TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN OUR GARDEN

by Vilma Kuis

Why " tuesday "?
All my life, well, at least as long as I can remember, I have always been a great " Moody Blues " fan. One could certainly call me a Moody Blues freak. I have been listening to their music for over 30 years. There is that lovely song called " Tuesday Afternoon " from THE DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED album ( 1967 ). I was listening to that song when I started drawing this picture, so I thought.....why not?

Vilma Kuis

Rijeka, Croatia 
vilma.kuis@ri.hinet.hr 

    ZAGREB Feb 9 (Reuters) - IvanLjubicic gave Croatia an unexpected 3-1 winning lead over the United States intheir Davis Cup world group first-round tie when he beat James Blake, 6-3, 6-7,6-4, 6-3, in the first reverse singles Sunday.

    But at 4-3, Blakesuddenly lost his way dropped his serve to love. That, Ljubicic, said was theturning point."I think that was the key, because suddenly I won the setwithout really thinking about it, which is good for me," hesaid."James is a great player, but I don't think he played as well from thebaseline as he did Friday."

    Having broken Blake in the sixth game of the fourth setfor a 4-2 lead, Ljubicic's nerves looked in danger of fraying when he wasserving for the match just a few moments later.But his serve came to the rescuewhen Blake earned three break back points. Ljubicic held firm and a forehandinto the net from Blake prompted the entire arena to explode in celebration.Theteam had their own bizarre version of expressing their joy by crawling togetheralong the tramlines in formation.

    A crestfallen Blake said "I think this probably isthe most emotionally (difficult) defeat to take."I don't think it wasnerves (at 4-3 in the third set), I think I missed an easy volley, he had agreat point and then I missed a forehand. At 0-40, you're bound to get a littletentative."Blake said it had been hard to find his normal rhythm againstLjubicic."He really doesn't let you get in rhythm because he doesn't have asecond serve," Blake said"He has two first serves. If he keeps servinglike that, or getting better like he says he can, then after the indoor season,I think we'll see him in the top 10."

The United States Tennis Association

donating $25,000 to remove the land mines In Croatia

Op-ed

How noble of you. Thank you USTA, 

Nenad Bach
Editor in Chief

p.s. I urge all Croatian American organizations to send a thank note to the USTA

http://www.usta.com/feedback/default.sps?feedbacktype=other 

ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is donating $25,000 to a Croatian government project to remove the one million land mines remaining from the war which ravaged the region in the early 1990s, officials announced on Sunday.

The USTA, whose donation will be matched by the U.S. government, made the decision after a visit to a minefield clearing operation near the village of Gajine on Wednesday.

"This is our way of showing support to the people of Croatia, who have been such incredible hosts to our Davis Cup team and the USTA contingent this week," USTA president Alan Schwartz said.

The donation will help clear land mines in a 48,000 square metre area surrounding a once-popular tennis court in the village of Mekusje, about 30 miles west of Zagreb, venue for this weekend's Davis Cup first-round tie between the two countries.

02/09/03 07:38 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. 

Dear USTA,

As an Croatian American, I am deeply moved by your generous donation while visiting Croatia. Let that be the sign of long lasting friendship between two peoples. 

Nenad Bach
Editor in Chief, CROWN
www.CroatianWorld.net 

p.s. As a Trivia, I bet you didn't know that the Croatian Republic of Dubrovnik was the first country in the world to recognizeThe United State of America.

Juventus' IgorTudor of  Croatia 

Juventus' Igor Tudor of Croatia, right, and Empoli's Vincenzo Grella jump fora ball during the Italian League soccer match between Juventus and Empoli atTurin's Delle Alpi stadium, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca)

Ivan Kartelo of Croatia

Minnesota's Rick Rickert, left, puts in two of his game-high 26 points in front of Purdue's Ivan Kartelo (5) of Croatia during the second half Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 90-68.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) 

Croatia Leads USA 2:1 in Davis Cup

    ZAGREB Feb 8 (Reuters) - Goran Ivanisevic andIvan Ljubicic produced a stunning comeback from two sets down to squeeze pastJames Blake and Mardy Fish 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 and give Croatia a 2-1 leadover the United States in the first-round tie on Saturday.

    After being thoroughly outplayed for the first two sets, Ivanisevic, weakenedby an arm injury and playing his first top-level match since shoulder surgerylast May, somehow lifted his game and the Croatian pair snatched the third seton a tiebreak, winning it 7-5.

    Roared on by an intimidating crowd in Hall Dom Sportiva, Ivanisevic andLjubicic broke the Fish serve to love at the start of the fourth set andmaintained the advantage to level at two sets apiece after more than two and ahalf hours of intense play.

    The deciding set with serve until the ninth game, when Blake was unable tomake a low volley from Ivanisevic's attempted pass. Ljubicic then served out togive a jubilant Croatia team an incredible victory.

Ljubicic will meet Blake in the first of the reverse singles on Sunday, while18-year-old Mario Ancic is scheduled to play Fish in the final match of the tie.

BOSNA  IZVOR VJECITE MLADOSTI

Uz knjigu pjesama Ljerke Lukic  Snovidjenje  
(Hrvatski put, Toronto, 2002.)

Znanstvena antropologija tvrdi da je covjek s jadransko-podunavskih prostora, osobito na dinarskom gorju, homoeuropeanus - europski urodjenik. Znameniti svicarski antropolog Eugene Pittard smatra da Dinarci postojano zive nasvom zavicajnom tlu najkasnije od kamenog doba te da u Bosni i danas predstavljaju preko sedamdeset postopucanstva.
Povjesnicari zapadnoeuropskih zemalja, ciji radovi sluze u povijesnoj znanosti kao doktrine po kojima se ravnaju iautori skolskih udzbenika, smatraju da se pucanstvo nasih prostora sirilo na sve strane i to ne samo Europskogkontinenta, i da je bilo izvorom onog prastarog urodjenickog europskog pucanstva koje je stvorilo europskucivilizaciju.Bosna je veliki europski izvor. Izvor mladosti. Izvor dobrote. Izvor snage koja nadzivi svaku i svacijuludost. Kao izvor rijeke Bosne: uvijek obilan, uvijek cist, uvijek nepresusan. Sto god se nabacalo po citavom toku nase svete 
rijeke Bosne, sve to voda odnese u Savu, Sava u Dunav, a Dunav u Crno more. Bosna se vjecito podmladjuje cistinomsvog izvora i vjecito svojom cistocom podmladjuje svijet.
Jedina nacija koja nikad nije nista tudje otimala a sve je od sebe dala za opce dobro, posebno celik koji je bas u Bosni(Glasinac) otkriven i dugo ostao tajnom kojoj se i Homer u Ilijadi divi. Iz Bosne potjecu i Dorani koji su stvorili grckucivilizaciju.
To je ono sto povjesnicari pa i povjesnicari knjizevnosti znadu. A da je Bosna vjecito takva i da je i izvor zivotne radostipa i u najtezim danima svoje povijesti, dokazom je i ova knjiga Ljerke Lukic iz zivorodnih Zivinica - Snovidjenje .Ma nije to, ba, neka sanja. To je vidjenje stvarnosti koje je zanosnije i trajnije od ikakvog sna, to je zivotvorna poezija, zadivljenje u svijetu, a ne za hibret u dunjaluku.Bosna je i zemlja-knjiga. Preko stotinu tisuca nasih maseta, stecaka ili mramora to dokazuje. Sva je memorija nasegpostojanog i zivog covjeka paralelno biljezena u nasim nadgrobnim spomenicima, koji su dizani nad grobovima nasihdostojanstvenika i svecenika.
Tako i pocinje ova Ljerkina lirska pjesmarica puna pjesama kroz suze. Bilo radosnice, bilo od bola, bilo od nade ilinostalgije, ali uvijek iz cista srca. Kao i izvor Bosne. N. B. karta Bosne lici na ljudskosrce.U Ljerkinoj dusi ti nasi mramori, odnosno grobovi nasih predaka, cuvaju, odrzavaju i preporadjaju Bosansku drzavu,koja je i sredisnja Banovina Kraljevine Hrvata. 
Bosna je svojska, slavujski fina i sokolski gorda. Ma moze, ba, sokol preletjeti Jahorinu, kako ne bi mogao, ali kud ce izSarajeva kad je tu najljepse. Bosna je carobna krijesnica u noci: tko god u noci gromorozne povijesti, koju kod svih velesila simboliziraju zivotinje iptice grabljivice, digne oci, vidjet ce zizak svjetlosti koji nadu potpaljuje, dan odrzava i zoru najavljuje.
Bosna je, bas kakva jeste, to nam Ljerka dokaza, i - kosmopolitska. Internacionala folklora i tradicije - internacionala ukojoj je svatko ponosan sto je takav kakav jeste i sto ga svatko bas kao takvogpostuje. U pjesmi  Moj prvi ratni rodjendan Ljerka nam tako lijepo i u stravi smrtne grozomore nize kamencic po kamencicsmisla i u ratnom sklonistu stvara mozaik covjecnosti i ljepote zivotvornog zanosa kojem divljaci, sto se ponose da suobozavatelji ptica grabljivica i mrtvackih glava, nista ne mogu. Bosna je, ba, vjecita, a to znaci neunistiva.Sve je tu pozorno i metodicki stavljeno na svoje mjesto, i  gvozdene vile i  kreppapir . Osjecajno, skladno, uzivo. Sve tupodsjeca na njezine savrseno jasno ocrtane oci na tipicnom dinarskom liscu koje je u uzama opjevao Fran-KrstoFrankopan:  Ona lipost, kojoj v dragom liscu biva - lilija i roza cvatuc nahodiva&  . Bosna je za Ljerku to majcinsko liceu kojem se kao u zrcalu i sama prepoznaje. Strasna je stvar morati otici iz Bosne:  Zivot iscupati iz prapostojbine . I kad je Bosna  krv, krv, svuda krv , ona se utudjini dozivljava kao ziva i zivorodna; stvarnost u nasoj dusi bez koje je nemoguce podnijeti tudjinu, sto na adekvatannacin definira stihovima Kanade kao zemlje Inuita -  led, svuda led, led .
Sebe je lijepo definirala pjesmom-parabolom, pravom slikom - rijecima - koja u nama zivi zivotom uocljivim u srcimanjezinim verbalnim cinima, u pjesmi  Konac u kojoj je ona konac koji sve povezuje, poput vezilje, u smisao lijepogkakav prozima svu memoriju Bosne. U pjesmi po kojoj ce Ljerka Lukic uci u svaku antologiju suvremenog pjesnistva ukojoj ce i Bosna biti zastupljena, u  Snovidjenju , ona sve vidi pod bosanskim suncem, u bosanskoj zegi, koje miluje i 
razgaljuje bosanski povjetarac. Ljerkine su pjesme pune behara, mirisa i bukolickog ugodjaja nase male Babovine. Trebaovo citati kad god nas snadje tuga za milom grudom.
Ljerka, kao kolekcionar i strucnjak za folklor i kao rodjena slikarica, i rijecima i bojama nam pokazuje da u Bosni imasvakog dobra i svake ljepote premda malo po malo, a u svom ostalom svijetu moze se naci po nesto sto na Bosnupodsjeca.
Jest, vjera je - Ljerkina  Snovidjenja su vidjenja koja nas bude iz svakog sna i pricina. To je nasa duhovna stvarnost, alistvarnost koja nam pomaze da opstajemo i budemo ponosni u svakom iskusenju kakvih je bukudar u tudjini i okonje. Sta bi bila Hrvatska da Bosne nema?

Livorno (Francuska), 6. studeni 2002.

napisao: akademik Mirko Vidovic

Croatia leads U.S. 1-0 Ljubicic wins

The U.S. Davis Cup team with Taylor Dent,Robby Genepri, James Blake and Mardi Fish pose with the Croatian team membersMario Ancic, Ivan Ljubicic, Lovro Zovko and Goran Ivanisevic, from left, inZagreb on Thursday Feb. 6, 2003, after the draw for the Croatia against USADavis Cup first round tournament to be played in Zagreb this weekend. (AP Photo/HrvojeKnez)

February 7, 2003 Print it 

Associated Press 

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Ivan Ljubicic served 30 aces and beat Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Friday to give Croatia a 1-0 lead over the United States in the first round of the Davis Cup. James Blake had a chance to tie the best-of-five series later Friday against Mario Ancic on the quick indoor court. Ljubicic's string of brilliant serves demoralized Fish, who was making his Davis Cup singles debut. The Croatian ended the match with an ace. 

"I've never played anybody with a serve like that," said Fish, who had 11 aces. His only previous Davis Cup match was in doubles. Ljubicic improved his Davis Cup record to 15-10. He overcame 16 double faults, including two in the final game. "My strategy is pretty much to go for it on the serve and not have to play," Ljubicic said. 

The inexperienced U.S. team is without its top player, Andy Roddick, who has tendinitis in his right wrist. 
In Saturday's doubles, Blake and Fish will face Ljubicic and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic. 
Ivanisevic has not played a competitive match since shoulder surgery in May. He expects his left arm to hurt Saturday. 

"It's going to be painful. Now we're going to see how big the pain is going to be," Ivanisevic said. "We'll see if I can survive with the pain for three or four hours or not." Ivanisevic said the pain had moved to his elbow and biceps -- but only on the serve. That's his biggest weapon, of course. "You don't play the United States every day. Especially not at home," the 31-year-old Croatian said. "It doesn't matter who plays for them; they can make 10 teams in Davis Cup. For me it's very important to play and very important for us to win and I'm going to do everything to play on Saturday. 
"If I have to walk on my head all day today and sleep on the street to play, I'll do that." 
The United States has won the Davis Cup a record 31 times, but its last title came in 1995. 

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 

Source: http://www.sportingnews.com/tennis/articles/20030207/455497.html 

Croatia'sJanica Kostelic speeds down the course

Croatia's Janica Kostelic speeds down the courseduring the women's second downhill training at the World Alpine SkiChampionships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Wednesday, Feb. 5 , 2003. (APPhoto/Keystone/Eddy Risch)