Is Turkey in Europe?

BringtheD · Post #1 » by **BringtheD** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:02 pm

It seems that everytime I read something about Kanter it mentions that he is "european" or comes from an European country. Is this just lazy reporting, or is it meant to now make Turkey an European country? Or is it supposed to be that because he isn't American he is like an European, to justify the analysis that he likes to play with his back to the basket, or that he doesn't act "european".
I think it will be a big time mistake if the Jazz don't draft Kanter. There are many reasons to see him as a 'fit", I just watched his interview and I think his sincerity will be one of them. If I were the Jazz I'd make him the #1 pick, but it would be great to get him at #3 too.
Back to the point. What the hell is wrong with people calling him an European. I doubt anyone asked him if he wanted to be an European, but suddenly he's European, simply because he's 'white' and non-american. I am so tired of the unseen bigotry in national media, the inexperienced and uneducated telling everyone else what the 'cultural' facts are, give me a break.

hoops4life · Post #2 » by **hoops4life** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:31 pm

Turkey is in Europe according to FIFA and UEFA. It links Europe and Asia similar to Russia.

I think it can pass for either.

reapaman · Post #3 » by **reapaman** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:31 pm

Turkey extends into both asia and europe. He grew up in the european (balkan region) part of Turkey; hence him being european. Plus he was born in switzerland, not that it means much tho.

end of geography lesson\

carrottop12 · Post #4 » by **carrottop12** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:32 pm

Well, most people think Koufos is European as well and he was born in Ohio so...

I assume pretty much everything East of the Mississippi is European.

Post #5 » by **StocktonShorts** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:42 pm

In the NBA if you're a "white-ish" foreigner then you're European, no matter what continent you (or your parents) are actually from.

Manu Ginobili: euro
Luis Scola: euro
Hamed Haddadi: euro
Omri Casspi: euro

Post #6 » by **StocktonShorts** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:48 pm

"Those Europeans, they know how to negotiate."

- Donyell Marshall, on buying number 42 from new teammate Mengke Bateer, who is actually Mongolian.

hoops4life · Post #7 » by **hoops4life** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:53 pm

HappyProle wrote:In the NBA if you're a "white-ish" foreigner then you're European, no matter what continent you (or your parents) are actually from.

Manu Ginobili: euro
Luis Scola: euro
Hamed Haddadi: euro
Omri Casspi: euro

I think that they are referred to as European because they played in European leagues and it is their style of play. I could be wrong... but yeah, they really aren't European.

doc.end · Post #8 » by **doc.end** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:55 pm

hoops4life wrote:
HappyProle wrote:In the NBA if you're a "white-ish" foreigner then you're European, no matter what continent you (or your parents) are actually from.

Manu Ginobili: euro
Luis Scola: euro
Hamed Haddadi: euro
Omri Casspi: euro

I think that they are referred to as European because they played in European leagues and it is their style of play. I could be wrong... but yeah, they really aren't European.

That. Ginobili is also Italian and Israel counts as an european country sportwise (for obvious reasons); Turkey as well (it is partially in Europe). Usually Asian/European countries "opt out" to be part of european sports structure most of the time.

Neon Black · Post #9 » by **Neon Black** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:17 pm

Ginobli is 100% from Argentina. His ancestry is Italian, along with a huge % Argentina's people. He's no more European than I am for having German grandparents.

hoops4life · Post #10 » by **hoops4life** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:11 pm

Italy does allow citizenship to pass to grandchildren. I knew a Guatemalan that had an Italian grandfather, which allowed him to be an Italian citizen, passport and all. It was much easier for him to travel to the US as an Italian than a Guatemalan.... just saying.

EvilLI · Post #11 » by **EvilLI** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:27 pm

Turkey is eurasia country.

Post #12 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:41 am

Istanbul prides tself on being a premier European City and Turkey wants (in vain) to be in the EU. The Ottoman Empire was a huge European force before WW1. While the religion is common to the Middle East the culture and political history ties into Europe.

nguyenbalong · Post #13 » by **nguyenbalong** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:54 pm

Just really means that player has played in Europe or plays according to a European style of basketball. Kosta played in the Greek national team and also holds a dual citizenship so Hes considered European. Anyhow its not really where you were born just the style of play or if you've played in the euro league.

BringtheD · Post #14 » by **BringtheD** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:45 pm

Well, I didn't know much about Turkey but I was just reading about Istanbul on wikipedia, I think it's too bad the name of that historic city was changed, because if you never learn about Constantinople you might miss out on who Constantine was too. Now we just have a media without any sensitivity to the history of the Turkish nation. I think when the popular media starts calling them Europeans, it doesn't seem to just pertain to basketball players either.
The little I knew about Istanbul and Turkey was because of reading about Constantine in the freaking encyclopedia, who I never did learn about in school unfortunately. I can see the story could involve the mixing of religion and state because of the Christianity involved, though I did learn about hindu religions and buddhism; as they aren't considered religions by the popular media, but I like learning about all religions especially as they pertain to history, as long as there is some truthful facts.
I probably never would've thought of this if it weren't for a popular song when I was younger. It's like you change the name of an important city like that, and you get to erase a bit of history, and now the media is ignorant of the new myth they are perpetuating by the way names change and though it seems to be inconsequenital, it is could also be viewed as a convienent way to scrub history from the books. I personally feel robbed I didn't learn more about the Romans and Constantine in school, this is an education you have to get on your own.
If this is an issue, I'm not sure how important it is, but since I like real history I seem to be a little passionate.

Post #15 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:51 pm

Huh? Then why not call it Byzantium? Frankly it's nobody's business but the Turks.

retiredcoach · Post #16 » by **retiredcoach** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:12 pm

I've spent a lot of time in Europe, and I've met plenty of turkeys there.

Sonerb81 · Post #17 » by **Sonerb81** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:21 pm

I'm Turkish and I would say Turkey is considered a European country by some and Asian by others. Turkey has it's lands on both Europe and Asia. So, I guess both arguments make sense. If you are not familiar with the Turkish culture, it is similar to Southern European countries(Spain, Italy, Greece) but differs a lot from Northern European countries.

If we are speaking in terms of formality, Turkey is considered European. Any formal website or any travel website will consider it being in Europe. I just looked at lonely planet and Istanbul is the 6th city that they suggest you should visit in Europe.

However, there are also many counter arguments and as a result opposing views. For example certain countries in Europe doesn't want Turkey to join the EU (Such as France, although people in France seems to really like Turks, I was there in January and everyone was very nice to me when I told them I was Turkish). By the way, I should mention that a lot of people in Turkey don't want to join EU anymore. There are a few reasons for it. One of them is food and limitations of EU on certain foods you can or cannot eat. (Turkish cuisine is very big so variety is huge and certain dishes are not approved by EU) Other reason is the current situation in the EU. They believe that the costs of joining the EU will outweigh the benefits.

carrottop12 · Post #18 » by **carrottop12** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:20 pm

When in doubt, look no further than at a mans headwear for your answer.

That is the sexiest piece of European ass I've seen in a very long time. I hope whoever drafts him gives him a hat like that to wear on draft night.

BringtheD · Post #19 » by **BringtheD** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:57 pm

lol, it's a cowboy hat, i didn't know they had european hats, ur kidding everyone or i hope ur a woman that is sexist to say that, i am disturbed.

retiredcoach · Post #20 » by **retiredcoach** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:08 pm

by BringtheD on Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:57 am
lol, it's a cowboy hat, i didn't know they had european hats, ur kidding everyone or i hope ur a woman that is sexist to say that, i am disturbed.

No, he meant it!