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08/21/2007
Ravaged Serbian Village Unveils Monument to Rocky Balboa
Ravaged by floods, landslides, unemployment, murder, and diseases on farms in recent years, the village of Zitiste, north of Belgrade in Serbia, has gained a "disaster-prone" reputation, according to the Associated Press.
So locals came up with the idea of creating something that might both attract tourists and stand as a symbol of strength, courage, and victory — a good luck symbol, if you will.
The solution: a 9 ft. monument to Rocky Balboa. And on Sunday, they had the unveiling:
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:35 AM EST by Andy in Art & Design, Boxing, Film, News, Serbia, Sports, Sylvester Stallone | Permalink
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Louise Nevelson wept.
Posted by: Becks07 | Aug 21, 2007 10:41:43 AM
so it's twice the height of sly stallone?
Posted by: A.J. | Aug 21, 2007 10:45:54 AM
Maybe they can trade the statue for some tents and food.
Posted by: Brian | Aug 21, 2007 10:50:05 AM
What does Rocky have to do with the Serbia? How is it suppose to attract tourists? What's the logic here?
Posted by: Bryce | Aug 21, 2007 11:31:07 AM
Will it block landslides?
Posted by: Mike | Aug 21, 2007 11:32:49 AM
REALLY?
Posted by: Chux | Aug 21, 2007 11:42:51 AM
Poor Serbs, that statue is the biggest disaster to befall them yet. I suppose the much anticipated Rocky Balboa theme park is next?
Posted by: the queen | Aug 21, 2007 11:43:08 AM
...wow... no words...
Posted by: sam | Aug 21, 2007 11:51:07 AM
The full story is even more interesting: the unveiling comes during the Žitište Chicken Fest -- a rock and culture festival sponsored by the local meat packing plant, which is the largest in Serbia. They have a full webpage devoted to the Rocky- Žitište project, including some chickens!
http://www.rocky-zitiste.com/
The statue is obviously a follow-up to the gilt bronze statue of Bruce Lee erected two years ago in Mostar: Bruce Lee was the only hero all sides could agree on!
http://www.projekt-relations.de/pix/pressematerial/download/56_24.jpg
Unfortunately blogger Balkan Baby found that the statue has now been vandalized or stolen, and only the stone base survives:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_ex5PdoT0PXg/RlmQzFUuoaI/AAAAAAAAA1g/T-oX3ULQv04/s1600-h/DSCF0205.JPG
Posted by: kevinVT | Aug 21, 2007 1:14:42 PM
There's even an official chicken-fest site with all the bands listed:
http://www.chicken-fest.com/program.html
Posted by: kevinVT | Aug 21, 2007 1:35:09 PM
As stupid to Americans as it may seem, to Serbs, Rocky Balboa is a symbol of hope and aspiration that they can rally around.
Having been to Serbia the past three years, I can safely say they need all the hope and aspiration they can get. But it's easy to judge people you know absolutely nothing about.
Posted by: Tread | Aug 21, 2007 3:28:01 PM
Unfortunately just hours after the unveiling the statue fell over, causing a school bus full of orphans to drive off a bridge.
Is Serbia so bad they're reduced to starting Cargo Cults?
Posted by: ohmy | Aug 22, 2007 3:53:26 AM