I know you really like this place, the country, the club. In my opinion, you are the most loyal guy to the country, to the team that I have ever seen in Turkey, really…
(Laughing) That’s just who I am. Hido Türkoğlu told me they are gonna love me when I said to him I was coming here, because he knows the kind of guy I am. I’m here, I gotta make the most of it. This is basically my primary home. It is season being as long as it is. Of course, you wanna learn about the history, what’s going on, try to learn the language. I’m getting there. I gotta get an instructor, so I can get the language. I’m just throwing myself all the way in. It is my opportunity. God put me in this position. I gotta continue to push it to the limit.
Your appreciation towards Atatürk is now well-known. So where does this come from exactly?
When we just came, walking into gyms, you know, when I first came into the practice facility here… If you look up, there is a big picture of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. I was wondering who he was. People would tell me but… But we go around the country in the Turkish League, you see it everywhere. This year, like I’ve said, I’ve been on my history ride, as far as books. I picked up his books and read about some of the things he did, good and bad, and visited the museum. So like I’ve said, I’m throwing myself all the way into the culture.
Andrew Mango’s book about Atatürk, it was recommended by TrendBasket. Have you started reading it?
What’s the book called?
Atatürk.*
I read. Maybe that’s the book I read. Who’s the other author? Something Russ… But I think I’ve read Mango’s book. It took me a long time like 1.5 months. It was a good book though.
*: The book’s original title is “Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey” – Andrew Mango
*: Other book’s original title is ”Atatürk: The Rebirth of A Nation – Patrick Kinross
We would like to express our gratitude to Fenerbahçe Men’s Basketball Branch Office, (in particular to the Commmunication and Media department) and to Mr. Rafael Barlowe, Ekpe Udoh’s video-producer, for their helpful guidance during the organization phase.