Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year

There are only a few hours left from this year, so I take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone, fellow fans, Grave Diggers, readers, visitors and drop-byers to be here and to read this blog in 2014. I wish all of you a prosperous, Happy New Year with health, love, joy, peace, faith and endless sense of humour...
...and goals, baskets, wins, championship titles and to conquer Europe once and for all.

Happy New Year!
Srećna Nova Godina!

(photo: Facebook/Црно-бели тим)


Last news-collection of the year

Marko Nikolić stays at Partizan.
So far it’s still unofficial, the news leaked out after today’s (Tuesday) team management meeting. The team leadership had an official press release, too, which is properly evasive and self-adulating. The main (hidden) point is that the management got scared of the possible fury and rage of Grave Diggers.

***

Still talking about Marko Nikolić: Novi Pazar filed a lawsuit against Partizan’s trainer for libel. Nikolić had a heated dispute with the referee of the match played at the beginning of December, then at the post-match press conference he said angrily: this weekend was the rock bottom of Serbian football, adding, it was not the first case such things had happened in Novi Pazar.
Redžep Korać, Novi Pazar’s secretary general said, Marko Nikolić "heated up religious and national arguments among people living in Serbia with his nationalistic words". He added: such words and actions are criminal acts upon the laws of Serbia, with the possible sentence of two to five years of imprisonment. Novi Pazar’s secretary general said, he hoped everyone would learn to take responsibility for their words and actions once and for all, even if this person in question is Partizan’s trainer.
It shows well the seriousness of the case that even deputy prime minister Rasim Ljajić had a word, questionning the efficiency of the police for still not finding the fan who hit Marko Nikolić on the head with a firecracker.

***

Milenko Tepić got injured on Partizan’s Tuesday training. There are no informations on the seriousness of his injury, how much pause he’ll need, if he needs any.
Saša Pavlović will be able to return at the match against Cedevita on 3rd January, if all goes well. But Edo Murić needs at least 2 more weeks for complications. We won’t be able to see him playing before 17th January.

***

Former Partizan basketball player Dejan Musli signed to Mega Leks.


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Jer je Sale samo jedan

Because there is only one Sale, just one.
Today, 30th December is the 37th birthday of Saša Ilić, Partizan’s team captain, best goal scoarer of all times, who is the second after Momčilo Vukotić in the number of wearing the legendary black and white jersey on matches.

(I don’t remember when and in which corner of the interwebs I found this photo, but if any of you can identify it, please, comment)

Srećan rođendan, Kapitenu, Legendo!



Here is a massive, 7-minute-long ecstasy with Grupa JNA, the whole football team, Grave Diggers and of course
SAŠA ILIĆ



Monday, December 29, 2014

Marko Nikolić discharged?

The news came out of the blue.
It was first mentioned by zurnal.rs, all other newssites took the news over, internet’s Partizan-fan section exploded. Dragan Ćirić doesn’t confirm, nor deny it, rumours speak about Ivan Tomić as Nikolić’s possible successor.
Fans demand the head of the freshly elected presidency. Some of them dissociated themselves when the new leadership members were announced, even suspecting political forces in the background. I can’t confirm, nor deny this suspection (very well, I took over this expression from Ćirić, it seems, I’m not proud of it...), I still find this shit-stirring and secrecy around Nikolić revolting. Even the idea behind it is crazy, Nikolić is a successful trainer, the team could qualify to the Europa League group stage with his help. He demonstrated his skills countless times, players like and respect him, we are the champions of the autumn season, what else do they need? Who dislikes him among the members of the new leadership? Or whose family member/friend/neighbour/etc. is this Tomić that now he must be sat on the bench, after the new presidency started to work?
The leadership will have a meeting tomorrow, until then nobody wants to speak.
And a message to Biljana Obradović: a PR-manager does not speak like this.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

New Year's gift

Not from me.
From the team. And from Grupa JNA.
Click.

Thank you very very much.


Birthday

Today is the 24th birthday of Đorđe Gagić, KK Partizan’s power forward.

This photo was taken during the 2012/13 Adriatic League championship title win, with Gagić (middle), Joffrey Lauvergne (left) and Léo Westermann (right)
(photo: novosti.rs)

Srećan rođendan!


Photos from the 2015 football calendar presentation

Among players Luka, Brašanac and Vulićević were present...

...and a beloved, old friend, Miloš Jojić also showed up.

Brašanac with a "Deda Mraz"-package

Miroslav Vulićević

Joyful atmosphere


The obligatory posing with the calendar

And now, some insight.














Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan

KK Krka - KK Partizan 72:78 (Adriatic League)

It wasn’t a good match. It wasn’t an exciting match, nor was it a remarkable match.
But it was a winner match, so nobody cares about the possible weak points.
Krka started with a 3-pointer, but Mačvan and Tepić equalized with joint forces (3:3). Krka tried with another 3-pointer, our reply was Milutinov with a basket and a bonus throw (6:6). In the meantime there was some wrestling under Krka’s backboard, a few home players jumped on Mačvan’s back, they even took back the lead (8:6).
Then Gagi Kapiten decided that enough was enough and it was time to kickstart the Steam Roller.
He immediately equalized (8:8). Milutinov switched the standing to our side with Mačvan’s assist (8:10). Tonight was again Mačvan’s game, he was again like a fanatic setting an enormous pace, throwing numerous baskets, assisting, and if Tepić was around, too, they were simply unstoppable.
But he made an amazing axis with Milutinov as well.


At 11:15 Mačvan came again, this time with a 3-pointer (meanwhile the camera was focusing on Wangmen, the Camerooni player of Krka, who was walking off the ground with a deeply upset face). Then Milosavljević scored such a huge 3-pointer that the echo came from the Croatian border. The difference was 10 points (11:21). The end of the quarter was 17:21.
The second quarter was opened by Marinković (17:23), then Bezbradica got at least 3 Krka-players on himself who didn’t let him until they could not squeeze the ball out of his hands. (The referees didn’t mind it at all.) At 20:23 it was Mačvan again, making a 2+1 score (20:26). At 24:26 Tepić made a marvellous steal, but he was pushed to the ground under the backboard. After the free throw, at 26:27 Andrić scored. I would have sworn he was standing out of the 3-pointer line, but the standing on the scoreboard was 26:29. A few seconds later it showed 26:30, and when Average Fan sat back with a relieved sigh that maybe the eyesight is still working well, again 26:29 appeared on the board.

Congratulations to everyone.

Nevertheless Andrić and Tepić quickly put themselves into action, before Krka would have got too close to us (28:32). We made a 7-point series (28:36). Before the last score there was an upheaval. The Slovenian team attacked, but Partizan blocked the action. The home team protested heavily, saying that the ball was about to drop into the ring when we stopped them, but the referees didn’t listen, just waved "go ahead". Mačvan thanked and scored. At 29:36 Milosavljević made a great job with Dallo’s assist (29:38). The half-time result was 32:38.
After the pause Mačvan walked out from the locker-room and looked around (32:41), his example was followed by the captain (32:43). At 34:43 Milutinov set back the two-digit difference, even raised a bit by Mačvan (42:54).

Did I hear well that the small group of Grave Diggers being present at the match were chanting Milenko Tepić’s name?

At this point we took it a bit easily, so Krka made it to 50:56. Mačvan quickly took measures for us to be able to enter the final quarter with a 9-point difference (52:61).
In the last quarter Tepić ensured the two-digit difference (52:63). Krka tried with numerous 3-pointers, but they couldn’t get over us. We kept our 6-7-point difference, then World Peace was set back together with the two-digit difference.
Maki and Tepa.
The Awesome Axis.


Andrić also scored a 3-pointer, because it is always better to be safe than sorry (62:73). Krka was trying desperately (64:73, 67:73), there was even some wrestling at the end, but Tepić (69:75) and Milosavljević (72:78) showed the world who’s the king.


Friday, December 26, 2014

OK Partizan - OK Inđija 3:2 (Serbian Cup, quarterfinal return match)

It was a dramatic match, it was open until the last minutes who'd win. The first set was won by Inđija to 17:25, but we heated up the steam roller and ran through the guests in the second, leaving them breathless (25:13). Inđija didn't gave themselves cheaply, they took back the lead (15:25), then we equalized again (25:21). The standing was 2:2, when came the final game.
The standing changed in every 30th second. We were on the lead, then Inđija equalized, we took back to the lead, Inđija equalized again, then even switched the standings, they were on the lead, then we equalized... Finally we won the last set to 23:21 and qualified to the semi-final.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Milija Mrdak carried the team on his back again with his 30 points. Marko Nikolić brought 18 points, Dušan Lopar did 13. Neven Majstorović scored 11, Petar Nikolić 5, while Ivan Kostić added 3 points to the victory.
In the semi-final our opponent will be the winner of Mladi Radnik - Vojvodina match.


Applause: Škuletić stays at Partizan

Fine. And now I write an outspoken blogpost about all players, as if they were all sold out. Just as I did about Škuletić and earlier about Drinčić. If it makes them stay in Belgrade...

Update: shit-stirring lvl 100000000000000.
Škuletić’s manager had an upset press release claiming that the striker has already signed the contract with Lille as much that he was about to debut in the French team on 7th January. While the brand-new vice president, Ljubiša Tumbaković told the press earlier, Škuletić is not for sale, the French team may fold paper aeroplanes from all those banknotes of 2 and a half million euros.
Aren’t they cute?...
After all, for us it doesn’t matter who said what as long as Škuletić plays for Partizan.


Photos from the 2015 basketball calendar presentation

You can even buy the calendar at Crno-beli Butik or here.








Update: a little insight.














Photos: Facebook/KK Partizan

Football news

Partizan's leadership had a re-election of the board. Former president Dragan Đurić’s mandate expired. the assembly elected - allegedly - unanimously Zoran Popović as the new president of FK Partizan.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Ljubiša Tumbaković, Milorad Vučelić and Vojislav Nedić were voted for vice-presidents. Tumbaković is in charge for sports-related issues and tasks, Vučelić is in charge for media-related issues, while Nedić is the legal expert.
The other members of the leadership: Milomir Gliorijević, Milan Obućina (main secretary of Sports Association Partizan), Srđan Cekić (CEO of Serbian Postal Savings Bank), Ivan Maričić, Dragan Bjelogrlić (actor), Nenad Janković, dr. Dragan Veljović and Vladimir Vrbaški.
General director of the club is 28-year-old Miloš Vazura, who worked in the Ministry of Justice until now. Dragan Ćirić got the position of the club’s sports director.
Fans aren’t impressed about the new leadership to say the least. Some even started to bury the club, while the creative minds of Grobarski Trash Romantizam expressed their negative feelings with this piece of art.

(image: Twitter/RetroPFC)

***

The Serbian Football Association discussed today the happenings at the match against Novi Pazar. The disciplinary committee punished Marko Nikolić with 3 months (!!!) of suspension. The trainer must also pay 300 000 dinar fee. The suspension came into force from 11th December, 2014.

All this because he was hit on the head with a firecracker.
Idiots.

***

Some sports sites reported that Partizan’s former, Voždovac’s current player, Stefan Babović might return to ul. Humska. It’s allegedly Marko Nikolić’s explicit request. There are no details yet, but some news mention the player mentioned it on his Facebook-profile.


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Vlade Divac rocks

Even Jack Nicholson is applausing.


Partizan's former basketball player offered the amount he won for charity.


Basketball players as Deda Mraz

Or Santa Claus, the way you prefer.
Three players of the basketball team, Dragan Milosavljević, Mihajlo Andrić and Vanja Marinković visited Drinka Pavlović Children’s Home and brought them gifts.
They got a very warm welcome.











(Photos: Facebook/KK Partizan)