tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post3366560066761806242..comments2024-01-30T04:32:47.585-05:00Comments on The Cooler: The Ties That Bind: Once BrothersJason Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-23225693405411973652010-10-22T20:44:56.475-04:002010-10-22T20:44:56.475-04:00to make it more clear im anonymous from comments n...to make it more clear im anonymous from comments number 1,3,4,7,9,11,13, and still dont understand why seeing a croation flag should validate that kind of response. if you read the history then you'll see croatia wanted independence from yugoslavia and serbia wanted it to stay whole and that is why vlades actions are politically motivated because serbia is against an independent croatia. thats like the british against an independent united states and thats why we celebrate the 4th of july. so read between the lines peoplemakavellinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-49757501011107976532010-10-22T08:40:13.825-04:002010-10-22T08:40:13.825-04:00Anon at 9:30 am on Oct 21 (by the way, when commen...Anon at 9:30 am on Oct 21 (by the way, when commenting you all can type in aliases and still be anonymous while allowing us to know which Anon is which) ...<br /><br /><em>My only concern after watching the movie is the fact that Divac waited 17 years to go to Zagreb to Drazen's grave and to visit his mother in order to make peace??? I would understand if it took him a few years while things were still hostile in both Serbia and Croatia, but 17years?! Would Divac have gone if someone didn't decide to make this into a movie?? So now that the world knows he did this now he's at peace and can continue his life???? Makes me question the sincerity...</em><br /><br />It's absolutely fair to question his sincerity based on that point, and others. But let me offer some alternate ways of looking at it, just for the point of argument:<br /><br />1) Dead is dead. If a close friend of mine died and was buried far from where I live (and if for whatever reason I couldn't attend the funeral), I personally wouldn't have a huge motivation to ever go to my friend's grave. I'd just miss my friend. So, yeah, I think it's entirely possible that Divac only goes to the grave because it's a good scene for the movie, and part of the film's traveling design. (It's not the only place he visits.) Having said that ...<br /><br />2) Just because the documentary might be the impetus to get Divac to Petrovic's grave doesn't automatically mean that his sorrow isn't genuine. The film might have been the thing that got Divac to Croatia, sure. It's a cinematic device to visualize Divac's attempt to make peace with the past, most definitely. BUT it could also be true that going there means a lot to Divac.<br /><br />My point is that it's dangerous to assume that the camera doesn't play a role in affecting the actions it captures, but it's also unfair to assume that the emotions behind those actions must be false. It isn't that black-and-white, I don't think.<br /><br />As for going back to Croatia in general and seeing Petrovic's mother:<br /><br />1) The shot of Divac walking through town and inspiring "why is he here?" stares might be good evidence about why Divac wasn't aching to get back to Croatia. Likewise, most of us have trips we intend to make that we never get around to. (Random example: When I lived in Tempe, Arizona, my boss had lived in the state for 20 years and he'd never driven up to see the Grand Canyon. It was so close, he just put it off year after year.) Again, I'm just offering an alternate perspective. Not trying to imply that Divac's actions shouldn't be questioned.<br /><br />2) In terms of Divac's sincerity, I do think the participation of Petrovic's mother in this film and in the reunion with Divac should say something to Divac's credit. Personally, some of the suspicion I have that this is an "all about making myself look good" documentary is balanced by how much time is given to Petrovic's mother to talk about her son.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-38735934926997171862010-10-22T07:29:01.859-04:002010-10-22T07:29:01.859-04:00excellent point about the 17 years. and to the guy...excellent point about the 17 years. and to the guy who said hes half serb and half croation, who cares wut u are. what is being discussed here is friendship and the respect that comes with it and how easy friendship is lost when someone crosses that very thin line. vlade did make a point it takes years to build a great friendship but only a second to end itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-33008423875772925762010-10-21T09:30:27.056-04:002010-10-21T09:30:27.056-04:00I don't think any of us will ever be able to s...I don't think any of us will ever be able to say that Divac or Petrovic were right or wrong, nor why they ever stopped talking. Was it b/c of the flag incident or was it something that they never spoke of and no one witnessed. At this point it doesn't matter. My only concern after watching the movie is the fact that Divac waited 17 years to go to Zagreb to Drazen's grave and to visit his mother in order to make peace??? I would understand if it took him a few years while things were still hostile in both Serbia and Croatia, but 17years?! Would Divac have gone if someone didn't decide to make this into a movie?? So now that the world knows he did this now he's at peace and can continue his life???? Makes me question the sincerity...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-14217596404229384972010-10-20T04:38:09.442-04:002010-10-20T04:38:09.442-04:00the only garbage on this page has been yur comment...the only garbage on this page has been yur comments everyone has refrained from name calling and voiced their opinionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-51659801319898306122010-10-19T23:50:14.461-04:002010-10-19T23:50:14.461-04:00its garbage like the comments on this page that cr...its garbage like the comments on this page that create bad blood, im croatian and serbian and i dont like to think im more of one than the other..but who can you sit there and suggest what his actions mean....it was the Yugoslav national team...not croatian, serbian, bosnian...anyone who reads into vlades actions as hate towards cros is just ignorant and has no ties to former Jugoslavia... stop thinking too much and just watch the documentary.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-60216527540103169392010-10-19T09:02:05.091-04:002010-10-19T09:02:05.091-04:00to Jason_I agree with you 100 percent. I guess i j...to Jason_I agree with you 100 percent. I guess i just get a bad vibe from vlade, always have. and i never knew drazen i'm actually asian american born raised and living in the greater sacramento area. but thanks for yur opinions i enjoy reading yur thoughtsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-66363459090329663872010-10-16T11:15:16.362-04:002010-10-16T11:15:16.362-04:00Anon: Just a note that Fritz does qualify that his...Anon: Just a note that Fritz does qualify that his analysis of Divac is tied to what's on screen. And so your objection "i guess you think everything you see on t.v. is true" (1) ignores that he qualified his statement and (2) forgets that earlier you wrote that "drazen wasn't the bad guy vlade divac is," which I presume is your analysis from afar, probably from TV. Though if you knew Petrovic, then obviously that's not the case.<br /><br />I don't disagree with the spirit of your larger objections. For example, I think Petrovic had numerous justifiable reasons to sever ties with Divac. Additionally, it's always a mistake to assume that what we see within the margins of a documentary is the full story or the capital-T truth. At the same time, while you have made a case for why this film might whitewash Divac's politicalness, there is also evidence from the film -- including accounts from a reporter and from Croatian players -- that suggest Divac's actions with the flag were blown out of proportion. So, we're not just taking Divac's word for it; there's other evidence within the film that supports his stance, even if there might be evidence outside of the film that would refute his statements. There are valid arguments on each side.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-48792571884438402342010-10-16T03:21:16.477-04:002010-10-16T03:21:16.477-04:00to Fritz Novak. i guess you think everything you s...to Fritz Novak. i guess you think everything you see on t.v. is true. yeah its a good excuse now to say that but i'm not buying what vlade is selling, but at the same time i do believe vlade wished him and drazen could have remained friends but his disrespect came to surface and i think drazen was more than fair in the way he treated vlade he didnt go to war with vlade which a person with my temper might have but just kept it pleasant when he seen him and asked to just leave it at that for now while the war was still a hot issue. thats more than reasonable and respectable. my problem with vlade is he acts so innocent and hes so patriotic, see in my religon patriotism is a sin because its like racism and results in wars because of where yur from. we are all human and thats what matters and once you realize that then there is true peace in the world. so fuck the new england patriots too lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-19533358944448467642010-10-14T03:24:31.927-04:002010-10-14T03:24:31.927-04:00You guys are misreading Divac: He may have done th...You guys are misreading Divac: He may have done the flag thing "on purpose", but his patriotism was for the federation of Yugoslavia, not for Serbia.<br /><br />And he didn't come across in the film as having a political agenda at all. All he does is express regret that such brutal violence occurred and that it tore apart people who had been living peacefully together for years.Fritz Novaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-4565305991739957222010-10-13T21:47:10.619-04:002010-10-13T21:47:10.619-04:00Thanks, Jason, for persuading me to watch this. I ...Thanks, Jason, for persuading me to watch this. I remember Divac on the court very vividly and Petrovic to a much lesser extent, to the point where I'd forgotten about the tragic accident that claimed his life too soon. Having Divac narrate was a gamble that paid off. As a basketball player, he was charming and annoying by turn -- with charm nearly always ultimately winning out, but also possessing a temperamental impulsiveness that got him into trouble with the flag controversy. He comes close to self-aggrandizement in places during the doc, yet I believed finally that his search for atonement was a sincere one.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-48944933103483568432010-10-13T18:44:40.778-04:002010-10-13T18:44:40.778-04:00correction 50000 bosniak women look it up and read...correction 50000 bosniak women look it up and read about these animals and ask vlade divac for humanitarian help if hes so non biased drazen wasn't the bad guy vlade divac isAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-56115637044621263492010-10-13T18:24:13.917-04:002010-10-13T18:24:13.917-04:00bottom line for me is if yur croatian you can snat...bottom line for me is if yur croatian you can snatch the flag but if yur not leave it alone i mean if it was a serbian flag would he have done the same and whats wrong with a croatian being proud of the croatians on the team i'm sorry you put on a good act but i dont buy yur nice guy image and as far as yur charity work are you helping the 50000 balkan women systematicly raped in the rape camps by serbians or just yur own serbian people i thought humanitarians were supposed be for all humans not just serbians and i never seen yur cold ass shed a tear in the movie i teared up and wasn't even there just cuz you look goofy and talk nice doesnt mean yur a nice guy i've learned through the years that people like that are a lot of the times the worst off the cameras and behind closed doors p.s. i would never feel the right disrespect a flag unless it was my ownAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-37591254106208411072010-10-13T12:13:18.373-04:002010-10-13T12:13:18.373-04:00Anon: I'd suggest it's possible to let one...Anon: I'd suggest it's possible to let one's "patriotism and rage come out" in that situation without it being an intentionally anti-Croatian act. It's difficult to think of it as the latter considering he was surrounded by Croatians at the time. I took the gesture to be more of, "Get the fuck off my basketball floor!" I think Divac was annoyed that someone else was trying to make a political statement.<br /><br />He's hardly blameless. But even if Divac is political now -- through the government or with this film -- that doesn't mean that his action 20 years ago was calculated.<br /><br />Having said all of that, I think your reading is justifiable. But it sure would be a curious time for Divac to attempt to offend Croatians.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-45691277555247144282010-10-13T06:01:07.475-04:002010-10-13T06:01:07.475-04:00i dont believe divacs snatched the croatian flag i...i dont believe divacs snatched the croatian flag innocently i think his patriotism and rage came out and after that he realized he messed up and tried to mend his relationships with his croatian ex teamates but its obvious hes part of the political agenda because now in 2010 hes part of the serbian government and p.s. youll never be an nba champion cuz you have no heartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com