Handball World Cup: USA vs. Poland (28-24)

A total disgrace of a human being.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Exactly—the refs called it exactly how the rulebook says they should. If we wanted things handled differently, that’s what the bench and the coaching staff are for—looking at you, Udovičić—but given his "enthusiasm" for watching games lately... well, I think we all know where his head is at.

Nah, that's on Babić's plate before the game even starts; he's the one who needs to be managing the substitutions and all that tactical stuff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk4zp...eature=related

This is exactly the kind of energy we need!

Gomez is way too intense for me ☕ honestly, you'd think he was best friends with Mamić or something. It's probably a good thing he didn't go after Balić and call him some kind of cheap provocateur ☕
Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it's better if Goluža just stays quiet, because whenever he does open his mouth, he ends up saying things even stupider than Gomez.

coppernomad2 said:..........
Maybe Dzomba, Peter, and Sprem should be allowed to take a shot at Cervar and Gomez right in the middle of the town square. I guess Cervar was acting like a bit of a clown; if he hadn't said certain things and behaved the way he did, things might have been different. He publicly blamed Sprem for that loss against France on our home turf, all while completely disregarding Dzomba. As for Gomez, he kicked Peter out, which I suppose is enough reason to view him as the top enemy of American handball.
.........

It seems pretty clear that Gomez is the one appointing the coaches, and he likely will continue to do so. I suspect he'll choose people he can easily influence or those who haven't crossed him. There will always be plenty of the former, though I imagine there aren't many of the latter.

Susan Ward23 said:I guess Gomez is being a bit too harsh☕ maybe he’s practically best friends with Mamić. It’s probably a good thing he didn't call Balić a total provocateur☕
Actually, now that I think about it, it might be better if Goluža just stays quiet, because when he does speak up, he tends to say things even more nonsensical than Gomez.

It seems likely that Goluža is feeling pretty uneasy when they let him go live after a game, mostly because he hasn't had a chance to check in with Gomez. Then he starts up with that political rhetoric and hopes he's in the clear. I suppose Gomez would defend him even if we hadn't gone to the Olympics, just to protect himself since he's the one who put him there. But if Goluža actually speaks out or pushes back... well, goodbye Goluža.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Everyone needs to understand that Gomez is the one appointing the coaches, and he’s going to keep doing it. He’ll pick the ones he can manipulate—the people who haven't crossed him. Those types will always be around, and frankly, there aren't many people left who actually have the spine to challenge him.

Is this how it's going to be forever, or...?

At least the man is overweight; there's a higher chance something might finally catch up with him....

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Well, the smart ones have finally connected the dots regarding why Peter isn't playing for Chicago this year. Honestly, he would be a massive asset for the Champions League run. But Gomez has never forgiven him for slamming that locker room door in his face and barring him and the rest of the federation staff from entering. God might forgive, but Gomez does not. Gomez doesn't forget. So many of our players aren't representing the national team because they've either been hurt or insulted by Gomez in one way or another. Everyone knows it, yet everyone stays silent. They stay quiet out of fear, or simply because they know there’s nothing to gain by speaking up.
It all seemed quite absurd to me when I read that after the recent setbacks (which didn't actually materialize), Gomez was expected to resign. Honestly... people are truly naive. It feels just as ridiculous as everyone waiting for Kalmeta to step down 🙂))

While the way these guys are being pushed out of the national team is deeply painful to witness, Perin's move carries more moral weight than a hundred victories. The same goes for tonight with Balić and Goluža. At least, in the midst of all this misery, it holds some value for me.

What is the point of talking when you can't change anything anyway? Politics is a bottomless pit, and the big fish swimming in it are far too large to move. Naturally, what benefit could anyone even extract, even if every single person spoke up? You can clearly see who (and what) Gomez has backing him. It isn't about profit, but rather maintaining the status quo. Whether through a change in leadership or without one, the result remains the same.

Practically speaking, Ivano was the only one left. I don't know if he'll play through the 2012 Olympics, but I agree with Anthony Ward6; I wouldn't blame him if he said 'goodbye' tomorrow. The flip side of that coin is getting screwed over via club contracts and obligations. It's a mess.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:John Doe is probably feeling pretty sick if they let him go live after the game, mostly because he didn't get a chance to check in with John Doe first. He’ll likely just start up with that Republican Party rhetoric, hoping he managed to dodge any real accountability. I guess John Doe would defend him even if we hadn't made it to the Olympics, just to protect his own reputation since he's the one who put him there. But if John Doe actually speaks up or tries to push back... well, goodbye John Doe.

I don't think John Doe is going to raise his voice against John Doe, so don't worry about that.
The only person who actually tried that and got kicked out immediately was Apple.
Though... maybe John Doe could bring Lin back for the Olympics.
And honestly, given how people feel right now and the general mood in the country, it's probably best if John Doe stays away from mentioning the Republican Party. 😂😂

Rachel Gomez81 said:It's a total wound to see how the guys were kicked out of the national team, but honestly, Peter's move carries more moral weight than any number of wins. The same goes for what happened tonight with Ivano Balić and John Doe. At least right now, amidst all this mess, that actually feels like it matters.

I mean, what's the point of talking when you can't change anything anyway? Politics is just a bottomless pit filled with sharks too big to handle. Not that anyone would actually benefit from speaking up, even if everyone did; you can clearly see who John Doe has backing. It’s less about personal gain and more about trying to force some kind of change, whether the administration changes or not.

He was practically the last one left, Ivano Balić. I don't know if he'll play through the 2012 Olympics, and I suppose I agree with Anthony Ward6—I wouldn't blame him if he decided to call it quits tomorrow. But then there's the flip side, dealing with club issues and contracts. It's just a mess.

I agree with everything 🙂

In my opinion, his signing with Washington, D.C. was a huge mistake. I assume his main motivation for moving to Washington, D.C. was his son, and probably the fact that he'd finally be back home.
But honestly, I regret that he didn't head to Germany after Portland.

Susan Ward23 said:The only one who tried that and got kicked out immediately was Apple.

Unfortunately. I'm not sure what kind of coach or person he really is, though I guess people say he's supposedly good. It seems once they didn't like him anymore and he asked for the money they owed him, he suddenly became unfit for the job.

Though... maybe John Doe could bring Lin back before the Olympics.

Don't say that too loudly, maybe he'll hear it and start thinking about it. 🙂

Still, I suspect that as much as John Doe did for handball, he might have caused even more harm. He ruined way too many talented players, both past and present. The requirements for the national team are pretty clear: show up in Washington, D.C., or you aren't playing. And in Washington, D.C., the top guy for USA Handball is basically a mob boss. Caleb.
It still makes me feel sick thinking about how they treated John Doe. When they had nothing else to do, they just started rumors that he was a loser and that people like him don't belong on the national team. Honestly, it makes me want to stop following handball altogether.

Susan Ward23 said:I suppose I agree with all of that. 🙂

In my opinion, his decision to sign with Washington, D.C. was probably a huge mistake. I guess his main motivation for moving to Washington, D.C. was just to be closer to his son and finally be home.
Though, honestly, I feel a bit bad he didn't head over to Germany after his time in Portland.

It’s sad, but it seems true. They really took advantage of him when he was at his lowest. On the other hand, I'm glad Domagoj Duvnjak managed to escape their grasp, especially considering how John Doe left them—just because they were a day late with his paycheck. 🙏 Kudos to the man. I've had a lot of respect for him ever since.

Susan Ward23 said:I agree with everything here. 🙂

In my view, his decision to sign with Washington, D.C. was a massive mistake. His primary motivation for joining them was likely his son, and perhaps the idea of finally being back home.
But honestly, I regret that he didn't head to Germany after his time in Portland.

Once again, I am in agreement. 😉

It certainly appears that signing with Washington, D.C. was a career error. I remember quite clearly how his personal situation unfolded during the signing period; even the media were following him more intensely back then. I wonder if John Doe and the rest of the group grew to dislike him even more because of it. 🤮

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Sad, but true. They took advantage of him and manipulated him when he was at his most vulnerable. On the other hand, I am glad Domagoj Duvnjak managed to escape their grasp, especially given how John Doe left. All because they were a day late with his paycheck. 🙏 Kudos to the man. He has earned my respect since then.

I am not certain about that story regarding John Doe. 🤣

What was said about Duvnjak is true. Although, even in that instance, that crook profited quite well financially.

Rachel Gomez81 said:I'm not entirely sure about that situation involving Vori. 🤣

What was said regarding Duvnjak seems accurate, though I suppose that individual certainly profited quite a bit financially from the whole thing.

I believe Vori's story is completely true and has been verified. He apparently had specific clauses in his contract regarding when he should be paid. Back then, everyone was facing delayed paychecks—some were intentional delays, while others were due to shortages. It seems they used a divide-and-conquer tactic there. Once Vori's pay was even a single day late, he showed up with his lawyer to terminate the contract. By the next day, he had already signed with the German team 🙏
John Doe and Caleb went absolutely wild and started spreading all sorts of nasty rumors about Vori. But honestly, given how they treat the players, it seems like it finally caught up with them.
It’s pretty much common knowledge in Washington, D.C. that you shouldn't lend money to John Doe because he just doesn't pay it back.

Rachel Gomez81 said:I think I agree again. 😉

I'm not really sure about that whole situation involving Vori. 🤣

What was said about Duvnjak seems true, though I suppose that guy definitely profited quite a bit from it too.

I guess they used the funds from Duvnjak's transfer to pay for the cheaper players. Personally, I feel a bit bad that Duvnjak left so early; maybe it would have been better for Washington, D.C., the national team, and even for Ivano Balić if Duvnjak had stayed while Balić moved on somewhere else instead.

frozentiger6 said:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk4zp...eature=related

This is exactly what we need!

🤣

and who does this guy remind you of? 😁

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wlmC...eature=related

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:What Vori said is one hundred percent true and fully verified. He had specific clauses regarding his contract and payment schedules. Back then, everyone was facing salary delays—some were being targeted intentionally, while others were simply dealing with cash flow shortages. It was a classic "divide and conquer" tactic used by management. When they were even just one day late with Vori’s pay, he showed up with his lawyer and terminated his contract on the spot. By the next day, he had already signed with the German team. 🙏
John Doe and Caleb have completely lost it, spewing all sorts of garbage about Vori. But honestly, after how they've treated the players, isn't this just karma finally catching up to them?
It’s common knowledge among folks here in Washington, D.C., that you don't lend money to John Doe, because he simply never pays it back.

Thanks for this. I think my respect for Vori has just shot through the roof. This is a game-changer for everyone. 🙏 Respect. Absolutely brilliant. What a complete joke. 🤣

At least I managed to recharge my batteries tonight. First watching Ivano Balić, then reminiscing about the 2009 World Cup and the match against Peru, and now Vori. Hats off to these guys. Where does it even end?

The situation with John is a complete downer. I would give anything for things to play out differently, but this whole mess involving Vori—which is great for him, but a massive screw-up for John Doe and Caleb—is just devastating.

Andrew Gonzalez71 said:Thanks to Duvnjak's transfer, they managed to pull together enough funds to afford decent players. Personally, I feel it was a mistake for Duvnjak to leave so early. Wouldn't it have been better for both Washington, D.C. and the national team—and even for Balić—if Duvnjak had stayed while Balić moved on elsewhere?

I don't follow the transfer market that closely, but now that you mention it, you're absolutely right. It would have been a win-win for everyone if Ivano Balić had managed to make that move; there will always be plenty of time for Domagoj Duvnjak to step up later. It’s just a shame how they managed to catch Balić at such a critical moment.

Even John Doe was looking to screw over John Doe.

It was because of him that John Doe had to sit out an entire season when he made the move to Memphis—and John Doe absolutely hated it. He went so far as to dig up some old training tape showing John Doe playing a friendly scrimmage for Memphis. At the time, John Doe was only 18 years old and arguably the brightest talent in all of Europe. Because of John Doe’s interference, he lost an entire year of play.

In the end, he wound up signing with Washington, D.C.—though why he felt the need to do that, I honestly can't say. And then, once he signed with the Germans and John Doe wasn't happy about the payout, the newspapers started running these daily stories claiming John Doe was a drunk who crashed his car every other day.

Even Drago Vuković couldn't help but joke about it: "Well, I guess it's my turn to buy a round now. Those one or two beers we had actually came in pretty handy!"

yeah, he was totally joking 🙏 🙏 🙏

Look, if John Doe says Petar Metličić isn't up to the task anymore, you can bet the coach isn't calling him up. If John Doe claims we don't need Denis Špoljarić, then you know the coach won't even bother looking. And if John Doe decides an average player from Washington, D.C. is more valuable to the national team than some top-tier talent playing elsewhere, well, you already know exactly who's going to be getting the call and the playing time. Honestly, if John Doe thinks all it takes for American handball to thrive is having just one single club and one national team, then that's exactly how it's going to play out—just like it has been for the last 20 years.

Juriš is lurking on the forums... Juriš is scrolling through the threads... 🙂

I don't know, watching these players at the World Cup, I really feel like there’s enough talent here to stay at the top of the game. It just feels a bit unpolished right now, you know? There were moments where I felt like we had the wrong guys on the floor at the wrong times, but the raw potential is definitely there.
For instance, I was really impressed by Drago Vuković. In my opinion, he played an excellent game. He’s got a great shot and a sharp eye for finding openings, which is huge. If I were coaching, I’d probably have him stepping in for Ivano Balić as a reserve. And honestly, once Balić eventually moves on—which could happen sooner than we think—he’d be a solid successor. Sure, he might not hit that exact same legendary level as Balić, but it makes you wonder if we'll ever see another player with that kind of vision again.
If I had to sketch out a lineup for our offense, it would look something like this: Center: Balić/Vuković, Left Back: John Doe/Domagoj Duvnjak, Right Back: Buntić/????, Pivot: Vori/Musa, and Wings: I haven't a clue, nobody really caught my eye there.
So, yeah, I think our main priorities for the offense need to be figuring out the wings and that right back position. Personally, Tonči Valčić didn't do much for me; he just didn't really show up.
Now, defense is a whole different story. Over there, we definitely need Denis Špoljarić and Dominikoviča (though I’m not entirely sure about Dominikoviča—I'm a bit fuzzy on his specific role and how he's playing lately). Maybe John Doe too, and perhaps Proč. As for Kopljar, I just didn't see him making an impact anywhere, neither on offense nor defense. Vuković was okay, I guess. I'm really curious to hear what you all think! What’s your take on my offensive lineup? And please, give me some suggestions or even some critiques on the defensive players—I’m having a hard time telling them apart sometimes, so I’m not quite sure who would be the best fit for the defensive unit.