a hundred times by now. 🙏

IGNORE.

rapidbison42 👍

finally, I actually agree with you on something 😲

You guys absolutely crushed me with those arguments. I’m throwing in the towel.

-Shevchenko- said:Get a grip, man.

👎
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