Večeras je u JDPu u Beogradu obeležena dvadesetogodišnjica od osvajanja titule prvaka Evrope i nema mnogo reči kojima se može opisati kako se neko kao ja oseća dok sluša ovakav uvod u veče:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tp5zOP-res

Naježiš se od glave do pete, zasuze oči, i onda te nekoliko izuzetno emotivnih govora vrati tih 20 godina unazad, u mom slučaju u možda najlepši deo detinjstva.

Danilović kome drhti glas dok čita govor. Željko koji, iako godinama izvežban da drži govore i prezentacije, uopšte i ne krije emocije i koliko mu je sve to važno i nesebično zasluge za urađeno deli sa Kićom koji je stvorio taj tim. Uručivanje plakete zahvalnosti tadašnjem gradonačelniku Fuenlabrade, čiji su stanovnici tada bili najveći Grobari na svetu…

Uh…

Skroz mi je krivo što nisam imao priliku da i uživo budem tamo, da bar sednem među onolike legende i uživam tih sat-dva…

Tokom večeri korišćeni su isečci iz, a nakon manifestacije je prikazan i ceo film “Ima jedan tim” koji je napravljen za ovu priliku. Možete ga pogledati u nastavku (hvala underPFC youtube kanalu što su ovako brzo okačili ceo snimak):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdYl_KZVNnY

Pored ovog filma, preporučujem da pogledate i “El Partizan de Fuenlabrada”, koji je Canal+ snimio inspirisan ovim sjajnim timom i njihovim podvigom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpPWinIrW7M

Osim toga, možete posetiti i CrnoBeli butik i kupiti repliku dresa iz te sezone, napravljenu specijalno za ovu priliku.

Uživajte!

A moment we waited for 12 long years has finally arrived – Partizan won Maccabi in the quarter-finals and reserved the place at the Final 4 in Paris! With a little luck this team can also achieve something we are waiting for 18 years – to win Euroleague…

Yup, I actually said “with a little luck”, because this team is, despite the youth and low budget (salary of just one Olympiacos’ player is bigger then the complete budget of Partizan), really something special and far from an underdog. It is consisted of a carefully selected group of players which are all talented, but combined with Partizan’s legendary coach, Dule Vujosevic, and the equally legendary Partizan’s fans, Gravediggers, this group becomes a very special team that gives 150% on every match and has become a very tough cookie for all the biggest teams in Europe.

Even Mr. Gershon, Maccabi’s coach, has noticed in one of his interviews that Macabbi has already taken a couple of great players from Partizan, but they never played anywhere as good as in Pionir Arena and under Dule’s guidance.

Below is what I’m talking about, and what Paris can expect from 7th to 9th of May.
I suggest the city of Paris to strengthen the foundations of Bercy Arena, for earthquake called Gravediggers is coming!

Last minute and celebrations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZTjTXNNOb0

Coreography:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRa0AePQS8M

President of Serbia, Boris Tadic, cheering with the fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnCEMe1QEvI

Celebrations in the Arena and later streets of Belgrade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzQUsQlyo8M

Emotional moments before every match (with subtitles):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NpPN-NC5U

Great great Partizan tonight!

Photo by http://goserbia.com

7000 fans did the thing again

Dunno what to say really… I feel awful, ashamed, terrible…
There are not many things that can be said in a moment like this, at least not in an articulated way…
In just a few days, Belgrade has lost its biggest pride – to be the safest city we know about… I’m travelling a lot, and I mean a lot, but never ever do I feel so safe like when I am in Belgrade.
Not anymore, though…

Bunch of products of the social situation in Serbia in last two decades, products hiding among football fans and usually ultra-right organizations, encouraged by completely corrupted and screwed up system, have again shown how easy it is to misrepresent the majority on good and hospitable people of this country…

They cowardly attacked and beaten up to death this poor guy, which will, I still believe and hope, become a symbol of the time when Serbia finally said NO to hooligans of any sort. That’s the least we can do at this moment.
RIP Brice – you will not be forgotten…

I think Adam has put it together very good in his post at http://www.balkanfile.com/belgraders-say-no-to-violence.

See you tomorrow at the Republic Square…

Belgraders, Say NO to Violence
Sep 29th, 2009

by Adam.

28-year-old Toulouse football support Brice Taton died this morning in a Belgrade hospital. Brice was critically injured on 17 September while sitting with other Toulouse fans in a cafe in central Belgrade when a group of some 30 hooligans/cowards attacked them unprovoked. This incident, along with a series of other attacks on foreigners over the last 2 weeks, has shocked Belgrade and her citizens.

No words can describe how terrible this is. This young man came to Belgrade, a city which has been recently gaining a reputation for being a safe, friendly and welcoming city, to support the team he loved, to spend time with his friends and enjoy himself, but he died at the hands of cowards who need numbers and weapons to carry out their pointless violence.

The police arrested and detained a number of young men and intended to charge them with attempted murder. Now they’ll be facing charges of murder and I hope they receive adequate sentences for their involvement in the death of this visitor to Belgrade.

You may be thinking, “what’s the big deal? Football violence and tourist attacks happen all the time in other countries.” Yes. It does. But it does not happen in Belgrade. Foreigners who have made Belgrade their home go on and on how it  is one of the safest places they’ve ever lived. That’s why it is so shocking for us who live here. I’ve never felt threatened in Belgrade – I can’t say the same for the time when I lived in the UK.

The people of Belgrade need to denounce the violence that has taken place on our streets over the last 2 weeks. There are hundreds of condolence comments on Serbian news websites, but Belgraders need to go out and show the world that we will not allow thugs and hooligans to threaten our amazingly safe city. And you know what, I think they will.

The Serbian Ministry of Human Rights has called on citizens to light candles and lay flowers tomorrow, Wednesday 30 September, at 11.30am at Trg Republike (Republic Square). Also, a Protest Walk Against Violence will take place on Thursday 1 October at 5pm, from Plato to the Victor Monument in Kalemegdan Park.

What an awesome day!

1. No more visas soon!
Report: EC to propose visa liberalization
14 July 2009 | 20:03 | Source: Tanjug
BRUSSELS — The European Commission (EC) adopted unanimously on Tuesday recommendations for visa liberalization for Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

EU diplomatic sources told Tanjug news agency that the recommendations relate to period starting January 1, 2010.
More at B92.net

2. Champions League: FC Partizan hammered Rhyl in qualifications 4:0…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSSC_YbLUdk

and most importantly:

3. THE LEGEND COMES BACK!
Partizan Belgrade announced Tuesday that former star forward Dejan Milojevic signed with the club for what may be his last season.
More at euroleague.net

The world basketball capital of Belgrade, Serbia became the proud owner on Thursday of the single-game record for attendance at an indoor basketball game in European club history! Officially, 22,567 fans packed Belgrade Arena for the Last 16, Week 5 game between hosts Partizan and Panathinaikos of Greece. 

from euroleague.net

Say no more… Such a spectacle was not enough for hungry Partizan – no, they had to win too!

Budget of CSKA – 30.000.000 EUR
Budget of Panathanaikos – 45.000.000 EUR
Budget of Partizan – 2.000.000 EUR
Lasme & Vesely (both foreigners) singing a fan song dedicated to the love for Partizan (in Serbian!!) – PRICELESS!!!

There are things that money can’t buy…

another great guy from the golden generation of Yugoslav and Serbian basketball (Djordjevic, Paspalj, Bodiroga, Savic… to name a few…) has done his farewell to basketball and moved on…

Some of them become coaches, some managers, some even go to politics, but Vlade decided to simply continue what he was doing already – to help people in need… this time to dedicate all his time to this though…

His friends from all over the world promised to help, and came to Belgrade to prove it… On photos above you can see some of them – Chris Webber (claimed himself to be first Serbian black dude – Kristijan Veberovic ), Glen Rice, Scott Pollard…

Thank you Vlade!

And thank god for modern technologies… How would I explain my kids what a great guy he is, if there was no video?

text below is from B92.net
———————————

Divac celebrates end of professional career

23 September 2007 | 11:47 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE — Vlade Divac has celebrated his official retirement from professional basketball in front of 10,000 fans in Belgrade.

Vlade Divac bids farewell to his fans (Tanjug)

“I wish to thank you for a huge and selfless support you have been giving me throughout my basketball career that began here in Serbia and now ends here as well,” Divac told the crowd yesterday from a concert stage placed outside the National Parliament building.
The former member of Serbia’s national basketball team and sixteen-year NBA veteran has launched the “You Can Too” campaign, set to last four months, aimed at raising funds and providing housing for refugees and displaced persons in Serbia.
“Today , the most important match of my life begins. With your help, the biggest and best team is looking to score a vital victory and help those deprived of their land, home, and friends who are now living in conditions unworthy of human beings,” said Divac.
The farewell ceremony was attended by his former national team fellow players Aleksandar Đorđević, Predrag Danilović, Zoran Savić and Žarko Paspalj.
Divac’s NBA co-players, including Chris Webber, Scott Pollard and Glen Rice came to support their colleague, along with Divac’s former coaches Dušan Ivković, Duško Vujošević and Gregg Popovich.
“Vlade always has friends by his side. I will do my best to help him raise the money for the cause and I hope he will win this game as well,” Aleksandar Đorđević said.
Webber also addressed the crowd, saying “good evening” in Serbian.
“Vlade Divac has a heart of gold apart from being a great player. He is the best man I have ever met,” Webber said.
The concert held in his honor featured performances of numerous bands and artists form Serbia and abroad, including Van Gogh, Aleksandra Kovač, Darko Rundek, Esma Redžepova, Šaban Bajramović, and special guests African artists Mori Cante and Raste.
A short movie was played from a huge screen in which a score of Divac’s friends and colleagues praised his efforts and career, including NBA stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bobby Jackson, Yao Ming, coach Phil Jackson, rapper Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, actor Billy Crystal and many others.
On Sunday, Divac travels to his hometown of Prijepolje to officially open the Vlade Divac Museum, an exhibition that chronicles a basketball career that began in the small southern town when he was a tall 12-year-old boy dwarfing his teachers, and eventually ended in the NBA.
The museum will display European jerseys and basketball-related equipment; practice gear and official NBA uniforms from the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings, medals won in international competitions, newspaper and magazine articles from all over the world; game footage, photos, letters from fans and children, and a special section dedicated to his humanitarian efforts.
“My goal for the museum is to show young people today that you don’t have to be born in a big city to become successful,” said Divac.
“Hard work, confidence, and respect are the keys to building a life and thriving professionally. I hope the museum illustrates this message and that the children in Prijepolje learn from it.”

so I`ve been to Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul, which is something like Mecca for all fans of Partizan Basketball Club… It`s a place where the finals of Euroleague 1992 happened, when Partizan won it`s only Euroleague title with Djordjevic`s triple in the last second…

Yeah, that`s the place from where he made that famous shot… He repeated winning 3-point shots several times later while playing for various clubs, but this one, along with the one against Croatia in Barcelona `97, are the the most remembered ones.

Yeah, some will say that there are so many players in the world that have decided many important matches etc… And I agree… But this one was special… Special because this team was very very young (21 years old in average) and special because Serbia (Yugoslavia at that time) was under sanctions and Partizan couldn`t play its home matches in Belgrade, but in Spain… And noone really believed in these guys… Yeah, they were talented and strong team, but who would think that they can win any game in such conditions?

And then Istanbul happened… And these guys went into a legend even before they became some of the best European and World players of all time… Do some of these names ring a bell – Djordjevic, Danilovic, Rebraca, Nakic, Stevanovic, Koprivica, Silobad, Loncar…

Djordjevic is one of the ambassadors of good will, one of the founders of humanitarian organization Group Seven, and the president of the Belgrade Marathon.

Djordjevic – 1992 – Partizan-Joventut – last second 3-point shot for Partizan`s Euroleague title:

Djordjevic – 1997 – Yugoslavia-Croatia – last second 3-point shot for a great win:

Djordjevic`s farewell exhibition match – 2005 – he repeated the 3-point shot!

I had that luck to be one of the 7000 people to get the ticket for this event… It was amazing! Can you imagine all these people at one place? Kukoc, Divac, Radja, Djordjevic, Stojko Vrankovic, Danilovic, Bodiroga, Velimir Perasovic, Paspalj, Rebraca, Stojakovic, Gurovic, Drobnjak, Ivo Nakic, Zoran Cutura, Panagiotis Giannakis, Jofresa, Rodrigo de la Fuente, Zan Tabak and Roberto Brunamonti!? Or coaches: Ivkovic, Maljkovic, Obradovic, Pesic? This was certainly one of the events I will remember all my life… and tell my kids about it

Huh, and I just wanted to post a photo from Abdi Ipekci arena… Ah, emotions got me I guess…