MARIO PRESKAR BACK IN THE USA

Croatian heavyweight, 22-year-old Mario Preskar, will box again in the USA. After a string of 3 knockouts at the end of 2005, Preskar will fight after a 7-month pause on Saturday, July 8, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri at the 22,000-seat capacity Savvis Center.
“I feel great, ready and eager to step in the ring again. After a long and arduous training period my strength and power have increased and I’m ready for anybody,” said Preskar, whose opponent has not been announced.

Preskar, who is under promotional agreement with legendary promoter Don King has a record of 9 wins (6 by knockout) 1 draw and 0 losses. Don King and his promotional company DKP return to the Gateway City (St. Louis-Gateway to The West) to host the evening with 2 Championship fights including Cory Spinks, against IBF 154-pound champion Roman Karmazin, a former cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck plus others for an evening of 10 bouts. Tickets are $500 (ringside), $300, $200, $100, $60, $45 and $25. For tickets call: (314) 622-5400 or (314) 622-5435. Croatian TV (HTV) will televise Preskar’s match.

King visited Croatia last month in advance of World Boxing Council (WBC) 45th Annual Convention which will be held from October 29 to November 4 of this year in Dubrovnik. Leonard Pijetraj, trainer/manager to Preskar was King’s guide and translator in Dubrovnik. This was King’s second visit to Croatia in the last 12 months. There are plans to have DKP events in Croatia later this year headlining Mario Preskar.

June 27, 2006
VJN

http://15rounds.com/

Preskar to fight July 8 in St. Louis

By Marc Abrams

Undefeated Heavyweight prospect, Mario Preskar will return to the U.S on Saturday July 8 in St.Louis to fight on the big Don King Promotions card against a yet to be determined opponent that will be headlined by Roman Karmazin taking Cory Spinks for the IBF Jr. Middleweight championship and Steve "USS" Cunningham battling Gulliermo Jones for the Vaxant IBF Cruiserweight title.

Preskar, 9-0-1 with six knockouts will be making his first appearance in a U.S ring since October, 2004. Since then the 22 year old Croatian has scored three knockouts in Germany.

http://15rounds.com/boxing/News/2006/06/preskar-062906.php

New U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke To Be Sworn-in on July 3rd

National Federation of Croatian Americans Press Release

from left to right: NFCA Government Affairs Director Joe Foley, NFCA President Ed Andrus, Ambassador Designate Robert A. Bradtke, NFCA Vice President Steve Rukavina, NFCA National Treasurer Zvonko Labas)

For Immediate Release – June 28, 2006

“New U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke To Be Sworn-in on July 3rd”

(Washington, D.C.) A National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) delegation visited the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, June 21, to meet the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to The Republic of Croatia Robert Bradtke and Croatia Desk Officer Bradford Bell. The group led by NFCA President Ed Andrus, Eastern Vice President Steve Rukavina, National Treasurer Zvonko Labas, and Government and Public Affairs Director Joe Foley had a very substantive 100 minute working lunch meeting with the American diplomat. Ambassador Bradtke will be sworn in during a July 3rd U.S. State Department ceremony headed by Secretary of State Condolezza Rice.

This meeting was an ideal opportunity for the Ambassador Designate to become better acquainted with the activities of the National Federation of Croatian Americans, the Croatian Fraternal Union, and to hear more detailed specifics about the activities, accomplishments, and many dimensions of the Croatian
American community. Ambassador Bradtke has been in the U.S. Foreign Service for thirty three years. He was based in the Zagreb Consul during the 1976-1980 time period and later worked for and visited Croatia with Secretary of State Warren Christopher in 1996.

The meeting was centered on the topic of NATO membership for Croatia as the key discussion subject. Ambassador Bradtke feels Croatia has made much progress in its pursuit of membership in this Euro-Atlantic alliance. The diplomat was quick to point out that the upcoming NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia is
not the enlargement meeting. Enlargement would most likely occur at the 2008 NATO Summit. Ambassador Bradtke as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State was intricately involved in the 2002 NATO Enlargement process. This American diplomat with all his NATO experience will be a great addition to the American diplomatic corp working directly with Croatian government officials over the next few years. Ambassador Bradtke believes the Croatian Defense Minister understands all he needs to know about some necessary requirements and reforms needed to better ensure NATO membership. The new Ambassador is clearly committed to discussing the benefits and requirements of NATO membership during his term in Croatia. He hopes that the Croatian
citizenry will better appreciate the significance of NATO Article 5, which clearly states that an attack against any NATO member is an attack against all of them. The Ambassador believes that the Croatian public, like the Slovenes about four years ago, will clearly favor NATO membership as debate continues
through the next 12 to 18 months regarding the long term security benefits of membership in this alliance.

Ambassador Bradtke was very impressed with the role of the NFCA in the creation of the Congressional Croatian Caucus. He believes that this type of bi-partisan political leverage will be instrumental when it comes time for the U.S. Senate to vote on NATO enlargement in 2008. He was also pleased to hear how the NFCA has worked positively with the AmCham in Zagreb, the U.S. State Department with the Brcko project, Eastern Slavonia re-integration, economic development initiatives, de-mining fundraising, hosting Croatian visitors to the U.S., investor organizing, and sponsoring many Croatian-related educational symposia. Also, the Ambassador thought the involvement of Croatian American individuals and community in the development of Croatia's democracy and free market could be very instrumental over the years ahead.

Ambassador Bradtke mentioned that he will be very busy in his first month. He will attend an early July Dubrovnik symposia with a NATO focus, participate in a Nikola Tesla 150 year birthday salute, and will also visit Vukovar within his first 30 days to pay his respects to the Croatians who lost their lives during the recent war in the Homeland.

The Ambassador Designate mentioned that he had a very productive meeting and lunch with Croatian Ambassador Nevin Jurica on Thursday, June 15. The diplomat was openly very excited about his appointment and confirmation to be the next Ambassador to The Republic of Croatia. The diplomat feels strongly that the next few years for Croatia are crucial in its evolution to be a model democracy and force for stability in Southeast Europe.

Ed Andrus spoke for all NFCA members when he congratulated Ambassador Bradtke, wished him well, and offered NFCA support for his diplomatic efforts to help with Croatia's pursuit of NATO membership. NFCA representatives will attend his swearing-in ceremony on July 3rd.


The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian American groups that collectively represents approximately 130,000 members. For additional public affairs information, please call Mr. Joe Foley, NFCA Government and Public Affairs Director, at (301) 294-0937, or Mr. Ed Andrus, NFCA  President, at NFCA Headquarters at (301) 208-6650, or by email at NFCAhdq@verizon.net . For recent NFCA newsletters, important NFCA membership and chapter information, and other Croatian American news please visit the NFCA’s Web Site at WWW.NFCAONLINE.COM .

National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA)
2401 Research Blvd, Suite 115
Rockville, MD 20850
PHONE: (301) 208-6650
FAX: (301) 208-6659
E-MAIL: nfcahdq@verizon.net
WEB SITE: www.nfcaonline.com 

Croatia 2 - 2 Australia

GIANNI RUSSO in Stuttgart June 23 2006

Scorers: Croatia – Srna (3), Kovac (56); Australia – Moore (38 pen), Kewell (79)

The most pulsating, dramatic, heart-stopping contest of a thrilling World Cup ended with Australia booking a last 16 meeting with Italy.
Harry Kewell's 79th-minute angled drive sent Guus Hiddink's Australia charging into the knockout phase for the first time in their history.
Yet the mere scoreline does not even start to get close to explaining the story behind a truly extraordinary game which Australia ended with 10 men and Croatia nine.
Twice Australia were forced to come from behind to grab the point they required after conceding initially in the second minute, then at the start of the second period following a mistake to rank up with any the competition had ever seen from recalled goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.
Yet, showing the pugnacious spirit which has enabled them to become world champions at so many sports, Australia simply refused to lie down.
Craig Moore pulled them level just before half-time when he kept his nerve to fire home from the spot, then, after Australia had another clear spot-kick appeal turned down by the English referee Graham Poll, Kewell drove home the goal which blasted open the door to the second round.
Nobody celebrated the draw more enthusiastically than the Australia coach Guus Hiddink, who had almost seen the biggest gamble of his entire coaching career go disastrously wrong.
Hiddink stunned his supporters by bringing back Kalac, who spends his winters sat on the AC Milan bench, ahead of established No.1 Mark Schwarzer.
Kalac had barely touched the ball when he was picking it out of his own net, a legacy of Mark Viduka's third-minute foul on the Croatia captain Niko Kovac. Up stepped Darijo Srna to stroke a 25-yard free-kick beyond Kalac and into the top corner.
For half an hour thereafter, Australia battered the Croatia defence for no reward. Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka and Kewell all wasted chances to equalise and Australia were starting to run out of ideas when Stjepan Tomas stuck up a fist to deflect away a Brett Emerton cross.
Poll spotted the infringement and, though the gap between the Premiership official blowing his whistle and Moore stepping up to take the kick seemed to last forever, the former Rangers defender kept his cool to fire home.
Then came Kalac's extraordinary aberration. Getting right behind an apparently innocuous Kovac strike, the keeper somehow managed to let the ball slip through his grasp and into the net. With Schwarzer sat not five yards away, Hiddink must have wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.
It was another shattering blow. Yet Australia refused to buckle. Time and again they bashed away.
Another Tomas handball was missed by Poll, Kewell's shot was brilliantly pushed over by Stipe Pletikosa, Cahill went agonisingly close.
Eventually Marco Bresciano floated over a cross from the right and John Aloisi flicked it into Kewell's path. Kewell's talent did not fail him. Control with the chest, finish on the volley. Easy as that.
Australia lived on their nerves for those final 10 minutes, though. Dario Simic and Brett Emerton were both red-carded as the action intensified, while Moore booted on effort off the Australian line.
Amid the frenzy, Poll booked Josip Siminic, a Melbourne-born Croat, for a second and then a third time, before eventually brandishing red in his face after the final whistle.
The Australian fans celebrated as they would any Ashes triumph or rugby victory.
Scorers: Croatia – Srna (3), Kovac (56); Australia – Moore (38 pen), Kewell (79)

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/64673.html

 Dr Borislav Arapovic Croatian humanist, honorary director of the Biblical institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Born in  Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1935, studied in Zagreb, emigrated in 1965 to Sweden. Founded The Institute for Translation of The Bible into Languages of (former) Soviet Union.  In 1996 the Russian Academy of Sciences conferred him a doctorate honoris causa. In 1999 he was elected foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. For the creation of the Children’s Bible in 1983, Dr. Arapovic was awarded the Leo Tolstoy medal by the Russian Children’s Fund. He discovered an amazing pacifist sermon given in 1778 by an anonymous Croatian preacher to Croatian soldiers. The sermon was published in German in 1778, in Dutch in 1778 in the Hague, Amsterdam, and Leeuwarden, in Swedish in 1778 in Norrköping, and in 1779 in Stockholm, and in Latvian in Riga - Leipzig in 1804. 

Submitted by Darko Zubrinic, Zagreb

www.croatianhistory.net

The ultimate cocktail which can only be mixed by a barman freefalling from 10,000 feet has been launched in Croatia.

The Wings of Zadar cocktail, based on the local Maraschino liqueur, is poured upside down so that the drink flies upwards into the mixer, and then shaken as the barman performs a series of somersaults.

The drink is chilled by the freezing air rushing over the shaker - and then served on landing to the customer.

Drinks creator Ante Butic, who has been serving the drinks to clients on the beach at Zadar, said: "The high altitude mix gives the drink a distinct flavour.

"It is really popular, the service is sponsored by the local tourism board but who knows, maybe I might carry on if I can find enough rich customers who want to try the ultimate cocktail."

source: www.ananova.com/ May 30, 2006

Match Schedules for Soccer World Cup 2006

Match Schedules for Soccer World Cup 2006: Click Here

Group Standings: Click Here

Thank God for Croatia

Jayaditya Gupta

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Kaka saves Brazil’s dull day out

We never thought we’d say this in a Brazil match but thank God for Croatia. The team from the Balkans was inventive, purposeful, energetic, and completely unawed by the world champions, and should have gone away with a point.

Instead, Brazil began their campaign on a winning note, Kaka’s sweetly struck volley just before half time doing the damage. After the match coach Carlos Alberto Parreira pointed out that teams aiming to win the World Cup must pace themselves but at this pace Brazil should be looking at lifting the trophy in 2010, not a month from now.

Much of their problem stemmed from their strike force of Ronaldo and Adriano (though for Brazil everyone is a goalscorer), and it is a moot point that the only goal came from a midfielder. Ronaldo, in what was his 100th Brazil match, was palpably unfit; not injured, just overweight. Brazil’s reputation has grown since they last won the World Cup, but in Ronaldo’s case only his shadow has got bigger. Too slow to respond to the quicksilver wiles of Ronaldinho and Kaka, he was mercifully taken off just after the hour.

And the sparkle shown by his replacement, his Real Madrid teammate Robinho, means Parreira will have a problem keeping the younger player out of the starting line-up.

Brazil’s troubles lie elsewhere too. The fact that Croatia enjoyed 50 per cent of the possession is proof of their ability to win the ball in central midfield, where Emerson and Ze Roberto were too often outwitted, especially by Kovac and Babic, the latter also selling Cafu a brilliant dummy towards the end.

Though Cafu and Roberto Carlos, with 69 years between them, were not embarrassed today, the pressure will be immense over the next few matches. Harry Kewell, in particular, should enjoy his duel with Brazil’s captain on Sunday.

Their next two opponents will be tricky. Australia are on a high after their incredibly last-gasp win, further boosting their typical Oz superconfidence. Japan will be desperate to open their account, and should benefit from some inside knowledge provided by their coach.

The ultimate truth, however, is that one writes off Brazil at their peril. Parreira says a slow build-up is part of their plans and in any case we are not dealing with a team of mere mortals. It takes a moment for Kaka, or Ronaldinho, to change the match. It may take substantially longer for Ronaldo to find his form but they didn’t need him yesterday.

Conclusion: Brazil have the making of a winning team but must step up at least a couple of gears if they aren’t to be overtaken, possibly much before the home straight.

jayaditya.gupta@expressindia.com

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/6490.html