Duje Draganja: Sellout or just misunderstood?

Phelps, you jerk 🤮

L. NimoyInvadesMetal~ said:He’s coming back to the States with a degree from an Ivy League university—and honestly, props to him, he earned it.

Ha! You really think having a degree from a top-tier school means anything for Phelps if he shows up here just being a high school dropout before his credentials are even recognized? He’ll probably only get that degree validated without taking any extra exams if he "greases a few palms" along the way...

placidcanyon16 said:Ha, you really think Phelps is going to be worth anything just because he’s coming back to the States with an Ivy League degree? Before he even gets his credentials recognized, he'll basically just be another high school grad. And let's be real—the only way he’s getting that diploma validated without sitting through extra exams is if he "greases a few palms."

Even with being a world record holder, finding a decent gig here would be a massive uphill battle for him.☕

placidcanyon16 said:Ha, you really think Phelps will be worth anything coming back to the States with a degree from one of the top universities if he’s officially just a high school dropout before he even gets his credentials recognized? He’ll probably only get that diploma validated without taking extra exams if he "greases a few palms."

placidcanyon16, that's total bullshit. I personally know at least ten top-tier tennis players who finished their degrees in America. Back in 1995, I actually had offers from two different universities, but I decided to stay put and finish my degree here. Believe me, getting a foreign degree recognized is just a technicality that gets sorted out if you have the drive. But the idea that someone would use that as leverage for blackmail... please, give me a break.
If credential recognition is being used as an excuse to stay abroad, then things have truly hit rock bottom.
Listen, people, this guy is negotiating like he's choosing between two different social clubs! It’s pathetic how Tomislav is essentially begging a massive superstar to stay in the country. I wrote about this a while ago, and I’ll say it again:😁 Raganja is a phenomenal swimmer with a massive career ahead of him—I truly believe that—but as a human being, he is absolute garbage.
If my memory serves, Gordan Kožulj also completed his studies in America. I don't see anyone claiming he was handed some special privilege because of it.
The guy is a phony, plain and simple. It would be much smarter for the federation to take those 400 grand dollars (if I recall our offer correctly) and invest them into youth swimming instead.
"Our" Michael will look after himself regardless. He’s quite good at that. Just look back at how he intentionally tanked that relay semi-final in Athens just to make sure he stayed fresh for his own individual final...
So many young athletes fall through the cracks because they lack the resources to develop and advance, yet we are wasting time, money, and the entire federation's effort on one selfish idiot.
And don't even try to defend him now.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT DRIVE ME ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!!😠 😠 😠

Wealthy guys from Qatar are dropping massive amounts on racehorses. Compared to that, Michael Phelps is cheap.

coastalhound2 said:placidcanyon16, bullshit. I personally know at least 10 (decent) tennis players who finished their degrees at an Ivy League university...

Look, I know plenty of cases where athletes were asked to take equivalency exams at one Ivy League university here in the States, only to try their luck at another school where their credentials were validated without any issues—just like you said, treated as a mere technicality. How does that even work? Don't universities follow the same curricula? Or does it just depend on how much cash you throw on the table to make everything "technical"? Is Michael going to charm his way through this, leaving the rest of us mere mortals to sit here and cry about being... well, let's call it what it is: discriminated against? You’ve never actually lived in America, yet you're claiming this is just a technical matter—meanwhile, as someone who actually graduated from a university over there, I can tell you firsthand that it isn't nearly as "technical" as you're trying to make it out to be...

coastalhound2 said:It would be much smarter if the federation took that $400—if I'm remembering our offer correctly—and actually invested it in youth swimming.

I’m telling both the federation and the government—they could actually put that money toward some medical equipment for a hospital instead of footing the bill for his master's degree.

I reckon he’ll have no trouble getting that credential recognized in Qatar. It's basically his new home now—at least until someone else comes along and offers him a bigger pile of cash...

Whatever the reason, the call is his to make, and it has to be respected. I’m definitely not going to be rooting for him like I used to, but he’ll still get more support than someone like that Austrian, Jukicka, for instance.
Besides, it's not like he’s just going to walk away "without saying goodbye." That settlement money isn't pocket change, and you could invest way more into youth swimming than what we're seeing now—even if it's naive of me to think that money might actually end up there.

Phelps has only pulled in about $400,000 throughout his entire career, so there’s no way the federation is cutting him checks that big.
The guy doesn't even have a Master's degree. He and his father have been pointing out this issue for years, but nothing ever changes. It’s wild because Jukicka moved to Austria for way less money, and she hasn't contributed even one percent of what Phelps has done for USA Swimming.
He can sleep easy at night knowing he earned it, while all those moralists acting superior would pack their bags and move overseas in a heartbeat if they were actually worth $10,000.

Phelps🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Just another sellout right next to that Jukicka person. Every time I see this guy, I find myself hoping he finishes dead last. Same goes for this idiot

I’m dying to know what his name will be at the next meet. Probably something like Mohammed Hamed Ibn Mustafa Al Omar Al Ibrahim🙄. Hopefully he’s got enough cash now to buy himself some high-quality turbans...🙂 Good luck to his girlfriend in Qatar, tell her to enjoy it🙂... what a complete moron🙂

feralpilot912 said:Wealthy Arabs pay massive amounts for racehorses—Michael is practically a bargain by comparison.

🙏
Let him be—I couldn't care less...

feralbison62 said:Let them win gold and smash world records; that’s how you attract sponsors and big money.
You really think brands like Adidas, Arena, or Speedo aren't fighting tooth and nail to sponsor an Olympic champion or a 100m freestyle world record holder?
Money can be made through performance, not just by swimming for wealthy nations like Qatar and their kind.

Michael Phelps is a greedy traitor! Why don't the Kostelić family compete for Austria or—God forbid—Canada??? Because they are Americans!
I hope Michael deals with nothing but injuries and finishes in 4th place for the rest of his career! 👎

Dana Rivera4 said:Phelps🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

just another sellout right next to Jukicka. every time I see that cow, I hope she finishes dead last, and this idiot is no different...

I'm dying to know what his name will be at the next meet, Mohammed Hamed Ibn Mustafa Al Omar Al Ibrahim 🙄. hopefully he’s got enough cash now to buy some high-quality turbans... 🙂 ...good luck to his girlfriend in Qatar, hope she enjoys it 🙂 ....what an idiot🙂

You really can't compare Miran Jukić to Phelps, much less judge her for what happened (specifically involving her father). They moved to the big city from Vukovar with absolutely nothing to their names, and even back then, the girl was smashing almost every cadet and junior record. She was maybe 12, and the talent was obvious. All her dad asked for was a lane every day at Mairna, but when the local club wouldn't give it to him, he went straight to the IOC and just got brushed off. The Austrians were watching the whole thing and offered them a lane, housing, and actual money in exchange for citizenship.
Look, she was 12. Turning that down after being ignored by everyone in your own country would have been insane if I were her.
Phelps, on the other hand, is in his 20s. This is strictly his choice. If he decides to go through with it, good for him 👋 ...but I'm done rooting for him.

placidcanyon16 said:Oh, please. You really think Michael Phelps is going to be anything more than just a high school dropout once he gets back to the States? Even if he brings home a degree from an Ivy League university, he’ll officially be nothing until that diploma is recognized. And let’s be real—the only way he’s getting that credential validated without retaking a bunch of exams is if he "greases some palms" along the way.

Fine, then let him stay in America. What's the big deal?

Look, half a million dollars sounds like a massive payday, sure. But for an athlete of his caliber, selling out his reputation and his citizenship for that kind of cash? It’s not even worth it.

He’ll blow through that money, and then what? Spend his days crying about how nobody in America loves him or welcomes him back?

Ten years ago, guys were literally dying for the American flag, and now apparently, $500 isn't enough. $0.00 No, they need $500,000.

Go ahead, Hassan, run with it! Just don't expect a warm welcome back to the homeland.

For everyone out there making endless excuses for a traitor's move:

If things actually worked that way at major meets, swimmers from developing nations wouldn't even show up; it would just be a two-way race between the USA and Qatar.

Look, these guys swim for THEIR OWN COUNTRIES—that's where their pride and their livelihood come from. But no, Phelps just has to have more. Because apparently, if "Phelps has it and I don't," then life is just one big 😢 "

just suck it up, Mosiz ali Dragany.

coastalhound2 said:placidcanyon16, what a load of nonsense. I know at least ten decent tennis players who finished their degrees at an Ivy League university in the States. Back in '95, I actually had offers from two universities, but I stayed put and finished my degree here. Trust me, getting a foreign diploma recognized is just a technicality you sort out if you actually have the drive. But using that as leverage to blackmail someone? Give me a break.
If degree accreditation is being used as an excuse to stay abroad, then things have truly hit rock bottom.
Honestly, people, he’s bargaining like he’s choosing between two different social clubs! It’s pathetic how Tomislav is practically begging a massive superstar to stay in the US. I wrote this a while ago, and I'll say it again:😁the swimmer is a phenomenal athlete with a massive career ahead of him—I truly believe that—but he is a complete piece of work.
If memory serves, even Gordan Kožulj studied in the States. I don't see anyone treating that kind of education like some sort of precious privilege.
The guy is just a sleazebag, plain and simple. It would be much smarter for the federation to take that $400,000—if I recall our offer correctly—and actually invest it in the youth programs.
"Our" Michael Phelps will look after himself; he’s always been good at that. Just look back at how he intentionally tanked that relay semifinal in Athens just to make sure he was fresh for his own individual final...
So many young athletes are failing because they lack the resources to develop, yet we’re wasting time, money, and the entire federation's effort on one selfish idiot.
And please, don't let anyone start defending him now.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT DRIVE ME INSANE!!!😠 😠 😠

I second that... unfortunately...

I was even trying to find excuses for him... thinking he did it for this reason or that... but looking at it clearly now... there aren't any. The guy is a jerk, a total jerk through and through... and honestly, who cares, he is who he is.🙂

Pippo said:Why don't the Kostelić family just compete for Austria or—God forbid—Canada??? Since they're such "patriots"!
I honestly hope Michael deals with endless injuries and finishes his career in 4th place! 👎

And what makes the Kostelić family such "patriots"? Is it because they actually pay taxes to their own country?😲 🙂

placidcanyon16 said:What actually makes the Kostelić family Americans? Is it just because they pay taxes to their government? 😲 🙂

They carry that American flag on their hearts, always. They wouldn't trade it for anything in this world.

Look, there’s a massive difference between paying taxes and actually representing the country you stand for. Just because someone pays into the system doesn't mean they belong to the nation. By that logic, Ljubičić isn't even an American. 🙄

placidcanyon16 said:What makes the Kostelić family true Americans? Just because they pay taxes to their country? 😲 🙂

It's because they actually had the chance to represent another country—specifically Canada—and they shut that down immediately. Vogrinec was leaning on Ante Kostelica hard for a long time back when they were total unknowns, but switching sides wasn't even an option for them.

They carry their country's name with pride wherever they go, which is how you actually support your people.

They have actual honor and integrity, and they don't turn their backs on those they've stood alongside.

And there are a million other reasons.

This isn't about who's the "biggest American," it's about the difference between a man of character and a complete sellout—someone who lives by a moral code versus someone who doesn't even know what the word means.

This is easily the most disgraceful move in the history of American sports. He basically put his soul up for auction. Now it's on us to completely freeze him out; maybe then he'll finally realize that money isn't everything.

Personally, I'm done with him. Even if he changes his mind later, it won't matter. He's gone.

I think we finally have a clear answer to the question being asked in this thread—John Doe has sold his soul, and honestly, he's just a piece of work...🙂

Well, I guess I wish him luck in his new home, though for Americans, Duke, you’re nothing but a traitor...👋

🙂>