Bora-Speak
It’s called Bora-speak, and it’s a language all its own.
On the surface, it sounds like gibberish.
But Bora-speak is more than simply words. It is “spoken” also with the hands and especially with the eyes. It involves body language and intonation and frequent laughter. Wrapped up in it all are some obfuscation and misdirection and just plain linguistic fun.
Bora Milutinovic can switch from Serbo-Croatian to English to French to Spanish and, for all anyone knows, to Mandarin Chinese, with ease.
But it is Bora-speak that he has made almost an art form.
One of the world’s most successful soccer coaches--and the only one to lead four countries into the second round of the World Cup--he is also one of the world’s most successful practitioners of the art of baffling reporters, while at the same time entertaining them.
Bora-speak doesn’t anger people, it simply leaves them staring at each other in bewilderment, asking, ‘What on earth did he say?’
Milutinovic is in Southern California this weekend, ostensibly, for no other reason than his own amusement.
But Alan Rothenberg, the president of U.S. Soccer, lives in Los Angeles. And Hank Steinbrecher, the federation’s general secretary, is vacationing in San Diego.
Those two pretty much are the ones who will decide who the next U.S. national team coach will be. And the candidates have been narrowed to three--Milutinovic, who coached the U.S. team from 1991 until the spring of ‘95, Brazil’s Carlos Alberto Parreira and Bruce Arena, coach of Washington D.C. United in Major League Soccer.
Not that you could get Milutinovic to admit he is a candidate.
What follows is an edited transcript of an interview with him at the Rose Bowl. Call it a lesson in linguistics. Bora-speak 101:
Question: Bora, what are you doing here?
Answer: I come here first of all [to visit] a little my home in Laguna [Niguel], second to see my friends, third to see the game [the Galaxy’s 3-0 victory over Kansas City last Thursday night]. Nothing more.
Q: Your friend Alan [Rothenberg]?
A: No, no. I don’t like to be pretentious, but my relationship with the family of Mr. Alan is excellent. But this is one thing, this relationship. What they think to be the coach [is another]. They don’t speak with me.
Q: If Arena is chosen, what would you think of that?
A: I think is not important who is coach. The people need to support the coach. Is interest for the USA, for the soccer, for everybody, to succeed. I really very sorry for Steve Sampson [the most recent U.S. coach] but I think he make great job.
Q: Your name has also come up as possibly coaching Bolivia.
A: Not only Bolivia but so many countries. I so happy to see my name, but nobody speak with me. What I going to do? I have contact with some other country, but just now I don’t like to mention. Is not correct. First, if I sign someplace, after I speak. But my way is not to speak before. Is not correct. I respect everybody. I’m happy man.
Q: You’ve been interviewed for the U.S. job?
A: No.
Q: You have not been interviewed?
A: No. Why? They know who I am. They know what I know. They know everything about Bora, I think. I don’t joke, but with me, you don’t need to interview. You know everything.
Q: Are you expecting a call from [federation officials]?
A: I tell you, in my age, I don’t tell [if] I expect or don’t expect. What happen going to happen. I don’t know what going to happen.
My relationship with those people is good, but is not correct for me to speak this about this. Simple what I need to do. I’m happy the people have interest. Maybe I’m going to find job. If I don’t find job, what I going to do?
Q: But you would like the job?
A: I don’t tell you. People speak about [it], I see newspaper. I’m young. If I work here, good. If I don’t, maybe I go to find other place.
Q: Do you not know or would you just rather not say?
A: No, no. Really I don’t have any contact with U.S. Soccer Federation. I don’t have any contact.
Q: Have you talked to Alan [Rothenberg]?
A: Alan I speak last time, I tell you, at Placido Domingo show [the Three Tenors World Cup ’98 Concert in Paris on July 10]. We watch together the Three Tenors. After, I no speak with him.
Q: Do you think the reports that you might become the coach are premature?
A: People ask me [but] I don’t have nothing to tell them. Why? Nobody tell me nothing. I see newspaper. What you going to do? We need to respect decisions of the federation for the good for the soccer.
Really I’m happy what I do in soccer. You know how many games I have? I have 226 [national team] games. Nobody [else] in the world [has that many]. In the World Cup, I have 17 games, eight wins. Four times go through [to the second round]. What I need do more?
Q: If they offered you the job, would you take it?
A: No, no. Is not correct to speak before they offer. First you need to wait. After to speak, not before. You understand?
Q: So if they offered it, you might take it?
A: You need to ask the [federation] people. First, really, I think is not correct to speak. I have very good offer from other country, but I wait. But I don’t like to tell you which country. You understand me? Second, my English is not so good.
Q: What would you prefer, if they offered you an MLS club or the national team?
A: Just now, nobody offer me nothing.
Q: I understand, but if . . . ?
A: After, I tell you, but not before. Is no easy for me. I’m happy. I’m here with my friends, I watch a game, nothing more. You know my problem, I’m always happy. This is my biggest problem.
