Any other boxing fans out there have probably heard of the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers. Vladimir and Vitali. Vladimir is current Heavy Weight champ, holding three titles. Vitali is a former champ with a guaranteed shot at the tile against Samule Peter WHEN he is available. You see, he is also currently a candidate for Mayor of Kyiv and polls show him in a close number two position to take that office.
If your Ukrainian lady comes from the EASTERN part of Ukraine - the side that advocates close ties to the west, she might like hearing that you know who the guy is. But if she is from the WESTERN part - you might want to avoid saying anything to her, or to her family, or to even taxi drivers, lest you WANT to get an earful in a languaget that you don't understand anyway.
I find that geography more than anything else, dictates whether or not you even aknowledge that this guy EXISTS!
Advocacy of joining the west, (NATO, European Union, etc.) and those who want a closer alliance with Russia.
The Dnepropetrovsk River could be considered a rough dividing line - with those more on the west favoring alliance with Russia and tending to favor the Russian language and those on the eastern side favoring more of an alliance with western Europe and tending to favor the Ukrainian language.
Jet,
Do you mean the Dnepr river rather than Dnepropetrovsk river?
Also, i think you might have your east and west arse about face, eastern Ukraine, by my experience, is more pro Russia whilst western Ukraine like to speak Ukrainian rather than Russian.
There's also a Ukrainian minority that talk total shite but that's another story :)
That's exactly my point. I happen to LIKE boxing. (You don't - that's already noted.) I didn't talk about Klitschoko to IMPRESS my lady, I mentioned him simply because he is one of the most famous Ukrainians out there right now and people sometimes like hearing about world figures from their home country. This lady ISN'T particularly impressed with boxing, though she doesn't hate it either. She DOES though hate Klitschko's politics - she is from the eastern part of Ukraine and tend to favor association with Russia. I just mentioned for conversation not to win her over.
It ISN'T the "CORRECT" thing to say - but I wouldn't hessitate to talk about him again as boxing IS an interest of mine AND he is Ukrainian.
Martin:
Yes you are absolutely right that I confused the western part of Ukraine - theat tend to favor Europe - with the eastern part. Makes sense of course since the eastern part is nearer to Russia - that's what I meant, I just wrote it wrong.
Vitali Klitschoko, dedicated his first title defence to democracy in Ukraine.
How many other sportsmen can you think of that make political statements like that?
This guy has the world at his feet and is only waiting for superstardom on a scale of Tyson and Lewis.
He could go and live in USA now and forget all about his country...but he chooses to use his fame to at least make something known to the world and do something for his homeland.
But danny - I can't believe you are even a real person sometimes. You think that Stalone's speach is a result of him doing Rocky MOVIES!?!? They were MOVIES!! If he took any real hits it was only for action sequences in the film!
And if you watch the FIRST Rocky - his speach is just as slurred as it is now - its the way he SPEAKS!
Klitchko is quite bright and he has had many many many REAL fights.