Teammates
One's from Serbia; one's from Croatia, but Darko Milicic & Mario Kasun are teammates
Just two guys on a bus. Teammates. Talking. Laughing. It's hardly momentous. Why would it matter that two guys are talking on a bus?
If the two guys are Orlando Magic players Mario Kasun and Darko Milicic, it matters.
Born just 45 miles from each other, but on opposite sides of the civil war that consumed and ultimately broke Yugoslavia, these two young men now find themselves playing on the same team, and looking to make war a thing of the past.
"It's not his fault. It's not our fault, says Mario. "I've got a lot of Serbian friends. As long as you're going to be good to me, I'm going to be good to you.
Darko has a similar feeling, "It's weird for both of us, but we're fine, we're good.
The desire to put conflict behind them isn't the only similarity these determined players share. Each has grown to seven feet tall. Each has one sibling, a sister. Each was a child when the hostilities began (Mario was 11, Darko just six). Each of their hometowns was destroyed. And each describes growing up in a war zone with the same understated word, "Tough.
"It was tough living in a war for five years, Mario offers, talking matter-of-factly about running for shelters during air attacks. "It was tough growing up, but we've got family and parents to support us.
Darko echoes the description, again that word, "Tough, then says, "I'm only hoping it's going to get better every day.
For each of the boys, war also meant separation from his father. Mario's dad moved his wife and two children as far away as he could from the fighting, but had to stay himself. For Darko, "My father spent half a life in the war. He sighs, looks down, "That's what affected me most, because I didn't see him at all.
Still, there's something else the two share from their childhood, this time with a smile. "Playing basketball was always fun, says Mario, lighting up. "No matter where you play, what time you play, shovel the snow, play in the snow. Always fun.
Both men also love their countries, will play for them this summer, and want to make life better for the people who live there.
"I spend every summer over there, says Darko. "I spend every summer with my friends, just trying to help. And while in the United States, he and his fellow Serbian players often talk, "...trying to think what's best for us to do to help the people over there.
The Magic front office has been sensitive to this situation from the beginning. When the trade that brought Darko to town was announced, the team's Director of Communications, Joel Glass, checked in with Mario. As Joel relates it, the young man reacted with maturity. He acknowledged the issue, then said, "I'm a professional, and moved on.
Moved on, indeed.
"They should be looked at as an example, says Otis Smith, Magic Assistant General Manager. "Darko and Mario are good teammates. They hang out together, they talk to each other. They're positive people. If there's any bad feelings [between people in the former Yugoslavia] they should watch these two guys.
Teammates, in a complicated world.
And because this is a complicated world, where real war is given even more poignancy by career considerations, these two good men may be in competition. But they're not enemies. They laugh on the bus, and that's a step forward.
Tom Cannold is a freelance writer in the Orlando area.
This story originally appeared in the May issue of Magic Magazine. Get your favorite Magic fan a subscription to Magic Magazine! To subscribe call 1-877-841-7070 or e-mail subscription.service@skies.com and specify you want Magic Magazine. A one-year subscription is $18.95 and two-year is just $24.95.
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| Mario Kasun grew up in Vinkovci, Croatia; Darko Milicic grew up just 45 miles away in Novi Sad, Serbia. The distance between the towns is about the same as between Kissimmee and Sanford. |
If the two guys are Orlando Magic players Mario Kasun and Darko Milicic, it matters.
Born just 45 miles from each other, but on opposite sides of the civil war that consumed and ultimately broke Yugoslavia, these two young men now find themselves playing on the same team, and looking to make war a thing of the past.
"It's not his fault. It's not our fault, says Mario. "I've got a lot of Serbian friends. As long as you're going to be good to me, I'm going to be good to you.
Darko has a similar feeling, "It's weird for both of us, but we're fine, we're good.
The desire to put conflict behind them isn't the only similarity these determined players share. Each has grown to seven feet tall. Each has one sibling, a sister. Each was a child when the hostilities began (Mario was 11, Darko just six). Each of their hometowns was destroyed. And each describes growing up in a war zone with the same understated word, "Tough.
"It was tough living in a war for five years, Mario offers, talking matter-of-factly about running for shelters during air attacks. "It was tough growing up, but we've got family and parents to support us.
Darko echoes the description, again that word, "Tough, then says, "I'm only hoping it's going to get better every day.
For each of the boys, war also meant separation from his father. Mario's dad moved his wife and two children as far away as he could from the fighting, but had to stay himself. For Darko, "My father spent half a life in the war. He sighs, looks down, "That's what affected me most, because I didn't see him at all.
Still, there's something else the two share from their childhood, this time with a smile. "Playing basketball was always fun, says Mario, lighting up. "No matter where you play, what time you play, shovel the snow, play in the snow. Always fun.
Both men also love their countries, will play for them this summer, and want to make life better for the people who live there.
"I spend every summer over there, says Darko. "I spend every summer with my friends, just trying to help. And while in the United States, he and his fellow Serbian players often talk, "...trying to think what's best for us to do to help the people over there.
The Magic front office has been sensitive to this situation from the beginning. When the trade that brought Darko to town was announced, the team's Director of Communications, Joel Glass, checked in with Mario. As Joel relates it, the young man reacted with maturity. He acknowledged the issue, then said, "I'm a professional, and moved on.
Moved on, indeed.
"They should be looked at as an example, says Otis Smith, Magic Assistant General Manager. "Darko and Mario are good teammates. They hang out together, they talk to each other. They're positive people. If there's any bad feelings [between people in the former Yugoslavia] they should watch these two guys.
Teammates, in a complicated world.
And because this is a complicated world, where real war is given even more poignancy by career considerations, these two good men may be in competition. But they're not enemies. They laugh on the bus, and that's a step forward.
Tom Cannold is a freelance writer in the Orlando area.
This story originally appeared in the May issue of Magic Magazine. Get your favorite Magic fan a subscription to Magic Magazine! To subscribe call 1-877-841-7070 or e-mail subscription.service@skies.com and specify you want Magic Magazine. A one-year subscription is $18.95 and two-year is just $24.95.
