Turkey 168
Iverson’s 26 points for naught as Tofas blows out Beşiktaş Cola Turka, 94-72
Allen Iverson’s best performance since signing with Beşiktaş Cola Turka was all futile, as eleventh-placed Tofaş took a 33-13 first quarter lead and never looked back for the 94-72 victory. Mr. Answer produced 26 points on 9-of-16 overall shooting plus in time-honored Iversonian fashion also took nine free throws, second highest in the game, plus […]
Apoel Nicosia-Pinar Karsiyaka war spreads to cyberspace
Fan violence extreme enough to result in injuries to players and law enforcement officers, FIBA sanctions and fines, Prime Ministerial denouncements, official apologies, and now high-level hacking in the name of basketball: Who knew Eurochallenge ball could get so controversial? The distinctly un-Christmas atmosphere has tinged the international competition ever since the craziness that followed […]
Iverson returns, Besiktas knocks off Pinar Karsiyaka, 89-65
After having the original date for the game set back a day from Christmas, Allen Iverson and Beşiktaş Cola Turka punished Pınar Karşıyaka on Boxing Day instead, 89-65; Karşıyaka had pulled off a 101-98 upset of Euroleague contenders Fenerbahçe Ülker last week but was not to reproduce their fortune in this game. In his return […]
Diana Taurasi flunks drug test, suspended in Turkey
Perhaps a worrisome Christmas it’ll be for women’s basketball great Diana Taurasi and backers of her Fenerbahçe side. In the wee hours of the morning, ESPN reported that a drug test on Taurasi had come back positive for an unspecified illegal stimulant. Said Taurasi’s lawyer Howard Jacobs, “We’re taking it one step at a time,” […]
“I am comin”: Iverson to Sydney Kings for 2012-13 season?
The Allen Iverson story gets more far-flung … at least on Twitter, great breeding ground for gossip and idle speculation. (BallinEurope loves Twitter.) With fewer than 140 characters, A.I. captured some media time in Australia yesterday with his tweet: “I hear Sydney is a real good city to live in. my boy Rodney O asked […]
Armenian Youth Federation reviled by Kobe Bryant’s Turkish Airlines deal
One group won’t be joining the Staples Center crowd in chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” for Kobe Bryant the next time he’s at the charity stripe: namely, Los Angeles’ Armenian population. On Tuesday, Turkish Airlines (also current sponsor of Euroleague basketball) announced a two-year deal which would make Bryant the “global brand ambassador” for the airline beginning […]
Beşiktaş heating up, gets Hemofarm in Eurocup tonight
A tough one for Allen Iverson and his Beşiktaş Cola Turka tonight, as the Eagles take on KK Hemofarm Stada in Eurocup basketball play tonight at 6pm CET (noon EST). The Serbian team could clinch a spot to advance to the “Last 16” round thanks to tiebreakers. Beşiktaş is coming off a win Saturday in […]
Beşiktaş Cola Turka 88, Olin Edirne 75; Iverson plays 38 minutes, scores 10
Three days after Allen Iverson sat out the fourth quarter for Beşiktaş Cola Turka against Asvel Basket and produced a few choice angry mutterings thereafter, Mr. Answer played nearly the entire game for Beşiktaş Cola Turka in last night’s 88-75 win at Olin Edirne. Iverson’s shooting touch was still a off in playing just under […]
Fenerbahçe Ülker, 74-67: Beşiktaş, Iverson lose again with fourth-quarter stall
Allen Iverson remains oh-for-Europe after his first TBL game with Beşiktaş Cola Turka, a 74-67 loss to Euroleague squad Fenerbahçe Ülker. More distressing for Beşiktaş was another disappointing fourth quarter: The Eagles entered the last stanza tied at 53, only to be outplayed and outscored by Fenerbahçe, 21-14 over the final 10 minutes. In general, […]
Allen Iverson’s first game with ‘Cola: Half-empty or half-full?
Allen Iverson’s first game in Europe is in the books – a disappointing 94-91 loss for his Beşiktaş Cola Turka, which blew a 17-point lead against KK Hemofarm Stada – and while not even the worst offenders of crimes against hyperbole in sportswriting are ready to ascribe any superlatives to Mr. Answer and his new […]
As Iverson watches, Chatman and Besiktas handle Oyak Renault, 87-81
To the surprise of few, Allen “Mr. Answer” Iverson did not play with Beşiktaş Cola Turka against Oyak Renault last night. (Come on, the dude’s probably not over the jetlag yet, much less ready for the game plan.) Team manager Murat Murtezaoglu informed the Associated Press that Iverson “did not feel ready” to play. No […]
Iverson introduced in Turkey, talks about practice
Beşiktaş Cola Turka put on quite a show for fans last night in formally introducing their highest-profile acquisition ever in Allen Iverson. Check out Mr. Answer getting chummy with dealmaker/club GM Şeref Yalçın in the video below the break. Iverson notes in a brief question-and-answer at the end of the presentation that he attended his […]