Juantorena Apologizes

Time to control the damage!

Osmany’s underhand serve caused some major major hullabaloo yesterday when he and Team Trentino played against Ivan Zaytsev and Team Roma Volley. Roma played great volleyball despite losing the match 1-3 (13-25/ 23-25/ 25-22/ 17-25).

The most unexpected part of the match was when Osmany did an underhand serve during the 4th set at game point.

Watch this…

We can totally understand how players of Roma Volley reacted and also with their fans booing Osmany (who was chosen as the Match MVP).

In the world of professional sports, such action can be perceived as offensive/ insulting regardless of the player’s intention is. Osmany has stated he did it because he was trying to win a bet with a teammate and that he didn’t mean to make fun of Roma nor intended to insult the opponents and the fans.

Osmany’s Statement (in Italian):

“Voglio chiarire che quella battuta non voleva essere assolutamente uno sberleffo, né alla squadra di Roma né al pubblico – afferma – ; in allenamento provo spesso questo tipo servizio e mi ero ripromesso prima o poi di farlo anche in gara sfidando me stesso a mo’ di scommessa con i miei compagni. L’occasione propizia è capitata stasera a Roma solo perché sia la situazione di punteggio sia il tipo di palazzetto in cui si giocava lo consentivano. Mi spiace tanto se qualcuno si è offeso ma non era mia intenzione mancare di rispetto a nessuno”.

Since Uncle Google is a little off with the translation, Os is pretty much apologize for what he did. The coaches have also spoken. Can someone please translate in English what they’re saying?

UPDATE: An amazing Volleywood fan has translated the video. See below:

Stoytchev: During the training session Juantorena betted with his teammates that he would have been capable of doing a sky ball serve, running obliquely in the court, receiving and attacking on the other side. So he did it.

At the end of the match, Burgsthaler provoked him saying -doing it only during the training is too easy, you can do it during the game!- and he did it, without any ulterior motive, he didn’t want to offend anyone. That wasn’t his intention. And when I say that, I say it with a clear conscience.

He is not the kind of guy that want to provoke the other team. Raising a question out of it is useless, it’s only a serve!
Journalist: But the public didn’t take that well, do you justify your player? Are you agree with what he did? Do you accept the bet or you criticize it?

Stoytchev: No, I don’t criticize anything, I repeat again, what he did wasn’t offensive, he did a technical and athletic feat that it’s difficult in volleyball, and he didn’t want to offend anyone, especially the opposing team. And then, why don’t you equally ask me why his jump serve is so strong?!

Journalist: It’s not the same thing…

Stoytchev: Have you ever played volleyball? Is it more difficult to do a strong jump serve or do this kind of serve?
(someone in the background: a jump serve is more difficult)

Journalist: The point is that a serve like that at game point gives the idea of a mockery…

Stoythcev: Ok, I agree. that it might seem like that, and that’s why everybody came to protest, but you don’t have to think badly of him…

(he goes to Giani)

Stoy: Andrea…

Giani: Hi Rado, good luck (for the season)

Stoy: Andrea, he didn’t do it on purpose…

Giani: Who did not do it on purpose…?

Stoy: Osmany, he didn’t do for…

Giani. It’s a way of being/behaving. It’s he who has to know what he has done…

Stoy: I understand you, but I can swear that he didn’t do it towards you.

Giani: So…why he did it?

Stoy: You never did something like that when you played volleyball?!

Giani: What he did… I’ve never done a thing like that, neither the ones who played against me. Never. But everyone is free to do whatever they want, it’s like when you attack, you take the responsibility of what you do… that’s it!

***

Since all parties have spoken about the incident, it’ your turn to speak up.

Do you think Osmany’s SERVE was OFFENSIVE or NOT?

Do you think Osmany’s SERVE was OFFENSIVE or NOT?

Do you think Osmany’s SERVE was OFFENSIVE or NOT?

Tell us! Tell us!