Tuesday, September 4, 2001
38th Annual Croatian Soccer Tournament for North America
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Milwaukee (PERNS) - This past Labour Day weekend was the annual North American-Croatian Soccer Tournament held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tournament has now had it's 38th birthday, although the decision on Hamilton being a part of it next year is still up in the air. Here's a recap of what you may have missed, and an explanation of some of the rumours you may have heard (Times are all approximate).
Friday, August 31st
1:00AM - 54 passengers depart for Milwaukee by bus from Eastgate Square
3:00AM - Sweeper Frank Sudac pukes
3:06AM - Fullback Joe Skaljin reeks
3:35AM - Sarnia Duty Free becomes reminiscent of Chernobyl as Hamilton Croatia loads up for the weekend
2:00PM - Passengers check-in to Days Inn, West Allis
4:11PM - Joe Zeleznak sh*ts solid for the last time in the next three weeks
Saturday, September 1st
9:00AM - Hamilton Croatia faces Windsor Croatia in their first match of the day
9:36AM - Stopper Mike Giannini scores the only goal in Hamilton's 1-0 victory
10:41AM - Cleveland Croatia submits form stating they will play their game versus Hamilton under protest
10:56AM - Hamilton respectfully decline and walk off the field
10:57AM - Heavy drinking and chanting begins
11:30AM - Hamilton kicks Cleveland game-ball into 3-foot high soy bean field...it takes numerous Cleveland volunteers 20 minutes to find the ball
12:22PM - Franklin Police Department is called
12:30PM - Three squad cars arrive
12:33PM - Officer #1 asks, "Who's in charge here?" to which Frank Perin responds, "Nobody."
12:34PM - Officer #1 explains about a fight he was told about to which Darko Peric responds, "Drinking and chanting yes, but there has been absolutely no physical activity here of any sort...including on the soccer field."
12:36PM - Officer #1 then says, "Sorry to bother you - carry on", to which 50 enthused onlookers respond, "WE LIKE THE COPS, WE LIKE THE COPS, WE LIKE THE COPS!" - Police leave smiling.
1:37PM - Rob Biturajac wins the 'First Annual Flip-Flop/Sandal Kick' with a distance of 22.6 feet
1:44PM - Ivica Katkic pukes
3:15PM - Hamilton Croatia hosts the First Annual $5 Penalty Shot Competition
3:21PM - The competition attracts more fans than the most games in progress and earns $95, spent promtly on beer for contestants
4:55PM - Ante Culina wins the shoot-out, Marky from Detroit does the running-man
5:49PM - Drunk Cleveland fans want to fight Hamilton, sixty-year-old man spits at Joe Skaljin
9:30PM - Milwaukee Representative Melissa Vukovic wins Miss Croatia title. Coincidentally, Franjo Vukovic, president of this years host team Milwaukee is also her father.
10:27PM - Crazy Al drives golf cart through packed dance floor at the banquet - no injuries reported
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The big guy trying to smooth things over with the cops is Mark Vuksan. Good thing our bus was just pulling in - I don't know how much more slurring would have been allowed before the cop threw the Bullet in the slammer. |
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Sunday, September 2nd
12:00PM - Heavy drinking starts in the parking lot of the Days Inn
6:00PM - Bus Driver Harry is found cleaning up the parking lot
7:20PM - Arrive at the awards banquet
7:35PM - Obtain six bottles of rye, two bottles of cognac, and two cases of beer for a measly $800
8:00PM - Chanting begins - London Croatia, Croatia Norval, Dalmacija Streetsville and Toronto Zagreb join Hamilton in festivities
9:00PM - 350 Canadians pose for a group photo in front of the head table
9:39PM - Hamilton Croatia storms head table to receive trophy - they do not leave until they are given the microphone
9:53PM - Franklin Police Department is called
9:55PM - Mike Giannini says his now infamous 'Thank You For Ruining Our Weekend' speech
10:03PM - 11 squad cars, one police van, and two police dogs arrive
10:05PM - Hamilton Croatia leaves the banquet without the use of force
10:12PM - Hamilton Croatia and Franklin Police Department become good friends posing for numerous photos together
10:30PM - The earliest a bus has ever left a banquet
Monday, September 3rd
9:00AM - Bus departs for Canada
9:02AM - Hamilton proclaims themselves banquet champions for the eighth year running
9:03AM - Skaljin still reeks
Of the 350 soccer players in tournament attendance annually, it is relatively known and overlooked that probably 40% of them are ineligible. This year's champions Chicago CBP reportedly pay players extraordinary amounts of money. Some of these are players that do not have official papers to be in the United States, let alone registration booklets with their soccer clubs.
Of the 21 teams in Milwaukee this past weekend, Hamilton was the only team that was asked to show their cards. The organizers of this tournament decided once again that the 'pencil-written' rulebook could be changed to sway towards their own favor. When Hamilton refused to play under protest they undoubtedly put their future as part of the North American-Croatian Federation in question. They most likely will be fined, although they remain steadfast in the fact that they will not pay.
The events this past weekend occurred because of two things - pride and our captain George Andric. Rumours were rampant that this was supposed to be George's final farewell and the team guaranteed to him that he would go out on top. He did, and so did the Hamilton...although nobody ever pictured the entire team retiring along with George.
UNDEFEATED. Thank you for the memories Geo...we loved every minute of them.
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