Turkish American community embraces Turkish Basketball Team
The Turkish Times - The Turkish American community has warmly welcomed the National Men's Basketball Team of Turkey that arrived in the United States for the World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis. From the moment the team landed in Detroit, MI, crowds of Turkish Americans from all ages gave them a hearty welcome. Members of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan (TACAM) cheered the Twelve Giant Men (12 Dev Adam) on as they played practice games in the Detroit area and tended to the Team's needs in their town. On their practice games, the Turkish team lost against Argentina in their first game, but won against the American and the Lebanese national teams.

On August 25, the team was hosted by TACAM at the house of Nurten Ural, ATAA Midcentral Region Vice President and rubbed elbows with the community.

In Indianapolis, the American Turkish Association of Indiana (ATA-IN) is buzzing with anticipation as it organizes a public festival to promote Turkey and the Turkish Team as part of the games. The open air festival will take place on August 31 at the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis and thousands are expected to the treats of Turkish food, music and dance. The festival is co-sponsored by the ATAA and other Turkish American organizations.

The Turkish Basketball Team has a special connection to the United States. Several of its players play in the NBA and are no strangers to American basketball fans. ATAA Vice President Nurten Ural, who will travel to Indianapolis to help with activities there, said that these players are role models for Turkish American children and build their confidence and pride being of Turkish heritage.

She also added that she hopes that the players and others such as Faruk Akagun, who is now employed by the Pistons as the Intenational Scout, had expressed interest in programs designed for Turkish American youth.

Thousands of Basketball fans from all over the United States and from Turkey are expected to travel to Indianapolis to support the Turkish and American national teams. Calling the experiences with the Turkish National Team and the enthusiasm they unleashed among the community "magical," Ms.Ural said that there is still time to get to Indianapolis and share in this excitement.

Joe Dumars of Detroit Pistons (Mehmet Okur's new team) with his Turkish friends. Photo Ali Kayaalp.

TACAM tailgate party. Photo Ali Kayaalp.

Mehmet Okur - another Turkish giant in NBA.