SUCH ABUSE (June 21, 2008)

“Montenegrin creep,” “Albanian idiot,” and “Slavonian dunce” are epithets that still ring in my ears long after the fateful soccer game between Croatia and Turkey yesterday evening. Coming from the Croatian fans, who were getting pretty desperate as the game was nearing its conclusion, they were directed at the Croatian players. No matter how many opportunities for such abuse had presented themselves during the game, not a single epithet of this sort was hurled at the Turkish players, though. Who says the Croatian soccer fans are nationalistic?!