07/08/17 | 12:55 ≫ 26/03/18 | 18:30

07/08/17 | 12:55 ≫ 26/03/18 | 18:30

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

- Man, Darko is really happy, he is relaxed and a funny man. He does what he loves, he has a wonderful wife, three lovely children, his own peace, what more he needs and what could he possibly want more from life - it was a short resume of ESPN's cameraman Bill on the dinner after the tour through Darko's vineyard. He wasn't mistaken.

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Americans had to wait a day longer for the tour than it was planned. Darko prolonged his stay on Kosovo and Metohija, visiting our holy shrines, and while he was returning, he visited Djurdjevi Stupovi, and he especially amazed Serbs with a game of hoops in Orahovac.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

Even though there were long nights and not much sleep on the road, he greeted the expedition of ESPN in morning hours, and we headed to the orchard. Along the way, Darko reveals that Father Ilarion left a strong impression on him, which is the same with most of the people who had the opportunity to talk to him.

It was once a talented guitar player and actor, Rastko Lupulovic, who became famous by his role of Milance in Otvorena Vrata. He became a priest in Visoki Decani in 1992, Darko sees him as the future patriarch and the story about visiting Kosmet are often interrupted by the calls about the chores in the orchard.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

He told the Americans later on that there are old and new Darko. The new one is holding all the threats in his own hands, he demands perfection in work on his 50 hectares and it is clear how dedicated he is to apples.

He won't tell you with a smile and excitement how he ironically laughed to Mutombo face after being provoked, how blocked Grifin, but the story about great venture is filling him up, apple varieties, a comparison with field products, and his eyes started when he shows you the equipment from Austria with Cyrillic engraving "Mili Dar".

There were some troubles and disapproving from the Austrian side from technical reasons, Darko said: "either print it on Cyrillic or don't write anything". Said-done, the customer was respected, the word game was done and it found it's Cyrillic stamp from the name and last name.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

At the time of our arrival on the estate, Lebron James was surely dead tired of dreaming of winning against the Golden State beasts. Carmelo may have dreamed of a ring that Darko sold for the most humane reasons, and our former national played doesn't have problems like that anymore.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

All of that is in the past, Darko doesn't care if Durrant will be the key in the fight for the title, he only wants to take the children to school and to go to the orchard, which is his route on every two days. Even his son Lazar makes pocket money in the apple trees.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

It was a clear desire of ESPN to understand Darko as best as possible, the context of his growing up and his stubborn mentality which is perhaps the most difficult to explain, about which Darko openly talked about. The people they also talked about were former players Mile Ilic and Miljan Pupovic, former coaches Petar Rodic and Zeljko Lukajic, and then manager Darko Popivoda, the man who was responsible for a short-lived fighting journey.

They wanted to bring the part of the childhood spent in two wars closer to the American public. They had the opportunity for that when they stopped on the way to Ledinac, where Darko lives. They passed by the bombarded object of RT Vojvodina and the indignation was clear through the countless graffiti "Fuck NATO" on the destroyed walls.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

They went to the greatest details in the analysis of Darko, they were curious what is written on the t-shirt of Lebron's follower in famous 2003 draft.

His jersey at the orchard Homeland shirt with especially visible print "Srem-Banat-Backa-Baranja" with the picture of May gathering of Pavle Simic.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

Americans weren't bored while listening about the creation of Serbian Vojvodina, Krajina, about the wars in the nineties, which were actually the hardest to explain. Darko said that it was terrible because people who lived next to each other suddenly took weapons, and he talked about Kosovo and Metohija with special emotions, partly because he was there recently.

- Kosovo is Serbia and it always will be. Always, it is the inseparable part of our soul - said Darko with shivering voice, because he already talked with the rush of emotions about the war and how he feared for his father's life, bombing, and crisis he went through in the USA.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

Darko finds inner peace among the walls of the shrines on Fruska Gora, so Darko recommended Novo Hopovo for the next destination. Priest Joanikije took the guests with pleasure among the walls of the building which dates from 13th century, which was the detail that impressed them very much.

After the story of the history of the object, he also demonstrated the essence of staying in the monastery - It doesn't matter if you come with 52 million dollars on your bank account or with difficult existential problems. The desire for peace is the only thing important, and the star of the new E:60 documentaries finally found it after all the wondering.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

The five member crew of ESPN left Novo Hopovo with the gift of five bottles of monastery brandy before they headed to the boutique "Cataleya".

Milicic's wife Zorana said that it was hard to tame Darko's temper in the most critical days of his stay in the USA, and how much everything changed in Serbia, and soon after the time has come for our little basketball game.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

Darko thought a lot of weather to expose his oldest son Lazar to the attention of cameras while he plays basketball because it should still remain just a game to him, outside of all the publicity and famous last name. The game he didn't enjoy much, partly because of his own mistakes, partly for entering into the vortex of expectations and ambitions others placed before him.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

That is why you can't see usual reactions parents show when his kid is great on the field, who gives more and more. It makes him laugh when he sees Lazar getting angry when he loses, he rewards a good move with applause, with just a little complain when he didn't help his teammate in defense.

At the end, a game of hoops was seen in Darko's home. Everything is still there - soft hand, incredible strength, and speed, till his stamina lasts. After few moves it was clear that he could play on European courts with no problem... There is just a small problem, that wouldn't make him happy.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

He wouldn't have that smile if he tricked some play or when Predrag Suput, who was one of the guests, stopped him from brutally dunking with a wrestling move. There is no contract better than a game with friends while Lazar, Lara, and Luka run beside the field.

All of that was enough for Americans to see what is behind a mask of an angry man who rips the Memphis jersey or hits Chetnik leaders Kalabic and Djujic.

- I think that the greatest question for the most Americans is not why Darko really never made some huge success. He had physical predispositions, he played on the high level in Serbia, but he really never blended with expectations. The time spent with him was enough the understand that he is a far more complex person hiding under the mask of frustration and anger. His softer side was really important for our movie - Sam said his impressions before the airing.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

One of the moments in orchard especially intrigued Sam.

- To be honest, the most impressive moment was when he spoke about happiness when he picked the first apple. It was really important for him, not because that was good for his business, but because he felt the opportunity to control his life. He created something, and for the first time after much time, he felt proud because of that.

Foto: Bojan Vinulović

In the end, the reaction of the audience, which mostly condemned Darko, is now awaited.

- It's hard to say how will all react on E:60, but I hope that it will show Darko in a different light, the fans of basketball didn't see yet. Yes, he wasn't successful in NBA as all expected him to be, but he found peace in his life and that is enough to call it a success.

The team from Connecticut could go back after the dinner with brandy and fold music and say: Darko is now the master of his own happiness. Immeasurable happiness.

(Telegraf.rs / Bojan Vinulovic)