Lithuanian Basketball Club Head's Foul-Mouthed Tirade Against Association President

A public spat erupted on Facebook between Eimantas Skersis, head of the Utena "Juventus" basketball club, and Mindaugas Balčiūnas, president of the Lithuanian Basketball Association (LBA). The conflict began when Balčiūnas posted about the success of Lithuanian girls' national teams competing in elite European championships, thanking coaches and players.

Skersis strongly disagreed with Balčiūnas's positive assessment, citing financial struggles within women's basketball. He revealed that he personally lent 400 euros to the struggling Panevėžys women's team last year, doing so with no expectation of repayment but as a contribution to the sport. "So don't talk nonsense about how everything is fine here, how everything is growing. Open your eyes and start telling the truth, not living in illusions," Skersis directed at Balčiūnas.

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So don't talk nonsense about how everything is fine here, how everything is growing. Open your eyes and start telling the truth, not living in illusions.

Balčiūnas initially responded calmly, suggesting that work-related matters be discussed offline and mentioning the upcoming visit of NCAA champions, the University of Michigan, to Utena. "Eimantas, thank you for the comment. Let's be happy about the upcoming visit of the University of Michigan to Utena, that doesn't happen often either. And we can discuss work matters not virtually," Balčiūnas replied.

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Eimantas, thank you for the comment. Let's be happy about the upcoming visit of the University of Michigan to Utena, that doesn't happen often either. And we can discuss work matters not virtually.

This measured response only intensified Skersis's anger. The "Juventus" head accused the LBA of deceiving basketball fans in the Aukštaitija region. The game, featuring the Lithuanian reserve team and the University of Michigan, was initially marketed as a match involving the main Lithuanian national team. "Mindaugas, what is there to be happy about? You actually **f***ed over all the residents of the Aukštaitija region by saying the Lithuanian national team would play. What kind of crap are you talking?" Skersis retorted, adding that he had to calm down at least 50 people and explain why they wouldn't see the main stars of the Lithuanian team in Utena.

The exhibition game between the Lithuanian reserve team and the University of Michigan is scheduled for August 24 at 6:30 PM in Utena.

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Mindaugas, what is there to be happy about? You actually **f***ed over all the residents of the Aukštaitija region by saying the Lithuanian national team would play. What kind of crap are you talking?