Enes Kanter's National Team Participation
- Thread starter addictionary
- Start date
The first basketball experience Wikipedia mentions started in 2006.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
It's not ethnic pride. We don't care for ethnicity in Turkey. We are an enormously cosmopolitan society and those who say they are Turkish are usually people that migrated from somewhere else even maybe before the Rebuplic was found (mainly due to wars and lost lands).
What I am talking about is about our urban culture and our sports culture as being connected to that. I admit we have a few degree higher nationalism than you tend to see in other countries that might harm the solidarity between our sub social groups and definitely did as within Kurds, Armenians, Alaouites etc.
Not only in Turks but in any society, national pride being continuously getting attacked leads to increased protectivism against those who threaten it or who is presented as a threat to it. You can compare it with America, after the attack, a great deal of the society has become extremely hateful against Muslims no matter what they are doing and who they are. It's inevitable. It's national reaction that can occur in any society in case of (supposed) danger.
Sorry if I messed it up too much. What I'm trying to tell is, Turks have an intimate feel of nationalistic pride. And this has got nothing to do with ethnicity here. We are always friends with people from other ethnic and religious backgrounds. I'm not saying this to make my society look good to you. Of course there are extremists in here too. But that is how it is like in Turkey. I think this is a consequence of being a country descendant of an empire that was a mix of many nations. Our people expect gratefulness from the Turkish players that play in the NBA, that play abroad as soccer players in greater teams and they love to celebrate it when it is time to gather the national team who are our prides as a society. We are too much sensitive about that aspect of the game.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
That is what I would offer.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
The year 1453 is the year Constantinople (current Istanbul) was conquered by Mehmet II, emperor of the Ottomans. He was not on his own of course he had his army and navy. Lol. It is also the end of the existence of the Roman Empire in the entire world. Remember that was a time before the colonialism existed, so that changed the world as we know it today, leading Europe to different search canals to find a way to exist and develop, hence leading to the discoveries, merchantalism, classical capitalism, offloading outlaws to America, foundation of your country etc. etc...
addictionary
Well-Known Member
Actually that is kind of a false statement from the historians. The Pontus Empire in Trabzon (the Black Sea harbor town) was conquered years after the siege of Istanbul, who were also connected to the Eastern Roman Empire.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
He plays the game since the age of 14. That is the age he actually grabbed the ball. He learns really, I mean REALLY fast. He has a bright future if he works with the right people.
(Fixed.)
CAKAR
Well-Known Member
Thats the point turkish sport is always losing. Imagine Kanter could have started to play with 6 or 7 years, he would be even more amazing than he is now . Turkey is a country very young, but they are wasting their talent.
It does not make sense to compare the America's reaction against an attack with what happened to Armenians, Kurds and other nations of Asia Minor in history. Additionally, I should say that ethnicity matters a lot in Turkey in spite of people like you are denying it immediately. Turkey's relation with her own citizen Orhan Pamuk, who gave an interview to a Journal in Europe and received immediate pressure from Turkey on every level is just one example.
Just check out his page on Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enes_Kanter
Apparently, he was born in Switzerland and his father, who is from Ercis - a town in South Eastern Turkey, moves back to Turkey later on. There are sections on his career and apparently he starts playing in 2006 according to Wikipedia.
jazzyapma
Well-Known Member
IMHO Oğuz is the definition of stiff.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
Now ur trollin doug!
friendsinmyhead
Member
Thanks for the thoughtful post. Makes sense- Kanter knows what is expected of him from his countrymen if he choses not to play he knows what to expect from them. He was aware when he chose not to play and now he can expect some frustration/anger. I can understand this as it occurs here as well. However Turkey may be "cuttting off it's nose to spite it's face". Kanter will be one of if not the best bigmen in Europe. by alienating him and treating him poorly it may cause Turkey to lose him for several years. The head of Turkey basketball should rethink his position and meet with Ennis face to face to clear the air. After all he is the mature adult, he should not let the actions of an agent or a 19 year old kid negatively affect Turkish basketball.
CAKAR
Well-Known Member
Iam not, I have a friend who played basketball in turkey/Istanbul and he played together with players like Semih,Asik and also Savas. He said that Semih was just tall and had no talent and that it was obvious that Omar will succeed in the NBA. He said about Savas that normally he can handle the ball better then many guards. And I saw him in the last Eurobasket and liked his touch.
Kanter playing national ball seems like an obvious win/win for him and for Turkey basketball. So, I assume he has a reason for not doing it. That's good enough for me. I can understand being very disappointed if you're a fan of the Turkish National Team, but to get into a ***-for-tat pissing match seems like an immature way to handle it that benefits no one.
LunaticWolf
Well-Known Member
Kanter is going to have a good NBA career whether or not he plays for Turkey. I guarantee that Kanter learned more this season, then he did in all the time he spent playing in Turkey past.
Why are people framing this as either/or? Kanter could have and could do both, which is better. Which is what he should do. When he's finally getting the playing time he deserves here, maybe he should start thinking about the basketball he shouldn't be playing.
addictionary
Well-Known Member
I was talkin about resembling big Al thingie babe.
LunaticWolf
Well-Known Member
Turkey is refusing to let him play. Kanter has no option for this season at least.