Macedonia on Eurobasket 2009

[The LION will ROAR]

Macedonia beats Israel 82-79

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/8158/1/

Nerve racking match, in which Macedonia decided their faith whether they'll quailfy to the next round. Once again plagued by horrific three point shooting and a Serbian referee the Macedonians managed to defeat Israel 82-79.

With this victory, Macedonia will move to the next round, while Israel is going home. Reverse of fortunes there, for a change Macedonia moves on and Israel will pack their bags.

The red and yellow had started the match on a positive note, slowly building up their lead which early on jumped to seven points. Everything was well until a Serb referee took over the match and started to call non fouls on Macedonia while ignoring most offensive and defensive fouls by the Israelis. This kind of refereeing helped the Israelis claw back within two points.

On half time, Macedonia lead with 40-39. In the second half, Macedonia once again lead by seven and later by nine points, though Israel once again managed to reduce the lead to a single point with 2 minutes left.

The referees gave Israel more than three chances to take the lead, but Israel took the gifts for granted and failed to score each time.

Massey and Pero Antic were the key to Macedonia's offense and defense. Jeremiah Massey in particularly showed how the red and yellow jersey needs to be represented. Massey blocked shots, scored threes, scored in vital situations and rallied his team mates. Massey finished the match with 15, while Antic added 19 points.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Bad luck against the Greeks, but good result for the boys against the Israelis.

It was interesting in Skopje, where Macedonians sat together with Greek fans at a coffee shop near the Greek Consulate. Good atmosphere throughout the match, fans enjoyed 'Skopsko beer' with salad and roasted chicken.

I found that amusing, and not at all suprising. Most Macedonians are by nature a good and welcoming people, not xenophobes like some of our neighbours.

I wonder, will the Greeks share the same courtesy to the Macedonians, were Macedonian supporters to sit in the coffee shops of Athens with their shirts, flags and banners?

Spartan, what do you think, is something like that possible?

[Risto the Great]

10 more years SoM, even more will be possible !

[Soldier of Macedon]

Interesting times ahead brother, not only for our native Macedonia, but for that foreign state of Greece also. I don't think the latter considered the 21st century when they were going around and forcing villagers to speak only Greek. Lies can only be buried so deep.

[The LION will ROAR]

If that was in Athens or anywhere in Greece... I reckon there would of been a riot...
Greeks and their typical behaviour

P.S. My parents just got back from visiting Solun, lerin and voden and found heaps and heaps of Native Macedonians...
But found the greeks very rude.. comment (mnogu loshi lujge)

[Risto the Great]

P.S. My parents just got back from visiting Solun, lerin and voden and found heaps and heaps of Native Macedonians...
But found the greeks very rude.. comment (mnogu loshi lujge)

I am surprised they found Greeks in those places

[osiris]

very funny som, the responses would range from glares full of hatred to downright abuse.

[The LION will ROAR]

Eurobasket 2009 - Greek TV deleted name of their opponents from the TV graphics
YouTube - Eurobasket 2009 - Greek TV deleted name of their opponents from the TV graphics

[Spartan]

Spartan, what do you think, is something like that possible?

Oh yeah, you just gotta find the right Greeks
Come down south, we are reknown for our hospitality
Even in Athens it would be possible. It is a big city, and Im sure there are spots where both Macedonians and Greeks could watch the game in a friendly environment.
However there would definitely be places where it wouldnt be possible as well.

[Rogi]

Look, the Greeks who were in the Republic of Macedonia, sitting and watching the game together with Macedonians, drinking and eating together, are the types of Greeks that are NOT racists.

Being in Australia, many of us have come across such Greeks, they do exist, and they can be the best of people and very good friends, if not the best of friends.

Now, in the reverse situation, imagine those same Greeks in a restaurant/bar in Athens and the same Macedonians from the Republic of Macedonia go there and sit with them and drink and eat as the game is playing. The outcome will be the same - a friendly atmosphere.


What I am saying is, it comes down to the person and whether they're a racist idiot or not. Unfortunately, it seems to be a fairly large percentile of Greeks which have those racist and xenophobic attitudes towards Macedonians.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Seriously fellas, let's not kid ourselves here. In general, the Greeks hate Macedonians way more than Macedonians dislike Greeks, even though if we look back at history it is us Macedonians that should be more spiteful towards them. I just cannot picture a group of supporters with Macedonian t-shirts and the red and gold colours everywhere in Athens without some sort of trouble. Forgive the pessimist view, but I think it aligns closer to the truth than the possibility of this actually happening.

If some Serbian sports officials decide to behave like racist monkeys against us, what is to stop the Greeks, who do not hide their evil intentions against us and are openly supported in their racism by their government?

Of course, I would like to be proved wrong here in the belief that not all Greeks are racists. So I will change my mind about the issue of supporters in their country when somebody posts a picture here of Macedonians wearing their colours in Athens, or anywhere in Greece for that matter, where police protection will not be required.

Any examples?

[Risto the Great]

You are 100% correct SoM.
I don't think anyone would deny it.

[osiris]

ditto, and dont forget within greece the pressure to hate skopjean is widespread and deep, it would take a strong person to stand up to it in private and a heroic one to oppose it in public.
my ex wife recently had a greek visitor at her place from australia , who immeadiatly started to rant and rave about her macedonian budddies and how upset they are at the dirty rotten slavs. wherupon my ex never hesitant to engage in debate told her well i know the real macedonians in australia and find them to be in the moral right, on this matter.
according to my daughter in nearly decended into a brawl and it was only the intervention of my exs brother that calmed the situation.
lets not kid oursleve greeks have to much at stake both in teritory and pride here to backdown gracefully.
what next they admit to the arvanovlachoslavoantaliano basis of their neo helenic identity, i dont think so.
sorry spartan you are unique amongst greeks a insignificant minority are like you.

[Soldier of Macedon]

You are right Osiris, they can't back down gracefully, so they will come crashing down along with their house full of lies. The audacity to even think they have the right to change fundamental features of a culture which include the name and history is pathetic and unmatched in the world.

[blackcactus]

One of my family is married in to a high profile Greek family here in Western Australia (WA)

They have sat inside the Macedonian Community Hall, and have been to the Macedonian Church on events, and behaved with class. They respectfully get into the spirit of events, asking friendly questions about the community, always happy, polite, and good natured

Note they are Island Greeks, as Spartan has mentioned if may depend on where you are in Greece, I feel Greeks friendly to Macedonians do exist in substantial numbers (although not yet proven)

It would be nice if Greeks were allowed to speak up, I'm sure many Greeks feel the pressure to keep quite

Personally I see Macedonians and Greeks as natural allies and friends, but for this to truly happen Greece must let go of it's institutionalized xenophobia, and progress as a humanitarian society, eventually resulting in long term real benefits to both countries