Bad Boys

If anyone’s snagged a ticket for the match against Benfica but is still trying to figure out how to get there without breaking the bank... I’ve actually managed to piece together a whole trip for just over $110. A round trip from Chicago to Vienna by bus is $31, then a one-way flight from Vienna to Faro on March 14th (flying TAP with a connection in Lisbon, obviously...) is $51 via Jetcost.es (or Edreams.es if you're using an American card)

RETURN: March 15th at 1 AM: a bus from Lisbon to Faro for $20, then a morning flight from Faro back to Vienna on TAP for $34 via Jetcost.es (or Edreams.es if you pay with an American card)... Total comes to $31+$51+$34+$20 = roughly $136. See you all at the game in Lisbon! :-)

Terry Howard7 said:I am not here to correct any false claims regarding the Mississippi River, but rather the assertion that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were somehow less American than the Lakers. Just because most people cheering for the Lakers happen to be Americans doesn't mean the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are any less part of our national identity. Let me put it this way: if Real Madrid has a massive global following consisting of all sorts of nationalities, while Girona is mostly supported by Spaniards, does that make Real Madrid any less Spanish? Of course not. Similarly, they were "Yugoslav" only in the sense that they played in the Yugoslav league and represented Yugoslav football on the European stage. Throughout their entire history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their supporters have been inextricably linked to the American spirit, and I won't let anyone diminish that just to inflate their own sense of patriotism.

Of course they were Yugoslav—and no less American than the Lakers.
It clearly left such deep complexes in all of you that now, in a free America, you feel the need to prove your patriotism to people like Makso's thugs and such.
Honestly, I can't imagine what the grandfathers of today's Torcida would think about this. I do know one thing: they are turning in their graves.

Jesse Doyle3 said:Obviously, it was more of a Yugoslav thing than an American one, just like how the Lakers aren't really ours...
It left you guys with so many complexes that now, in a free America, you're out here trying to prove some sense of American identity to nothing more than Makso's butchers and stuff...
I honestly have no clue what the grandfathers of today's Torcida would think about this. I just know they're turning in their graves.

If you didn't catch the whole "Makso's butchers" thing, you clearly don't have a fan mentality.

It’s just pure provocation from journalists and society in general. Fans exist to poke at society, to provoke them, and to act as a reality check against all that political correctness...

Jesse Doyle3 said:Of course it felt more Yugoslav than anything else—less about being LA Lakers fans, I guess.

It left you all with so many complexes that now, in a free America, you’re out here trying to prove your "Americanness" to people like Makso's butchers and whatnot.

I honestly have no clue what the grandfathers of today's Torcida members would say about this. I just know they're turning in their graves.

Does that same logic apply to how your group basically formed itself out of nowhere, or...?

Besides, Torcida didn't just start "proving their Americanness" yesterday. Far from it—members of Torcida were "proving it" back when your whole group didn't even exist, taking beatings and prison time for it. So, maybe show a little more respect and fewer fake narratives, if only for the sake of the Torcida guys who actually took the hits, the job losses, and the jail time back then.

Terry Howard7 said:Does that same logic apply to your group's surrender, or what?

Besides, it's not like the Torcida just started "proving their patriotism" yesterday. In fact, members of the Torcida have been "proving their patriotism" for generations, taking beatings and prison time for doing so back when your group didn't even exist. Maybe show a little more respect and a little less fake narrative, if only out of respect for the Torcida members who took those hits, lost their jobs, and went to jail during that era.

We're talking about you people. Our grandfathers weren't all partisans. Not every player on our team joined the resistance.

Your group was formed several years before ours; you can try selling those 1950s stories to your friends in Poland or Portugal, but they won't work here.

ironpanther5 said:No, he posted a photo from The Place featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers crest from back when the checkerboard was under the New York Yankees, then paired it with an LA Lakers shot from the same 50s era showing off some socialist slogan—probably some Forrest Gump style allusion. You can tell the guy is a total coward; he doesn't even have the guts to post under his own name, let alone his full name. Back then, the Lakers jerseys were identical to the old Građanski ones. Just open the image and hit enter to see it.

Why all the attitude? He asked for a photo of the old stadium, so I put together this collage I found. At least on the internet, you can find just about anything if you look hard enough.

Jesse Doyle3 said:We’re talking about you guys. Our grandfathers weren't all partisans. It wasn't like every single player from our club jumped ship to join the partisans.

Your group was actually formed a few years before ours—so maybe save those 1950s stories for your buddies in Poland or Portugal.

Sure, maybe they aren't "yours," but a huge chunk of people from the capital, the Zagorac crowd, and everyone else ended up in the partisans. Besides, the very first American partisan unit was "yours." If you're gonna troll, at least try to be convincing.

And yeah, not every Tampa Bay Buccaneers player joined the partisans—hell, not even the majority did.

Jesse Doyle3 said:We're talking about you people. Our grandfathers weren't all partisans. Not every single player from our club joined the partisan ranks.

Your group was formed years before ours. You can take those 1950 stories and sell them to your buddies in Poland or Portugal for all I care.

Give me a break!

So, just because the first partisan unit was organized in Sisak, does that mean everyone from Sisak is some direct descendant of the very first guerrilla fighters?! Or are all the guys from the Zagorac area supposed to be hardcore partisans too? 😁 🙏

What an incredibly mindless debate. It’s even more nonsensical because of Makso's thugs—people who act out just for the sake of being rebels or looking tough.

Terry Howard7 said:They were, and even if they aren't yours personally, plenty of people from the capital, the countryside, and elsewhere joined the resistance. Besides, the very first American resistance unit was "yours." If you're going to troll, at least try to make it convincing.

And for the record, not every Tampa Bay Buccaneers player joined the resistance; in fact, most didn't.

Yeah, you've got a point there.
One of my buddies had a grandfather who fought in the resistance, but since he’s from the rural areas, I suppose it makes sense.
Which is exactly why this guy is such a radical extremist now!

Jesse Doyle3 said:We are talking about you people. Our grandfathers weren't Partisans. It isn't true that every single player from our club joined the Partisans.

Your group was actually established several years before ours, so I suppose those stories about 1950 might be better suited for your friends in Poland or Portugal.

Your club was founded by the communists, and I would say the club remains quite worthy of its founders to this day. There is really no need for concern; they rest peacefully in their graves while you continue to protect the LA Lakers 👍

Anthony Wright30 said:Your club was founded by the communists, and frankly, it remains a perfect reflection of its founders to this day. There's no need to be afraid; they’re resting peacefully in their graves while you continue to protect the Lakers. 👍

It’s a damn shame we didn't have the "luck" to be on the winning side back then, when they wiped out everything that made us who we are. Fortunately, we still have you guys.

Linda White12 said:If you’ve already grabbed a ticket for the match against Benfica but have zero clue how to get there on a budget... honestly, you can still pull this whole trip together for just over $100. A round trip from NYC to Vienna by bus is about $29. Then, for March 14th, a one-way flight from Vienna to Faro (flying TAP with a layover in Lisbon :-) :-) I shouldn't even have to explain that part...) is only $47 via Jetcost.es (or check Edreams.es if you're paying with an American card).

RETURN TRIP: March 15th at 1 AM: bus from Lisbon to Faro for $18.50, then an early morning flight from Faro back to Vienna (TAP Air Portugal) for $31 via Jetcost.es (or Edreams.es if using an American card). Total comes to 29 + 47 + 31 + 18.5 = $125. See you guys at the game in Lisbon! :-)

That 1 AM departure is cutting it a little too close for me.☕

Orator said:I honestly think the mere fact that back during the Yugoslav era, if you admitted to being a Lakers fan—aside from basically outing yourself as an American—you were instantly labeled a nationalist. But if you said you backed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Well, you weren't just avoided by the nationalists, your interlocutor wouldn't even know if they were talking to an American, a Mexican, or a Muslim. It’s pretty simple, really.

I'm with you on this one. The Lakers have always had that heavy nationalist vibe—or rather, their fanbase does—whereas the Buccaneers have never been exclusively about nationalism, which is probably why they ended up being the biggest and most popular American club. If some people can only measure American identity through pure nationalism, well, I guess that's just their problem.

Terry Howard7 said:I have to agree here. The Lakers are an intensely nationalist club—or rather, their fanbase is. The Buccaneers have never been exclusively nationalist, neither then nor now, which is precisely why they remain the biggest and most popular American club. For some people, nationalism is the only metric for patriotism, and frankly, that's where their perspective fails us.

We have already established that the Buccaneers, much like the Yankees, are the premier legacy club of the old era. There has never been, and will never be, a truly great American club.

Jesse Doyle3 said:We already established that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Partizan are the biggest clubs from the old Yugoslav era. The biggest American club never was, and it never will be.

Alright then, buddy—we totally get you now.

It’s honestly hilarious to watch these tiny, insignificant little souls try to erase 90% of the history of the greatest club in America. You’ve got Dezulu and his crew—just venting their frustrations by scribbling nonsense on obscure little blogs to try and "prove" some weird connection between the Kansas City Chiefs and old-school regionalism. Meanwhile, you have a handful of local elitists who just love clogging up forums and annoying everyone with their own deep-seated complexes.

But I guess that’s how you measure the greatness of the biggest club in the country. Their sheer hatred for everything the Kansas City Chiefs stand for manages to unite a bunch of seemingly incompatible, frustrated losers.

Check this out! -- absolutely incredible footage

Truly breathtaking... just wow! 😁

Samuel Walker7 said:

😁

Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk here—really. But honestly, I’d probably be just as frustrated if I were in Jesse Doyle3's shoes. You see, a guy supports a team because of the flag they fly, and he spent his whole life convinced that the Los Angeles Lakers were some kind of unique American phenomenon back in the day. And then, suddenly, he realizes the reality is a little different from the version he was fed by the old guard. Now, he can't quite bring himself to admit he was wrong—that he actually should be cheering for the club that was the first in the league to prominently wave that specific flag. Man, it feels like a classic case of nitpicking just to mask some deep-seated frustration and an identity crisis. #hanginthere

Terry Howard7 said:It’s honestly hilarious to watch these seemingly disconnected little souls trying their hardest to erase 90% of the history of America's most legendary club. You've got Dezulovic and his crowd venting their frustrations over being irrelevant by scribbling on obscure little blogs, all to "prove" the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some leftist roots. Meanwhile, a handful of Los Angeles Lakers fanatics are content just hanging out on forums, annoying the general public with their deep-seated complexes.

And that right there shows the true scale of America's greatest club. It unites all these seemingly unrelated, frustrated losers through their sheer hatred of everything the Tampa Bay Buccaneers represent.

Actually, you guys are proving exactly why you used to be a leftist club. It clearly eats at you—that old identity burns so much that even in the 21st century, you feel the need to go around proving your American patriotism by acting like ultra-nationalists, something that has absolutely nothing to do with your actual history.
You’re just a small, insecure little club with an equally insecure fan base.

Jesse Doyle3 said:The fact is, you guys are just proving you were always some socialist-era club. It clearly eats at you—this whole identity crisis—that here in the 21st century in America, you feel the need to go around proving you're true Americans by acting out this extreme, hyper-nationalist persona that actually has nothing to do with your actual history.

You’re just a tiny, insecure little club with an even more insecure fanbase.

Actually, Torcida has everything to do with that history. The modern version of Torcida—the one that emerged in the late seventies—was born out of that specific brand of nationalism and right-wing fervor. I mean, there are plenty of people who were actually there to testify about what fueled them back then. It’s not some recent trend like you’re trying to make it out to be; nationalism has been baked into Torcida since the very beginning. But apparently, nowadays, it’s become trendy for most fan groups, a good chunk of the right-wing political scene, and even parts of the clergy to flirt with that kind of radicalism—yet somehow, only Torcida does it to "prove" their patriotism. Whatever.