I wanted to reach out to all my fans and say hello.
Man, it is so good to be back in L.A.
Well, I know there has been a lot of speculation about what has happened with my participation with the Slovenian team and I wanted to set the record straight to discontinue any rumors and falsehoods.
So here is the whole story just for you guys:
After a long time of consideration, I accepted the Slovenian national team’s invitation to play for them because I had a strong desire to play for my country and was assured that things had changed with respect to how the team was handled and operated.
I reported to camp incredibly healthy, feeling great and ready to work hard to attain the national team’s goals. I trusted their methods and I was ready to accept their training program. I arrived to Ljubljana and joined the team. Our preparation began in Rogla (mountain in Slovenia). The very first day, I realized that training was unreasonably excessive and insensible to avoid injury.
On the second day of the preparation and upon excessive running on the grass; I felt pain in both my knees, which I immediately brought to National Team trainer’s attention. The team’s doctor and therapist strongly advised me that after a brief checkup there would be nothing to worry about. Therefore, as advised by the coaching staff, I continued with the training until July 25th, at which point I had to go on a business trip to China. This arrangement was discussed and approved by the national team, 6 months prior to my arrival. I asked the team about possible therapy I needed to practice while away on my trip and none was given to me. The pain in my knees remained sharp. The continuous pain made me worried and I requested an MRI as soon as I returned to Slovenia.
Upon my return from my business trip, I went straight to the hospital from the airport, to have the team’s doctor perform an MRI on me. During this time no official therapy was prescribed to me, which I found very unusual. After the MRI results came back, the medical staff determined that the injury was not serious and indicated that I should continue to practice normally while only using pain killers and ultra-sound only. The next day I continued to practice as I was advised by the medical staff but I felt continued pain in my left knee.
At this point, I told my coaches that I could not practice any longer unless they came up with some adequate solution and treatment. The coaches and medical staff did not come up with any proposed treatment and things remained status quo for about 4 days with the pain still remaining sharp. I realized that the medical staff did not appreciate the urgency of the situation because it was almost two weeks that the pain was there and yet no therapy was prescribed to me.
So, at this point I began to seek help on my own. My national teammates and U.S. agent connected me with a therapist in Slovenia, who is considered one of the best. He came to Ljubljana to see me and strongly advised me to discontinue practice and suggested appropriate therapy with him. The therapy he suggested was expected to last 5-7 days. The therapist met with the team’s doctor and therapist and shared his opinion with them. The team’s medical staff stated that I must have arrived with a long-term injury to my knee. On the contrary, I had never felt that kind of pain in my knee prior to this situation.
As a consequence of the entire experience, I lost trust in my team’s staff. They massaged my knee with olive oil and that was supposed to help me!? I took a pain killer the next day and went to practice. 15 minutes into a training I felt pain and I decided not to put my health at risk. I told my coach that I would not continue to practice under these circumstances and that he needed to allow me to get appropriate treatment at my own expense. He said that he would think about it and make a decision shortly. One of the team staff said that day that they would not let me get my own treatment. Coach Jure Zdovc and the president of the federation, Iztok Rems, allowed me that day to leave the team and get the necessary treatment for 5 days.
During that time, they were in close touch with my therapist on a daily basis regarding the treatment. Upon successful treatment, private training was arranged with the coaching staff where my condition and readiness would be tested. I felt great at that training and I satisfied my coach’s (Jure Zdovc) expectations. I then joined the team on the way to Spain for three games. Head coach Jure Zdovc, the president of the federation (Iztok Rems), and I came to the agreement that I should not play a lot during these games so I could get back in form slowly in order not to risk another injury. I felt great and ready to play!
Coach Zdovc was asking me on a daily basis how I felt and I told him that I was feeling better and better! We came back to Slovenia and I went to Maribor (my home town) to spend two days off before the next team meeting. I trained on my own on my days off! I was feeling strong and ready to shine in my home town, considering that for 7 years I had not played any game there. People of Maribor were very excited (according to the media) to see me play! I told my head coach that I would shine in my home town and he told me that the friendly games didn’t count, what counts is what happens at the European championship in Poland.
On Monday, August 24th the team met in Maribor at 1:30pm. Head Coach Jure Zdovc sent me a text message on Monday morning around 10am saying that he wanted to meet with me privately before the team meeting. At that meeting, he told me that my leg was not OK and that I was behind the team. He also told me I didn’t have a “bond” with the team since I had spent time away from them for my treatment, and that he doesn’t want me on the team.
This was extremely difficult news for me to hear. There is a code of conduct in Basketball and the NBA that states players should not lose their position due to an injury that is not within their control. My heart has such pride for my country, and to be told by the National Team that I could not play for them really hurt me. Especially for something that was outside of my control. All I wanted was honest and fair treatment, but what I encountered was politics and hidden agendas.
At the end of the day my heart is sad and angry, but now it is time to get back to work in L.A. to help the Lakers win another NBA Championship Ring in 2010!!!!
Thanks for all your support!!!
- SV18
Rated 3.65 by 169 people
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August 28th, 2009 at 2:39 am
So, let me get this straight..one of the best players in the world, is not good enough to play for that small country national basketball team? That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition - how good are the other players? …there is something missing in this picture. And they put olive oil on their basketball players when they hurt their knees? WTF…
August 28th, 2009 at 2:40 am
They should pay Sasha for promoting their country - not sending him home from national team. Most of us here have never heard of that country - and we would not have if it wasn’t for people like Sasha. I beleive Sasha’s story 100 percent and this is not easy on him. He seems as very emotional person and this is hard for him - as he admits it in the last sentence of his statement. I must question common sense of his managers in the US that allowed him to go there in the 1st place. Why? What is the point? They just put Sasha in bad situation with bad people…
August 28th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Don’t worry about it Champ! You still got the Lakers, and the Lakers still got you!
I realise it must hurt not being able to play for your country, i’m sure the day will come when you once again can! Good Luck for the next season!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Zdravo Saša,
ne vem, mogoče se me boš spomnil, mogoče ne…veliko sva tekala skupaj po dvorišču Borove vasi, kjer si veliko časa preživel pri tvojem pokojnem dedku in že tedaj je bilo opaziti, koliko energije imaš v sebi…včasih sva bla celo skupaj na ŽKK-ju, kjer si začel trenirati basket…neverjetno, kako je ta čas minil…danes jih že štejem 38 let…seveda ni bil moj namen, da ti nakladam o preteklih časih, ampak o teh zadnjih dogodkih, ki so se ti pripetili…seveda ne poznam čistega ozadja te zgodbe, zdi pa se mi izredno nesramna in nepoštena…tako te tudi ne bo mogoče videti v dvorani Tabor, kjer sem si želel, da bi si vsaj v roko segla po toliko letih…te igre KZS (in mogoče tudi Zdovca)so me resnično zelo razbirule, kakor tudi ostale prijatelje košarke…kaj naj rečem? želim ti veliko samozavesti, motivacije in uspešnih iger v LA in ti resnično privoščim uspešno kariero…držimo pesti zate…in tako kot si rekel “get back to work in L.A. to help the Lakers win another NBA Championship Ring in 2010!!!!”
Pozdrav iz Maribora
Vičar
August 28th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Just to reply to previous comments. Sasha is not the best player that Slovenia has. He could be in starting lineup, but at least two players are better than him. And yes we have a big basketball tradition in our country. We were part of Yugoslavia which you should be familiar with if you own some international basketball knowledge. I am not happy that he will not play for the team, but I think that the coach knows what he is doing.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Sasha ti si car, ne se pustit temu zdovcu da te zbije na tla, pokaž mu česa si sposobn, da mu bo še enkrat žal ka je naredo!!!!!
Marko Milič je lepo povedo ko je reko “zdovc je naredo največjo napako, zdej smo zgubil pa najboljše krilo za naslednjih deset let” js upam da se boš še vrno v reprezentanco, sej zdovc itak ne bo dolgo selektor!!!!
Želim ti uspešno sezono pri Lakersih!!!!!
GO “THE MACHINE”
August 28th, 2009 at 3:07 am
I ll speak in english that everyone can understand me. Im from slovenia and I know whats this all about. I am sad couse you will not play. I know that we have quite good team with some young nba and european players. But i still think that you should play. There was still time for you to ˝fall in˝. I want you to now that most of slovenian people are with you and we all desagree with zdovc.
I just hope that you re not that angry and that you will play on next World Championship. Realy.
I wish you well in next nba season =D
Vlk sreče saša! mi smo s tabo!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:10 am
James and Grunter who gives a f*** if you ever heard about Slovenia or not? You are Amaricans, you don’t know a lot about anything anyway… Obviously we have enough good players so we didn’t need Sasha. Why would we need a commercial in America? We don’t want you here? :D. Have a nice day.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Saša was acting like a diva, playing badly, had injury problems and didn’t “click” with the team. Those are the main reasons for getting dumped from the team like the last scrub. Just because you ignorant individuals don’t know about our national team, doesn’t mean it’s bad or that it depends on this guy. We do not need divas and players that think they are entitled to play first team in the national selection just because he plays in the NBA. Not to mention that we have much better players than some random choker that maintains 3.0 PPG.
If i were you i wouldn’t flaunt your own stupidity, makes you and Saša look even worse than he made himself look by scoring 7 points in 3 games afaik?
August 28th, 2009 at 3:13 am
Zdravo Saša!
Vem da ti je hudo, vsakemu igralcu je hudo, ko dobi takle udarec. Upal, sem, da te bom videl igrati v Mariboru proti Grčiji a to se žal ni zgodilo. Mislim, da bi Jure mogel počakati, da bi se tvoja forma dvignila in zdi se mi da je storil narobe, ker te je ocenil že po dveh tekmah. Zanima me, če boš še kdaj pripravljen igrati za našo Slovensko reprezentanco?
August 28th, 2009 at 3:17 am
That’s bad news for Sasa and also for the slovenian team.
Hope we will see you next time in Slovenian team maybe with a better staff…
I wish you all best in L.A.
Srecno!!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Very sad about these events… What Zdovc did was very unfair. In our (slovenian) hearts, you should be in slovenian basketball team, you should be in it from the beginning. You are a great player and you deserve more.
As for the other players, slovenian team has great individuals, most of the players play cruicial roles in the best european basketball clubs. We had great expectations from the upcoming european championship… We will se how they do, decision regarding Sasha`s departure was definitely wrong . I just hope we didn`t loose Sasha for ever.
Pozdrav iz Štajerske.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Greetings from Slovenia, at first, James K said Sasha is one of the best players in the world?!? Yes, he really is a “player”, but in another meaning of the word. Stop joking, even at this time LAL has 10 better basketball players than Sasha will ever be. And at the time there are a few better basketball players in our national team. Ever heard of Nesterovic, you f*ck. And the tradition, do you really think USA is the one and only thing on this planet?!? Losers. If it wasn’t for Christopher Columbus, you would still be hunting living in tents (which actually is almost true even in 2009, trailer trash…)
Secondly, a LAL member comes to the national team and the second day of training running on grass is for him excesive and too much?!? So I presume in LAL they do not train at all? Sell this to somebody else, for instance to the 3/4 of the USA population, who even do not know to point Europe on the map, but otherwise they know everything about everything.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:23 am
Yes yes, and our doctors cut the leg off with ordinary saw. And yes yes, we dont have basketball tradition. LOL, LOL, LMAO, …..
August 28th, 2009 at 3:24 am
One of best players in the world my ass. If you two live only for NBA, this doesnt mean basketball is played only there. Sasha get a grip and stop yawning.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:24 am
Please do not comment if you do not know much about slovenian basket and national team!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
@James - Sasha one of the best players in the world?!? You must be joking, right??
You must agree that he is not at his best ATM .. did he score even a point in NBA finals? We have other players who are better prepared at this moment so they will get the opportunity to play… it is that simple. There can be only 12 players on team. Sasha is great player but not at his best form right now and he was not selected for the team.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
James K and Grutner, you really don’t know much about basketball. If you only know Sasha from Slovenia… What about Rasho Nesterovic, Primoz Brezec, Beno Udrih - they will all play in NBA this season. Rasho and Beno had won NBA title with Spurs.
Sasha practicly hadn’t any practice with Slovenia’s national team. And he was not able to fit in the team. And european stile of basketball is different from NBA. Slovenia was playing very good until he joined the team. When Sasha came all sistem broke down.
And there’s another important thing. He wanted to be the leader of the team…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Saša, na tekmah nisi pokazalnič, na treningih še manj, v takšnem zdravstvenem stanju pa se ne moreš niti boriti kot je treba, tako da je prav, da se vrneš v ZDA in se pripraviš na nov osezono. Vso srečo, predvsem pri zdravju.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
james k
please do yourself a favour, and stop talking stupid things about slovenian basketball tradition, ivo daneu is a hall of famer, yugoslavia has many world championship medals, way more than usa by the way.
about the best player in sloveia. sasha is not even close to that, not saying that he’s not good enough for the team, but not even close to the best, not even on his playing position, i guess u don’t know who goran dragic, beno udrih and jaka lakovic are, not to mention erazem lorbek, matjaz smodis …..
so, please stop and consider, that sasha scored 7 points in three games on tournament in spain, and that he didn’t even come to watch national team games when he didn’t play.
very good player with poor personality and no team spirit.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Hello Sasha!
It’s really not a nice thing, what they did to you. But don’t be sad and angry. The whole Maribor would like to see you play, but unfortunately this is not possible. Don’t worry, you will be here tonight in our hearts. We will be chearing for you and let Zdovc and the others know, how much you mean to us. At least here in Maribor.
P.S. Drugače pa veliko uspehov z Lakersi in upam, da se še kdaj vrneš v reprezentanco, če ne slovensko pa vsaj v štajersko:)
August 28th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Hey guys, I’m Slovenian and i have to say we will all miss Sasha very much. Coach of the Slovenian national team is known as ex-basketball legend here and therefore he can do whatever he wants. He already coached Olimpija (best Slovenian basketball team) and he also forced Marko Milic to live the team, because he didn’t see him in his future plans. By the way Milic was the captain of the squad and definitely the best player in past few years. Anyway, I hope Zdovc will quit coaching as soon as possible and Sasha would come back then…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Hi!
First of all James K u clearly dont know EU basketball… becouse since u would know it u would know that Slovenia has a strong basketball tradition, and many good players… just to mention some NBA players, like Saša, Beno Udrih, Rašo Nesterovic, and probably one of the top 3 players in Europe- Mataz Smodis… As for Saša… we miss u… the big majority of Slovenia basketbal national team fans were shocked to hear this, becouse we were all really hoping to see Saša in action for the national team…
So Saša, i really hope u come back to the Rep again next championchip!
greetz, Jernej, Ljubljana
August 28th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Imaš vso pravico Saša, da si jezen. Mislim, da bi bil vsak na tvojem mestu razočaran in nekoliko užaljen. Mogoče bi bilo res, da bi “eksplodiral” prav na prvenstvu, toda za takšna tekmovanja kot je evropsko prvenstvo mora bit vsak pripravljen maksimalno že pred začetkom tekmovanja. Zdaj ali je razlog tvoja poškodba ali osebni interesi strokovnega štaba zaradi podrtega sožitja v ekipi veste samo Vi. S tvojim odhodom je Sovenija na izgubi!!
Vendar pa ne dvomim v kvaliteto ostalih igralcev, ki bodo igrali za slovensko reprezentanco. Slovenija ima kar nekaj izkušenih in “vročih” košarkarjev, tako da ne dvomim da se skozi evropsko prvenstvo nebi prebili do svetovnega. “Upam, da bosta do naslednjega leta tvoje koleno in tvoj ponos pozdravljena”.
Lep pozdrav iz Slovenije
August 28th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Saša, believe me. It’s difficultly for me also. I couldn’t belive it also that you will not play for our Slovenian team. We have a strong team and with your help we should win this tournament for sure. I hope you’ll be back next year. Please Saša, don’t worry everythink will be ok. We are proud to have you. So, Slovenian people respect everythink you have done for us. Just check on rtvslo.si about you. We had a long discussion about you. I have to tell you something more. When you came to Slovenia, everyone was happy, believe it or not. We said. Now it’s is going bo be much easier to get a gold medal.
I respect you and i know, that you are a very emotional guy. But life goes on and we are expacting that you return to Slovenia next year. You’re simply the best!
With all do respect!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Zdovc the man, Saša is an egoistic player and he did not want to play for Slovenia with his hearts. He think he is the best because he playes for La but on friendly games he plays like amateur other Slovenian players also plays for strong clubs and plays with hears for our country! Without you Saša Slovenia will be much better and will play better!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Sasa you have all the support you can imagine from your home town Maribor!!! We hope that you will eventually even after this weird stuff that happened this year… play for Slovenia in the future!!! The fans want you! We hope you will satisfy our wishes. (We want to see you in Slovenia national team!)
Keep up the good work!
Lep pozdrav iz Slovenije.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:33 am
James K:
So, let me get this straight..one of the best players in the world, is not good enough to play for that small country national basketball team? That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition - how good are the other players?
Slovenia have the largest number of NBA players that come from EUROPA: Raso Nesterovic, Beno Udrih, Primoz Brezec, Goran Drgaic, Bostjan Nachbar, Sasha Vujačić, Uros Slokar…. Slovenia also have a lot of quality defenders on Vujacic position that play in NBA and in biggest european teams, so becouse of his injury he has no time to come in good shape. Slovenija, Spain and Greece are the main favorites for european championship 2009, so I don t now where do you get idea that Slovenia not have TRADITION. Obviously you have no basketbal knowledge.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:33 am
Sramota za to kar so ti nardili… Na tvojem mestu nebi več nikoli oblekel Slovenskega dresa, posebej ne za takšne ljudi kot so Zdovc & Co. Na tekmo sploh šel nebom…
We will miss you in Maribor…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:35 am
@James&Grutner: You should check more often on European basketball to coment it, because from what you wrote you don`t have a clue about slovenian basketball players and tradition.There is nothing behind the scene, Sasa just wasn`t prepared enough comparing him with other players (injury is surely the biggest reason)and coach decided he is not gonna play for Slovenia this year. Simply…and the country is SLOVENIA.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:36 am
With all respect to you guys and Sasha, Slovenia has a big basketball tradition. A nation of 2.000.000 people has some 6 NBA players and looking on the small population of the country it is quite a huge amount. The facts are that Sasha didnt train much (beacuse of his knee injury) at the preparations for the European Championship and since it would be his first time ever to play for his national team which he so dearly loves, he doesnt know the other players and they arent n’sync. So his missing out on the preparations, not getting to know the guys, his terrible performance in a friendly tournament in Sevilla Spain where Slovenia lost to Great Britain!!!!! and scored 56!!! were the reasons that he was let go. And besides they say Sasha has a tough character and they surely got into a fight with the other NBA Slovenian players. He is a substitute for Kobe Bryant and here he wanted to be number one and he played to poorly for that to happen. Good luck in LA
August 28th, 2009 at 3:36 am
People, let me tell you something. Slovenia does have a great national team, with many stars and is one of the best Eauropean basketball team. And for me Saša would like that everybody treat him like a God. Come and play with heart for your country not like a Hollywood star on Oscar show.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Saša i just won’t you to know that nobody supports zdovc’s decidion. Slovenians are angry and sad as you are. Coach Zdovc made a huge mistake and if Slovenia doesn’t make it to the semifinal he will be gone.
I hope that you will play next year with Slovenian national team in WC in Turkey.
Good luck
lp from slovenia
August 28th, 2009 at 3:39 am
That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition ??
Well, you’ll have to think again.
Head Coach of the Slovenian national team is Jure Zdovc. He was a member of yugoslavia team that won European Championship in year 1989 ad again in 1991, won the World Championship in 1990, silver medal Olimpic games in Seul - 1988, hw won the european club trophy with team Limoges …
How good are the other players?
MATJAZ SMODIS - captain of the national team is the captain of the russian team CSKA Moskow ( 2 times champions in Eurolige in last few years)
ERAZEM LORBEK - member of the russian team CSKA Moskow for the last two years (one of the best players - Center), now member of the Barcelona (SPA)
BENO UDRIH - Sacramento Kings NBA
GORAN DRAGIC - Phenix Suns - NBA
PRIMOZ BREZEC - Philadelphia 76-ers - NBA
JAKA LAKOVIC - Barcelona (SPA)
BOSTJAN NACHBAR - ex NBA player, nov Fenerbahce (TUR)
.
.
.
Basketball is one of the main sports in this part of the world. And players from Slovenija are in the top players in Europe for years. Befor 1991 in team Yugoslavia and after that in team Slovenia.
So much about tradition.
Best regards.
P.S.
I’m also very unhappy with Sasho not playing in the national basketball team.
Saša, upam, da boš za reprezentanco zaigral že drugo leto.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:39 am
saša is very good player …i am from slovenia…
i dont understand coach zdovc what he has done, also one of the best players in slovenia marko milic(he has played in NBA allso) said that even if sasa was injury he should anyway played in this tournament because he could be like some joker
insted sashe on this tournament will play jurica golemac(who’s that? some old guy with a gray hair and croatian blood ??!!??!!)
and let me remaind you zdovc is allso coaching best team in slovenia(union olimpija) and when he came into this club here was playing marko milic… he said the he wont fit in his team !?and then he fired him
we have a good team here in slovenia…but with sasha was only better..
good coach ha?…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Whatever happened in the national team had happened. What went wrong in the changing rooms, we do not know and probably will never do. It is true that Sasa is a good player, but at the preparation games he faded…there were unreasonable long distance shots, not to say that it looked as if he did not fit in the team…It is true, that the way he was sent back to LA was entirely unprofessional and there were at least 6 players who could(should) be sent home earlier. It has always been a strange leadership in this national team. I just hope you(Sasa) come back to play for the natioanl team, when coach era will end(it looks like it will be after Poland).
To make things sure…I have never heard of an olive oil treatment! This seems a bit weird! Oh and Grutner, most of you do not know where Germany or Italy is!
I beleive it hit him hard but he is a pro and i think it will not bother him that much 
There are/were some players from Slovenia, but I guess you do not know NBA that thoroughly(no resentment)
Hope you do well next season!
Best of luck!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Hell yeah!! In Slovenia, we use olive oil and voodoo dolls to treat injuries!! lol and some rocks and bones to perdict health issues..
James, THAT country is rather new so it’s obvious, You can’t find a lot about basket records. Let me explain to You - You search for Yugoslavia and find about that. You’ll find out, that throughout the history, there were excellent players from Slovenia that played for former country - Yugoslavia and that they won some top tournaments, starting with Olympic games, World cups and so on..
Vujacic is not bad, I admit that, but don’t be ignorant about our players You prick. Every single year from our independence on, the basket experts give us credit for having some of the top teams in the world. The ONLY thing that Vujacic could give us is his mentality - mentality of a winner which our team lacks. Everything else is BS. HE IS NOT BETTER than, let’s say - Nesterovic (has an NBA Ring with San Antonio), Udrih (has 2 rings with SA), Brezec (played for Indiana amongst others), Smodis (2x winner and MVP of European league)…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:40 am
I admire Sashas achievements as a player. But there is no I in the team. And Slovenian team has quite a few players with longer and more impressive resumes as Sasha (Rasho Nesterovic and Beno Udrih; both ring bearers, Bostjan Nachbar, Primoz Brezec… they all had better NBA results as Sasha… so far). There are a couple of EU stars in the team as well, just starting with Matjaž Smodiš (who is one of the higher payed BBall player in eu and whose teams medical staff are always overseeing the NT team).
Those guys all trained. Why should Sasha be different? And yes.. he got the chance to play 3 games for national team in the tournament in Spain… How did that go for you Sasha?
I do hope though that there will be opportunities for him in the national teams in years to come. And I do wish him all the best in LA (and to score some points in the final next year).
August 28th, 2009 at 3:40 am
It’s really bad that Sasha won’t be able to play for our national team. I wish him good luck in next season with LA Lakers and I hope he’ll play for Slovenia someday. I hate Jure’s (coach) decision but what’s done is done…
Pozdrav iz Ljubljane!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:40 am
So…where to begin…Slovenia has a great tradition in basketball in Europe, but if you even do not know where Slovenia is, why should I talk with you about this…you americans are so uneducated people that we in europe can not belive..you even cant point in map where europa is..shame on you…so..in Slovenia we have many great players like Bostjan Nachbar, Jaka Lakovic, Erazem Lorbek,Matjaz Smodis, Beno Udrih, Radoslav Nesterovic,Primoz Brezec..and some of them also play in NBA…and Sasa is one of them…sasha is great player, but there was some other things that went wrong..he deserves to play in national team..Žal nam te je Sašoda se je spet vse tako žalostno razpletlo kot se je…očitno še vedno določene stvari niso postavljene na svoja mesta v reprezentanci,čeprav je od začetka izgledalo tako…vso srečo v NBA, veliko dobrih iger in sezono brez poškodb..pa upamo da se še vrneš v reprezentanco, kajti potrebujemo te…pozdrav iz slovenije
August 28th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Every medal has two coins…
James K - that country? You can’t see further than sweet home Alabama, hugh?
Other players are better than Vujacic. If you don’t know them it doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.
Good Luck Sasha in the NBA and good luck James K and Grutner in life…you’ll need it with your blinded minds
August 28th, 2009 at 3:41 am
1.) James K, i’d advise you to read up on Slovenia if u think we have no basketball tradition, other players that you might have heard of are: Lakovic, Smodis, Nachbar, Dragic, Udrih,Slokar,Lorbek, … If u follow NBA (which i guess you do) you should’ve at least know three of them.
2.) Grunter i’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess you’re American. Mybe you should look trough an atlas from time to time, and not just look at the pages where the US is shown…
3.) Sasha i’m verry sorry that you don’t get to play for Slovenia (again…), you have to know that most Slovenians would love to see you play and think that you’ve been wronged by Zdovc. Anyway i hope will reconsider playing for Slovenia at some point in the future and even if you don’t, i wish you a great season next year with the Lakers and a great career wherever it may take you.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Well, it’s not completely true that “the small country doesnt have basketball tradition”, however, I wish u all the best, Sasha, and dont worry too much - your time will come, when some other guys will be leading our national team.
Best regards from Slovenia!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Slovenian players: Raso Nesterovic, Primoz Brezec, Matjaz Smodis, Goran Dragic, Beno Udrih, Uros Slokar, Jaka Lakovic, Bostjan Nachbar, Sani Becirovic, Marko Milic,…
August 28th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Hello.
I am from that small country you heave never herdo of, and I have to say only this: That story has two sides .
August 28th, 2009 at 3:43 am
OK, so this is one side of the coin. As it is written it puts a very bad perspective on our Coach and Bball federation. We’d have to hear the other to know the whole picture. We have our problems, this is nothing new to us. It is also very hard to imagine that it is not true. Why would someone do that? But if not for other reasons, the timing is again really badly chosen. If you feel you have to tell the whole story (and this really seems like it’s the whole story), please wait until after the EC in Poland. If you feel so much pride for our country, then it can’t be that one guy or one group of guys messes up that much that you have to get even with the whole country. Because with this out, we again have an affair which will be out there the whole time during the championship and the media will be asking guys about this and it will be impossible to put this out of the perspective and concentrate on what you have to do in Poland.
On the other hand, Sasha, you must admit that you had a more or less lousy season and that you were out of training for a long time. And frankly, Luc Longley was also playing with Chicago and has, I think like three rings, but does that make him one of the best players in the world? I respect you as a player, but you have a lot of improvements to make to become one of the best. I really wish that your career turns back up as last year was not the best. I can understand that you had a lot of problems with our association so I guess this was your last try with us.
I do agree that timing wasn’t right. If it had to, it should’ve happened before Spain. Alltogether it is not right that there are still two guys that will have to leave the team in the last minute. This should be done earlier.
I cannot judge as I don’t know the true story. All the best to you, but please if there will be next time (hopefully not!!!), try to use better timing!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Yes, Slovenia is a small country, but there are several players that are among the very best in Europe: Matjaz Smodis, Erazem Lorbek, Jaka Lakovic, Sani Becirovic and others. The reason out national team never puts together a decent result is in my opinion mostly in it`s management. If Slovenia hired a successful coach from abroad, things would have been different.
I`m sorry to hear about your experience with Zdovc, Sasha. Injured or not, I think the best soulution would be to keep you in the team to keep the team spirit high and decide upon your playing time in Poland.
I understand that you have been living in USA for several years and you are now quite sick of Slovenia, but hey, saying “Man, it is so good to be back in L.A.” tells us a lot about your true devotion to Slovenia.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:43 am
sasha hello from slovenia …
i don’t know what happened with Jure and also with Iztok but the problem is that with that decission they made a big mistake. With You in team Slovenia would be really strong. But i saw some strange decisions from Jure so i’m loosing faith in him. Still hope that we will get a medal but i know that without You will be much harder…
wish You all the best in future and i realy hope that i’ll see You in team soon.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Saša, lepo da si opisal svoj pogled na zadevo. To nam manjka v Sloveniji. Želim ti, da se osredotočiš na LA in razturaš letos. Še zmeraj si naš the maschine !
Oglasi se kaj.
LP, Nejc
August 28th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Saša, dejstvo je, da je bila cela Slovenija šokirana, ko je prišlo do tega dogodka.
Nihče razen vas fantov in vodilnih v KZS-ju ne pozna celotne zgodbe, to je dejstvo (in je verjetno tudi nikoli ne bomo). Prav je, da poveš svojo plat zgodbe, ker imaš vso pravico za to. Moraš se pa zavedati nekaterih dejstev; kot prvo, da je Zdovc selektor in on odloča kdo bo igral v reprezentanci in kdo ne, kot drugo, da se je odločil po svoji oceni in verjemi, da je želel le najboljše za slovensko košarkarsko reprezentanco, kot tretje, da te nihče ni želel diskriminirati ali imel kakršnekoli osebne zamere do tebe ipd. Napisal si, da si želel biti enakovreden kot vsi ostali, potem se tako tudi obnašaj, selektor Zdovc je moral sprejeti odločitev in jo je. Žal se boš moral tudi ti Saša Vujačič sprijazniti z njo, takšnemu profesionalcu kot si ti, po mojem tudi ne bo preveč težko.
Malo si me presenetil z tem, ne vem kako se naj najprimerneje izrazim, bom rekel jokanjem v javnosti, s to izjavo.
Saša mi smo te vedno veseli, vendar nisi edini, ki bo letel iz reprezentance pred tem EP-jem, če se ne motim je že tudi Miha Zupan in še dva bosta, ki še zaenkrat nista znana. Kaj se ti počutiš kaj več od njih? Nisi želel biti samo enakovreden član? Lej, tako je življenje.
Si mogoče pomislil, kako smo se počutili navijači slovenske reprezentance v preteklih letih, ko nisi želel niti slišati za povabilo v reprezentanco?! Saj zdaj ni več pomembno, samo prosim te, bodi profesinalec in sprejmi kot mož.
Oprosti, ker me je na trenutke malo zaneslo, lahko bi še kaj več napisal, pa bom zadržal za kdaj drugič.. Želim ti veliko uspehov in prstanov v NBA, tako kot, verjemi, vsak slovevenec, ki ve za tvoje ime in ki ve, da obstaja košarka.
Tako, da Saša, glavo pokonci, bodo še priložnosti za dokazovanje in medalje.
Lep pozdrav iz Celja.
Iztok K.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:44 am
I think there are not a lot fans who agree with this decision of coach Zdovc. It is true that he missed most of the preparations for the EB and his performance in Spain tournament was very bad, he should’ve been given the chance just like Smodis, who is out of the team for 2 weeks now. Vujacic could be valubale later on in the tournament when he got more practice.
@ James K: Vujacic is (currently) nowhere near a key player nor the best player in the Slovenian team, but he would have been a great addition to the roster. The fact is he’s having problems with the way basketball is played in Europe. Here its all about the defence, and Vujacic was below standard with his performances in that segment of play. I’m sure with more time and practice with the team he could be the one who makes the difference in the game.
Sasa upam da to ne pomen konc. Drugo leto gremo u Turčijo !
August 28th, 2009 at 3:45 am
ok, hvala vujačič za pojasnilo!
to kar sem prebral, sem sumil že prej. Francozi so lahko čakal Parkerja 1 mesec, pa se jim je sedaj obrestovalo, Slovenija pa ni mogla počakat 1 tedna, tudi do tekem v domačem kraju niso počakali, fuj.
sedaj mi je pa jasno, da te ne bom nikoli videl igrati za reprezentanco.
sicer pa bom toliko bolj vneto spremljal tekme LAL.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:45 am
But I know that Sasha had also provided good time in Maribor with his really close friends and that made all of us very happy!!! After 1o long years we were together in our birthtown and it was like he had never leave. I am also very angry because of the situation, but I am happy for Sasha, that he doesn´t play for this corrupted team, who are very jeallus and totally dishonest. Whatever, Sasha, MARIBOR IS ON YOUR SITE!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:47 am
There are no bad people in Slovenian team, there was no hidden agenda but just a lot of very good players that can play on his position and are better prepared.
He missed a lot of practices, he has not played with the players in a long time. He probably hasn’t connect with the team as he should or as the others have. Others that have leader/star status in some of the biggest and best European clubs
and are as good as Sasha.
He would be missed if he was in great shape and played with and for the team in the whole preparation cycle.
I do not know how serious and real his injury really was but I get the feeling he just did not want to practice the way he was told to.
Just my 2 Euro cents.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Come on u people, u should first read something about Slovenian national team and than talk about it like a smartass. We have very good basketball tradition, we were an all European championships, we were 6th in 2005 European championship and qualified for Basketball World Championship 2006. We have the most NBA rings amongst foregin countries, at the moment we have 5 NBA players. U still think that we dont have basketball tradition? Our coach was European and Word champ, our captain has won Euroleague Championships three times and is one of the best european players and highly respected. Its really sad that shasha was sent away, but I hope that he will respond like a man and will still have the desire to play for Slovenia on the next championship..until then i wish him a new NBA ring;)
August 28th, 2009 at 3:48 am
James K,before commenting on basketball tradition and basketball national team in Slovenia you should have first looked it up somewhere. Apparently you don’t know much about European basketball.
Especially because your story is so detailed, we can finally have a clearer picture on what was really going on all those weeks of preparation. I wish you all the best in the next season with Lakers and that there wouldnt be many resentments towards the national team because I would really like to see you play for us! And we sure need your cheering in september! 
Anyway,thank you Saša for your response, it’s good to finally hear also your side of the story since in media the facts that were given were pretty plain and well..different
August 28th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Grutner:
Most of us here have never heard of that country - and we would not have if it wasn’t for people like Sasha.
Thats because American education system is in big fuckin shit and you dont no nothing about geography and history.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:49 am
I believe Saso 100% too…there is noone I hate more in SLO than that “#”&%$#&%$#&%$ ZDOVC right now! And believe me I am NOT alone!
I apologize in the name of thousands fans in my country that needs badly EVERY single player with the guts like he has…like desert needs water IMHO!
I wish him best in 2009/10 season and hope to see him as the key player with some knowledgable coach of our NT!
I was really hoping he’ll be OK and finally we’d have a person to finish the crunch time of the already won games that we always seem to lose…
Zdovc is a famous known worker and star killer like Sagadin…coaches that made our best basketball players leave our teams waaaay before they should!
T
August 28th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Saša škoda ker te ne bo na poljskem! Če smo lahko Smodiša čakal bi lahko tut prvaka lige NBA še par dni!! Drugače pa nba ring 2010 it is
Pozdrav iz Slovenije
August 28th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Saša,
verjamem tvoji zgodbi. Upam, da te to ne bo odvrnilo od nastopanja za reprezentanco v naslednjih akcijah. S svojo igro bi tako lahko podal najboljši možni odgovor na vse, kar se ti dogaja.
Tu v Sloveniji slišiš razno razne zgodbe o tem dogodku, ampak vprašanje je, čemu verjeti. Ali je res, da nista “šla skupaj” s Smodišem? Pa še to: on je bil dalj časa odsoten zaradi poškodbe, pa še sedaj se ne ve, ali bo spoh lahko igral, pa je še vedno na spisku in bo šel na Poljsko. Dvojna merila, se ti ne zdi?
Kakorkoli, drži se, ne obupaj. Vso srečo v novi sezoni v L.A., pa s prstanom in dobrimi igrami zapri usta vsem.
LP iz Slovenije.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:53 am
I d like to write something on the comments you2 post on the site.
Obviusly you two are big Laker fans, but Clearly you don t know anything about SV a part from beeing a Laker.Let me tell you some facts. Slovenia is actually quite well recognized on Basketball map.I think that for at least a decade our players are involved in NBA ( not really as star players I do not put SV in that category either) as well as in big European clubs. So tradition of basketball is not questionable, but succes on big championship that s missing. I think we always had players who can deliver (sometimes overrated) but the main problem was coaching staff. Our basketball society is not capeble to get a decent coach for the team and that s going on for fifteen years now. I m affraid that the staff who are in charge now is not better than the others so also couse off that we have things with players such as SV who is more a character player. We had similar situations in the past always somebody did not want to play for national team for different reasons.
About SV injury I dont know what s going on couse all the things are going out now when he is already gone. I m not going into that, but the fact is that in the beginig of team preparations I heard from somebody in coaching staff that he s doubtful about SV behavior in this team. As a Laker and with a ring, he came back as a big star. Hello a star.Ok I don t want to say anything negative but lets be sirious He did not score a point in the Finals, and his whole season was a mess so if we are indipendent viewer i m not sure if He deserve to be in the team in first place but anyway I was glad that he came back (he had some misunderstanding with national team couple of years ago )but not as a main star couse that for sure he s not ( he could have an important role in the team when he s in good shape ).
OK I wish Sasha to recover from Injury he sustain in Slovenia and to have a better (individual) season with Lakers and also hope He ll come back to play for national team in some other occasion.
Respect!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Sašo veliko ljudi v slo misli da je G.zdovc naredili veliko napako, nevem jst osebno sem nad tem zelo razocaran, upam, da te se kdaj vidimo v rep.dresu ker te in te se bomo se kako potrebovali.
lep pozdrav iz Slo
August 28th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Saša prav veselim sem se tvojega nastopa za repko žal višji cilji tega niso dopustili pa vendar iz tega boš prišel še močnejši zato glavo gor pa želim ti uspešne igrev dresu lakersov žal te ne bomo videli igrati za našo repko kar je zame in za mnoge velika izguba!!!
Mi pravi navijači smo s teboj!
Borut
August 28th, 2009 at 3:58 am
@James K
First lets get something straight…Slovenia HAS tradition in basketball, and yes the country is small, but it is not small in Basketball! Our team is one of the best and strongest in europe!
Zdovc (coach) is a ignorant morron, who does not apreciate Sasha’s effort and skill’s, it’s a big minus for our team, and i think he will regret leaving him out. What he did is unbeliveable, with so muvh effort he put in to be here for slovenia and to win a medal….it really is sad.
Saša Upam da te bomo še kdaj videli v repki, morda ne pri Zdovcu, morda pri naslednjem selektorju, ki bo spoštoval tvoj trud in željo. Itak se bo kmal menjal selektorja kr bo Zdovc pogorel…
Vso srečo pri lakersih, nov prstan čaka da ga vzameš!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Well let me just say a few words. First of all Slovenia has a very long basketball tradition, one of the longest in Europe. Secondly other players on the team are very good players close to Sasha, some of them play in NBA and others in strongest European clubs. Thirdly, medicine in Slovenia is on a very high level, some may argue that it is even better than in America. And last but not least, even though I respect Sasha for what he has accomplished so far, it is not fair him trying to make Slovenia look bad (olive oil and stuff), just to justify his situation. Otherwise all the best Sasha.
Andrej, Slovenia
August 28th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Dear James K and Grutner
Slovenia has a great tradition in basketball. If your knowledge of basketball in restricted only to NBA is entirely your problem.
We have a nice bunch of guys and a great team. Players are playing important roles in their respective teams so in the future google it before tellin’ BS.
PS: Sasha, you shouldn’t be pussy and train hard for next time. It’s strange to me that a Laker couldn’t take a training that all other guys could. You should arrenge your business trips in different way not to mess with team spirit leaving guys behind in hard training and you going have fun.
PPS: Come again and make your point on the court not talking to the press all the time.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:00 am
James K, Grutner
I am Slovene, your comments are really interesting and it shows that you don’t have a clue about basketball. Slovenia has a long basketball tradition. Our national team (when we were part of former Yugoslavia) was world, european an olympic champion! We also have players who are members of Hall of fame. Basketball is not only NBA as you two guys think. I also don’t agree with coach Zdovc (great player with many trophies) but we have to respect his decision. Do you know that Sasha didn’t want to play for our national team in the past? All respects for his yob in Lakers team, but in Slovenia Jure Zdovc is his boss and he should respect his decision and try to get his confidence for the future.
Kind regards from Slovenia
August 28th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Wow, I’m really surprised that a couple of Americans (presumably) don’t know what or where Slovenia is…
Slovenia has had many top European players in its history plus many more who played in the NBA if that is where your (basketball) knowledge lies. We have a great squad with or without Sasha and we are one of the favourites for the European Championships and are considered by many as the allstar team, since you are wondering about the qualtity of the other guys on the team.. With all due respect to Sasha, he has never played any part in it in the past, so I think we will do just fine without him, although I can understand he felt hurt and mistreated by our management, since after all he is only human.
Good luck to you in the coming season with the lakers.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Well there’s more to this story Saša didnt tell in that Statement above. Slovenia’s national baskeball team had a lot of practice matches with many countries already. Some we won, some we lost but the main point is Saša scored only 7 points on all those matches. That is 7 in total. Not 7 per game as one would expect from a NBA star. Maybe he really suffered in pain in his knees i dont know about that, but the fact is he wasnt really much use to our team. Other players did better. And about us not having a basketball tradition? Well we once were a part of Yugoslavia and as far as i know we won Baskeball World Championship. And also if you check out the NBA statistics…Slovenia is the foreign country who has almost the most players in NBA (among foreign countries).
P.S. If you think we really suck that much as Saša persuaued you, u should check it out and see it for yourself. Ud be amazed and ashamed what u thought about Slovenia before u found out more about it.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Saša MI SMO Z TABO!!!!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:07 am
@James K: you don’t have smallest clue about bball tradition in Slovenia. Sasha is one of ours top players, but the best. Just because he is in NBA? BTW: He is not the only Slovenian NBA player.
@Saša: resnično upam, da boš še kdaj zaigral za Slovenijo. Poskusi še tretjič, saj veš, v tretje gre rado. Veliko uspeha ti želim z Lakersi (sicer navijam za SA ;).
PS: dobro naravnaj roko
August 28th, 2009 at 4:07 am
In vsi Mariborčani smo že pograbili karte za tekme v Mariboru samo zato, da vidimo NBA prstan. In sanjali kako Sasha zabije trojko za zmago v finalu!!!! KZS se lahko še kako trudi in se matra z organizacijo, če potem prepustijo vse šarlatanskemu trenerju, ki nima trenerskih izkušenj! Še enkrat več se je pokazalo, da dober igralec ni nujno dober trener!!! Tudi za trenerja se je treba izobraževati počasi. Sasha, želim ti še veliko uspehov v življenju. Žal to verjetno ne bo v reprezentanci! Vprašanje, če se bo to sploh kdaj zgodilo, glede na vse.
Smo pa zelo veseli, da si se odzval na poziv v reprezentanco.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Saša glej, videlo se je da nisi dovolj pripravljen in predaleč od svojega nivoja, vsi vemo pa da si imel zelo veliko željo po igranju za reprezentanco. Trener je imel motive za svoje dejanje, moral jih bo zagovarjati po prvenstvu, nekateri od njih imajo svoje mesto. Če ne bi bilo zdravstvenih problemov ne dvmomim, da se nebi ujel z reprezentanco. V reprezentanci si namreč ne zaslužiš nič manj kot najvidnejšo vlogo, zato se dobro pripravi na naslednjo sezono in ne dvomim da boš zasijal v prihodnje, tako v klubu kot v reprezentanci. Glavo gor, ne izgubi zagona, spodbujaj naše ker rabijo spodbudo, navijači reprezentance te podpiramo in spremljamo tebe in tvoj klub LA Lakers.
Hvala za vso energijo in trud, ki si ju vložil v priprave !
Lep pozdrav, Aljaž
August 28th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Don’t worry Sasha Slovenija is behind you, the majority of the people know it was a BS move and are pissed off about it, but such are the self destructive ways of the Slovenian NT. I hope you will still come next time when they call you and the coach is a sane person.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:08 am
I totally agree with you sasha, the way that they dismissed you was very rude and is sth similar what coach zdovc did to marko milic in olimpija. I hope that you can find motivation to play again for slovenian national team and wish you all the best in the upcoming season!!!
And for those who don’t really know slovenian national team let me pop up some names which you should familiar with: Rasho nesterovic (played for minessota, then got a ring with san antonio, played in toronto last year indiana and is now back in toronto); Beno Udrih (won two rings with san antonio and is curently playing in sacramento); Boki Nachbar (played for houston and new jersey and is now back to europe because he gets more money there); primoz brezec (trained with indiana, then played in charlotte, detroit and toronto, and now signed with philly); goran dragic (he was a rookie this season in phoenix)
Then there are a few players that never played in NBA but were all drafted:
Jaka Lakovic (his the first playmaker in Barcelona), Erazem Lorbek (best young player in europe two or three years ago, last year played for CSK Moscow and now signed for Barcelona), Matjaz Smodish (plays for CSK Moscow, won three euroleauge titles and is considered one of the best players in europe and I think he is the best player in slovenian squad)
So you see slovenia has some great players but the problem is they have no coach and that is the main reason why sasha got stud up!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Hi Saša,
i come from Slovenia but i will write it in english.
First i would like to say, i really stay behind you and i was really happy when i heard you will play for Slovenia in EP. I am your fan.
No you only have one mission, to train like crazy to help Lakers win another ring and to show our coach (Zdovc) your skills and power
Hope you still want to play for our beatiful country and that we will have a chance to see you again in national outfit
All the best,
Andrej
August 28th, 2009 at 4:09 am
While it’s probably true that the situation wasn’t handled properly (the Slovenian coach is horrible) and that Saša should have been given a chance to prove himself despite the knee injury, it’s sort of silly and very American of you guys to just assume Slovenia has no decent players. Some of the very best Euroleague players are Slovenians (Matjaž Smodiš, Erazem Lorbek, Sani Bečirović to name a few) and while Sasha’s departure will hurt the team, they are still considered among the favorites to win the European cup.
Also, saying that Sasha is one of the best players in the world is funny to say the least, he’s a great defender and outside shooter that provides the spark off the bench, but hardly one of the best.
I’m betting you think Sasha is some kind of Slovenian national hero with statues erected in his honor since he must be the only guy who has ever achieved anything in such a small country. Typical American thing to do.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:11 am
@ James K & Grutner:
Guys, I guess it si your problem if you never heard of Slovenia. That says more about you than about us. Sasa is a great person and probably all of the people here in Slovenia feel bad about him not participating in the slovenian stive to achieve the best result this year. But in Europe, we tend to play team basketball. And the synergy between the team counts a lot here. So as Sasa could be individually one of the most promising players in Slovenia and maybe world, he may have some problems fitting in the concept of the team. I guess you will se in every sport, team sport, that manager will sometimes not include “best players” in his vision of the team. A player that wants to be over the manager can destroy his authority and diminish team spirit. And that is what the whole story here is.
I would really apreciate it from Sasa if he would not take this event or episode as the final and try to understand the big picture. By doing that, he would show the whole world, that he really is a true class player. With this public statement, written in this manner, he set the bar high enough and did not whine and cry about his misfortune. For that, I congratulate him.
Sasa, hold on and continue growing as a player and as a person.
Best regards,
Peter
August 28th, 2009 at 4:14 am
What a bunch of bollocks. It’s all “theirs” fault. Yeah right. I’ll admit, coach Zdovc is not what you call a good coach, hell, he’s horrible, but so were you Saša. You are not nearly as good as you think. And you two who posted a comment, if you two don’t know jack shit about our country it doesn’t mean that we don’t have basketball tradition. We once were a part of Yugoslavia who won championships. Your ignorance is beyond belief…You probably believe that it would be for the best if USA just nuked us…
One of the best players in the world…LMAO, give me a break.
Saša if it’s so good to be back in LA just stay there and don’t come back, ever. We’ll do just fine (maybe not this time around but in the future) without some boasting “pretty bhoi” who thinks he’s got the world by the balls.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:16 am
I see you two dons know Slovenia very well. Or, you dont know it at all. We have no basketball tradition? Dont belive Sasha, at my opinion this what he said was bullshit.
First of all, you probably know our players in NBA, Nesterovic, Udrih, Dragic, Nachbar (not in NBA anymore) and there are more. Members of Slo national team also play in great european clubs - Lorbek and Smodis were superstars and best players of CSKA Moscow, the best club in Europe last few years. Becirovic was MVP of first stage of Euroleague, but know he is sadly injured at the moment. So much about our players, and I could say more…
Sasha said that his heart is full of pride for his country. So why was this the first time that he even came to our national team in last - i dont know exacly - 6, 7 years?
I was happy when I read about him jkoining the SLO national team, but I think we dont need players who think that are superstars, but are not in reality.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:16 am
James K
:) 
Where do you live? In some basement?
“One of the best player in the world”?????
with: 5,8 PPG
NO basketball tradition?
Other players?
like:
Beno Udrih this season 11 PPG, ring with SA
Rasa Nesterovic with 769 NBA games 2 ring with SA
Matjaz Smodis best player in CSKA Moskaw and one ob the best player in Europe
Jaka Lakovic playmaker in Barcelona in Europe champ with Panathinaikos
Sani Becirovic MVP in Euro League
Bostjan Nahbar
Primoz Brezec
Dragic …. all NBA players
Go back in your basment…
Sasha is very good player but not as good as Udrih, Lakovic…
August 28th, 2009 at 4:18 am
James K: Slovenia has a great basketball tradition. Slovenian players have played for former Yugoslavian national team and if you follow international basketball you know how good were Yugoslavian teams.
The truth about Vujacic: at this moment he’s not good enough for our team.
P.S.
A player who scored 0 points in 2009 finals can’t be one of the best players in the world.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Grutner
ever heard of beno udrih and rasho nesterovic? not, i thougt so, they both had nba championship ring way before sasha, with much more noticable help from them.
so please, stop being an idiot, which is why u haven’t heard about slovenia, your former president was here two times, so someone must have heard obut us, and once you will get to know the game of basketballa little more, you’ll be suprised that yugoslavia has more gold medals from championships than usa, although usa plays with nba stars.
please stop showing how stupid folks in usa are.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:26 am
First of all, I must say i’m not happy about our national team coach decision, and I don’t doubt in anything what Sasha said.
But James and Grutner, “one of the best players in the world”, you are not serious, he is ok.
Our country have basketball tradition, i guess you don’t know much about georaphy, so i’ll tell you we were part of Yugoslavia, land of world, euro, olympic champions in basketball of course, so we have tradition, our coach was world and euro champion (never mind what i think about him), and yes we have also better player’s as Sasha.
He’s not our first player with NBA champion ring (Nesterovich Rasho, Udrih Beno), our captain was MVP of Euro leage finals.
We should pay him to play for national team, i’m not sure, but i think they get some money, i belive that’s small amount, but any way, they should play because it’s honour to play for your country, but you guys are from US you don’t understand that, but when you have chance ask Tony Parker or even better Pau Gassol, why they are playing and if somebody can stop them playing for their country
have a nice day, Sasha get and stay well
August 28th, 2009 at 4:27 am
Sasha, you have all our support! At the age of 25 you have achieved more, than Jure Zdovc in his entire career, because winning the NBA in worth much more than winning 2 Slovenian championships and 1 French championship. Jure Zdovec has already proven that he can’t lead a team, when he has thrown the best player out of his club — Marko Milič. Marko has done so much for his club — Olimpija Ljubljana, but was thrown out, despite being the best player in the team.
A similar story has appeared in the national team, he has thrown you out and now we (the Slovenian baskatball national team supporters) have to suffer because of Zdovc’s short-minded vision and his inability to lead a team.
I hope, you will defend the NBA championship and wish you all the best in your career.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:29 am
11 Goran Dragić Phoenix Suns (ZDA) 194 cm 6. maj 1986
5 Jaka Lakovič Barcelona (ŠPA) 186 cm 9. julij 1978
9 Beno Udrih Sacramento Kings (ZDA) 191 cm 5. julij 1982
13 Samo Udrih Estudiantes Madrid (ŠPA) 195 cm 2. avgust 1979
10 Boštjan Nachbar Efes Pilsen (TUR) 206 cm 3. julij 1980
7 Primož Brezec Philadelphia 76-ers (ZDA) 216 cm 2. oktober 1979
15 Erazem Lorbek Barcelona (ŠPA) 210 cm 21. februar 1984
8 Matjaž Smodiš CSKA Moskva (RUS) 205 cm 13. december 1979
18 Gašper Vidmar Fenerbahče Ülker (TUR) 209 cm 14. september 1987
Here are some other players from Slovenia. They are good. The problem is only in coach I thing.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Mariborčani smo se zelo veselili tvojega nastopa in nas je ta novica kar malo šokirala. Že v predprodaji smo si zagotovili vstopnice za obračun z Grčijo, ampak brez tebe bo tekma res bolj amaterska. Upam, da te bomo kdaj videli nastopati za slovensko reprezentanco, po možnosti ko bo nov trener.
Uživaj in lp iz Maribora.
Miha
August 28th, 2009 at 4:30 am
saša, upam samo da boš še pršu igrt za reprezentanco. velik sreče naslednjo sezono!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:33 am
…no comment…newem sploh kaj naj rečem…nimam besed. Upam da te še kdaj vidimo v slovenskem dresu oz. boš sprejel povabilo, ko se bo menjalo vodstvo itd. …
Mariborčani smo na tvoji strani! Lep pozdrav iz Maribora!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:38 am
James, Grutner… the fact that you’ve never heard of Slovenia isn’t suprising, judging by how proficient most of people you are… I am very sorry for sasha, and I would love to watch him play, i am a big fan of his myself, but, judging by the games we saw, he just wasn’t there… i understand he was injured, but when on floor, we didn’t see anything of “the machine”. zero, notning, not a single good pass, not a single play, nothing of famous d-fence… if he was john doe, he’d be sent home after 10 minutes. sorry, but that’s a fact… i don’t speak in favour of zdovc or rems or any othe of that hypocrits, i’d want them as far as possible away from this wonderfull sport…
and for the guys above - get some education, cause you really need it…
August 28th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Despite of that we still hope that maybe on under coach you will still play for Slovenia!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Škoda. velika večina v Sloveniji obžaluje! SAŠA, vsi upamo, da se še kdaj vrneš!
@ James K and Grutner…U2 are probably two hillbillies from the States who think the world ends on US borders. U probably mean Slovenia is a country bordering Chechnya or something? Well, go back to primary school and take some geography (and other) classes.
We are not bad people and Slovenia has a GREAT basketball tradition! Our players are world champions, Olimpic champions, European club champions and NBA champions! 4 Slovenians are currently playing in NBA league! Vujačič, Nesterovič, Brezec and Udrih!
Its easy to talk when you are 260 mil pop. country…we make best players out of 2 million population!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Can anyone but Sasa’s (payed) friends comment on this article?
August 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
hej Sasha ma saj to se lahko zgodi samo pri nas v Sloveniji tak da se ne sekiraj zaradi tega in se potrudi za Lakerse…drzim pesti za 2010
August 28th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Saša upam, da se ob naslednji reprezentančni akciji pridužiš ekipi. Navijači te želimo ponovno videti v Slovenskem dresu.
Lp
August 28th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Hey there Sasa and his fans!
Sasa I am your fan from Slovenia and let me say my opinion about this matter. I think the mistakes were made in both sides. It is true that National team doctor should take better care for your knees, but you must agree that when you were training on your own and was away from the time you lost the connection with the team, or said even more accurately the team lost the connection with you. And it can never be the same, all the others had to work hard during practice, while you didn’t have to. Other may see you as a spoiled star, who doesn’t have to practice and that is not good for team spirit. Practice is Slovenia was the same for all the players, right? So how come you are the only one with the injury? I believe you are disappointed because you can’t play for Slovenia, and I am sorry too, but please act like professional, don’t blame everybody else, injuries are part of the basketball, and you are still very young, there will be still many chances for you to play for National Team. And I hope you will, otherwise you will lose my respect and many fans from Slovenia and Maribor, which still honor you and wish to see you in Slovenia National Team.
Hope you’ll win a ring next season!
Ales
August 28th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Vsak človek ima svoje občutke in ko je utrujen od napornih priprav za EP, je še bolj občutljiv na razne komentarje. Po NBA sezoni, ko si utrujen se je težko v kratkemu času prilagoditi na novo okolje z novimi igralci, trenerji, evropsko košarko, pa vendar se tudi daljša odsotnost oz. stiki z slovensko košarko naredili distanco. Sam osebno se nebi zmenil na “komentarje” in bi, če bi imel željo, voljo ponovno odzval povabilu(SP 2010). Mnogi stari košarkarji bodo kmalu pprenehali igrati košarko in na mladih svet stoji. Zdravnik Macura je zapisal strokovno diagnozo poškodbe kolena, marsikdo se je ustrašil, kaj bodo rekli v matičnemu klubu. Tako se je dogajalo tudi Parkerju(francoska reprezentanca), ko so ga kar poklicali v matičen klub, ko je staknil poškodbo, ker niso zaupali Francozom…Glavni trener J.Z. je povedal, da ni prišlo do kakih zamer in upamo, da je tako. Vsekor branilec, ki je visok 2,01 in prenaša žogo brez težav hitro preko polovice igrišča in lahko tudi zadane trojke, mora biti zaželjen v ekipi. Zato ne vrzi “puške v koruzo”, na SP 2010 bo nastopala tudu ekipa USA in prav rad bi videl tekmo med Slovenijo in USA. Na SP na Japonskem so naši kar dobro parirali američanom(brez K.Bryant-a). NO, ko pa smo že pri Francozih, Italijanih, te se niti uvrstili nso na EP 2009, kar je žalostno, mar ne…
August 28th, 2009 at 5:01 am
If all above is true and nothing hidden then it was really stupid to send him back from team. Especially part about doctors is ridiculous. And anyway 12 (or more?) players will go to Poland and he could play at least 10 minutes if there will still be some problems with injury.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Hi there, Slovenia calling.
With all respect, I disagree with what Vujacic did. Here’s why.
Let me say, first, that Slovenia may be far away from the US, and is a tiny country of 2 million. But it is also true that it takes only 2,5 hours drive to reach Venice, and it is true that it has a great basketball tradition, as, in fact, the whole former Yugoslavia. Croatia, Serbia have won medals, Bosnia and Montenegro are catching up very quickly.
Slovenia, for its part, has some good basketball players who have played or play, with mixed fortunes, in the NBA. Marko Milic, Rasho Nesterovic, Beno Udrih, Bostjan Nachbar, Primoz Brezec Goran Dragic, and, of course, Sasha Vujacic. We have some fantastic players who play an important role in some of the best European basketball team, such as Barcelona (Lakovic) and CSKA (Smodis).
The list could go on. The problem is that so far, these guys have never played together in a national team. If you believe the rumours, the reasons are somewhat bizzare. In the past you could hear that, for example, an X number of payers did not like the coach of the national team. Then, for example, that a player X will not play for the national team if the player Y will be called on duty. Or, for example, that a player Z wanted to have a treatment like a superstar. Now, remember, what we talk about here is young people to whom playing for a country should probably be an honour. You, fans from the US, should know of all the people what it meant for the US when the big-bucks-paid superstars from the NBA stood together and wanted to win the Olympics medal. It did not matter who was a bigger star. What mattered was a national flag. It must have hurt some of the stars who did not make it to the national team!
In our country, however, there seems to be a different climate. We seem to be a bit suicidal nation. Particular interest are more important than a common cause. The national flag, to play for the country, has a lesser value.
Vujacic is an excellent player by all standards. I was surprised when he was left out of the team. I mean, man, he can decide the game in last seconds! More importantly, some players whose quality is nowhere near Vujacic’s are still in the team. I am horrified to read his post. If half of this is true I think he has enough material to consider the idea to press some charges.
This does not mean, however, that I approve of what Vujacic did. He knows, and now you know, too, that the decision of the coach to leave him out of the team has stirred mixed comments in my country. There are - again - rumours about why did that happen. But know, with Vujacic’s post, the ginny went out of the bottle. We are on a suicidal mission again. Instead of focusing on preparations, instead of standing by our national team as one, we are now having a mass media debate about who is right and who is wrong. Mind you, this team thinks it can go all the way on the coming European championship. In my view, all this bickering doesn’t really help this mission. Quite to the contrary.
Again, I think the national coach should have thought twice before leaving Sasha out of the team. After all, the Slovenian basketball association in had been chasing Vujacic for some time to bring him in the squad for previous championships… and then this. But Vujacic should know better, too. He should have voiced his feelings about Coach’s decision for the time -after- the championship. As much as I can understand his pain, and the desire to explain what happened, I am absolutely sure that he explained the story to his coach and mates in the LA Lakers. That should suffice and guys there believe him. As a true sportsman, he would have done the right thing to accept the decision for the time being. And, trust me, his feelings, should they have come -after- the championship, would have had an entirely different meaning, especially if Slovenia did not perform well.
By the way, you may have noticed that I haven’t spent a word on the national coach. Or on any of the national coaches Slovenia has had so far. See, this is another story. And irrelevant for my main argument: Sasha should have swallowed this bitter pill and kept his feelings in private until after the championship. What he did instead was just firing up the discussion back in Slovenia about the reasons why he was left out, rumours about disagreements among players (again!!!) are coming out, speculating this, speculating that… Sasha knows Slovenia much better than you guys, and he knows what I am talking about.
Will Slovenia do well at the European championship? I hope so. This team is full of excellent players, and we will not field such a strong team for some time in the future. But I sincerely doubt they will come far.
It’s all in one’s hand. In your head, you must be a winner and have the winners’ mentality. You should fight for a common cause, period. Because you are not playing for yourself, you are playing for your country. Even if you are not playing, you still, I believe, cheer for your country. I am sure that no matter what Vujacic will watch all the games Slovenia will play at the Championship. I my view, he made a mistake by going public, but he is a Slovenian and he remains to be an ambassador for this country. Hopefully, we will see him playing in the national team again.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:09 am
crybaby
August 28th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Some others player from Slovenia are:
Nesterović, Udrih, Brezec, Nachbar, Dragič, o but you should know them alt, they all play or have played in NBA:)
August 28th, 2009 at 5:11 am
First of all best regards to Saša (Sasha:).
I have a comment for “James K” regarding his statement about our team: our coach was (as a player) world and european champion with our national team (YOUGOSLAVIA), our coach for fitness was also a fitness coach in that team, assistant coach won ULEB cup as a coach … so you can see that we have a very good basketball knowledge. Our players are: Beno Udrih (Sacramento), Primož Brezec (Philadelphia), Boki Nachbar (ex NBA), Goran Dragič (Phoenix), Jaka Lakovič (top 3 European PGs), Smodiš (top 3 PFs in Europe) and so on nd on). For a country with 2 milion people thats pretty impresive:)
Don’t get me wrong, I think that Saša is d best and that our team lost a great deal with his departure, but I just wanted to point out that we are not some unimportant country without basketball tradition and knowledge.
PS: Anže Kopitar (LA KINGS) is from SLOVENIA!
Saša, best of luck in this year and go 4 the championship!
August 28th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Ok. But that’s just one side of the story.
About “olive oil”… Come on, I can’t buy that. It just doesn’t make any sense. There are players in slovenian national team that earn millions of dollars. Do you really think they would agree to have such doctors in their national team? Be serious!
August 28th, 2009 at 5:13 am
James, Slovenia has a basketball history. Don’t worry about that. At some point, we had most NBA players per capita in the world.
Don’t forget Nesterovic and Beno Udrih were NBA champs before Sasha.
You probably heard of Nachbar while he was in New Jersey.
In Europe MVP of euroleague and eurofinals MVP are both Slovenians.
People in Slovenia breath for basketball and it was everyone’s dream that we could one day see all our best players in one team. Unfortunatelly we never did. Even if Sasha stayed, we’ll still miss greatly Nesterovic defense as Brezec (played for Charlotte) is far from his best days. Everyone knew that with best players we have we could win Euro championship and it would be second only to NBA dream team.
The moment we heard Sasha is going back, we knew things are not right, again. It seems that Slovenian national team will never reach its full potential as the best players are getting older and leaving the team. So Sasha has full support from everyone here and we really hope he won’t lose his will to play at some other time. We will definitely have to pressure our officials over that.
However, that being said, one would expect from a commonly educated person to know a little more about geography.
And to not only praise Sasha, he could skip a night or two going out drinking in Maribor and focus on basketball. He did get a chance to play in friendly tournament in Spain, but failed to mention what was his shooting percentage. If he tried two - three times, one would understand that he played a little and couldn’t hit much, cause he was injured. But stats were really bad. It definitely shouldn’t be the reason he was off the team, but it didn’t help either.
I wish Sasha all the best in the NBA, I hope he’ll get another ring and I really hope, he will give national team another chance.
But most of all, we are thankfull for speaking out about his time with the national team, as this is the only way we can get things changed.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:21 am
Ok!!! Now hear is a modest opinion of some individual from Slovenia. First of all, if the medical exam was performed by dr. Slobodan Macura(and probably was), than I strongly doubt that he made any mistake in determining Saša’s diagnosis. He is one of the bast traumatologist around; and not just her in Slovenia! He has saved so many athletes in his career. Keep in mind that doctors can not see pain, they can only see irregularities!!! Therefore they could not determine what if anything was wrong with him. Saša stated that his teammates suggested that he should contact that therapist (that was probably provided by Beno Udrih) and that was a logical thing to doo, since he was PHYSIOTHERAPIST, and could do a thing or two about muscle pain. We have Stefanos Dedas on our team. He is there too analyze opponents; he is Greek and probably responsible for massaging Saša with olive oil. I am not an expert of any kind, but I know that olive oil has many beneficial effects on human body. And what about a Slovenian national team. I think that we have many good players, just look at the roster; judging from that we should be in the finals! What we have been missing in previous years are players respect (towards each other and to the staff) and what they need is to bond with each other, so that on the court they might know what your teammate is thinking. What coach has to do is to find a group of players that will stick together, fight together and think together; if he fails to do so it is his head. Saša was not ready this season and everybody saw that in playoffs. I personally think he is much needed in our team because he is one of the bast players in Slovenia and we have a shortage of players that play on that position, but since he wanted to be in starting lineup and was not in shape he had to go. I wish him the all the bast in next season.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Saša, ko boš bral ta komentar, če ga kdaj boš, vedi da me je kot Slovenca sram da izbrano vrsto vodi nesposobnež kot je Jure Zdovc. Žal mi je da se ti je to dogajalo, vendar vedi hvaležni smo ti, ker si pokazal voljo in sprejel povabilo za reprezentanco. Upam, da to ne pomeni da te nikdar več ne bomo videli v dresu Slovenije, ali pač??? V tem primeru ti želim veliko sreče v klubski karieri in upam da se nam še kdaj pridružiš izbrani vrsti, čeprav ti Slovenija ne more zameriti, če se ne boš, kajti takšen odnos kot ga je prikazal Zdovc je neprofesionalen in tega ne rabiš prenašati.
Veliko sreče z Lakersi ti želim!
August 28th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Živjo, Saša
Vsekakor sem prepričana, da bi veliko Slovencev želelo, da bi zastopal ekipo na EP, ker verjamemo v tvoje sposobnosti in zmagovalni duh. Nisi razočaran samo ti, smo tudi mi.
Kljub vsemu upam, da bomo lahko “nekoč” le navijali zate, tudi ko boš branil barve Slovenije. Prepričana sem, da bi s tem razveselil mnoge. Do takrat pa ti želim uspešne nastope v ligi NBA!
August 28th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I’m from Slovenia and i was looking forward to see The machine in action and now the slovenian coaching staff just f***** up the whole situation…in friendly games he didin’t get enough minutes to prove himself :s i just hope Sasha would consider playing for Slovenia in the future when the coaching staff changes.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Sasha, dovoli, da ti tole zaradi vecje pristnosti napisem kar po nase. Seveda sem eden od mnogih Slovencev (sodec po uradnih anketah je takih velika vecina, ceprav se na forumih vselej najde tudi kak anonimni pljuvalec), ki ga je odlocitev Zdovca sokirala in razjezila. Ocitno ima kot trener tezave z avtoriteto in vodenjem ekipe, pa si bil ti zaradi njegove nesposobnosti kaj ukreniti ze med polcasom tekme z Veliko Britanijo, ocitno primerna zrtev in orodje, da pokaze malo odlocnosti (ceprav na povsem zgresen nacin). Morda ima kot nekdanja legenda tudi tezave z igralci, ki poleg znanja premorejo vec karizmaticnosti, zmagovalne mentalitete in navijacev kot on (tudi z Milicem je naredil podobno). Morda ga je sicer res skrbela tudi tvoja pripravljenost zaradi poskodbe, ceprav je s tem pokazal predvsem nepotrebno paniko, saj je bilo casa se dovolj. A zdaj je, kar je. Ceprav me jeza zaradi Zdovca se ni minila, upam, da se tvoja cez cas vendarle bo. Slovenija te rabi in zeli. Ne spomnim se, da bi katerikoli igralec v nasi zgodovini svojo vrnitvijo v reprezentanco zbudil taksno zanimanje, optimizem in navdusenje med navijaci in mediji(z odhodom pa razburjenje in razocaranje) kot ti. Upam, da bos skupaj z nami vseeno zmogel uzivati, ce tvojim kolegom v reprezentanci vendarle uspe doseci kako dobro uvrstitev na EP, ti pa jim naslednjic na SP ali olimpijadi pomagas se do bolj zlahtne medalje. Po moznosti se s kaksnim novim prstanom NBA na roki. Srecno. (tole pisanje zaradi dolzine in slovenscine niti ni bilo misljeno kot objavljeni komentar, ce pa se vendarle znajde tam, pa se beseda, dve za ne-Slovence.)
Slovenia, the only country with LOVE in its name, loves Sasha. And Lakers too.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:35 am
unlucky sasha, we expected to see you play for national team for 1st time. Seems like a bunch of amateurs leading slovenian nationals. Hope you’ll comeback when next coach arrives, coz Jure isn’t the right one.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:36 am
James, we don’t have basketball tradition? What’s wrong with you? We were part of former Yugoslavia and probably you know how many medals they won. We also have team in Euroleague (yes 2 million nation have team in elite european competition).
How good are the other players? Well few of them are starters of top European teams. Eg. in previous season Matjaz Smodis and Erazem Lorbek at Euroleague finalists CSKA Moscow, Jaka Lakovic is starter at FCB Barcelona, etc.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Slovenia has a very long basketball tradition as a part of former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has besides Saša currently four more players in the NBA.Slovenia also has several good players who played in the NBA but are playing for their respective Euroleague teams rigth now…And if you didnt know Slovenia is a part of the European Union and is not some third world country.
Slovenia has only 2 milion residents…so we are very succesful in almoast every sport…that was for your information.
But let us talk about Sasha s dismissal from our team. I think that this was wrong, very wrong. Almoast every european or world championship we have a great team of players(for example Nesterović,Udrih, Nachbar, Vujačić, Smodiš, Lorbek, Dragić,Milič,etc..) that are certainly capable of reaching for medals, but we have diletants running our team so almoast every year we go home with nothing. Because this “coaches” are just not good enough to run such a team. I only hope that Saša wont hold any grudge against our national team and that he will join our team if needed. I only hope that we are going to hire some real experts next time.I respect Saša very much and hope that he will prove himself again with the Lakers.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:41 am
One of the best players in the world? He’s a backup player not Kobe Bryant.
There is no doubt he’s a good player but he disappointed me in the games he played.
He played defense 6 feet away from the player and consequentially was always late to get to the guy.
In offense he was not moving enough. To many times he stayed outside waiting for his guy to move away so he would get a “spot up 3″.
He missed all but 1 shot ranging from free shots to tougher ones.
Now being out of form is something I can live with. His shot would eventually fall.
I was however bothered by his lack of movement without the ball and his standoffish style of defense
I don’t know the whole background as to why he was let go. I know perfectly well that our national teams tend to have to much politics in them.
I just want to point out that he didn’t exactly impress when he had the chance.
Our country does have a basketball tradition btw. I think we at some point actually had more players in NBA then Spain. Not as good but considering our size we’re doing just fine.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:42 am
So let me tell you about something about those comments above. I come from Slovenia and I’m very proud of Saša and so are many many other sports fans in Slovenia. If the people in our national team have had a plan that Saša wont play (because of any hidden interest), certainly they reached them. But please do not say bad things about our country because you dont even do not know how to spell it. We live in paradise to you who live in America. You do not even know where Slovenia is and how it looks like and then you digrease it. Come on!!!!
Hwo has a tradition in basketball? America??? Come on? America stole everthing that they have. You are not even a nation. YOu just think you are. You all came from Europe (do not count other imigrants China, Afrika…) and stole the of the Indians. Yes, you should read your history. So do not tell me about tradition or we are a big country and blablablabla with history and legacy blbalbabla. Go home and practice. You have no real home because you live on stolen land. Hwo is the sucker here??? Me not. Zastopiš!!!
lp
August 28th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Sorry, but if two Americans don’t know where Slovenia is, than this is their problem. Their problem is also if they don’t know much about european basketball and the fact, that Slovenia as a part of ex-Yugoslavia has a long basketball tradition. We have enough good players and in last years we had a lot of players in NBA teams (more then many others bigger countries). Beno Udrih and Radoslav Nesterovic had won NBA with San Antonio few years ago, Marko Milic, Primoz Brezec, Goran Dragic, Uros Slokar, Bostjan Nachbar… And for all of them almost never was a problem to play for slovenian national team. We also have players, which are important members in biggest european teams (Matjaz Smodis-CSKA, Jaka Lakovic and Erazem Lorbek-both Barcelona, MVP of euroleague season Sani Becirovic-Lotomatica Rome……). So six years Vujacic never wanted to play for his country, and this year he came, as some Michael Jordan to Slovenia, in the middle of the preparations he went to China for 5 days, his games in preparations were disasterous. I am sorry but he is not good enough for these team. It is not important only the quality of a player, but also how is he ready to breathe with the team. I trust slovenian headcoach, who was some times ago a member of famous yugoslav national team and has enough experiences to run the team.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Saša, sj sm na tvoji strani in bi te zelo rad videl igrat v slovenskem dresu. Ampak, a si mogu zdj dajat izjavo in vnašat nemir v reprezentanco. Svoje bi lahko povedal tudi po prvenstvu. Trenutno bi pa čist zadoščal, da želiš reprezentanci vse najboljše.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Bothe are wrong… Sasha was injured, so he shouldn’t play. Coach should consider that Sasha was feeling better and should leave him on the team for the spirit. But when I watched on Tv the tournament in Spain, Shasa didn’t show nothing extraordinary, his 3pt were really bad, his defence bad, he was always late in defence… And if he wanted to help he should had waited with this statement after the european championship…
August 28th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Thank God it sasa go in LA. SLO team
August 28th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Vujacic is a fantastic player, but saying Slovenia has no basketball tradition is like saying America has no GSM coverage. And only undereducated american could say something like that.
Truth is, we would not be hearing this moaning if the head coach was a bigger persona.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:56 am
hm… James K: “That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition”
are you serious?! Slovenia was part of ex Yugoslavia. They won several Olympic, World and European tournaments. A lot of Slovene players played for this NT. Also the actual coach of Slovenian NT. He won with the Yugoslavian NT European and World championship. No tradition? Olimpija Ljubljana is one of the best European basketball clubs (institutions) that produced a lot of future NBA players.
Also the actual Slovene NT team is not composed from amateurs, they play in NBA and best European clubs: Goran Dragić(Phoenix Suns), Jaka Klobučar(Union Olimpija), Jaka Lakovič (Barcelona), Beno Udrih (Sacramento Kings), Samo Udrih (Estudiantes Madrid), Boštjan Nachbar (Efes Pilsen), Primož Brezec (Philadelphia 76-ers), Erazem Lorbek (Barcelona), Matjaž Smodiš (CSKA Moskva), Gašper Vidmar (Fenerbahche Ülker).
So, if your knowledge about interantional basketball is so limited, please save your comments for yourself, because you also give offence to Sasha. He was not born in a third world contry, but in a country with a huge basketball tradition and only a country like this can produce so many quality players like Sasha definitely is.
If we return to the Slovene NT, I respect Sasha but if we look how he played in Sevilla we can understand the decision of the Slovene coach. His plays were not on the expected level. It was not his fault but the combination of circumstances to make difficult his adaptation to the European style of play. Especially his deffence was bad, but not because he physically was not ready, he just wasn’t in the game flow, his player had usually open shoot.
I hope this were not his last games for the NT, next time he just needs more luck with the preparations, I want to see The Machine to play for the NT, but the real Machine and I’m sure I’m not alone in this statement.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Hell. I am form Slovenia. If you heard we goining on Euro Basketball Cup in Poland for GOLDEN MEDAL. And then Jure Zdovc ( Coach of Slovenia) give The Machine away. We are not serius.
Vujo is THE BEST !!!
Sorry for my bad English
August 28th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Aaha i will answer on fist post !!
Q: If we have some other good guys
A: Yes, we have some:
Beno Udrih, Primož Brezec, Matjaž Smodiš ( i think the that 3 are some of the best without Sasha)
Again sorry for bad english
August 28th, 2009 at 6:11 am
James and Grutner, that small country without tradition and a lot of olive oil you are refering to, which has less population than a district in one of your cities gave already 7 basketball players in NBA. If you’re such a big basketball fan, then you’ve probably heard of Nesterovic(Timberwolves, Spurs, Raptors, Pacers), Udrih(Spus, Kings), Nachbar(Nets), Dragic(Suns) etc., not to mention some key players in top European teams (Smodis(CSKA), Lakovic(Barcelona)….). We played basketball even before we had our own country. We were already world champions with Jugoslavian team and had some MVPs of world championships(Daneu), so it’s really ignorant for you to say whether we have tradition or not. Maybe it’s time for you to pick up a map and look Slovenia up, if you can find Europe of course. Find USA and then look right.
I am a big fan of Vujacic, because I come from his birth city, and was very dissapointed when I heard that he was dismissed from national team. I bougth a ticket and wanted to watch him tonight in the game against Bolgaria. But when I read things like, they treated him with olive oil etc.., come on, that’s too much. Maybe, but just maybe, I’ll cheer for Celtics this year.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Hey!
I am from Slovenia and that story it is just one of the millions stories that happend here. I can tell you a lot of similar stories to Sasha story. I am really sad that people in Slovenia behave like that.
If you are better than most of other people than you shouldn’t live in Slovenia. Sad reality.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:23 am
uuuuuuuuuuaaaaaauuuuu….kak odnos….ne morm verjet kako retardirana sta lahko REMS in Zdovc…..tko je na žalost če malo izstopaš…..podoben primer kot pri Zahoviču….še enkrat…na žalost….je treba odstranit določene ljudi iz zveze, ki že mnogo let zavirajo proces napredka….predvsem govorim o Remsu, da o Zdovcu ne zgubljam besed…naj se raje vrne v tisto žabarijo ljubljanksko od olimpije pa da letos tud zgubijo vse tekme!
Sasha, tebi pa veliko sreče pri ponovni osvojitvi prstana!
lp….
kk rudar trbovlje, slovenija….4 ever
August 28th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Slovenian national team has tradition. But it is young coutry soo noone doesnt know them. They have the best power forward in Europe (M. Smodis), one of the best prospect on cenetr ( E. Lorbek), and few other great players who could play in the NBA. They have three point guards: J Lakovic (Barcelona), G. Dragic (Phoenix), and one of the most improved players last season in NBA (B. Udrih). Forward is B. Naschbar who played in the NBA for several teams. So please dont be soo hard headed about Slovenian national team. Coach is one of the best European players ever and he knows what is he doing.
For you Sasha, dont dissapionted, there will be several chances for you, but dont say the last word on your country, beacouse the fans love you, and someday you wll get what you deserve. Wait your turn! Everyone gets what they deserve you just have to be patient. Good luck
George
S. Carolina
August 28th, 2009 at 6:34 am
You two seem to be a couple of nimrods without any knowledge apart from your precious Lakers.
Slovenia doesn’t have basketball tradition? What about Rasho Nesterovic, Marko Milic, Bostjan Nachbar, Beno Udrih, Primoz Brezec, Uros Slokar, Goran Dragic, Sasa Vujacic, to name just the guys who played at one point or another (or are still playing) in the NBA?
In addition to those, our team consist of numerous winners of the European Champions League, one of which is Matjaz Smodis, the captain of CSKA and considered to be the Europe’s best PF (the guys in the NBA included!).
I am sorry that Sasa did not make it to the final 12 for the Slovenian national team, but hey - that’s life. Sasa - I am CERTAIN we will see you again soon in Slovenia. Fingers crossed!
August 28th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Hi!
Sasa, I hope you will get over this and still play for NT next year - healthy. I believe you things are not as they should be, but still … Let’s try to talk and understand each other.
As for the Americans …
Coach Zdovc had an offer to play for the lakers in ‘92 when european players had to be VERY good to get invited to the NBA. He chose Limoges (France) and won Euroleague title.
There are other exellent active and retired players from Slovenia (NT captain Smodis is the first foreign captain in CSKA Moskow - won euroleague title last year, were second this year … has overall 3 euroleague titles, you should check retired Ivo Daneu and Peter Vilfan, and maybe you’ve heard of Rasho Nesterovic, Beno Udrih, Bostjan Nachbar, Primož Brezec, Goran Dragic … who play(ed) in the NBA.)
That’s not a bad basketball resumee for 2 million people nation.
So don’t be so fast to mock because you may only show your ignorance.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:38 am
“I realized that training was unreasonably excessive and insensible to avoid injury.” ….this isn`t NBA! Most of the players playing for Slovenian national team play in Euroleauge in which the game and training varies from NBA, so the training is adjusted to this situation. You should already know that before you finally decided to play for the national team and be prepared that training and organization won`t be the same as in NBA.. Other great players in Slovenian team don`t complain and just want to win!
August 28th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Saša, žal mi je da ti je Zdovc vzel priložnost igrati za Slovenijo. Vem da si si to želel. Upam, da te lahko še kdaj pričakujemo v reprezentanci!
Srečno!
August 28th, 2009 at 6:45 am
James K: and what do you know about Slovenia and basketball tradition in Slovenia to judge?
I’m sorry Sasha will not play for Slovenia in the European championship. But not as starter - there are other players better then him at the moment. As a player from the bench he could represent a real threat to other teams. If he could accept such role. Maybe he didn’t, I don’t know…
However - I still hope he will join Slovenian team at some other occasion.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:48 am
saša ti si pes
August 28th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I’m from Slovenia and I don’t think Sasha should be paid for promoting our country. If he truely loves his country he should play when he is prepared and not play if he is not. Anyway, he is not even the best slovenian player i don’t know why would someone think he is one of the best players in the world.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Saša, I came here to give you all my support regarding the whole national team saga. Zdovc is incompetent, and what he is doing as a coach in team Olimpija (Milič), he sadly transfered to our national team. He is a Lobbyist, favouring some guys, while disliking others, doing bad for our NT and our basketball. ALOT of people here in Slovenia would really like to see you one day to play for our NT, but i would personally 100% understand you if you don’t ever come back to play after all those bitter experiences. The treatment you got was hillarious?!? WTF!!? I feel really bad
Screw those bastards, you deserve better! Sooner you forget about this “incident” the better. Don’t take it hard on yourself, you did nothing wrong! Dude, I wish you a very successfull season 09/10!!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Hey Sasha,
it’s very sad that you can’t play at the Eurobasket in Poland, but maybe you will get another chance to play for your country in the future.
To the other people who posted comments: Slovenia is a country with a rich basketball tradition and they have very good players in their roster. So it’s not like Sasha is head and shoulders above any other slovenian player. Just think of Beno Udrih or Jaka Lakovic who both play at the guard position and may be in better shape than Sasha right now. So it’s not a shame to get cut from a team like that (and the coach had to cut two players).
I just wish Sasha all the best for the next season in the NBA and I hope that he’ll find his shooting touch next season.
And for the Eurobasket I have to say one thing: Go Germany! (even without Nowitzki and Kaman)
August 28th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Sasha is a very good player, but there are some people in slovenian basketball that do not want to see some players in the national team. His injury was just an excuse to throw him out. Most of the Slovenian fans are very dissapointed with this decision and are hoping that Sasha will play for Slovenia in the future. We will miss you in Poland.
Sahsa best of luck in your next NBA season
James K - we have a long basketball tradition, our players have won world cup medals, olympic medals,…. Ivo Daneu is in FIBA Hall of Fame. Some of the other players are one of the best in Europe. So before you write anything, try to search google for some answers about that.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:17 am
To J.K.:
1.Slovenia has very good players…an we can win agains anyone even the US on a good day. But then again we can loose agains anyone..
2. We have a basketball tradition it’s just very new as Slovenian since our players have playd for yugoslavia till 1991.
3. I agree that with oil is WTF.. I too have problems with my knees and I have neverd used oil on them…
To G.:
1.No countyr shoud pay any player for promoting their country.. players should be honered playing for their national team because if you play for the national team you’re considered one of 12 best players of that country.
2.I agree we’re a small country..and sasha and other sportsman do more for promoting our country than anyone. But you should heard of us anyway..I mean our school system covers all of counteries in the world and I have heard of every single one of them… IMHO
3. Again if a player wants to play for his national team he should. I doubt you wouldn’t want Kobe to play for US if your chances of gold were higher with him than without thim.
To Saša: Če bereš tole, ne vem kaj se je dogajalo u reprezentanci po vsem kar sem slišal nočem niti ugibat, ampak kar je blo je blo. Upam da te ponovna slaba izkušnja ne bo odvrnila od ponovnega nastopanja za državni dres. Upam da te vidimo drugo leto ponovno v zelenem dresu tokrat brez poškodb. Srečno novo sezono v NBA, ki naj bo uspešna tako v osebnem kot ekipnem smislu.
LP
August 28th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Saša,
Povsem te razumem in verjamem, da je bila selektorjeva odločitev nepričakovana tako za tebe, kot za slovensko javnost. Čeprav Zdovc ni podal nobenega utemeljenega razlog za svojo (prenagljeno) odločitev, je bilo marsikomu jasno, da tvoja “poškodba” ni bila in ne more biti pravi razlog za tvoj izbris z reprezentančnega seznama.
Glede na napisano zgoraj in pomanjkanje informacij v slovenskih medijih o pravih vzrokoh za tvoj odhod nazaj v LA sem lahko globoko razočaran nad neprofesionalnim, začetniškim in sploh nespametnim ravnanjem celotnega strokovenga štaba.
Saša, upam samo, da ti ta, čeprav že druga, negativna izkušnja z reprezentanco, ne bo vzela volje, da se tudi v bodoče odzoveš vabilu in zaigraš za Slovenijo. Čeprav si bil izigran kot nek mladinec, upam da veš, da obstajajo ljudje, ki se spoznajo na košarko, dnevno spermljajo tvoje tekme, se zavedajo tvoje kvalitete in jim ni vseeno. Nenazadnje, Zdovc ne bo več selektor po tem evropskem prvenstvu.
Pozdrav iz Ljubljane in vso srečo v novem finalu (vsaj konferenčnem:)
Pa pazi na kolena… olivno olje vedno pomaga
August 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am
@ James K: …one of the best players in the world…ha ha ha
joke of the day.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:23 am
James K Says:
August 28th, 2009 at 2:39 am
So, let me get this straight..one of the best players in the world, is not good enough to play for that small country national basketball team? That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition - how good are the other players?
Hahaha. What else can i say, Slovenia doesn’t have basketball tradition? Just because you don’t know nothing about european basketball that doesn’t mean it don’t exist. And how good are other players? Good enough to play in top european clubs and in nba.
Grutner Says:
August 28th, 2009 at 2:40 am
They should pay Sasha for promoting their country - not sending him home from national team. Most of us here have never heard of that country - and we would not have if it wasn’t for people like Sasha.
We actualy don’t care if you heard about Slovenia or not. I doubt that average American ever heard of anything outside of US&A. And God help as all if you need Sasha to learn something about geography.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:23 am
@James
Don’t say things you know nothing about. Slovenia has a huge basketball tradition and other players are very good also, on position PG and SG we are strong with or without him. Anyway Sasha is a great player and i would like to see him play for the national team, but this story has backgrounds from the past + he was injured and skipped allmost all practices and friendlys. The coach desided like that and there is nothing we can do. The worst thing is that because of this situation this year i really dont think he will respond to future national team invitations.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Hahaha…., oh come on!!! So some of you never heard for Slovenia as country? OK, maybe I can buy this. I’ve been many times in USA, so I can imagine what you’re talking ’bout. Lot of ppl’s even can’t show where is Russia or China on the map f.e.! So I am not surprised if you (James) has not even an idea that Slovenia has a long basketball tradition (but before 1991 in some other named country) and has always good players which played in many European best teams…
But still I am sorry that Saša had to leave our national team … Hopefully next time under next coach will be different story …
August 28th, 2009 at 7:29 am
There are currently 4 Slovenian players in NBA. There are many more in other teams accross Europe. And if people from LA and other Californians never heard of Slovenia it just shows their knowledge of geografy and firm belief that the world begins on the West Coast and ends on the East Coast.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:31 am
The Machine… Slovenija je s tabo! In ne s kreteni kot so Zdovc v prvi vrsti!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Let me get straight for both of you guys. I m from slovenia btw, so.. basketball tradition, our country is independent since 1990, so as we speak for a slovenian basketball, we obviously have no such thing, on other hand, spain for ex is a country with huge reputation and tradition in any way.
I don t know guys, are you in love with sasha, i like him and his style but in the end, his last season despite getting a nba champ ring was dissapointment. I belive in him and i appreciate his effort for slovenia, but head coach is the one who makes the decisions even if he s douche.
Other players,
Sasha is the most popular slovenian basketball player, but i wouldn t say he is the best one. We have plenty others good players, but they all have that known slovenian “small conutry” virus.
Players:
Jaka Lakovič (Barcelona) solid point guard lefty
Goran Dragič (Phoenix Suns) the quickest lefty pg in slovenia,
Jaka Klobučar (Union Olimpija) rising shooter
Domen Lorbek (Beneton) he s not my favorite, that s for sure
Beno Udrih (Sacramento Kings) starter in NBA, very good court vision
Samo Udrih, his brother
Bostjan Nachbar (ex NY Nets, last year player with highest salary in europe) solid all around player
Goran Jagodnik (the oldest and the smartest) hustle
Matjaž Smodiš (captain, one of the best pf in europe, captain also in cska)
Jurica Golemac (funny and nevrotic)
Erazem Lorbek (Barcelona) newly acquired pf in barcelona) he is on hot streak right now,
Uroš Slokar, talented center with very soft touch
Primož Brezec (Philadelphia) center and a beast
For the staff, no comments from me
in the end, i hope that we get somewhere in eurobasket,
salute, ajde qurci ameriški
btw, whole europe thinks that you guys are the dummest one (and the fat ones)
no offence;)
August 28th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Vujacic prevec si dobr, da bi se ukvarjal s takimi amaterji v Sloveniji! Vse najboljše v novi NBA sezoni! Pogumno naprej!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am
sorry guys but you don’t know the situation.. at least what has happened in the previous years. the majority of fans here on Slovenia could’t wait to see sasha play..finally after all those years. he did not participate in any of Slovenia’s national actions since 2003. i’m sure he had his own reasons, but by stating here that he feels pride and all that for Slovenia ..well i don’t believe 5 people in Slovenia believe him. i sure don’t.
i’m sure he really wanted to play., but the injury made it’s share to this situation. and by knowing him or better yet actually not knowing him because he didn’t play for us in the past, i can believe that he didn’t fit into the team well. especially because i didn’t see him in the stands encouraging team in the warm up games he had not play in… on the other hand i am certain taht this whole mess could have been avoid if there was a little kmore professionality on both sides. i’m not a big fan of NT coach.. but i’m a hude fan of SLOVENIA. And i want players who play with all their heart.. i don’t think Sasha (for now) does that. he has great predispositions.. but he should put things straight in his head .. I’M NOT DISSING.. just stating my opinion.
Anyway..i wish Sasha all the best! and fortunately we will see him in NT again.. he could contribute so much.. if..
have fun!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Well here in Slovenija we disagree with Saša Vojačič. The problem with Saša is that he has crossed from our beautiful socailistic heaven on earth, to a capitalistic universe, which is parallel to the one we live in and represents the absolute evil in our culture. He should be ashamed that he even attempted to play four our glorious nation, after he betrayed and abandoned our mother Slovenija. He doesn’t even respect the rules written by our national committee for group sports and coal - “baketball player has a flattop hairstyle no shorter than 3mm on the side and not longer than 5cm on the top.” this has become a gold standard and a tradition ever since our first official basketball game that we played against our neighbouring country The Glorious People’s Republic of China in 2001. He shouldn’t even be permitted to enter his motherland with his capitalistic attitude. Long hair is not appropriate for a male here. And than he cryes “how our trainings are to difficult for his fragile body” Off course!!! To qualify for our national team one must be thougher than steel, faster than a steam locomotive and stronger than six wild bores - another standard that Saša lacks. You say how Saša is a very emotional person, I say - there you have it. Emotions are prohibited outside ones Dwelling, let alone on the basketball court. You also question our players and our basketball tradition. We have a long tradition, as I mentioned we played our first game in 2001. That’s more than eight years ago. We learned a lot since than and we crush our opponents without mercy. And one of the main reasons that we are so successful is “olio di grotte oliva” or as you call it olive oil. It’s not just ordinary oil from ordinary oliva, its made from grotte oliva that we grow in our cawes. Only our president maršal Tito and our basketball national team are allowed to use this oil. Saša doesn’t belive in our medicine any more, he doesn’t wan’t our oil, but isn’t he the one that is weak? Our other players are big and strong, thay can bend steel and crush bones, while Saša looks like a house wife from a TV series 90210 that you make. We see your programme for 24 minutes every day as satelite hotbird pases over, so we know that you are all weak. We would crush you like a plate of potato bugs. Our team is strong, remember that, not like this picture above, of this traitor Saša loking like a girl holding this capitalist trophy.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:11 am
All you have to know is that Zdovc is a jerk. Vujacic was trying hard.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:17 am
“That country doesn’t even have basketball tradition - how good are the other players?”…
Well.. Slovenija was a part of Yugoslavija. And every basketball fan should know something about Yugoslavija basketball team successes. Several times world, europe and olimpic champions. And slovenian players was always included into the team. So, hope you dont have any further concerns about the tradition…
A national basketball team is a mix of players which are in the best condition in that moment. What’s your name and where you are playing don’t make much difference, ok? BTW, just 2 players are playing in the slovenian teams, all others are playing in Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey and yes, even in NBA. There should be something in this guys if teams all over the Europe and USA are willing to pay them for playing basketball, don’t you think?
“So, let me get this straight..one of the best players in the world, is not good enough to play for that small country national basketball team?”
Exactly. In this moment, he’s not good/prepared enough. And, this exactly is the point. This “small country”, two millions in all, have quite a lot of basketball talents and good players. Probably more than any odher two millions habitants region/town in the world…
“They just put Sasha in bad situation with bad people”
LOL… so, we are bad people here.. maybe we are eating small children too…LOL Look, people here certainly know something about basketball. The proof is this “small country” is constantly producing players like Saša. And I personally don’t have nothing against him. He’s a good player and I’m enjoing every Lakers game with him. Or without him, lol. He’s just not prepared enough in this momemnt, that’s all.
And, there’s another thing I want to mention. I’m constantly seeing/hearing this attitude by the Americans. We are the best, we are the strongest, our basketball players are the best, your “small country”… etc. I can understand some sane and rational patriotism. It’s normal and it’s OK. But, you are just exagerating sometims. And this make you somehow unpopular in the world. And, don say “this is just envy…”. I dond have to be envidious. I have all I need. I have a lot of american friends too, which I respect and enjoy every moment with them. So, some self criticism will be very welcomed. For all people, not just americans, naturally…
August 28th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Sasha,
I feel your pain. Just understand if they don’t want you; WE IN LOS ANGELES DO! Things happen for a reason; and what they did was UN-ETHICAL! It got me so mad to read how they would treat a player who worked so hard to get to where he is; it is one simple word “JELOUSY.”
August 28th, 2009 at 8:30 am
I don’t know, why is my previous comment not published? Is someone ashamed too much?
August 28th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I don’t know, why my previous comment wasn’t published? Is someone ashamed or just too proud to accept criticism?
August 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
@James - Slovenia have one of the best basketball teams in the world. Boštjan Nachbar (played for Nets), Primož Brezec (playing for the Sixers), Matjaž Smodiš (CSKA), Jaka Lakovič (Barcelona), Goran Dragič (Suns), Uroš Slokar (played for Toronto), Beno Udrih (Sacramento), Erazem Lorbek (Barcelona) and on and on. Adding Sasha to that mix would be a great thing for Slovenian national team, but Jure Zdovc is just not the leader and coach Slovenian team want or needs. There were “dirty games” few years ago, when Sasha also did not play. It’s a shame that a player of his caliber does not help our team, just because the coaches and the medial staff are just not professional. As i do not like Lakers i still hope Sasha will prove Slovenian coaches and leaders that he is the real deal and a great player. Hope that Sasha will play for Slovenia on next world championship.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:39 am
hej
i am from sasha`s home town (maribor, slovenia).
We have many good players next to sasha, beno udrih(NBA), Primož Brezec(NBA), Boštjan Nachbar(NBA), Matjaž Smodiš (CSK), Rašo Nesterović(NBA), Goran Dragič (TAU Ceramica), Sašo Ožbolt, Marko Milič,…. so please do not spit on slovenian basketball tradition, because the coach made the wrong decision. we have good team, but i now that with sasha would be better. If you never heard about us, dont talk about us. For small and young (since 1991) country like ours, we have good team good players and good results.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am
@james: You are just beeing ignorant. If you don’t know Slovenian basketball you should know the history of Yougoslavian basketball. For you (and Grunter) basketball only exists in the usa. A lot of Great basketball players came from this area and still play in the nba. Don’t pass judgements about something you are just to ignorant to care about.
@Grutner: Don’t call people you don’t know bad people. If you say that, you are the bad one in this case.
You just have one side of the story. So don’t pass judgements. I’m not standing on nobodys side in this story. But we have to be honest here, Sasa was strugling the whole season this year. Plus if Sasa didn’t fit into the team, because he missed a lot of practices, it is easer to get rid of him instead of half of the team. I would like to see Sasa play for our national team but I also trust our staff.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Hi, I come frome the small country of Slovenia noone knows about.
I totaly understand Zdovc, why he sent Vujacic “home”. He did that because of the chemistry in the team (Sasha didn’t play or see other players since year 2003 when he was last in NT and “kicked” out before European Championship in Sweden) and Sasha not being able to hit anything this season in the NBA or the three games for the NT (I guess cause of the injury).
Sasha isn’t the best player in the world that’s the other Mamba, the Black one (US wants to trade mybe?). ATM Sasha wasn’t good enough or prepared enough atleast what I have seen him play.
Other players on his position gave alot more during the preparation time and others in the NT are top Europe players who play alot more than Sasha during the season and being main guys in their squads.
I wish Sasha good recovery and a very good season this year in LA and to see him nextyear in Slovenia’s NT in Turkey at WC.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
At least you were smart enough to know that something was wrong and you needed to get medical attention.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:11 am
so James K..
inform yourself before commenting the Slovenian national team…
I agree that Vujačič is an awesome player, but not the only one in our team.
we have basketball history…
especially in past years when we were a member of Yugoslavia..
other players are playing in top leagues and top clubs around Europe and some of them also in NBA ( Beno Udrih in Sacramento,Primož Brezec in Philapdelphia,
Goran Dragic in Phoenix and Sasha)
Matjaz Smodis plays for CSKA Moscow and he has already been 3 times European champ with his club!
Then there is also Uros Slokar(ex Raptor),Jaka Lakovič(Barcelona),Erazem Lorbek(Barcelona) and our champ (who retired from national team) - Rasho Nesterovic.
We all expect a medal from our national team, this year in the EuroBasket!
Yes, I agree with Grutner that we should pay Sasha for promoting our small nation;)
August 28th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Po zaslugi neprofesionalnosti peščice cepcev v KZS smo vsi košarkarski fani v Sloveniji izgubili možnost, da bi na delu videli dokazano najboljšega strelca, ki ga ta država premore. Ne morem verjeti. Jasno je, da reprezentanca na Poljskem ne bo naredila ničesar in za to bi moral nekdo odgovarjati - poleg seveda Zdovca še stare plesnive gobe, ki gnijejo na KZS že od osamosvojitve in vsakič znova zaradi svojega napoleonskega kompleksa razočarajo ljubitelje slovenske košarke. Sam spremljam reprezentanco že od osamosvojitve naprej in podobno kot Saša Vujačič sem tudi jaz verjel, da so se fantje v vseh letih le kaj naučili. Enostavno ne moreš biti tako neomajen pri svojem vztrajanju pri neprofesionalnosti. Guess again…
Naj bo jasno: če se Saša odloči, da ne bo več igral za reprezentanco, mu ne more nihče zameriti. Sam pa vendare verjamem, da bo na koncu zmagala košarka in da se bodo mrhovinarji, ki pozabljajo, da ne stiskamo pesti za reprezentanco zaradi njih, ampak ravno zaradi igralcev, kot je Vujačič, dokončno odstranili iz zveze. Upam, da se bo takrat - zaradi vseh nas, ki ga podpiramo in mu stojimo ob strani - le odločil in pokazal kaj zna. Ker narod smo MI, ne pa idioti na KZS. Tako pa na račun Zdovčeve avtoritete zgublja ugled cela država. Osebno ne dovolim, da se kdo na tak način dela norca iz dresa, za katerega navijam.
In še beseda o ostalih nevretenčarjih, ki igrajo za reprezentanco: za hrbtom očitati komurkoli, da je rušil (vedno tako opevano) atmosfero v ekipi, je skrajno strahopetno. v življenju je tako, da se s človekom pogovoriš iz oči v oči, če imaš težave z njim - seveda, če te je kaj v hlačah. Sploh pa vsi pozabljajo, da reprezentanca ni izbor za miss, ampak se igralci vanjo uvrščajo glede na igralske sposobnosti. Po njih bi moral biti Vujačič prvi, ki bi imel rezervirano mesto v letalu za Poljsko, a žal drži, da je slabo vzdušje eden od pokazateljev slabega dela trenerja (zakaj pa Phil Jackson ni imel težav z Rodmanom?).
Recept je preprost: zamenjati vse na KZS, pripeljati resnega tujega trenerja, nagnati par jokic in začeti na novo - z Vujačičem na čelu novega vala. Pa čeprav bodo morali veslati čez Atlantik in se plaziti po kolenih do LA in se zraven bičati, da ga prepričajo. Zaradi nas, fanov!
August 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Sasha! I respect what you have achieved and I understand that you have worked hard to get where you are. You are a big star and even if you were not most of the time in starting five coach could rely on you when it was needed. I’m proud that a Slovenian player has won NBA ring.
I have read all news about Slovenian national team .I watched all training games. But I was not there so I will never know what was really going on inside the group. And the press was not there. So the press writes and publish only what they were told form official members (pr) or from roomers. And fans read only what press publishes. I think all Slovenian fans were sad when we heard the news about your injury. We were all hoping that you will be ready for the team. And I think Jure and all the team too. We all know that the plays in Spain were not what team is capable of and that what we will see in Poland will be something completely different. I’m sure!
Every player would be sad if he could not be part of a national team. So I understand your anger. But on the other way I understand Jure that if player because of his injury could not train most of the time he will not be in 100% form. And there are others who may be. We have a lot of great players who can play great basketball. I still hope that this was not product of any “political” move and that Jure was just looking for the best of the team. This was just bad luck. So I hope we will see you next time when national team will gather. And next time I hope there will be no injury.
Good luck this season in NBA.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:29 am
for those who can’t understand slovenian: try google translate
Saša,
meni je čisto vseeno kaj se je zgodilo, upam pa, da razumeš kaj se je dogajalo v preteklosti in kako je reprezentanca vedno pogorela, ko je govora o pričakovanjih njenih navijačev. Prav zato si noben ne želi, da bi bila letošnja ekipa skregana oz. da bi jo spremljalo slabo vzdušje. Pa naj na ta račun Zdovc dela kar mu paše, samo da letos uspemo! Navijači verjamemo v to ekipo in mislim, da ji tudi ti privoščiš uspeh. Upam, da ni ponovno prišlo do velike zamere in da boš že drugo leto član ekipe, ki bo nastopala na SP. Verjemi, da te bomo vsi ponovno lepo sprejeli, pa glej da boš takrat imel že drugi prstan
LP, pa če imaš kak rumen dres s št. 18 in tvojim podpisom odveč, se priporočam zanj;)
August 28th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Welcome back HOME to Los Angeles, Sasha! Best of luck at putting this experience behind you and preparing for the upcoming NBA season! Your fans are with you all the way!
August 28th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I am from Slovenia and I am very disappointed, that Sasha will not play for Slovenian national team on the European Basketball Championship. Grutner, I totally agree with you.
This is also a disgrace for the coach Zdovc. He is not the right man to lead the Slovenian national Basketball team. He dont have enough experience and so he made very bad decision.
Sasha, dont give up. Slovenian fans supporting you and wishing you many many success in next NBA season and I really hope, that you will play for Slovenia in the future. You deserve that more like the most other Slovenian players.
For all, that Slovenia and Slovenian Basketball doesnt know so well, I must tell even, that Slovenian Basketball team hasnt yet a Medal from the biggest competition, so is totally logically, that is disappointment in our country very very big.
The “best” Result is 6th place.
Sasha, I wish you all good and please, bring the new coach from USA, which will
to coach our national team with you of course. Couldnt be worse anyway.
Greetings from Slovenia and please come back and save the Slovenian Basketball
August 28th, 2009 at 10:24 am
sasa slovenija je s tabo!
zdovca ne podpiramo in upamo da boš drugo leto spet z nami!
lp iz slovenije
August 28th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Why would someone go from most modern practice facilities in the United States to practice by running through the mountains in Slovenia?
August 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Sasha - why don’t you tell us how does this experience make you stronger and smarter. How does it make you better? You had put yourself in this situation yourself - because to go and play basketball for country that looses against countries such as Great Britan (and Brits simply don’t care for basketball and they still beat your team over there) means exactly what to the rest of us? It puts Lakers at risk and you didn’t play well at the end of season for Lakers anyway.We, Laker fans, pay your salary here and instead of going over there and coming back better, you come back injured and without much improvement to your game. I am confused by all this - why even go to these 3rd world countries when you should be happy you got out of them in the 1st place. You need to start using your head more.
August 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
samo tole: če bi bil pravi team player (tako kot praviš da si!) potem ne bi delil takšnega slabega mnenja o svoji ekipi, za katero si si tako želel zaigrati (pa ja). in prosim pouči svoje AMERIŠKE navijače, da je v naši ekipi veliko dobrih (in boljših) igralcev kot jih poznajo oni v L.A. ju!!!
UŽIVAJ V AMERIKI!
LP iz Slovenije
August 28th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Welcome home, Sasha, baby!! The Lakers would have taken care of you immediately because there’s no place like home when you hurt. I am sooo glad that you took your health into your own hands; only you know what is good for you! Good for you standing up for yourself since they were not going to listen…I applaud you! Besides, they did you a favor by letting you come back to us because they did not value what you have to offer and did not want to deal with your knee. We will deal with you!
So glad you are back!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am
OH MAN, SASHA! Thank you so much for writing about what happened. This really means a lot to me because so many of us including myself were really worried about you. I’m sorry that this experience didn’t turn out like you had hoped, but ultimately, your health and well being is the most important thing. I’ve had knee problems due to basketball and it is not something you can take lightly. I think overall it is better that you come home and get well for this upcoming season. Welcome home!!!
I hope you write more posts soon!!!
:) 
August 28th, 2009 at 11:50 am
One of the best players in the world. Is this a joke?
Before making smart comments read some wikipedia, watch some youtube & use google.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball_Federation_of_Slovenia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_A_Slovenian_Basketball_League
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia_national_basketball_team
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=slovenian%20national%20basketball&search=Search&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&spell=1
We have long basketball tradition and very good player. We didn’t need The Machine before and we don’t need him now. Sasha played some games in Spain last week, and all he did, was camping in the corner.
But i agree, this isn’t the way to treat a player. The management (and suporting staff) of the team sux. It looks like everybody has a problem with someone in the team. I think that is the main problem in all Slovenian national teams.
August 28th, 2009 at 11:56 am
yes, Sasha, i agree with Shelly who said, “I hope you write more posts soon!!!” we love it when you talk to us! please keep in touch and let us know what’s up and how you are feeling and what you are doing! we really are interested in you!
Thanks for sharing your experience with us ~ it really does mean ALOT to hear it from you! Appreciation from us to you!!
August 28th, 2009 at 11:58 am
zdravo saša
škoda ker ne boš igral za Slovenijo, dej povej kaj je s tem Zdovcem, men se zdi da je malo kretenski!
LP iz Lj
August 28th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hi,
I see my comments initiated a lot of reaction. When I said that Slovenian’s don’t have much of basketball tradition, I didn’t mean to insult all Slovenians out there. The truth is, Slovenia doesn’t have basketball brand. Your close neighbours Serbs on the other hand, do - and in the United States we know how many gold medal Serbs have won in the past 10 years - they have simply dominated international basketball and many of our teams would afraid to play against them. Even Croatia doesn’t have international basketball brand. You can talk about Slovenian players all you want, but the truth is - these are individual players. Show us the medeals and results and people around world will give respect to Slovenian National Team, its coaches and basketball.
Right now, not only you don’t have baskteball brand - but you will never build it as after this experience, you will get hard time getting any Slovenian player in NBA to come and jump around your mountains with your semi-accomplished coaches and basketball staff.
As for my comment on Sasha being the best basketball player in the world - he is not the best in the world per se - but he is the member of the 12 people who are best in the world - they won World Championship Ring - this is why I said it.
James K
Basketball Fan with objective and non-emotional spin on situation
August 28th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Sasha if you’re real CHAMP..next year you can prove and show Zdovc he was wrong! V tretje gre rado!
August 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hello Sasha, i just wanna tell all of you something…first of all that its normal that Americans dont now where is Slovenia…they all know where is Serbia, Argentina, PuertoRico all of teams whe beat them some years ago….so if you will take in your handsa map you will see a small country near Serbia…thats Slovenia….not Croatia…:)
I must say something…i know what kind of person iz Zdovc…he is like G.Bush i think…
Zdovc is a bad coach in my opinion….his mouth is shut all the game..how is that possible? Our team have great names in a team…but we play like pussies every every championship…and we play really bad this season…we dont have any energy and speed in the game…we dont have any athletes…just couple of boys which wanna make 20 pts and thats it…
And about Sasha…this is not fair way to be out of NT….he must play those 2 games in Maribor and if he would play nice i would take him in NT….otherwise back in L.A.
But nobody will tell me that Domen Lorbek, Klobučar are beter than him…
But the bigest problem of Sasha is his mentality…i come form L.A. so i must play and be the go to guy in our team…Sasha you are not PG…so why you stole some balls from Beno and Goran to be PG…everbody know what must play….and yes you are in NBA…really i dont know how you can play in L.A…probably Kobe need someone speak with in fluent Italian…but if you play with Kobe that does not mean that you are great like he is….you are nice player..but without defence…just 3pts if you have good day….yes you are machine but this season The Machine is broke or what….
So in my opinion we have in NT SLO 5-6 better players thats for sure…Beno, Dragic, Lorbek Erazem, Smodis…you can be a joker and nothing more…
So be happy that you play in L.A. for such a big money…cause there are a lot of players which are beter than you and earn 70% worse money than you…
You are a lucky guy…keep train hard and improve yourself in next season…
Good luck
And f… the Zdovc..baldman….
August 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
honestly, that is ridiculous. the sad part about the whole story is that it happens everyday. people become to competitive and don’t care about the risks the athletes face. this is sad and more of this needs to be investigated, in regards towards any tournament and most importantly in the Olympics.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
We’re happy you’re home, Sasha!
August 28th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Focus on coming back strong this year. We need you to step up and hit some shots. Good luck and play hard!
August 28th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Tvoja izjava pove veliko o tebi. Spoštujem odločitev Zdovca in Sloveniji želim medaljo na evropskem prvenstvu. Tebi želim, da nadaljuješ uspešno kariero, predvsem pa da odrasteš. Kajti le tako boš lahko postal tudi vrhunski vodja. To pa, na tvojo žalost, nisi. Ne joči.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
“why even go to these 3rd world countries when you should be happy you got out of them in the 1st place”
LOL…LOL… Another tipically american thinking. The only place in the world worth to living in is USA. All other countries are 3rd world, naturally. And everybody want to live in the USA, becouse USA are the best. Hey, wake up!! There’s a beautifull world outside the USA too… And, if some mexicans and other latino-americans want to live in the USA and illegaly enter into your great, no, the greatest, country, this don’t mean whole world want to live there…
August 28th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Hints of Sasha behaving like a prima donna aren’t exactly anything new for Lakers fans. Since he won’t be competing with the Sloveians, maybe he can fix “the machine” to actually hit shots again. Learning how to avoid fouling players 80 feet away from the basket would be good as well. It would nice to see him earning that ridiculous contract of his instead of just wasting cap space.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Marko - many people want to live in the USA as it provides best opportunities for young people to make something out of their lives. People who have not come to USA and experienced it - can’t talk about it.
Slovenia has high unemployment rate, you have to endulge in nepotism and politics to get the most basic job. The goods manufacutered are so inferior to the rest of Europe they can mostly be sold to ex-Yugoslav republics who don’t know any better. Taxes in Slovenia are high and there is very little incentive to start your own business and build your dream.
And when official establishment no longer welcomes the most recongizable Slovenian athletes and individuals in the world - it only proves the point that everyone who can get out of that darkness should not look back.
Slovenia can be 1st world country to even more screwed up countries such as Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia that are much worse of as they are even more incompetent. But compared to the rest of developed world - “3rd world” is the approprite term.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
http://www.kosarka.si
» EP 2009
Presenetljivo težko delo proti Bolgariji
28.08.2009 - avtor: Rok Krumpak
Slovenija se je po treh težkih porazih v Sevilli vrnila domov, in se na pripravljalni tekmi v Mariboru pomerila z nam neznano Bolgarijo, 80:77. Tekma je bila napeta do zadnje minute. Ekipi se je na parketu po dolgi rehabilitaciji pridružil Matjaž Smodiš, vendar ni stopil v igro. Mariborski navijači izobesili plakat s sporočilom ”VUJAČIČ! KZS TE NOČE, MARIBOR JE VEDNO S TEBOJ!”
——————————————————————————–
Mislim, da navedno pisanje vse pove, morda bi S.Vujačić na tej tekmi v Mariboru zadel več troj ,kot jih je Lakovič…Vsekor pa je potrebno nasprotnika v 3/4 matirati in potem samo pazljivo čakati na konec tekme. Kako težko je J.Zdovec gledal Smodiša, ki ni igral te tekme, kot bi imel občutek krivde(ni še dokončno prepričan glede igranja Smodiša…).
Sam menim, da je nazadevo potrebno gledati pozitivno, končno je tudi S.Vujačič vsaj malo spoznal, kako se sedaj igra košarka doma in mislim, da če bo hotel in bil pripravljen osdelovati v ekipi za SP, bo imel vsekor priložnost. Tudi K.Bryant se ni vedno dzval povabilu v ameriško selekcijo, no končno je bil na Kitajskem, pa tudi on ni dal toliko košev, kot jih običajno daje na tekmah v NBA. Vsekor pa menim, da je bila tista zamira leta 2003 odločilna za grenek spomin(trener Subotič, Švedska). V ekipi pa ne sme biti tekmovanja, kdo je boljši organizator oz. šuter, ker je vsak igralec zgodba zase…In ker je košarka kolektivni šport, so važni vsi člani ekipe, da je klavir uglašen za tekme…
August 28th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Another lame ass excuse by Sasha. Brah, work on your game. Your embarrassing us Laker fans with your lame excuses everytime when its your game that needs work not your knee. Cut the hair stop crying and get in the gym like Kobe and the rest of the Lakers for crying out loud. Stop with all the patethic excuses.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Lep pozdrav Saša, če seveda sploh bereš napisano!
Marsikaj je bilo napisanega tukaj. Od tega, da Slovenija nima košarkarske tradicije, da se ti dela krivica…itd.
Dejstvo je, da je velika razlika med NBA in evropsko košarko. Med rednim delom lige si igral dobro, dal velikjo točk, imel veliko minutažo. Žal ti v končnici lastni trener ni zaupa. Torej so bile tvoje kvalitete tudi njemu vprašljive in ti očitno ni zaupal prevelike vloge na poti do naslova.
Zakaj bi ti potem moral zaupati selektor Zdovc oz. strokovni štab. Da ne bo pomote, selektor pri meni ne uživa prevelikih simpatij. Dejstvo je tudi, da na sestavo ekipe vpliva precej več ljudi kot samo selektor. Gotovo je precej košarkarjev precej sposobnejših od Domna Lorbka in Jake Klobučarja, ki pri Zdovcu igrata precej, zaslužita si pa precej manj. Predvsem D. Lorbek, ki je verjetno vverjetno zaradi priimka in ne zaradi kvalitet.
Ozadja mi ne poznamo, zato lahko le špekuliramo in verjamemo tej ali oni strani.
Dejstvo je tudi, da si prejšnja povabila odklanjal. Si se bal kvalitete? Bi rekel da ja.
No, vseeno veliko sreče v NBA, veliko uspešnih prenešenih žog v napad in čakanja v kotu, da se te kdo usmili.
V reprezentanci si seveda dobrodošel, vedar z drugačnim odnosom in predvsem večjo prizemljenostjo.
LP
August 28th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Well, this clears up a lot of things. Thanks Sasha for making such a bold post, which finally gave us the truth. We’re glad to have you back in LA and hopefully healthy for the NBA season. Hope you prove everyone wrong.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Wow! That suks. Your own country not wanting you is something hard to take in. It seems that your Slovenian team didn’t accept you from the gegko. They kept making false accustions about your injury, they didn’t even care. It’s not worth trying to convince someone to take you serious when they don’t care about you. The only way I see them taking you back is if you shine in this 09-10 season with the Lakers.
After all, the Lakers is what gives you cash!
August 28th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I wish Sassy would just concentrate on helping the Lakers. I was disapointed in his performance last year and would like to see him get back on track. Please stop telling stories and hit the gym. We all would like to see some progress.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Janez- I was in the USA many times, so maybe I know what I’m talking about.. I could wrote here a tractate of what in the USA don’t work, like you did. And the list will be quite long, probably longer than your about what don’t work in Slovenija. Yes, there are things that don’t work here, sure, there’s no ideal country in the world. But, a lot of people here in Slovenia are not crybabies and they are facing the situation and fight for improving things and not just “move to the promised land”, or escape, if you like it better. You don’t like something here? Good, then try to improve it and not just cry.
OK, let’s talk about basketball again. Saša is playing in LA Lakers. Fine, good for him. He’s a good player. But. His character is not the easiest. We all know this. He want to play a primadona. He want to be the leader. But, he’s not. You can’t play in a NT for the first time and be a leader. Even if you play for the LA Lakers, I suppose. He talk about unreasonably excessive training. Come on!! So, coach should make a special training routine just for him? Yes, if you are injured, and the team just can’t play without you becouse you are a real leader, this will probably be the right decision. But, he’s not anything of this. So, he was put on the normal routine, like all other players. If you can’t make it, go home, you cant play with us. Fair enough?
August 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
This a bit off topic but anyway why you or anyone else deleted my post here. Maybe because is it too real what I wrote?
Anyway I think Sasha you are the best and never don’t give up. Slovenia must first come from former system
August 28th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I really don’t understand what all you @&# Euro’s are upset about. Are you upset us Americans call your country 3rd world? Well, that’s the truth, and boy does it hurt!
So even with or without Sasha, your country (whatever it’s called today) doesn’t stand a chance against the powerhouses of the world….and yes USA is one of them.
Keep talking trash about us Americans all you want, but when you morons get into political trouble, don’t call us. Forget about basketball anyways, keep playing your 0-0 futbol games that nobody cares about, while dropping to the floor in agonizing pain everytime a gust of wind blows by you.
Damn Euros!!
August 28th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I will never understand why Americans think if you won NBA championship, that you are WORLD CHAMPION - never happen. You never played against teams from other parts of the world, so you can’t proclaim yourself for World Championship. You are NBA champ, you are meybe USA champ, and you are meybe North Americans champ, but defently not World champ. Logical!
Jay, don’t worry, we won’t call USA for help, we are members of NATO, and also until 1991 we used to be communists - so we can take care of our selfs - we don’t need self-preclaimd leaders of “free” world - yeah, and we don’t have oil, so i think we are safe.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
HEJ JAY IN LA!
STAY in LA…:)dont be such a redneck…we (the 3rd world countries) know how to care of ourselves and we do not need some american chickenheads to help us (like you do with others-successfuly??)hehe. Saša upam, da te to ni preveč potrlo, verjemi še kako te bodo rabli. Slaba pripravljenost reprezentance se kaze ze zdaj!LP
August 28th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Hey!
I’ll just say one thing; we’ll be booing out Zdovc on Sunday in Maribor! Saša hopefully you’ll reconsider your decision, if they call you back sometime in the next few years (we’d love to see you play in Maribor! :D). Have a great season, hopefully without any injuries.
Uživaj in lep pozdrav s Štajerske!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hey Sasha, that coach and team is JEALOUS of you man! They refused to give you treatment because they don’t want you to succeed. I am sorry you cannot play for your country, but to tell you the truth, that coach didn’t like you from the get go. I am glad you will be coming back to LA and getting ready for the repeat. I cannot wait to see you become the machine next year again. please dont miss those open 3s again….!
August 28th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I’m from Slovenija and in my country
Number one is Sasa
number 2 is other man
number 3 is horse
number 4 is dog
number 5 is whore
number 6 is woman
then you have zdovc
August 28th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
OK, so some of the comments by American fans were less than knowledgeable about European basketball. What bothers me is the vicious, inappropriate responses by a number of those of you from Europe. And they call us ugly Americans?
I appreciate that there are many sides of every story. I’m a fan of the Laker’s and enjoy watching Sasha. I can’t know the intangibles of what went on, but I have the class NOT to swear and attack other people’s posts. Thank you to those who had class in their response, on both sides. I’m disappointed to see the lack of sportsmanship and the childish anger from some “proud” slovenians in these comments.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Slovenia 3rd world country, haha, that is a good joke, common fellow americans, I guess you have never been to Slovenia or to central Europe (Austria, Italia, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany) before… Slovenia is part of Eu and NATO and is one of the richest countries in the world, take a look at your neighbours like Mexico and central America and then talk about 3rd world :).
Some of you have really been brainwashed with the media and politicians calling americans the greatest nation in the world (remember what Hitler used to say for Germans before 2 world war), I suggest you start traveling, you will be surprised…
August 28th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Who really cares about the Slovenian team anyway? I mean seriously, obviously the NBA and the Lakers are 10,000 leagues more important. Rest up and be ready to play for the nba season…thats all that matters.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Wow Sasha so sad to hear what happened!! That isn’t fair!!! How could they let you stay in pain like that!! Doesn’t seem right?? So sorry things didn’t work out for you, but now you are back here with the Lakers where you belong. Hoping you get the rest and theropy for the knee that you need. Glad you found a doctor on your own there but it isn’t right that it had to come to that!! Wow they were lucky to have you on the team and to not treat you right was awful!! There LOSS !! well you are back with your loved ones now (Us fans, your Mom and family, and Kobe and the Lakers) and we will NEVER let your injury get that bad here!!! I am sure you will be fine for the new basketball season to begin!!! My prayers are with you!! God bless you and please relax and rest and know you are home among us that love and are looking out for you!!!! Love you lots Sasha!!!! <3 Oh yeah it was SO cool reading a post that you actually wrote!! Please post again, we would all love that!!! <3
August 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
It’s sad how these boards always devolve into some kind in international pissing match.
Slovenians, anyone with a drop of knowledge about international basketball knows that Yugoslavia, and, by association, Slovenia, has a longstanding and proud basketball history (e.g. - multiple FIBA and Euro championships). Anyone with a drop of knowledge about geography knows that Slovenia is NOT a 3rd world country (i.e. - it shares a border with Italy and Austria, has the world’s 25th highest per capita GDP - ahead of countries like New Zealand and Portugal, is a NATO and EU member), but that Slovenia is, in fact, an incredibly beautiful country. So rather insulting all Americans who are inaccurately represtented by an ignorant few, wouldn’t it just be better to ignore the ignorant altogether?
August 28th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I find it quite comical that people think that Americans are unable to find Europe on a map and they are vastly uneducated, now THAT is ignorance!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
ALLIANCE
you are a @#$%$#!
first of all nesterovic is as mobile as a statue…and you, a slovenian, really talking s**tabout usa basketball????
no european should even talk about basketball with americans
USA is and always has been the best
people around the world watch nba because of MJ, magic, shaq, kobe, lbj, kidd, pippen, rodman, etc, etc
nobody else watches european basketball, because is BORING!!!!
go ahead if you and @#$#@# watchin 10 white guys shooting 3s and making layups… ahah what a loser!
usa teams sometimes lose only because they do not care about national team, they onlycare about nba
and the few times those teams really play seriously there is no game
u are a freaking snob, u think Slovenians are better than americans, but u are just a joke
most americans do not even know where is europe?
i wonder why from all around the world people come to study in USA university
i dont think many foreigners come to study in slovenia…? uh? IDIOT!
grow up
and stop hating u @#$#@!
———–
Ever heard of Nesterovic, you f*ck. And the tradition, do you really think USA is the one and only thing on this planet?!? Losers. If it wasn’t for Christopher Columbus, you would still be hunting living in tents (which actually is almost true even in 2009, trailer trash…)
Secondly, a LAL member comes to the national team and the second day of training running on grass is for him excesive and too much?!? So I presume in LAL they do not train at all? Sell this to somebody else, for instance to the 3/4 of the USA population, who even do not know to point Europe on the map, but otherwise they know everything about everything.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I will not bash the country of Slovenia because I know that Sasha’s heart is there and I would not do anything to offend him, but it is their loss and our gain. He may not play on their team which would definitely help them, but he will be on our Lakers which will help us win more championships! God Bless and good luck this next season Sasha!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
@alliance
shut your piehole. everyone knows that slovenian basketball is a joke. USA! USA! USA!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Forget it! The communist country will not change as you wish. Good luck the next season. Be happy as a Laker!
August 28th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
That Is So Messed Up Of Them, Oh Well They Lost A Great Player In Their Team.
They Will Learn To Appreciate Good Talent.
Anyways Sasha I Hope Your Feeling Much Better and Ready For The Next Season…
We LOVE YOU!!!:D
August 28th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I am deeply saddened about Sasha’s departure from his homeland’s national team. I have been very interested in the progress of all the European Lakers who are spending their vacations preparing for the European championships. I have watched Sasha grow as a player each year he has played for the Lakers. I have witnessed his passion to win. I have admired his desire to perform well. This year was not Sasha’s best season as far as statistics. But he will soon receive what very few players acquire. The “Machine” will receive a well deserved NBA World Championship ring.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Now I know that Sasha had a poor season followed by a horific playoffs but as a basketball when he plays well he is an asset to a talented Laker team. I as far as all these European posts saying that the USA dosent have better basketball are dilusional the Laker team would abolish any European team. Players from all over the world play in the NBA for a reason Europe does have plenty of quality ball players but cannot compete with the US on the same level just look what happened when the US actually sent players like KOBE , WADE, And MElO to JAmes the US killed all competeion to capture the Gold medal . And the Laker team would destroy any European Team national or not.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:15 am
fun to read the comments!
the truth is sasha v. is a very marginal player for the Lakers, and “The Machine” is almost a joke name. It’s more entertaining to watch Sasha kiss Kobe’s bottom than to watch him make poor choices on shots and touch and adjust his “man band/hair band” constantly to keep his hair perfect. Fans of other NBA teams fear the possibility that the Lakers will finally dump The Machine’s broken parts onto some other team in a trade .
Slovenia’s team is no joke, and they had no time for a prima donna who had a terrible year for the championship Lakers and was playing poorly and selfishly for the Slovenian team.
I notice Primoz Brezec is being mentioned here, and there’s another over rated player who is only in the NBA because he is tall. Beno Udrih was f good on the Spurs, but didn’t exactly make the Sacramento Kings any better, did he?
August 29th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Sasha - while you may not be the best player in the world, you are by far not the person to be treated as some adolescent newcomer (as Marko Milic nicely put), so the next time I see our national coach I’ll show him two fingers (stereo :-))
Don’t give up on our national team - we’ll get the money together and get Zeljko Obradovic to take us to the next Olympics and you can show your potencial there. Because the real problem with us is the coaching staff, not the players.
As for all the posts about Slovenia being the underdog and a country noone has ever heard about - all you idiots should go back to school and learn something other than the american anthem. The world is not flat and we’ll kick your asses in the next olympics - with Sasha scoring the last second shot for three.
If you would take five minutes and google our country and its sports acheevments you’d be surprised in how many sports we kick your 250 million dumb fat asses.
Go Machine!
August 29th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Yo Sasha! BIG ups to you for realizing what was best for your health and long term career in the NBA. No need to risk further injury that could jeopardize you and your family’s livelihood.
I know you’re heartbroken about not being able to play for your country, but hell man, you should be commended for doing the right thing for your body — and yeah I’m going to be greedy here — but you also did the right thing for your HOMEBOYS HERE IN LOS ANGELES!!
Thanks Sasha, stay healthy, and be ready to knock down some 3s for us on our quest for a REPEAT!!!!!!!
And Ignore all the Euro/USA bashing comments… There’s a LOT of kids out there who shouldn’t have internet access, lol.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Hei SAŠA
ŽAL MI JE DA SI SE POŠKODOVAL IN DA NE MOREŠ IGRAT ZA NAŠO REPREZENTANCO
IN TUDI UPAM D SE TI NISMO ZAMIRL IN DA PRIDEŠ ŠE KDAI U SLOVENIJO
KER SI EDEN OD TISTIH IGRALCEV KI SO NAM ZELO PRI SRCU. IN UPAN DA SE TI KOLENO
POZDRAVI, DA BOŠ IMEL USPEŠNO SEZONO PRI LAKERSIH IN DA TE SPET KMALU VIDIM U SLOVENSKEM DRESU
LEP POZDRAV IZ DOLENJSKE
August 29th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Saša, kako so lahko priprave pretežke za igralca iz NBA ? Mogoče si si pa vse skupaj narobe predstavljal. Tudi v Evropi se igra dobra košarka, in razlika med NBA in Evropo ni več takšna kot je bila včasih. Ne da se le priti iz NBA in biti zvezda.
Ne vem zakaj se Beno Udrih ne pritožuje, ali pa Goran Dragič ?
Upal sem da boš še tisti zadnji kamenček v mozaiku,pa se je videlo na turnirju v Španiji, da si vse skupaj vzel preveč za zabavo…
Škoda, upam da si se iz tega kaj naučil, pa da boš v prihodnost tisti kamenček v mozaiku naše reprezentance.
Srečno v Lakersih, pa se vidimo v Sloveniji.
August 29th, 2009 at 5:21 am
you americans are all dumb, he s lying like a liar he is, pain in his knees my ass, he just doesnt want to give a proper effort for the team, how come others dont complain about ‘unreasonably excessive’ training? hes just making things up so he doesnt look bad in your american eyes while everyone in slovenia knows he’s pathethic.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Bottom line, any player on a championship team roster is among the best players in the world. Solvenia would have been better with him. With or without Sasha, the team isn’t going to do a damn thing at the World Championships, so why is this discussion even relevant? Sasha is a good shooter, but he isn’t going to make the difference between Slovenia finishing in the bottom half and winning it all. Oh, and to the idiot that said that if Columbus wouldn’t have discovered our country, that we would be living in tents…what the hell are you talking about? If it weren’t for our country, the majority of what now comprises the EU would be speaking German and hailing the Nazis. You’re welcome.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Sasha,thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
Forget the bothersome things and continue enjoying your summer vacation~
Good luck the next season.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:04 am
You reaally think you Americans are the greatest in every sport??hahahhahaha….you rock in brainwashing!:))
August 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Hi, all I want to say is that was not fare at all,all this time since you have been playing for the lakers I always wondered why you didnt play for our national team.When i heard that you decided to play I was very pleased to finely see you with other players on the court. But i had my presumption that it cant go that well with Jure Zdovc, since he had allerady dissmised one of the best slovenian players Marko milič, and I´m afraid he has done that to you to.I hope that wont change your passion and desire of playing for slovenia, we all know you can make a huge contribution to our team. I wish you will come again when Zovc won´t be our coach any more.
Keep up the good work, slovenia is cheering for you.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I must say I am disapointed of how many people have such meaningles prejudices in all these comments, and all that because of some countrys basketball decisions. No respect for other human beings whatsoever, only primitive human pride. It shows how primitive most of you are as a human species.
I love the nba, not because of its glamour, but because of the talent and heart being displayed. Some games are really fun to watch.
Sasha you know what you have to do. This upcoming season has to be the best season of your life so far. It`s the only way to shut your critics up and show the world you can play. Just a small advice: you could try and dribble with the basketball a bit on the court and maybe even pass it when you slash to the cup, not just shoot it every time you touch the ball. You have one of the greatest players of all time to learn from in your midst(Kobe). And stop sucking up to him, it`s annoying. That`s how I see it. But I also know it is hard to play garbage time minutes and show everything you can within that time on the court.
What has happened in Slovenia is a shame. I wanted to see you play to see if you are made from the right material. To see if you can lead Slovenia to some greater things in their basketball future. Unfortunately, they don`t want you to play for them this year, this championship. But I must say it is partly your fault. All this hype around you has probably gotten in your head. You could practice some modesty from time to time. Your couch is a man who knows this things, you should ask him for some guidance in your life and in your basketball career. Take advantage of the time you are still enjoying his presence there. I am talking about Phil Jackson. I wish you all the best, show me you deserve your self proclaimed nickname.
Greetings from Slovenia
August 29th, 2009 at 9:43 am
stop crying dude ,,, how old are you 16,,,,, you are not that good anyways,,,, i really thought you are becomeing a good player by the end of 07/08 season,,,, but that was just your way of cashing in,,,,, i hope the lakers will trade you for a 3 point shooter that you never were,,,,,c u in grizzles or bobcat uniform next year
August 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
no matter how difficult situation you will face, we will always support u! Sasha,through it out, we believe you will fight back in the new season!,best wishes!
August 29th, 2009 at 11:58 am
When I was a figure skater, my quasi Russian coaches thought it would be a good idea to wrap my knees in olive oil AND onions…needless to say it did not do me any good.
I watched a few of the exhibition games, and wrote about the matchup against Spain. It’s a shame he won’t be playing for the national team as this was something he was clearly looking forward to but we must look onward.
The important thing is for Sasha to get healthy, and make training camp as he missed it last year.
You have our full support hun!
August 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Sasha, I appreciate that you made this statement to help us (your fams) understand what really happened. As a true fan of yours, my heart felt sad and angry as well with the news. I am so sorry that you endured that treatment. Your health should had been addressed as a top priority and I think that coming from a professional environment here in Los Angeles, your expectations were not met. It sounds as if unprofessionalism has been a problem in the past but they told you what you wanted to hear to get you out there. You are not just another dime a dozen player from Slovenia and I think they wanted to treat you as if you were because they didn’t want the rest of the team to think you were receiving preferential treatment. What they failed to realize it that politics SHOULD NOT have played a role in your well-being. I truly hope you get 100% better from your knee, I know what it’s like to have pain in your knee and when you are hurt, running on grass with even the best shoes can create further damage the way it happened to me. Sasha, you are loved and appreciated by your fans, we support you 100%. Just promise us that you will always try your best because we want you in LA for a VERY long time! Your return is bittersweet - We wanted you back, but we know it must have been devastating to have to return under those circumstances. Maybe one day things will be different and you can actually sit back and enjoy basketball the way you use to. Without all the drama, without all the politics - Just good old basketball that you love to play. Keep the fundamentals in your heart and everything else will fall into place.
- Best Wishes,
Jennie
August 29th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I’m pretty sure Dr. Buss paid a little extra to the Slovenian Coach to hopefully get Sasa a career ending injury. This would be an easy way to get his overpaid, broken ass off the squad and have Lloyd’s of London fit the bill. Now if only Luke Walton had a national team out there that wanted him!
Now to the Eurotrash posting on this worthless little site:
Yes, your great Slovenian tradition is without question. How many Euro championships has your sorry little slice of former Yugoslavia won? I honestly don’t know and couldn’t care. There’s a reason your best players come to the NBA. It’s where the real glory, not to mention the money is.
It’s real easy to be brave online , but just remember, you’d still be getting your sorry a$$es blown up by a genocidal madman if it weren’t for the good old USA. Now shut your sorry eurotrash pieholes.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
for americans: about slovenian basketball, its tradition and players…
We have many outstanding players… Ever heard of Nesterovič(nba champ with san antonio, now in toronto)? Smodiš(captain of CSKA Moscow and Slovenian national team,one of the best european teams, 3x euroleague champion)? sani bečirovič(mvp in regular part of last euroleague season)? Erazem lorbek (one of the best players on centre position in europe)? jaka lakovič(imporatant part of barcelona team)? marko milič(used to be one of main men in every european team he played in,also played in nba)? ivo daneu(basketball hall of fame, 1x gold, 2x silver@world championships,3x silver,1x bronze@ euro championships, silver in olympics, best yugoslavian sportsman award),jure zdovc(now coach of slo team, one of the main men of yugoslav basketball team, won world and european championship, euroleague champion with limoges,silver medal at ‘88 olympics), peter vilfan(world champion with yugoslav team)… have you heard about beno udrih(NBA Rookie of the month award,nba champ with san antonio), boštjan nachbar (played for houston, new orleans, new jersey in NBA, dynamo moscow in europe)… primož brezec(returning to nba), goran dragić(phoenix suns), and we also have sasha vujacic… next season i think we’ll have 6 players in nba and many playersin top european clubs…
slovenian team(from yugoslavian school of basketball, same as serbia(remember wc 1998, 2002?) and croatia(remember olympics ‘92?)) is one of the best in europe at the time (btw slovenia has only 2 million citizens), and you should remember that last 3 basketball wc’s were won by european teams! and by the way, yugoslavian team(before collapse) won the same number of wc’s as usa and ussr (and two after collapse)… and slovenian clubs (mainly olimpija,but also krka and laško also have a long tradition of playing in euroleague(so, only 2 million people and we had 3 clubs among the best in europe, which U.S. 2 million people community has 3 clubs on very high level?). so don’t even think about saying again that we don’t have basketball tradition or good players!
and remember, every story has two sides,i don’t know the truth, nor are you! so please don’t accuse enyone! and if you’ll have the chance, watch slovenian team on forthcoming european championship!
best wishes to saša and all the readers of this forum!
August 29th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Sasha,
Sad situation…too bad your home town could not watch you play. Now it is time to man-up and work on your fitness in the gym, the beach, and on the practice court. You got Artest on your squad now..if you can score on him in practice or even 1 on 1 then you might be ready for the season. You should pattern your game after Steve Kerr or John Paxton (get a haircut)…you must be automatic when the ball is swung to you for that open jumper! Otherwise this might be your last year as a Laker. Derek Fisher does not have many years left…if you step up your game you could fill a void. Tell your back court buddy Jordan F to get with the program as well. Los Angeles does not have a NFL team and counts on the Lakers to fill that void.
Just win baby…we need a 4peat!
August 29th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Maybe you can get you best friend Kobe Bryant to yell at the Slovenian coach that the team without the Machine is no team at all.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
All you Slovenian fools that can’t back your country men!!!
OK, sounds like Sasha was acting a little diva-ish, if that is a word. I would also be willing to bet that the other national team players resented him a little because they are not in the NBA and likely think they are better than Sasha as the 7 points in 3 games talk I am hearing confirms.
Sasha plays with the hardest working player in the WORLD named Kobe (might have heard of him in your 3rd world country) so do you think he can’t handle some work? Have enough respect for your country men that if they say they are hurting then they are hurting and let them get right. I am an American and have lived in Germany for 4 years as a civilian and traveled everywhere. I had torn cartlidge in my LT inner meniscus and the doctor suggested reconstructive knee surgery…lol for cartlidge, what a joke… so your 3rd world medical treatment is a joke (cause I know German doctors are better than Slovenian, without a doubt!!!) and you want to penalize Sasha for looking out for himself and his Laker contract?
Fools get a grip. Ohh and if these other Slovania players are so good, why not come to America and play against the best? NBA reserves go to Europe to be stars, NBA “has beens” go to Europe when they can’t play anywhere else, guys that can not cut it in the NBA play in Europe and thrive. Why is that, is that cause there are no Slovenian national team members available???
7 points in 3 games??? If Sasha wanted to shoot everytime he touches the ball (like in LA..lol) that would tell me more. A guy willing to try and achieve his national teams goals by not over shooting also says something don’t you think?
All you Euro trash think the Ugly American is the issue… OK, look at yourselves first, quit in-fighting and imbreeding and maybe you will not be so abscure and can actually contribute to the WORLD rather than be a burden.
Ohh and if America is so bad, quit copying us, quit buying our products, watching our TV shows and movies, and quit wanting to be like the West.
B
August 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
WOW.
In the words of Bill Hicks “F#@K EM.”
You’re in LA now. Go to In-N-Out/Petro’s & get ready for the season.
;]
<333
August 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
B Says:
August 29th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
“All you Slovenian fools that can’t back your country men!!!”
We back 15 country men instead of one…
“I would also be willing to bet that the other national team players resented him a little because they are not in the NBA and likely think they are better than Sasha as the 7 points in 3 games talk I am hearing confirms.”
You would have lost that bet, Sasha didn’t really have any problems with team mates or vice versa.
“Sasha plays with the hardest working player in the WORLD named Kobe (might have heard of him in your 3rd world country)”
3rd world country but still have better health insurance than you, matey.
“I had torn cartlidge”
You have torn many other things… above shoulders.
“Fools get a grip. Ohh and if these other Slovania players are so good, why not come to America and play against the best?”
Slovenian national team is actually 75% NBA-ish and apart from 2 players the rest have either playerd in NBA or refused to sign (Lakovic and Smodis are both MVP players, but they have refused offers from NBA) in NBA. Why? Because they want to play some real basketball and they get more money in Europe.
“7 points in 3 games??? If Sasha wanted to shoot everytime he touches the ball (like in LA..lol) that would tell me more. A guy willing to try and achieve his national teams goals by not over shooting also says something don’t you think?”
Oh, yeah. And 7 points in 52 shots tells you that Sasha wanted to score a lot, but he chose not to, because he didn’t want his teammates to feel bad about his superiority.
“All you Euro trash think the Ugly American is the issue”
Euro trash is an oxymoron. Now about Americans… prejudices aside, you present your nation in a very bad light, unless you are 7 years old.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Ljubim Te, Sasha <3 <3 <3
August 29th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
i don’t care about the european competition nor about national pride and all that jazz…
sasha, please allow me to advise you…
if you can’t hit beyond the arc this upcoming season with your Lakers,
Mitch will seriously toast you… and so will your Lakers’ fans!
that’s when you’ll feel the real “sharp” pain!
please work on the mental focus on your game,
let this letdown be your motivation to regain your shooting touch!
August 29th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Time to get back to work. We know what you can do. I think your best is yet to come. last year you showed scrappy defense. 2008 it was a great perimeter threat. Put it together, hit the weights and focus on being your best. There is work to do and improvements to make. I want to watch you succeed and excel. I truly believe you will. Hey, take it to the iron once and awhile! Attitude!!! You’ve got some great mentors. Good luck Sasha.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Come on, this is an obvious collision of two big egos. Who will take the short one? The player, of course! It is unfortunate, and yes, it is unfair. However, if we chose a coach we have to trust him. The bills will be settled after the war (EC2009), not sooner. So until then, shut up and cheer for our country! And if you are not able to cheer for us because of personal reasons, what does that tell about you?
And the same goes for Sasha. He should tell his side of the story, but he should wait until the EC is over.
That’s it.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:02 am
“My heart has such pride for my country, and to be told by the National Team that I could not play for them really hurt me.”
:), well, where were you for the past few years, when you were invited and you did’t come.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:41 am
Ahhhhhh… All this will be funny if it wasn’t so sad… We live in a different countries. And this is OK. The problem is, why everybody want to convince the other side “our way is the best”?? There’s no “the best” way. Everybody live by their tradition and by their choice. This is natural. And this is OK also. We live in a somehow complicated world. We, Slovenians, are a small country. Sure we are, we are just 2 M. So, what should we do? Should we merge with some other, biggest country? We tried this, and it didn’t worked… And yes, we are somehow sensitive and delicate when somebody want to bash us. Is this so hard to understand?
“Ohh and if America is so bad, quit copying us, quit buying our products, watching our TV shows and movies, and quit wanting to be like the West.” Do we really have a choice? Can we really choose all this??
OK, why we don’t talk a little about what this site should be? Basketball, I mean… And without bashing each other again…
August 30th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Well Sasha, sorry about your national team experience, but we’re glad you’re back in LA ready to become The Machine again - the Lakers need The Machine. Good luck. Go Lakers!!!
August 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Hey,
Look, I don’t know how your coach and federation treated you, because I wasn’t there, but I do know you played pretty bad in the game against Spain, and your team mates Jaka Lakovic and Goran Dragic were way better. Your coach probably knows better than you what’s best for the team, and if he thinks there’s no place for you and they will be better off without you, you should just accept it and work harder next time. If you really care about your country, just support them now and maybe your opportunity will come.
Good luck.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Gh, good comment… I know a lot of americans and they are very friendly people, I do not know where all this ignorant and arrogant ones come from on some forums… I guess we should ignore them and let them live in the fantasy world in their heads. I mean this Vujacic statement has nothing to do with USA and they come insulting Slovenia a 3rd world country and they dont know a thing about Slovenia…
Good day to all non arrogant people
August 30th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’m getting sick of these Yugoslavians talking smack! Listen, your country is 3rd world (borderline 4th world), it’snear all the good countries like Spain, France, England….which makes Slovania nothing more than a suburb.
Look, we’re glad you brought the USA Sasha (you should be very proud of yourselves). You also brought us Vlade Divac, who introduced the NBA to what is today called “flopping”.
Please do us a favor, start sending us over Dirk Nowitski type players instead of bums.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Sasha,
As an American, I appreciate your perspective and thank you for sharing your point of view. However, your writeup does not share any perspective of accountability on your part. There are always two sides to a story and I hope that you are earnestly seeking the other viewpoint to keep an objective view. It’s too easy to get into an illusion that your opinion is the only one that counts, and gives the impression that one is just making excuses. The comment about your excitement to play in front of your hometown is understandable, but did you really want to win the championship or were you distracted by being a local celebrity?
This is a wake up call. To be dismissed from your national team is embarrassing. I hope that you use it to channel positive energy to “show them” what you are made of. The 2008-2009 season was also a disappointment from your performance as a Laker. But you have the chance to eliminate the nay-sayers and get back to playing the game as you did in 2007. Show ‘em they made a mistake through your play, not your words. Work that D, and get your shot back where you’re a true ‘Machine’ again!
I’m pulling for you…..
Lakers’ Fan
August 30th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
well, well, well…BORAT was sooo right! And I see it’s even worse
August 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
We just demolished the Greeks in a friendly for 17 points. Go Slovenia
August 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I know about the politics, sports and injuries all to well. I know first hand that its not an excuse. I had to stop playing all together because of my injuries that still plague me to this day. Between futbol (soccer), and softball. Sasha I’ve got your back! I hope you recieve the treatment that is needed to further your career. Let’s go Lakers! oh I Love L. A.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Wow, I came back to read some of the comments here and it’s amazing just how many predjudice and judgemental people there are. I am embarrassed for you all and sincerely hope that Sasha will not read this and think these are the type of people that are interested in him. Well Sasha, at least there are some intelligent people here, just focus on that!
Also someone wrote a comment about Sasha making excuses because why is it that “other” players did not have a problem with training?
1) What makes you so sure they don’t? Maybe they are foolish or sadly desperate enough to tolerate it. It happens in the NFL all the time as well. No one wants to admit they are injured. And no one wants to risk their carreer. Fortunately, Sasha is not one of those people and has something to fall back on - The Lakers!
2) Do you not realize that when you have had a specific type of training for many years, your body becomes adjusted to that routine? To jump into a new type of training without it being gradual, is sure to cause your body harm no matter how athletic you are. Sasha’s body has adapted to a different type of training for years. He cannot be expected to miraculously endure certain forces, it’s just common logic. It had no bearing on his actual strength or physical capacity. It’s about being trained properly, nothing more, nothing less. He was wise to pull the reigns when he did. And if that led to the end of his opportunity to play in Slovenia, then that could only mean one thing. An unethical decision was made.
Sasha, you are an extremely bright person. I can tell by the way you elaborate your thoughts and actions. That is why I’m sure you’ll know just how to look past all the thoughtless remarks.
Have a great career,
Jennie
August 30th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I don’t understand the people that are saying we are hearing only one side of the story. Everyone’s story was coming out except for Sasha’s. Many unflattering articles were coming out in the press including the “Saša želel biti prva violina, ne le član orkestra” article which came out on August 26th. I think it is only fair that we can hear Sasha’s side too. Even, though we are not in the public eye, wouldn’t you want to do the same?
August 31st, 2009 at 4:57 am
”Jay in LA Says:
I’m getting sick of these Yugoslavians talking smack! Listen, your country is 3rd world (borderline 4th world), it’snear all the good countries like Spain, France, England….which makes Slovania nothing more than a suburb.
Look, we’re glad you brought the USA Sasha (you should be very proud of yourselves). You also brought us Vlade Divac, who introduced the NBA to what is today called “flopping”. ”
…that, my friend, is totally retarded. u might consider finishing primary school before trying to be clever
August 31st, 2009 at 9:02 am
Jay in LA, what the hell is the problem with you.
Yugoslavia does not exist for 20 years, Slovania as a country does not exist… Good countries as Spain, France, England, that is the funniest thing that I ever heard in my life, what is a “good” country?hehe Maybe a country that you heard about? And about 3rd world issue, Slovenia is one of the most developed countries in the world, if you are looking for 3rd world dont look in Europe, but rather look at your neighbour countries (Central America) or maybe at your ghetos where people are living in tents and trailers, we dont have such neighbourhoods in Europe. And btw. our social care for people is waaaaay above that one in USA…but…why do I even talk to you, I actually dont care what you think, I just reacted to arrogance and ignorance, that really annoys me…
Sasha I hope you read some of these statements and realize how ignorant and selfcentered some of your fans are and return to Europe and play in Euroleague, you can earn more money here I think, at least if one of the better teams takes you, but it is going to be hard, you have to show more on the court to sign for CSKA, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Real, Tau or Barcelona for example.
Greetings from EU!
August 31st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Sasha - if you’re hurt then don’t play. Recover, rest , regain your strength for the NBA.
Sasha - if they don’t want you then focus your attention on winning another NBA title.
Sasha - You are on one of the best B-Teams in the world. You’re playing in the N.B.A - a lot of your country men can’t play in the NBA.
Sasha - turn you emotions in to fuel - leave no doubt that you should have been on that team - win another NBA Title.
Here’ my opinion: If you a NBA player under contract - don’t risk getting hurt for Pride sake. If you get hurt you hurt more than yourself you hurt a city that’s buying $$$ to see you compete in the NBA.
SASHA welcome back!
August 31st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Wow! There are many American haters out there! All I’d like to comment on is that every NBA player should be considered the best. They come from all parts of the world. It sounds to me that there is a lot of jealousy. There are many great players around the world, but only the best play in the NBA. GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I HOPE YOUR LEG GETS BETTER SASHA. GET READY FOR 2009-10 NBA SEASON.
XOXOXOX
August 31st, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Two of the things that annoy me the most:
1. Americans who beleive the US is the place to be and bash everything else
2. Slovenians who feel offended when someone hasn’t heard about our tiny country and then start wyning about all the beautiful things about it
To reply Shelly, this is one side of the story. The other side was very short without big explanations. I am sure we will receive more after EC in Poland. Then I will maybe be able to judge what happened. But in any case, this wyning and crying way of telling the world what went on is sick. Be a man and take it properly. And as some of you said - Saša, concentrate on your game, the way you play lately is clearly far below your abilities.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:52 am
I can understand why Zdovc can’t say much for his position in Slovenia right now, however Sasha is different in that he not only has to face Slovenia, but also the entire world. That is why I agree he must tell his side now.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:39 am
Just for the record I am presenting the doctors side of the “Vujacic tragedy”.
It’s a translation so take it as you will.
—
We were deeply hurt by his attack so I want to present our side of the story. Sasha first commented that the training regime used by conditioning coach was excessively harsh.
Sasha practiced with his team mates only the first day when basketball staff also joined in for the run. At 61 years old and not running often I suffered no ill effects of the run. How can such training be dangerous to a healthy professional athlete when all others had no problems with training.
When Sasha reported knee pain the next day (when preparing to leave for China) I was sure it was because of an existing injury.
That was confirmed by our doctor that performed an MRI after Sasha came back from China.
Sasha did not go through testing before training camp because he was late for it. He also never mentioned he has any problems till after first day of training camp.
Doctors suggested pain killers, anti inflammatory pills, laser therapy and massage. He irresponsibly avoided those treatments so I notified the head coach about it.
I highly suspect he didn’t take any pills since he always had an excuse for not having them with him. He also avoided therapies for the knee saying he’ll start tomorrow.
National Team director brought him to a therapy once but Sasha refused to undergo a laser therapy.
This is also where that famous oil comes in. It was not a remedy but simply an ointment used during massage. As far as I know “dry” massages isn’t really the norm.
—
If half of this is true I must say I am glad Sasha is not in the team no matter how good he was.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:04 am
Comment from Slovenian team doctor… (translate in english if you want to read it, google translate does it ok, for understanding the facts..)
Njegov napad je bil tako grob, da nas je vse zelo prizadel. Zato je prav, da sem po treh dneh le dobil priložnost predstaviti našo plat. Če začnemo pri tem, da je bil program kondicijskega trenerja Jadranka Nikolića ‘nerazumno oster in nevaren’. Vujačič je s soigralci vadil le prvi dan priprav na Rogli, ko smo se fantom pri teku pridružili tudi člani spremstva. Celo jaz pri 61 letih, in čeprav že zelo dolgo nisem tekel, nisem čutil nikakršnih posledic. Kako naj bodo takšni ‘napori’ nevarni za poklicnega športnika? Kako so jih vsi drugi košarkarji zmogli brez težav? Vujačiča je že drugi dan, ko se je odpravljal na Kitajsko, bolelo koleno, in tedaj sem bil prepričan, da gre za staro poškodbo. To je potrdil tudi radiolog v podrobni oceni po magnetni resonanci, ki jo je košarkar opravil po vrnitvi v Slovenijo,« je uvodoma pojasnil reprezentančni zdravnik.
»Vujačič se ni udeležil testiranja na FŠ, saj je prispel iz ZDA z zamudo. In tudi ob prihodu ni navedel, da ima kakršnekoli težave, pač pa šele po prvem dnevu vadbe. Ko smo mu predlagali terapijo, ki je poleg tablet proti bolečinam zajemala lasersko terapijo, tablete proti vnetju in masažo z ledom, ki bi dodatno učinkovala, pa se je začel neodgovorno izmikati. Zato sem pravočasno opozoril selektorja Zdovca. Sumim, da tablet sploh ni jemal, saj jih je enkrat pozabil v hotelu, drugič je bilo narobe nekaj drugega, pri drugih prijemih pa je vseskozi odlašal in govoril, da bomo začeli jutri. Enkrat ga je direktor reprezentance Mario Kraljevič le pripeljal, toda pred začetkom laserske terapije je rekel, da je ne dovoli. Vse to je zamolčal, poudaril pa je znamenito olje, iz katerega zdaj vsi brijejo norca. Toda povejte mi, kateri fizioterapevt masira športnike na suho? Ni šlo za zdravilo, temveč za mazivo pri masaži našega fizioterapevta Tea Djekiča …« je svojo zgodbo zaokrožil dr. Slobodan Macura.
Who the hell is lying now here???…
Sasha if this is true… you’ve lost a lot of “points” in those who were supporting you so far in Slovenia…
Anyway I wish you all the best with the Lakers in the upcoming season .
September 1st, 2009 at 3:31 am
Sasa came to the camp after the testing of players. He didn’t tell anybody he had problems with his knees. After some training he said that he had some pains but he didn’t wanted to do all the thing his doctors would tell him to. Doctors treated him at a high level. But he refused some of the treatment. So it is his fauld if the injury doesn’t heal as it should. The oil was for massage. Does anybode massage anybody without any oils of lotins???
September 1st, 2009 at 4:00 am
Sasha
I can say only this, when You started to accusing our (Slovenian basketball team) You directly offended Slovenian country. It is obviously that you have no respect to “Your” country. And also, you can not be dismissed from KRS for two time without any blame on you, isnt that true! P.S. anyway I wish You all the best in you career.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:28 am
Sašo!
Jaz sem vedel že prej, da ne boš v reprezentanci, ker enostavno ljudje z mentaliteto zmagovalca tja ne sodijo.V deželi kjer so povprečneži najbolj cenjeni takih kot si ti in njim podobni enostavno ne prenesejo, celo sovražijo jih. Zato ne bod preveč žalosten, ravno nasprotno vesel bodi, da ne boš sodeloval pri tem debaklu in Zdovčevem pokopu slovenske košarke.Srbska ali hrvaška reprezentanca bi te z veseljem sprejela.To je samo mali namig,kako bi se dalo malo podrkat te naše slovenceljne na KZS.Dokler bo tam Šešok in podobni amaterji ne bo nič!!!!
September 1st, 2009 at 5:29 am
Sasha I guess you also forgot to mention, that our doctors have also consulted with the doctors in LA and that they agreed that they all agreed there was basically nothing wrong with you.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:38 am
The medical team of the slovenian national team responds to Sasa’s accusations:
(translated with Google Translate)
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=sl&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.delo.si%2Fclanek%2F87389&sl=sl&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1
Next time, we hope Sasa comes back with the right mind set.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:59 am
iskreno in srčno upam, da bodo Slovenci čim prej izpadli.
še več… iskreno in srčno upam, da bodo šli domov osramočeni in osmešeni pred svetovno basketaško javnostjo.
da se bo enkrat videlo, da je samo KZS kriv, da na zadnjih prvenstvih nismo domov prinašali medalj. ker so s svojimi podprepniškimi potezami in forsiranjem prijateljev EDINI KRIVEC za slovensko košarkarsko sramoto.
da bodo enkrat zbrcali (upam, da tudi zares) tega Šešoka.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:23 am
Pozdravljen Saša!
Dokler ne spremeniš svojega odnosa do reprezantance te ne bo nihče pogrešal. Žal ne odstopaš od drugih košarkarjev, da bi se te splačalo imeti v ekipi, kljub tvojemu karakterju. Zakaj pa nisi v tole izjavo za javnost ‘zapakiral’ celotne zgodbe mi tudi ni jasno…
Lep pozdrav
September 1st, 2009 at 9:24 am
ps.
Kljub temu ti želim vso srečo v prihajajoči sezoni.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:56 am
Seriously, who really cares about the Slovanian team? Who even knows where this #$%$# country is? Do they have a chance to win anything? I don’t think so. The reality of the story is that basketball is NOT like football/soccer. In football, the major source of the competition is FIFA and worldwide international football/soccer. In basketball, if all you care about is the GAME, then the competition is in the USA. It is the NBA. That’s where all the great players are. That’s the home of basketball. All these people from Slovania on here “protecting” their home country team. Who the hell cares? This is small time. Sasha has a chance to play on a defending NBA championship team. Who the hell cares about a stupid INternational competition? It is like comparing the world cup (NBA championship) in football/soccer, with a playground match of elementary school students (international FIBA competition). Not even close.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hehe Kaveh, then why did you write a comment if you dont care. To show how important you are and a place where you live? Man you really have problems… I guess ignorance and arrogance from some Americans will never change. And btw. you do not have a clue about basketball if you only watch NBA…
I personaly believe that the statement of doctor Macura is 100% true so I hope, Sasha, that you will be man enough to admit your lies and apologise to all of us (fans), to the doctor and basketball federation of Slovenia. If you dont you will loose a lot of symphaty of the fans!
Greetigns from EU!
September 1st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Sašo, Sašo, sm vedu, da bo prišla na plan še druga plat zgodbe… razočaral si me in verjetno še veliko ostalih navijačev s tvojo zdaj očitno pristransko izjavo. S takimi dejanji si boš v prihodnosti samo umazal ime in vsi se ti bodo smejali. Res neumna poteza, da si takole “jokal” v javnosti ter nam nisi razkril celo plat zgodbe. Bodi mož in v prihodnosti ne delaj več takšnih neumnosti in dvakrat premisli preden boš začel pisati kakšne pristranske izjave. You went from hustla to a diva. Vso srečo v prihodnosti!
September 1st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Sasha,
I’m sorry you weren’t able to play for the team in your home town. I know you were really looking forward to it.
I’m sure all your fans are just glad that you’re better. Keep taking care of those knees and I’ll keep looking forward to watching you play.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
God i’m sorry for this blatantly horrible thing to say but when I read a post from a Slovenian I hear it read back to me with the voice of the Alien character in the Stitch (Disney) movie. I want to call him Boris. It’s sad…..and wrong. But I am an ignorant American and I will let you guess if I can point to Europe on a map….let alone Eastern Europe. DAMN COMMIES!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!! Sorry that was 50’s America taking hold. Has the iron curtain fallen yet?
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:49 am
SAMO RESNICA OSVOBAJA…Fizioterapija(masaža…)udov običajno poteka tako, da se dotik z kožo zaradi trenja prekrije z mazilom(npr. Ketonal gelom, oljem)…Zato je važno, kako se ljudje izražajo, ko pojasnujejo…Tako Dragić, kot Vujačić sta zaradi obveznosti do matičnih klubov zakasnila testiranja na fakulteti za šport, kjer bi se tudi že pokazalo, če so kaki zdravstveni problemi, zato bi bilo dobro v prihodnje, da vsi, ki so kandidati opravijo to testiranje, da sami vidijo, kako je z njimi…Kot vemo, ima tudi Dragić težave z kolenom(kalcinacija v kolenu), kar pa je posledica tekmovanja na tej ravni košarke. Vsak vrhunski šport zahteva svoj davek, tako pač je…In vsak košarkar, ki je povabljen v reprezentanco mora vedeti, da v času priprav zaradi malo časa ne more biti aktiven tudi glede obveznosti do matičnega kluba. Te je v tem času potrebno “zamrzniti”. Tudi nekateri ne razumejo, da je za igranje vhunske košarke v Sloveniji potreben denar, ki ga lahko prispevajo le sponzorji in da so nekateri ljudje pod kapo KZS zadolženi predv sem zato, da skupaj spravijo denar.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
No, da bo mera polna,si je danes, na prijateljski tekmi med Nemčijo in Slovenijo se je poškodoval koleno še Samo Udrih. Kako resno je, se še ne ve. Na koncu bomo imeli same “poškodovane igralce”, morda v bodoče tudi ni primerno igrati toliko pripravljalnih tekem…Te dve z Nemčijo so čisto out!!!
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
http://www.kosarka.si
» Slovenija
EP 2009: Zdovc zaskrbljen zaradi Udriha
03.09.2009 - avtor: Drago Perko
Nesreča nikoli ne počiva, to sta v sredo občutila oba selektorja, nemški in slovenski, v slovenski reprezentanci trepetajo za usodo Bena Udriha.
Jure Zdovc ima razloge za zaskrbljenost
Jure Zdovc je po tekmi povedal spregovoril za Kzs.si:
»Tekma je prišla ob nepravem času in iztekla se je tako, da moramo zdaj trepetati, kaj je s poškodbo Bena Udriha. Med tekmo sem se bal ravno poškodb. Šele v naslednjih urah bomo videli, kako resno je. Sicer pa smo odigrali korektno tekmo, izkoristili smo svoje priložnosti in rutinirano zmagali. Jutri je nov dan, zadnja tekma, nato pa pogumno na evropsko prvenstvo.«
Kljub vsem težavam Zdovca optimizem ne zapušča. Bi pa bilo zanimivo slišati, bomo počakali do konca prvenstva, o katerega uspešnosti bo odločal rezultat, da bi izvedeli, kdo je odločil, da se igrata ti dve tekmi v Nemčiji…
Da jim nista po godu, sta se pritožila tako selektor kot kapetan. Brez uspeha.
——————————————————————————–
Kot vsi vemo, imajo kandidati za reprezentanco na mestu organizatorja velike težave s koleni(najprej S.Vujačič, potem Dragić in sedaj B.Udrih). Vse te pripravljalne tekme so lahko pokazatelj trenutne pripravljenosti ekipe, po drugi strani pa prinašajo razne težave(zaradi spolzkih tal, namernih favlov itd..)velik rizik za zdravje košarkarjev. Kot vemo imajo tudi drugi zdravstvene težave; Smodiš-hrbet, Brezec-Ahilove tetive…Ni lahko biti član državne reprezentance, pa tudi, če si srčno želiš…
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 pm
As for me, I will only beleive Sasha’s side of this story. This whole thing is turning into a silly he said, she said type of thing and is utterly ridiculous. To me, as long as Sasha is happy and smiling and doing what HE wants to do with HIS body and HIS life, all is good! Only Sasha knows what happened and he has written it down on paper to us and that is that. Also, why does the Slovenian team even have to appear on his web site and explain their position? Sorry, but I don’t care to hear it because obviously they did not care about Sash’s knee or physical health. Good-luck, Sasha, in this upcoming Laker Season. I totally look forward to seeing you have a very, very successful year with your Championship team, the Los Angeles Lakers!