2011 U20 European Championship

[auris1]

Everybody is free to decide his nationality. It seems that nobody wants to be Lithuanian. Your bad.
Seriously. Mirotic grew up and lives in Spain, an integrative country. .

So true
And i think that people(even more youngsters) should be able to decide who they want to represent for themselves.
But I disagree with the part that nobody wants to be Lithuanian - we had some people changing colours with most recent case of our female pentathlete ,going for Russia,and few more high calibre examples springing into my mind like Kasparaitis (ice hockey) or some very good ,world class handball players (females again) playing for Austria and Germany.So what?We had an exodus anyway ,so it was only small proportion anyway,i and personally respect their decisions.
Now,if you mean that nobody wants to be Lithuanian in a opposite way,like becoming one of us, that's another story - remember K. Douglas case?
We do not want them)

[LTbotd]

And wait when Domantas Sabonis will play for Spain. You will really cry.

Ok, i will.

[auris1]

Ok, i will.

touche my friend

[sagenas]

Everybody is free to decide his nationality. It seems that nobody wants to be Lithuanian. Your bad.

Seriously. Mirotic grew up and lives in Spain, an integrative country. He decides to represent Spain and not Montenegro. Nobody complains and says that Patrick Ewing was a Jamaican leading the US team to two olympic gold medals. I am not telling you that Tautvydas Sabonis is Spanish (born in Valladolid, living and working in Málaga). It is his decision and it is fair. Anything else is stupid.

And wait when Domantas Sabonis will play for Spain. You will really cry.

1) "Everybody is free to decide his nationality" what the hell are you talking about? Can I decide to be citizenship of Andorra while I have nothing to do with that country? I just would like to play for their national team because I'm not good enough to play for any Lithuanian team...

2) By what blood relations is Mirotič related to Spain? His father, mother, grandma?

3) Spain just sells passports and it really shows what pride is to be Spaniard when everyone can become one. Come on, it's nonsense that anyone can become Spaniard so simply. If I live few years in Spain, I can become Spaniard too? Cool...

4) I consider this Mirotič-Spaniard thing as business. Real just signed long-term contract with him and to have him as a Spaniard in the team is plus for them. It's similar situation to those where American player decides to play for European country to get their passport (like McCaleb, Logan) because in some leagues there are limit of non-European players.

4) Domantas already plays for Lithuania so you can cry, this time I'm smiling

5) There were enough situations when some sportsmen wanted to get our citizenship but our country doesn't throw it out like a nothing. For example, Douglas wanted to play for our women national team and we refused (by the way, she just played very well in WNBA All Star game..), I know that many years ago one player of Lietuvos Rytas wanted to get citizenship and we refused.

I have nothing against having people who is related to your country to play in your team (for example, Australian U-19 has Hadziomerovič, Drmič but no one blames that) but when player has almost nothing to do with that country...it looks just like evil wish to become more stronger and rule it no matter what..if you would be allowed to naturalize more players in your senior national team, I bet you would.

How it comes that Ibaka was naturalized THIS YEAR...remind me, when did he play in Spain last time?

I think no one understands feeling of national pride - ask Pohani Komarac or many other, he will say how he feels about Draper representing his country. Some little countries just don't have good players so I don't especially mind that but Spain? Come on, that too much...


////

Auris, all those athletes that wanted to represent country did that only because of one thing - here in Lithuania it's even hard to survive being pro athlete while you're not top basketball or football (soccer) player (while you don't play in 1st division, I mean. Mostly)

[Toxicity]

C'mon, Sagenas is somewhat right: Spain is naturalizing people too easy lately...

[sagenas]

To add more arguments to my post I can also give an example. Few years in a row Matt Bonner tries to get citizenship of Canada. And I think with all the stuff how he is related to Canada, he deserves Canadian citizenship much more than Mirotič and Ibaka deserve all together. I quote one media source:

The Spurs forward has been trying for years to gain dual citizenship, and he would seem to have a cut-and-dried case considering he’s married to a Canadian, has a Canadian daughter and grandfather and lives most of the offseason in Toronto.

And despite trying to get that citizenship few years in a row his wish is declined.

[mattteo]

C'mon, Sagenas is somewhat right: Spain is naturalizing people too easy lately...

Fucka, Radulovic, Damiao, Stonerook...Spain's not alone.

[Kwijibo]

1) "Everybody is free to decide his nationality" what the hell are you talking about? Can I decide to be citizenship of Andorra while I have nothing to do with that country? I just would like to play for their national team because I'm not good enough to play for any Lithuanian team...

2) By what blood relations is Mirotič related to Spain? His father, mother, grandma?

3) Spain just sells passports and it really shows what pride is to be Spaniard when everyone can become one. Come on, it's nonsense that anyone can become Spaniard so simply. If I live few years in Spain, I can become Spaniard too? Cool...

4) I consider this Mirotič-Spaniard thing as business. Real just signed long-term contract with him and to have him as a Spaniard in the team is plus for them. It's similar situation to those where American player decides to play for European country to get their passport (like McCaleb, Logan) because in some leagues there are limit of non-European players.

4) Domantas already plays for Lithuania so you can cry, this time I'm smiling

5) There were enough situations when some sportsmen wanted to get our citizenship but our country doesn't throw it out like a nothing. For example, Douglas wanted to play for our women national team and we refused (by the way, she just played very well in WNBA All Star game..), I know that many years ago one player of Lietuvos Rytas wanted to get citizenship and we refused.

I have nothing against having people who is related to your country to play in your team (for example, Australian U-19 has Hadziomerovič, Drmič but no one blames that) but when player has almost nothing to do with that country...it looks just like evil wish to become more stronger and rule it no matter what..if you would be allowed to naturalize more players in your senior national team, I bet you would.

How it comes that Ibaka was naturalized THIS YEAR...remind me, when did he play in Spain last time?

I think no one understands feeling of national pride - ask Pohani Komarac or many other, he will say how he feels about Draper representing his country. Some little countries just don't have good players so I don't especially mind that but Spain? Come on, that too much...


////

Auris, all those athletes that wanted to represent country did that only because of one thing - here in Lithuania it's even hard to survive being pro athlete while you're not top basketball or football (soccer) player (while you don't play in 1st division, I mean. Mostly)

Hahahha no u msut be a really good player of smthing or u can't be spanish and it's not a joke

[sagenas]

Hahahha no u msut be a really good player of smthing or u can't be spanish and it's not a joke

That's my point. Spain seeks only use for themselves with this.

////

mattteo, of course Spain's not alone but this is bad worldwide thing. I say things like this sometimes help to develop basketball in non-basketball countries (like Jordan had American player Wright or someone like this who led them..I think it SOMETIMES may be good for those non-basketball countries which must to be developed) but Spain is powerhouse which got many titles in last decade - is it normal when you have tons of talents but you seek it even more no matter what like a maniac? Come on then, build basketball facilities, hire good foreign coaches, attract kids and you will become even more powerful in a normal way, not like this...

[Dreamcatcher]

I got tired reading about naturalized players...Again and again, the same and the same...

Spain generally is the best in football and basketball. And they also uses a possibility to have Ibaka/ Mirotic in the squad. Well it's their choice and i do understund it, they are winners and they will do everything in order to make it: flopping, Mirotic, ect...There is something spanish here...And they really very good in these sports, it only matters.

[Xristos]

Spain is already the best without naturalized players so it's not a big deal for me

[GEORGE_4]

That's my point. Spain seeks only use for themselves with this.

////

mattteo, of course Spain's not alone but this is bad worldwide thing. I say things like this sometimes help to develop basketball in non-basketball countries (like Jordan had American player Wright or someone like this who led them..I think it SOMETIMES may be good for those non-basketball countries which must to be developed) but Spain is powerhouse which got many titles in last decade - is it normal when you have tons of talents but you seek it even more no matter what like a maniac? Come on then, build basketball facilities, hire good foreign coaches, attract kids and you will become even more powerful in a normal way, not like this...

Don´t be so pathetic, even if you´ll particulary right... it´s just bussiness...

[madmax]

who gives a damn about these naturalized players anyway? Not me for sure...these "hired peasants" are fools good, feeling no connection and pride in their actions whatsoever and their effort and heart correlates directly in how much they are gonna get paid at the end of the day. If Mirotic wants to represent spanish colours, so be it - it's his choice and we have no right to ridicule him. Money makes the world go round my dear friends

[sagenas]

Don´t be so pathetic, even if you´ll particulary right... it´s just bussiness...

I said that before. It's business but it shouldn't be like that when nations do play, not teams.

[Cojayar]

1) "Everybody is free to decide his nationality" what the hell are you talking about? Can I decide to be citizenship of Andorra while I have nothing to do with that country? I just would like to play for their national team because I'm not good enough to play for any Lithuanian team...

2) By what blood relations is Mirotič related to Spain? His father, mother, grandma?

3) Spain just sells passports and it really shows what pride is to be Spaniard when everyone can become one. Come on, it's nonsense that anyone can become Spaniard so simply. If I live few years in Spain, I can become Spaniard too? Cool...

4) I consider this Mirotič-Spaniard thing as business. Real just signed long-term contract with him and to have him as a Spaniard in the team is plus for them. It's similar situation to those where American player decides to play for European country to get their passport (like McCaleb, Logan) because in some leagues there are limit of non-European players.

4) Domantas already plays for Lithuania so you can cry, this time I'm smiling

5) There were enough situations when some sportsmen wanted to get our citizenship but our country doesn't throw it out like a nothing. For example, Douglas wanted to play for our women national team and we refused (by the way, she just played very well in WNBA All Star game..), I know that many years ago one player of Lietuvos Rytas wanted to get citizenship and we refused.

I have nothing against having people who is related to your country to play in your team (for example, Australian U-19 has Hadziomerovič, Drmič but no one blames that) but when player has almost nothing to do with that country...it looks just like evil wish to become more stronger and rule it no matter what..if you would be allowed to naturalize more players in your senior national team, I bet you would.

How it comes that Ibaka was naturalized THIS YEAR...remind me, when did he play in Spain last time?

I think no one understands feeling of national pride - ask Pohani Komarac or many other, he will say how he feels about Draper representing his country. Some little countries just don't have good players so I don't especially mind that but Spain? Come on, that too much...


////

Auris, all those athletes that wanted to represent country did that only because of one thing - here in Lithuania it's even hard to survive being pro athlete while you're not top basketball or football (soccer) player (while you don't play in 1st division, I mean. Mostly)

To people like you is to whom I wrote my mail. Oh, man, you really have a problem. A big problem. Don't worry, many other have it. It seems that you are becoming a majority when I look at how scaring is getting in other European countries.

You do not even understand what you read. Everybody is free to decide what nationality he or she feels like. Period. Nobody can tell Mirotic he is not Spanish if he feels Spanish.

The blood question is so narrow minded that does not deserve an answer. I guess in your family there are only 100% pure Lithuanians. Only this lack of fresh blood can explain it, or not.

Selling passports. Mirotic lives since 6 years in Spain. The law allow him to decide to be Spanish. I live since 10 years in a different country than mine. I could get another nationality. But I do not want. This is my decision and what the law allow. Again, you never will understand it. Too much pure blood in your familiy. Like the kings. ;-D

Ibaka has a house in Spain and resides in Spain when he is not playing in the NBA. Exactly the same as both Gasols, Calderon and Rudy.

You consider your contry's citizenship as something special. It is not. It has no more value than Malta or Sudan. [...]

Domantas seems to be a real Lithuanian. Good decision. His decision. He is not good enough for the Spanish NT. We win anyhow without him. But being so Lithuanian, his Facebook page is in another language. Look what his father said about his older son. You bought his nationality. ;-D

- Arvydas, your son Tautvydas will show up in the camp of Lithuanian cadets in several days. It seems, that the biggest influence to his decision to represent Lithuania, and not Spain, was made by his parents. Isn't it so?
- Off course, I was offering him that. The time to choose has come, so I offered him to come to Lithuania, to see what he is worth, whether he will join the team or not. And that is still a very far question. For me the most important is, that Lithuanian coaches would take a look at him and would say, is it possible to reach something. After that the other steps will be taken.

See also what Taytudas says about his nationality feeling.

"Con las inferiores de Lituania he ganado dos oros, pero también me siento español. O más bien, andaluz"

[sagenas]

You have a problem, not me. First of all, you even don't understand what sarcasm is secondly, of course formally Mirotič can play for Spain and he did it but NATIONAL FEELING is the same, it's absolutely different thing.

He is not good enough for the Spanish NT.

Is it a joke? At first you write "you will cry when he'll play for Spain" and when he played for Lithuania you write that he's not good enough. Pure bullshit.

I have nothing more to say for you because you have no feelings for your country. I'm one of those who would hate to see foreigners playing for our national team because you can live in Lithuania for decade or so doesn't make you Lithuanian...

You consider your contry's citizenship as something special.

WTF? Joking again? I never wrote such a things but in Lithuania citizenships ain't given so easily while many countries in Europe give their citizenship as it is nothing and with no value while it really is.

More and more easily I can confirm - everyone becomes like a uncolored mass of people who have no special feelings for their country or some kind of beliefs. People have just no feelings nowadays and they should be ashamed because of that.

All you wrote here is nonsense because I'm talking not about laws what is allowed and what is not, I'm talking about feelings, it's more to philosophy.