Turkey’s largest Kurdish city, Diyarbakir, is at the center of a decades-long conflict between the state and Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy. The city often sees clashes between young people and security forces. But one man has devoted his life to bringing hope and a way out of violence for the city’s youth through basketball. Dorian Jones has the story.
via Kurdish City in Turkey Heals Wounds with Basketball – YouTube.
Ken Howard, a coach in “The White Shadow,’ ’was heard loud and clear — in Turkey.
ISTANBUL — Ask any Turkish citizen over the age of 35 what led to the stunning growth of basketball in this soccer-crazed country during the 1980s, and they’ll credit Coolidge, Salami, Gomez, and Coach Reeves.
Several years before NBA games were televised live to nations in Europe, back when households in many European countries had just one television channel, thousands of Turkish kids were glued to episodes of “The White Shadow,” the CBS series from the late 1970s and early ’80s that chronicled the mostly African-American Carver High School basketball team in Los Angeles and its white coach, played by Ken Howard.
The show, wildly popular among American kids in the 1980s, showed children in Istanbul and Ankara that wealth was not needed to play the game. Basketball programs in Turkish cities experienced a boon; kids were not only playing, but tagging each other with names of the show’s characters.
“There are some effects that change children’s and people’s lives,” said Turkish television journalist Kaan Kural, who is from the capital of Ankara. “For example, ‘The White Shadow,’ it was a moment for Turkish basketball. Many high schools built basketball courts after ‘The White Shadow.’ Everybody was calling each other Salami, Coolidge, and everything. Everybody was watching it on Sundays. It was the only show we could watch.”
Basketball has expanded exponentially in this massive country over the past two decades, so much so that the host Turkish team reached the finals of the 2010 World Championships.
The Ulker Sports Arena, where the Celtics were beaten by Fenerbahce Ulker Friday, is a state-of-the-art sports palace with an adjoining practice facility for the Turkish League team — an example of the sport’s stunning growth since those “White Shadow” days.
“Basketball is becoming very popular in Turkey, step by step,” said Naci Cansun, a Turkish native and senior director of NBA Turkey. “In the performance of the national team, in the number of Turks playing in the NBA, and probably more importantly, the types of events that Turkey’s hosting around basketball.”
In addition to the 2010 World Championships, the country will host 2014 Women’s World Championships and it also hosted the Euro League Final Four last May.
According to current FIBA rankings, the Turkish men are seventh in the world, having slipped when they failed to qualify for the London Olympics. The Turkish women shot up eight spots to 13th after reaching the Olympic quarterfinals, losing to Russia by 3.
Without being prompted, Cansun agreed with Kural’s assessment that “The White Shadow” was integral in sparking basketball interest in Turkey.
“Turkey has always had very good fundamentals for basketball,” Cansun said. “Turkey has a culture of sports clubs, and Turkey clubs not only had a football [soccer] team but a basketball team. There was always no lack of spectators. It wasn’t considered an elite sport until 25 years ago.”
Cansun said he and his friends would trade months-old Betamax tapes of NBA games just to watch the action because the league had not yet become global. That carried into the early 1990s, when the US Olympic men’s team in Barcelona — The Dream Team — popularized basketball all over Europe.
Although more children in Turkey were shooting baskets in schoolyards, the sport became an international factor primarily because of the coaching of Aydin Ors, considered the father of modern Turkish basketball. Ors helped channel the talent and energy generated from “The White Shadow,” the Michael Jordan era, and the Dream Team into a team that became a consistent contender around Europe.
Before the 1990s, Turkey was an afterthought among its European foes while Russia, Lithuania, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Italy competed for supremacy. Ors sought to change that.
“Turkish standards are now high in European basketball, so I am not surprised,” he said. “I started with the senior team [Efes Pilsen] 20 years ago, we won the Korac Cup [a European tournament] in 1996, and for any team — football, basketball — that was the first champion for Turkey.”
Having coached many of those senior players as juniors, Ors led the club to four Turkish League titles, the first coming in 1993, and that same team also lost in the Finals of the European Cup to rival Greece. Slowly, Turkey was becoming a European basketball factor.
“They started to believe we can do [great things],” Ors said. “We can play in Europe for every [trophy]. And by this time, the national team is growing.”
A pinnacle came when the Turkish team reached the final of the European Cup in 2001, losing to Yugoslavia/Serbia, 78-69. A member of Ors’s 2000 European Cup semifinalist with Efes Pilsen, Hedo Turkoglu, became the first Turkish-born player to play in the NBA in 2000.
“We began to build a generation of basketball players,” Cansun said. “All we needed was to appeal to the masses and that came through pop culture, pushing kids to play basketball, making it look cool.”
There are now five Turkish players in the NBA after former Celtic Semih Erden left to sign with Anadolo Efes of the Turkish League. Three more Turks were selected in the final 10 picks of last June’s NBA Draft.
The Turkish League is transforming into one of Europe’s more competitive leagues, and Fenerbahce Ulker has an opportunity to crack the Euro League Final Four. No Turkish team has ever won a Euro League title or even been runner-up.
“I think the Dream Team taught players in Europe that basketball can be played at a different level,” Kural said. “And the Turkish have begun to pick up that you win with defense, because you can’t score 200 points. The Turkish League is second only to Spanish League and it’s getting better.”
Cansun’s job at the NBA office in Turkey is to promote the game locally and develop marketing opportunities. Turkey’s economy was not affected by the European downturn; a testament to that are the many new and under-construction buildings in Istanbul.
“I think there are enough great players in Turkey,” said Cansun. “Our main responsibility is on the commercial side. We have to try to create a fan base to interact with on an ongoing basis, find companies who are able to fund this relationship with the fans.
“It’s the model that you would see in the US, and we hope that the Turkish basketball community starts to [increase] its practices when they see the NBA coming to town. That’s why we are organizing these basketball tournaments.
“The hope is that the local market is going to start imitating those, and out of those events will come the Michael Jordan of Turkey.”
Early on the boxer’s legs quivered. He stumbled through the early rounds of his first fight, a fight that tested his attrition and technique over the ability to land knockout blows. A lockout prior to the fight was supposed to have helped the boxer. He was more experienced and had less to find out about himself. Yet, that didn’t prove true initially. If anything, the lockout looked set to hurt the older boxer. Instead of facing 10 tough rounds, he was instead facing nine rounds that were twice as taxing.
There may be no team more busy than Boston this off-season. Not only does Danny have to fill out a fifteen man roster than only boasts four signed players and decide two first round picks (and another at #51), the Celtics have a very busy schedule before even the pre-season starts.
Boston is signed up for both summer leagues in Orlando and Las Vegas. Click on the link for schedules. The Celtics will also join the Dallas Mavericks to represent the league in the NBA Live Europe 2012 showcase.
NBA Europe Live 2012 To Showcase Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Top Euroleague Teams
The four-game tour tips off on Oct. 5 when the 17-time NBA Champion Boston Celtics play five-time Turkish Champions Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul at the newly opened, state-of-the-art Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul, Turkey…Next stop is Milan, Italy, where 25-time Italian Champions EA7 Emporio Armani will match up against the Celtics at the Mediolanum Forum on Oct.7.
People have cited a lack of training camp as a big reason why Purduo–JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore–didn’t see a lot of floor time last season. They’ll get a lot of run in the summer leagues and we’ll get to see how JJJ plays with his added weight. My fingers are crossed that he can take an Avery Bradley-like leap next season. There’s also picks #21 and #22. There are rumors that the Celtics might be looking to trade up, but if they stand pat, those are two guys that will also definitely compete in Orlando and Vegas. There really hasn’t been a star turn for a Celtic in summer league play, but guys can definitely play themselves into an invite to training camp and maybe even the team. I remember when Luke Harangody was drafted at #52 and nobody expected him to even make the team. He shined in Orlando and made the cut.
With the two game trip to Europe, it sounds like 2007 all over again. That year, the newly formed Big Three went to Rome and bonded as a team. Nine months later, they were beating the Lakers in The Finals and bringing home #17. Doc is on record saying that he likes taking training camp overseas:
Passports needed for 2012-13 preseason
“I love when we go [away for camp],” said Rivers. “I’ve always liked it, if it’s done right. And we will find that out later — we don’t know if we’re going to go over there and be our training camp, or if we’re going to do the quick trip. I’m not a big fan of the quick trip. I think when you go over there, go over there, and have camp there. I think it’s a great team-bonding trip. I’m hoping that’s what we do, but that hasn’t been clarified yet.”
Ray and KG, please re-sign. For a minute, forget about the chance to win another ring in Boston and retiring your numbers in the Garden. Istanbul and Milan are beautiful in October.
via Celtics Coming To A City Near (And Far From) You – CelticsBlog.
In one week, Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final 4 will start in Istanbul, Turkey. I am sure that most of you Basketball fans, looking forward for this great Basketball event.
This is also great opportunity to check sports betting and see if you are lucky. I am sure that all competitiors will need more than luck to win this trophy.
It seems that all four teams who will compete for Turkish Airlines Euroleague trophy are in great form and ready to start.
CSKA just wins VTB league title and proved that they are one of main favorites for this year trophy. Teodosic, Krstic, Kirilenko and company are hungry for another one trophy.
FC Barcelona Regal wins over Real Madrid in Spanish league and in great atmosphere will travel to Istanbul, full of self-confidence.
Panathinakos and Olympiacos qualified to Finals in Greek league and will fight for Greek league title after Final four in Istanbul.
Semifinal games will be played at Friday, May 11, and we will see fantastic clashes. In first game, at 17.00 CET, clash of Giants, CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos.
In second game, Olympiacos vs. FC Barcelona Regal, another fantastic game. It is really hard to predict results, and since I am not fan of any of those teams, I know just one thing, I am really going to enjoy in this tournament.
Two Serbian coaches, Zeljko Obradovic and Dusan Ivkovic as well as several Serbian players will represent Serbia on this great Basketball tournament.
It would be great if we can have Panathinaikos and Olympiacos in Final, that would be another one proof that Serbia have greatest coaches in the world.
Just short reminder that you can watch ALL GAMES LIVE here. This is great opportunity for all of you who are not lucky to be in Istanbul, in Sinan Erdem Arena. Full coverage, LIVE games, replays, interviews, analyses and many many more.
Enjoy in HQ picture and don’t miss Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final 4.
via Are you ready for Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final 4? | Hoops Universe.
Williams, the Nets’ star point guard, has agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Turkish club Besiktas, according to the team’s coach. His commitment would begin Sept. 1 — when the N.B.A.’s lockout would be two months old — and the deal includes an escape clause allowing him to return when the lockout ends.
“It’s the biggest signing in the history of European basketball,” Ergin Ataman, Besiktas’ excitable coach, said Thursday.
The agreement was confirmed by Misko Raznatovic, a European agent who works with Jeff Schwartz, the Los Angeles-based agent who represents Williams. Ataman and Raznatovic first met last month in Istanbul to discuss possible deals involving N.B.A. players.
Reports have pegged Williams’s salary between $200,000 and $350,000 a month, or $2 million to $3.5 million for the 10-month Turkish league season. Raznatovic said that Williams, 27, would get between $1 million and $5 million, plus a car, housing and the tax breaks associated with playing overseas. He will also be provided with a security guard, driver and personal assistant, all of them available 24 hours a day. Ataman later told SI.com that Williams’s deal would be paid for by a sponsor.
Ataman said he expected the deal to become official within 24 hours, and that the club’s president, Yildirim Demiroren, would hold a news conference in the United States next week.
Besiktas opens its season Sept. 27. If Williams is on the court, he would be — by far — the biggest N.B.A. star to play overseas in his prime. But that day is far away, and Williams must first gain approval from the N.B.A. and FIBA, the world governing body for basketball.
In general, FIBA and the N.B.A. have an arrangement that precludes teams from signing players who are already under contract. But that agreement became moot July 1, when the N.B.A.’s labor deal expired and the league locked out its players.
“If there’s a lockout, the players are free; their contracts are suspended,” Commissioner David Stern said in February. “It’s that simple.”
N.B.A. officials reaffirmed that position Thursday, but indicated that they had not received any inquiry from FIBA regarding Williams.
FIBA has the authority to reject the deal if it determines, for instance, that signing N.B.A. players poses a risk to the stability of the European leagues — because those players could leave at any time once the lockout ends. But there are no indications that FIBA intends to intervene.
FIBA has not yet been approached by Besiktas or the Turkish league regarding the Williams deal, according to a spokesman. It also has not established a policy for N.B.A. players under contract.
“We are currently working on a statement that will be sent to our membership and their clubs, that will clarify the legal situation,” Patrick Koller, FIBA’s head of communications, said in an e-mail.
Even if he gains approval, Williams could be risking the $34 million and two years left on his deal with the Nets. N.B.A. contracts are not insured against injuries sustained in another league. Conceivably, Besiktas could pay to insure Williams’s Nets contract, but it could cost as much as $6.8 million.
The Nets have no ability to block the move. Nor can team officials comment publicly, because Stern has prohibited all N.B.A. personnel from talking about players during the lockout.
News of Williams’s deal with Besiktas was greeted with surprise and heavy skepticism by a number of N.B.A. agents and executives Thursday. One prominent agent said it was not worth the risk and expressed doubt that Williams would ever put on a Besiktas uniform.
“A lot can happen in two months,” said the agent, who did not want to be named discussing a player he did not represent.
Skeptics also cited a weak European economy and a history of European clubs failing to pay their players. Last season, Besiktas players briefly staged a strike when the team fell behind in paying them.
Although some N.B.A. stars have played overseas — notably Dominique Wilkins and Bob McAdoo — all of them made the move in the twilight of their careers. Allen Iverson played briefly for Besiktas last season, because no N.B.A. team would sign him. In 1989, Danny Ferry, the No. 2 pick in the draft, left for Italy rather than play for the dysfunctional Los Angeles Clippers. Despite his high draft standing, Ferry never became a star once he returned to the N.B.A.
Williams is different. He is a two-time All-Star and is widely regarded, along with Chris Paul of New Orleans, as one of the game’s top two point guards. The Nets are counting on him to be their franchise player for years to come, and to help attract crowds when they move to Brooklyn in 2012.
If Williams plays for Besiktas, he will likely be an anomaly. Few teams in Europe have the resources to pay top N.B.A. players. And the best teams, including those in the Euroleague, will be reluctant to break up their rosters just to rent an N.B.A. player for a month or two.
“This will be, I think, a fairly unique situation,” said Marc Cornstein, an N.B.A. agent who represents several international players. “Because you’re just not going to find a real combination of teams that can afford these kind of salaries, but also be willing to let a guy go the minute the lockout ends.”
Ataman said Zaza Pachulia, who plays for the Atlanta Hawks, also has an agreement to play for Besiktas. And the club is not done recruiting locked-out N.B.A. players, he said.
“If there’s a possibility, we’ll talk with Kobe if he’d like to play in Europe with Deron and with other guys to play we can talk with him,” Ataman said. “If Kobe would like to play with us, we will also contact his agent and maybe with him.”
Ataman acknowledged the risk that the lockout would end and Williams would leave. But, he said, “We’re happy, because Turkish boys will watch him play live.”
Pete Thamel contributed reporting.
