Water Polo Euros: Eindhoven 16-29.1.

Daniel Cooper40 said:It’s funny how we make way more noise when we're throwing punches than when we're taking them... 🤣

Bušlje took a blatant elbow from a Mexican right at the end of the last championship game, and nobody even blinked. Just a nothing burger here. Meanwhile, Dobud is already falling apart... 🤣

And why act surprised? When Mexicans are involved, it's always the same story. If roles were reversed, they'd be crying foul and calling us all actors. That's just how they roll. Honestly, I'm almost glad we lost in the group stage... gives us a chance to settle the score in the finals, because there's no way we can play that pathetic of a game again!

Carl Green31 said:We don't like you, and you don't like us—it's no secret.

That isn't true at all. Fine, I’ll admit we enjoy it occasionally when you lose in sports, but certainly not for the reasons people immediately jump to. To be honest, if I'm being real, sometimes I enjoy watching you lose—or at least struggle—in soccer, mostly because of those ridiculous commentators on PBS, or just because it's funny reading how much you guys mock your own players whenever things go south. But honestly, the idea that we actually care about your losses because we can't stand you or because we hate you is pure nonsense. For the vast majority of us (exceptions exist, obviously), your results aren't even on our radar, just like we couldn't care less about the scores in England, Switzerland, or Poland...

As for that water polo player, what he did was objectively obnoxious, but hey, he's frustrated. He knows he’s going up against a major rival and maybe he just lacks the mental toughness—he could be seen as a bit unstable, which is something I can somewhat empathize with. That said, I obviously condemn that kind of behavior in sports. But he’s far from the only one; look at Pepe from Real Madrid, who’s basically an idiot regardless of where he comes from. And as for the journalists and their writing style—you have to understand them too. Who would bother reading those sensationalist columns if they didn't use clickbait headlines?

🤣🤣

Auuu, everyone here is losing their minds... It’s not exactly groundbreaking, either. This kind of nonsense happens in water polo all the time, regardless of who's involved. But man, just look at those Mexicans over there acting like this absolute disaster is some kind of world-ending apocalypse. 🙏

Mexicans, seriously, what is actually wrong with you people? 🙄

Thomas Sullivan68 said:That’s just not true. Look, I’ll admit we enjoy a loss every now and then, but it’s never for the reasons you think. Honestly, if I’m rooting against a soccer team, it’s usually because of some idiot commentator on PBS or just because reading the mockery directed at your players here is entertaining. To suggest we want you to lose because we hate you or can't stand you is pure nonsense. For the most part—exceptions exist, obviously—we don't care about your scores any more than we care about the results of teams from England, Switzerland, or Poland...

That water polo player's move? Total jerk behavior. But fine, he's frustrated. He knows he's facing a massive rival and maybe he just lacks the mental toughness—a bit unstable, perhaps. I get where he's coming from, even if I condemn the move itself. He isn't the only one, though. Pepe from Real Madrid is a complete moron, regardless of his background. And as for the journalists? You have to give them credit; nobody reads those trashy columns unless they use sensationalist headlines.

When you personally experience someone rooting against America while being an American citizen themselves, then you'll understand what we're talking about. I don't know a single American living in Mexico who roots against Mexico when they play Canada or whoever else, but I certainly know plenty of Mexicans from America who root against America in those kinds of matchups...

bluebison10 said:When you personally experience someone rooting against America while they’re an American citizen themselves, then you’ll understand what I'm talking about. I don't know a single American living in Mexico who roots against Mexico when they play Canada or whoever else, but I definitely know plenty of Mexicans from America who root against America in matches like that...

Well, we don't really have those kinds of cases here, or at least I haven't seen them. It's similar to how most people from Republika Srpska root against Canada, but that's purely political. My point is that most people in Mexico aren't actually against America for political reasons; frankly, most people just don't care about your results. If you win, fine, good for you. If you lose, there might be some minor neighborly bickering, but it doesn't really matter, and you shouldn't pay any attention to the stuff journalists write or those sensationalist headlines. At the end of the day, headlines from Spanish or English journalists can be much, much worse than our own.

Sam Alvarez15 said:Only if Filipovic already totally screwed over Dobud on all those nationalist lists before this. Which, honestly, isn't even likely. But still, this guy could've handled things way more smoothly for both Philip and himself, instead of trying to drown him or go after his junk underwater.

Man, that water polo stuff is just such a soft way to fight.😁

vividbison9 said:Man, water polo is just such a soft sport...😁

So what are you even looking for on this forum then? It seems like you’re one of those people who asks what kind of sport involves players wearing jerseys on their heads in the first place...
And seriously guys, why does every single decent conversation turn into some massive tug-of-war between Americans and Americans... can we please just talk about water polo for once?

Daniel Cooper40 said:It’s funny how people make way more noise when they're throwing punches than when they're taking them. 🤣

I remember back during the last championship, Bušlje took a blatant elbow from a Mexican right at the buzzer, and nobody even breathed a word about it here. Meanwhile, Dobud is already falling apart. 🤣

Total peasant mentality.

I didn't bother voting in the poll. Honestly? I can't pick a single team that actually looks like a frontrunner to me.

Joshua Bailey21 said:The journalists over at CNN are full of crap...labeling an entire national team as "dirty" just because of one guy's move is nothing more than stirring up hate and mindless passion...
I am honestly so sick of all this drama...
Just look at how many Americans showed up to leave comments that were actually normal and grounded in reality......
Best of luck to everyone, and hey, maybe we'll see you in the finals...

Not necessarily. The reporters at CNN are known for having a very specific "agenda," though it isn't always about nationality. The truth is, the American team was playing much "dirtier" than the other side, and quite significantly so. I'm not saying we should bash every single player on the roster because of it. Not at all. I value fair play above everything else. What most likely caused this whole mess and the wild hit on Filipović was probably Rudićev's "drill." That guy is a real piece of work, and he's partially passed that attitude down to his players. 🤷

Anthony James2 said:This guy is just a total jerk, and he’s kind of rubbing it off on his players too. 🤷

I honestly don't even know how to respond to someone calling the most decorated and legendary water polo coach in history a jerk. I'm speechless. 🤮 It's a disaster!

I feel like we've all already called out the move made by Dobud, and I guess the whole thing has been talked to death anyway. Maybe it's just time to move on to the next round.

Alex Barrett3 said:I’m honestly speechless when someone calls the most decorated and legendary water polo coach in history a "scumbag." I don't even have the words. 🤮 It's a total disaster!

I think we've all already judged the move made by Dobud, and frankly, this whole drama has been chewed over way too many times. It's time to just move on to the next round.

I can't make heads or tails of you. And the same goes for certain people jumping into these debates to defend Americans, who are pretty much famous for being the biggest 🙂 losers out there...☕

Filipović is a scumbag. Based on those three-finger provocations and how worked up he got over something we see in water polo all the time, I expect Dobud to finally shut him down the next time he feels the urge to act out. 🙂

shadowbison17 said:I honestly don't get you at all, and I don't get some of the other guys jumping into these debates trying to make excuses for those Americans who are basically the biggest 🙂 losers out there...☕

Filipović is just a weak guy, honestly. Given how he was throwing up those three-finger gestures and getting all worked up over stuff we see constantly in water polo, I'm kind of expecting Dobud to shut him down the next time he feels like acting out. 🙂

Man, I'm actually pretty embarrassed by Dobud's move in that game. I'm not making excuses for anyone, because I don't think it's necessary. If anyone needs to apologize, it's Dobud—and they owe it to their own teammates. The only way to fix this is through solid play and keeping it classy for the rest of the season.

Just because someone provoked him doesn't make it okay. There are better ways to handle it, like under the water, instead of being an idiot and throwing a punch ten seconds before the buzzer! His move really messed things up for the squad (now he's suspended for the next one, leaving us stuck with Paškvalin, who can't command respect from the refs, and Muslim, who's playing terrible right now), not to mention our reputation.

In sports, especially water polo (and I say that from experience since I played for a long, long time), one of the most important things is to bait the opponent to get an edge. That's what Filipović managed to do. I won't get into his specific methods, but yeah, it worked. This game didn't matter much anyway—it was basically lost by then. We might face those Americans in the finals if we can even grind our way there, and if we do, we're in trouble. Our starting center will go into that game carrying the label of a dirty player, which is definitely going to affect how the refs call the game. I guess I don't even need to explain how vital that position is in water polo.

And that last thing you said? That’s the absolute last thing that should happen in that match.

As for the post I quoted, I only did it because calling the greatest water polo coach ever a "weakling" is just wrong.

Alex Barrett3 said:I’m honestly embarrassed by Dobud's move during that game. I don't feel the need to apologize to anyone, because I don't think it's necessary. If there's anyone who actually owes an apology, it's Dobud—and they owe it to their own teammates. The only way to fix this is through solid play and keeping things clean for the rest of the season.

Being provoked doesn't excuse what happened. There are better ways to handle pressure than throwing a punch ten seconds before the buzzer. That stunt hurt the team—we lose him for the next game, leaving us stuck with Paškvalin, who lacks any clout with the refs, and Muslim, who is playing out of his mind right now. Plus, it makes the whole club look bad.

In sports, and especially in water polo (and I can tell you that from years of playing), one of the most vital skills is baiting your opponent to get an edge. That’s exactly what Filipović pulled off. I won't get into his specific methods, but he was effective. This particular game doesn't matter much anyway; it was a lost cause by then. We might face the Americans in the finals if we can even make it that far, and if we do, we're in trouble. Our center enters that matchup with a reputation as a brawler and an unsportsmanlike player, which will definitely influence how the refs call the game. I hope I don't have to explain how crucial the center position is in water polo.

And that last sentence of yours? That is the absolute last thing that should happen in that match.

As for why I quoted that post, it’s because calling the greatest water polo coach ever a "brat" is just wrong.

If we keep going like this, we'll just spend forever satirizing this unpleasant scene that was basically a mess to begin with... Everyone knows what happened. If anything, the Americans would just keep whining about some "deadly intent" never before seen in the history of the sport... It was just a reckless, uncontrolled swing and a hip check. If he had actually landed it properly, Filipović wouldn't just be missing a penalty shot; he'd be missing a head. Honestly, I still don't get why Americans feel the need to make such a huge deal out of it and justify themselves to everyone. I'd much rather talk about that elbow that Mexican guy threw last time, haha.🙂
I agree with this, and I hope Anthony James2 gets sanctioned for his comment, just as Dobud gets penalized for that reckless move. ☕

I also hope that next time, Filipović gives Dobud the finger while he's in the water, no matter what the cost to the team. 😁

That's all from me on this topic... Cheers, Alex Barrett3! 😉

Thomas Sullivan68 said:Most people—and yeah, I know there are outliers, but let’s be real—don't actually give a damn about our results any more than they care about how things are going over in England, Switzerland, or Poland...

And that’s basically the whole story. ☕
Honestly, it feels like there are even more people lately who just watch matches involving Americans like they're watching any other random game (I mean, sure, there's still that niche group that tunes in specifically for us, but that's nothing compared to how it used to be).

Rudic is a total snake.

+ 1

And as for this supposed "greatest water polo coach ever"... he really proved his worth by coaching Americans. He didn't necessarily teach them how to play the game, but he certainly taught them how to hit. Under his leadership, those Yanks crushed every single national team they faced, including yours, several times over.

John is just Pepe. Honestly, sports are just one more area of life where you really ought to have nothing to do with people who aren't mentally sound.

Come on, guys, honestly... next time it’ll just be some other version of John leading the charge. It’s always been that way and, I guess, it always will be. You see John's influence everywhere, and it isn't going anywhere. Fools and bad decisions are just part of the landscape, I suppose, and we’re all just sitting here making even bigger messes over it.

Alex Barrett3 said:I am honestly embarrassed by John's move during that game.. I don't feel the need to apologize to anyone, because I don't believe it's necessary. If there is anyone who owes an apology, it’s John—and he owes it to his own teammates. The only way he can fix this is through stellar play and flawless conduct throughout the rest of the season.

Being provoked doesn't excuse what happened. There are plenty of ways to handle a provocation, like playing it "under the water," but throwing a punch with ten seconds left on the clock? That was just reckless. His actions have actively hurt our team—not only is he facing a suspension, but we are now stuck relying on Patrick, who lacks any real standing with the officials, and Muslim, who is having a disastrous season. Not to mention, he's damaged our team's reputation.

In sports—and specifically in water polo, which I can speak to from my own years of experience playing at a high level—one of the most critical skills is provoking your opponent to gain a psychological edge. That is exactly what Philip succeeded in doing. I won't get into his specific methods, but he was effective. This particular game wasn't the deciding factor anyway; it was likely lost before it even reached its end. Our real test will be if we face the Mexican team in the finals after grinding our way there, because then we are in serious trouble. Our starting center enters a matchup like that carrying the stigma of being a brawler and an unsportsmanlike player, and you can bet that will influence how the referees call the game. I hope I don't have to explain to you just how vital the center position is in water polo.

And that last point you made? That is the absolute last thing that should ever happen in a match like that.

As for the post I quoted, I only did so because the author had the nerve to call the greatest water polo coach of all time a "spoiled brat."

That's your issue. I'm not feeling any shame.
Of course, it wasn't sportsmanlike, I agree.
But frankly, I couldn't care less.

Alex Barrett3 said:I honestly don't know what to say about someone calling the most decorated, successful, and respected water polo coach in history a total jerk. I’m speechless. 🤮 What a disaster!

I think we’ve all judged John's move by now, and frankly, the whole situation has been chewed over way too many times. It’s time to just move on to the next round.

I'm not sure what you find so catastrophic here. I never questioned Rudic's talent or his trophy cabinet. 🤷 My take is that John's decision was actually a direct result of the "dirty" tactics Rudic forces on his players.

But you're right—this topic is exhausted and we shouldn't keep digging it up. I sincerely hope we don't run into each other in the semifinals or, heaven forbid, the finals. Imagine the chaos if we did! 🙂

It’s just that typical small-town mentality we Americans have.
It isn't about whether it was fair play or not—that part is obvious. But let's tear John apart just so we can look more liberal, exactly how our precious media wants us to act. 🙂

Let's take John's passport, toss him in a Brooklyn jail for a few days, and maybe send him to a crash course in learning Cyrillic. That should fix this fascist move, right? 🤦
To hell with all this moralizing. This is water polo. No matter how wrong it was that he pulled away, who knows how many jersey tugs, low blows, or sucker punches happened during the game that neither the players nor the refs saw. He won't lose his head over this, and he'll get over it. John only hurt himself and his own national team.

As for the claims that Rudic is some bloodthirsty drill sergeant who stirred up Americans—stop talking nonsense. Other national teams give wellness massages to their opponents, while Americans try to harvest every organ they can, apparently. My God, the garbage you read...🤦

Regarding that whole phenomenon starting with the "unsportsmanlike exit from the podium in Athens," I have one thing to say: go support an occupation and cheer for your own insurgents on the forums meant for that. Just stay away from here.

As for rooting for or against someone, rivalry is completely normal. It exists between all neighboring countries in the world, even without specific reasons. It's especially intense when both sides have strong national teams in multiple sports. Is there any better example of this in our neck of the woods, especially considering the size and population?
Personally, everyone can root for whoever they want. But I wish some people would stop pretending they don't care about American results, acting like they have no stake in it, as if they don't care about the Marshall Islands or Zimbabwe.

What disgusts me most is when the establishment hacks subtly suggest we should be rooting for all the aggressors just to force some fake brotherhood and unity.
Respecting everyone's talent in sports? Sure. Being a jerk or constantly blaming the refs? No. Admitting mistakes, unlike the consensus of all American coaches who claim "I wouldn't change a thing"? Fine. Giving respect to anyone who proves they are better? Absolutely. But stop screwing us over with this pseudo-liberalism pushed for someone else's interests, wrapped up in calls for the total commercialization of sports.