Duje Draganja: Sellout or just misunderstood?

Look, none of you actually have a clue how things work over here. If you’re a decent athlete, you land a scholarship at a college that actually supports your sport. It’s simple: if a university has a powerhouse basketball program, they hand out scholarships to their players because they're competing at a high level. You’ve got scouts roaming around junior championships all over the US, spotting talent and then calling them in to cover their tuition. I’m looking for someone in their senior year of high school who wants to stay put at a university here—whether it's a basketball player or a tennis player—and they get a full ride. The only real question is whether Harvard even has a swim program. If Draganja wants to study specifically at Harvard and they don't offer him a scholarship, then yeah, he pays his own way, but honestly, I highly doubt that's an issue. With 5 million bucks in the bank, he wouldn't even break a sweat.
It’s also the same old story with professional athletes who can’t compete or make money while they’re in school because the rules are incredibly strict about that kind of thing. But hey, he could always go there as a coach and basically get a free education, so there are ways to make it work, and I really doubt he's paying out of pocket. You guys really need to stop blindly believing everything those journalists feed you. 🙄

F.C.B. said:not everyone is lucky enough to have the government footing the bill for an American degree...

The US definitely isn't paying for Draganja's tuition in America

Paul Lopez49 said:Just get the government to foot my tuition bill and I'll head to Harvard. I'll breeze through it—as long as someone else is paying. 🙄

And let’s be real—that school isn't even a challenge for him... he's getting in because of swimming, not because of any actual intellect or talent.

mellowbadger8 already touched on this, but I'll add my two cents: clearly, none of you understand how things actually work for athletes here in the USA. And let me repeat—the US has absolutely nothing to do with funding his undergraduate degree at Berkeley.

rustystag7 said:You can't honestly believe the US is footing his tuition bill just out of the goodness of their hearts—they aren't exactly getting much out of him, right? They look at it this way: we provide the education, the coaching, and the training facilities, and in exchange, you swim for us....

It's not just a theory—it's a fact. A single year of tuition at an average American university for an international student runs about $20,000—which puts you at a staggering $80,000 over four years. And that doesn't even touch the travel costs, hotel stays, gear, shoes, tracksuits, bags...

"They aren't exactly getting much out of him" 😕 😲 ??? Seriously? Every year he brings home trophies at the NCAA finale—and in the States, that is a massive deal.

You clearly have no idea how much weight college sports carry over there. You wouldn't believe the crowds that show up for games, meets, and other athletic events. It matters to them—deeply—and they will absolutely hand out a scholarship to any foreign athlete willing to swim for their colors.

Jonathan Clark12 said:Just shove it up your ass... 👋

I've already got plenty of things to deal with—so just back off with the useless expenses...👎

Did you guys catch what Neethlingov said about that offer from Qatar? Man, what a legend.

lonemarlin said:Did you guys catch that statement from Neethling regarding the offer from Qatar? Man, what a legend.

🙏 🙏

lonemarlin said:Did you see what Neethling said about the offer from Qatar? That guy has real integrity.

🙏 🙏 🙏

Respect. Finally, someone who values more than just a paycheck. 👍

Soccer players can pack their bags and head to major clubs abroad, basically securing their entire future in one move. Swimmers don't get that luxury. We have maybe a few thousand swimmers in the whole country, yet one of them actually landed a massive "transfer" deal that sets him up for life.

It’s the same story with handball; you watch our top guys leave to go play in other countries, making foreign cities famous instead of their own. Our basketball players do the exact same thing—they build legacies in overseas cities while the local clubs back home just wither away. Are they traitors too?

Look, it's theoretically possible to make a living off soccer right here in the States if every talented player decided to stay put. If our domestic clubs kept their stars, maybe we wouldn't look so hopelessly outclassed in European competitions. Maybe we’d actually be celebrating a major trophy in a town square or along a boardwalk instead of watching from the sidelines.

And if you think soccer players can only make real money by playing under a different flag, you're kidding yourself. You'd be shocked at how many of them would jump at an offer like the one Duje took.

mellowbadger8 said:Look, you guys clearly have zero clue how things actually work around here.

And you don't have a clue how things work here either. A nation's reputation and honor aren't just some commodities to be auctioned off. You calling that empty rhetoric?

From where I'm sitting in New Jersey—absolutely.

placidcanyon16, thanks. Those people seriously don't have a clue about anything beyond those tired, patriotic slogans they parrot, swallowing every sensationalist headline our tabloid journalists shove down their throats.
BTW, we’ve got thousands showing up here just for a high school swim meet, yet you can't even snag a ticket to a college football or basketball game. I mean, our major NFL stadiums hold like 80,000 people, which is more than our entire top-tier soccer league pulls in across an entire season of games nationwide. It’s honestly pathetic. wearyraven41 hit the nail on the head asking where all the players went; even with those massive salaries, they still pack up and leave the country. If they had to renew their passports, half of them would be gone in a heartbeat. They're absolute cowards. 😁

lonemarlin said:Has anyone caught that statement from Neethling regarding the offer from Qatar? He’s honestly such a class act.

Where can I find that read?...

placidcanyon16 said:It’s not just my opinion—it’s actually the reality. A single year at an average American university for an international student runs about $20,000, which adds up to a massive $80,000 over four years. And that’s not even counting travel, hotels, gear, sneakers, tracksuits, bags... everything.

They aren't really getting much out of him 😕 😲 ??? I mean, he wins countless races at the NCAA finale every year, and in the USA, that is a huge deal.

You honestly have no idea how much weight college sports carry over there. You wouldn't believe the crowds that show up for games, meets, and all kinds of athletic events. It matters to them, and they will absolutely hand out a scholarship to some foreign kid just to have them swim for their school.

Okay, fine, I didn't know if that was true, and props to you for the solid info—I’m being dead serious here.👍
But the fact remains that for all those things you mentioned, Duje gets that stuff from sponsors. Man, he once totaled a Mazda RX-8 and they just handed him another one!!

At the same time, as far as I know, his home city provided him with scholarships for school, but honestly, we're just spinning our wheels talking about this because the bottom line is, I don't think the guy handled this the right way!!

To be honest, I used to think he was a real athlete, but this whole sell-out move really soured him for me!! He got enough support from the government to make a killing through smart investments and build a great life, but this? This just trashes the reputation and name he built back home. Maybe even globally, too, because I doubt people will respect a guy who sells out to another country just for the cash—and not just any country, but Qatar!!

I really feel like he could have made it big without this stain on his career...
You need some serious guts to make a call like that, but I don't even think he realizes what a massive blunder he's made. That decision is going to haunt him forever, and let's be real, it's not like he was desperate for that 5 million to survive...
The truth is, he had the car he wanted and he was doing what he wanted, but deep down, he just wasn't making enough money to satisfy him. That has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with greed. It's not the "sportsman spirit" he used to represent, which is what you expect when an athlete truly represents their country.

mellowbadger8 said:Sara, thanks. Honestly, those people don't have a clue about anything beyond their tired patriotic slogans. They just swallow whatever sensationalist garbage some tabloid journalist shoves in their faces. If they actually had to change their passports, half of them would jump at the chance in a heartbeat. They’re such cowards.😁

It’s all just empty rhetoric, right? Everyone blames the media, and we're all just shallow, mindless nationalists.

Just because I wouldn't want to swim under a Qatar flag when I could be swimming under the American flag.

Besides, there's a massive difference between holding dual citizenship and actually competing under a different flag.

👋

P. S. topic moderated for insults.

Terry Rodriguez41 said:Where can I read this??...

Check Index or The New York Times.

You can find that statement in Sports today.

Though, reading between the lines—he supposedly weighed the offer for about a week. It seems a bit odd to frame him as some paragon of unconditional loyalty based on that timeframe...

All in all, this whole situation, where everyone is rushing to play the victim (sorry Duje, sorry USA Swimming, sorry State Farm, sorry to the general public), actually has all the ingredients for a happy ending. It’s obvious Duje already has a safety net; he's had that Qatari passport since mid-summer, which suggests the lack of a sponsor didn't catch him off guard. According to Tomislav Karlo, State Farm management rejected their sponsorship request for the eighth time in a row. Apparently, the guys at USA Swimming picked the perfect place to go begging for cash—and word is, the Board at State Farm didn't even discuss it in a single meeting??! As they say here, they just had some verbal requests for $800,000, but failed to realize that figure was meant to cover a four-year period??! Any resemblance to someone acting confused while doing "that" is purely coincidental. At least the USA Swimming crew can claim they did everything in their power, especially since the settlement money and the portion intended for Duje will be transferred to new young prospects.
State Farm, being a state-owned entity, gets to keep its pennies, which might just be handed over tomorrow to those who actually need them most... the members of Congress...
We lost Duje today, but it's not even a fraction of the tragedy we'd face if the intelligence from the Capitol was scattered across the planet... imagine Sex as President of the Mongolian Parliament, Tomcic chairing the KSS Council (Republican Party), or Pusick in Zaire... We wouldn't just be left clueless and without any hope of joining the Union; we'd struggle to even secure the prerequisites for talks regarding joining the African Union without some extremely heavy lobbying.

Anyway, it's just Duje leaving... and when the race heats up between Schoeman and Neethling, I'll be rooting for our local boy again... until someone else comes along to challenge the waves against a temporary citizen of Qatar...

Brandon Castillo4~ said:There’s a real difference between holding dual citizenship and actually competing under a different flag.

What's the subtle distinction between representing Iran (Ivankovic), Bahrain (Peruzovic), or Libya (Loncarevic) versus what Draganja decided to do?
Are those three somehow special because they sing the anthems of countries we feel close to—standing there with hands over their hearts, showing their loyalty to the American corps while they struggle through competitions in Africa and Asia?

And why didn't anyone bother checking in on Pilica's health during a quiet Sunday afternoon? How could someone considered a moral pillar take three gold medals under another flag (even if it was the one from Danke Deutschland—and why does he sound like a first-generation robot when speaking American), and why do we keep obsessing over our Great Bald Leader—when, by the same logic used by BeHa, he's a traitor? (And by the way, plenty of "Western outsiders" have settled right here in America).

But hey, forget principles—if you aren't flexible, you're nothing.

Carl Brooks22 said:So, Duje is gone today, but honestly? It’s not even a fraction of the disaster we’d be facing if all the brains from the Markov area decided to just pack up and scatter across the globe... I mean, just picture it: Sex as President of the Mongolian Parliament, Tomcic running the show at the Republican Party, or Pusick heading things up in Zaire... We wouldn't just be left clueless and hopeless when it comes to joining the Union; without some seriously heavy-duty lobbying, we wouldn't even get a foot in the door to talk about joining the African Union.

Totally, I'm with you on that.😁

It’s really not even half the tragedy it would be if our Congressmen were drawing salaries under a different flag.😁
I feel like the whole fight over Sex and the crew would turn bloody, and instead of having State Farm backing them, we'd be stuck paying for it out of the federal budget just to keep the talent from leaving!!

Carl Brooks22 said:So, what’s actually the subtle difference between representing the colors of Iran (Ivankovic), Bahrain (Peruzovic), or Libya (Loncarevic)... versus why Michael Phelps decided to go this route?
Is there some deep nuance when those three guys sing the anthems of countries we feel close to—singing "God Bless America" and holding their hands over their hearts, or just showing loyalty to the American corps while they're out there grinding away with their teammates in Africa or Asia?

And seriously, why was nobody asking about Pilica's health during a quiet Sunday afternoon... I mean, how could a guy who is supposed to be a moral compass take three salads under a different flag (even if it was under the banner of Germany—and why does he sound like a first-gen robot when he speaks American?), and why do we keep obsessing over praising Our Magnificent Bald Guy—when, on the same level as BeHa, he's basically a traitor (and by the way, a lot of those "Western imports" ended up settling right here in America)?

But hey, screw principles—if you aren't flexible, what's the point!

I totally disagree because you don't have to sell your soul to make money; there are plenty of other ways to get paid!!
It doesn't matter if someone goes off to the middle of nowhere to earn a bigger paycheck, as long as they aren't switching citizenship just for the cash. I'm not a fan of any of the examples you brought up, but they're way above Duje in this regard. When they compete, the American flag and the name United States are right there next to their names, but for Duje, it's just not written like that....

And as for the Magnificent Bald Guy, man, he's an American through and through, and he just moved toward the side he prefers and feels more connected to....

Look, my mom is a lifelong New Yorker, but my old man was born in Chicago, and even though I was born in NYC, that's where any resemblance to the city ends. Everything I love and everything I identify with is back in the Midwest, so what can anyone say to me??? Realistically, I'm a New Yorker, but that's just not how I feel inside.

But that's within the same country. Imagine if it were two different countries—like if Ljubo hadn't competed for Canada and then moved to America after ten years, but instead had been competing from the start for the country he actually had ties to!!
If Duje had gone to the US, I would've said I wouldn't judge him that hard, but going to Qatar just for the money? That's just silly, especially when he tries to make excuses about not having the right training conditions.🙄

lonemarlin said:It’s all over Index and The New York Times.

Carl Brooks22 said:You can find that statement running in Sports today.

I haven't read it, and honestly, I don't care. Given how much our people struggle with basic foreign languages, I’m pretty terrified to even open it.🙄

If you actually want the real story, you need to start reading the South African papers.😎
I can't see any link here. You forgot to drop it. Give me the URL so I can actually look at what you're talking about.

Featured

South African swimming sensation Roland Schoeman has turned down a multi-million dollar offer to represent the Gulf state of Qatar. I don't know what to tell you. It happened. Things changed. Everything just turned. Quote : South African swimming Sensation Roland Schoeman Has turned down a multi-million Dollar offer to represent The Gulf state of Qatar -> Quote : South African swimming Sensation Roland Schoeman Has turned down a multi-million Dollar offer to represent The Gulf state of Qatar. He passed on Qatar's offer and called on fin.It means everything to me. Being part of this country—this wild, exhausting, brilliant, and deeply frustrating mess—is what keeps me going. It’s a beautiful place, but more than that, it’s a place that actually gives you something to hope for. That matters."

🙏

And he's even better.😎

Neethling He shut down Qatar's offer and basically told Fina to step up.USA Swimming needs to step up. It’s on them to actually do something to protect the sport. The whole idea of "national pride" in sports is a total myth. We love to talk about the sanctity of representing your country, like it’s some sacred duty. It’s not. It’s just branding. In reality, it’s all about the money and the optics. You see these athletes getting massive offers to switch allegiances, turning their entire career into a mercenary gig, and suddenly everyone starts talking about loyalty and honor. Please. Loyalty doesn't pay the bills, and it certainly doesn't fund training facilities. At the end of the day, a flag is just a piece of cloth used to sell tickets and boost viewership numbers. Athletes are professionals. They work. If someone offers them a better deal to swim under a different banner, why wouldn't they take it? Calling it a betrayal of the nation is just a way for federations to maintain control over their assets. It’s business, plain and simple. Stop pretending it’s about anything deeper..

He didn't just turn them down; he actually started a movement.🙏 🙏 Unlike some of the guys hanging around this forum, he actually gets it. He sees exactly what kind of mess we’d be in if this Qatar nonsense became the standard. It doesn't cross his mind—and honestly, it shouldn't cross anyone's mind—to turn the Olympics or any other major meet into a cheap spectacle for big-money teams from places like Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates, or Kuwait.🙄

"I fully realize that South Africa has reached its current position thanks to the grit and dedication shown by countless people over a long period of time," Schoeman said.

For those of you who don't have a clue who these swimmers even are—honestly, this thread has been flooded with nothing but absolute garbage info from total nobodies.

World records, gold medals. That’s all people care about. It’s always the same story. They chase the glory, grab the hardware, and then realize the shine wears off pretty fast. Everyone wants to be at the top of the podium, but nobody talks about how empty it feels once you're standing there alone. Just more noise in a loud world.
Schoeman is living in the States now, but man, Qatar really missed their chance to snag him. He would've been a massive win for them. Just look at his run at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal—he absolutely crushed it, taking home titles in both the 50m freestyle and butterfly, plus a silver in the 100m freestyle. Total powerhouse.

He absolutely crushed it. By the time he was done, he had become the second fastest swimmer in history in the 50m freestyle with a 21.69. He also became the first person to ever dip under 23 seconds in the 50m butterfly, smashing the old World Records with a blistering 22.96.

Earlier in the year, at the short-course swimming World Cup in Berlin, Schoeman equalled the World record for the 100 m short course freestyle. AT The Stockholm leg of the series, He Brok The World record in The 100 m individual medley.

AT The 2004 Athens Olympics, Schoeman won Gold in The 4 x100m , silver in The 100 m and bronze in The 50 m freestyle , becoming The First South African to win Three medals AT an Olympics - though his haul did not Better Penny Heyns at the Atlanta Games.

The sa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee Has named All four members of The 4 x100m freestyle team that took Gold AT Athens - Schoeman, Neethling, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend - in South Africa's team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games to be Held in Melbourne, Australia in March. "

Bottom line... those oil money big shots sent massive offers to some of the best swimmers on the planet. Only one guy actually bit.

👋