Kobe Bryant's Turkish Airlines Endorsement Angers Armenians

MyFoxLA ^ | Dec. 16, 2010 | Rick Lozano

[La Enchiladita]

Armenian Americans -- many right here in the Los Angeles area -- are calling Kobe Bryant's endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines "Kobe's direct flight to inhumanity."

The Armenian Youth Federation says it's considering protests at Staples Center if Bryant doesn't back down or at least issue some type of statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide, when approximately 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were killed.

Bryant has talked about the endorsement deal, telling CNBC, "I've never been to Turkey, but all the guys on the team who have been keep saying (that) it's one of the hottest places to go. This is another deal for me that proves that we're global, and it obviously makes sense with them starting flights in LA."

The Turkish government says it's happy to have Bryant playing on their team.

[La Enchiladita]

Interesting discussion follows.

My POV is: Go, Kobe. We need the Turks as our friends.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

If you think the Muslim Turks are our “friends”...you may be a member of CAIR

I remember all the nonsense non-conservative GOP made a few years ago when congress recognized the Armenian genocide. Blowhards were claiming “we need Turkey as allies” as the Turks were refusing the US to use their NATO bases and airspace for the war in Iraq

It sickens me that people support Islamic Terrorism committed against CHRISTIAN ARMENIANS. This is Holocaust Denial.

Kobe should have used better judgement in his sponsorships. Armenians have a right to be offended...and Christian Americans should be supportive of the Armenians...and not of the Muslim Turks

Only a fool or a Globalist thinks Turkey is an actual ally. Turkey is undergoing mass Islamification as we speak

[eleni121]

How disgusing—turk money got to him! That is how our whole govt apparatus has become corrupted. We place profit over morality.

Shame on Kobe and any Freeper who feels otherwise.

[mgstarr]

Last I checked it was a free country - Kobe can do what he wants.

Perhaps Hedo Türkoğlu talked him into it.

[allmendream]

Yes indeed, the Iraq war proved that we can neither depend upon, nor do we “need” Turkey as our allies.

The Armenian genocide is exactly holocaust denial, except it is hard to deny what nobody is talking about anyway (other than in nearby “Little Armenia” no doubt).

If the Turks are expendable in real-politic, the Armenians are doubly so.

Isn't there a statute of limitations on international crimes? Like when everyone who participated is dead, can't we assume that it is over?

Kobe Bryant got a payday. Whoever thought this man was a moral beacon didn't read the court transcripts. His wife got a nice diamond out of the deal. He gives as he expects to receive, the payoff.

[Fiji Hill]

On October 12, 1980, I was at a swap meet in Hollywood, Calif. when heard a loud noise—it sounded like “poof.” It turned out to be a bomb that was detonated about a block and a half from where I stood. A group calling itself the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claimed responsibility for the bombing, which targeted a travel agency owned by an American of Turkish extraction. The only casualty was an Englishman who happened to be driving by and was hurt by flying shrapnel. However, the blast could have been fatal to anyone who happened to be walking by on the sidewalk next to the shop.

I fail to see how attacking the property owned by US citizens in America and hurting innocent people advances the cause of Armenian victims of events that occurred half a world away and decades earlier. That attack took away whatever sympathy I may have had for Armenian grievances against the Turks.

Go, Kobe!

[Retired Greyhound]

I don’t think Kobe knew a thing about the Turk/Armenian situation.

They offered him $$$, he took it.

Now that the large Armenian population in LA is upset, he may well back out.

[Wurlitzer]

Armenian-Americans, ah one more hyphenated group of lessor Americans.

If you are an American of X heritage FINE but if you always view yourself as a X-American you are a lessor American.

This is supposed to be your country, get with the damn program or head back to the cesspool from whence you came.

[Judges Gone Wild]

Kobe is not known to identify with victims.

[La Enchiladita]

So you’re in solidarity with the Armenian victims? Or, what victims are you referring to? Do you think the gal who went to his hotel room was a victim?

[La Enchiladita]

Same to you but more of it.
If you think I am a member of CAIR, you must have signed on to FR this morning.
If you have something to say, then say it, but your first words are defamation against me which means you have no case.

Turks are not historically predominantly muslim. The islam movement has steadily encroached in the country however.

Do you suggest we become open enemies with Turkey and drive them further into muslim domination?

[La Enchiladita]

Very telling anecdote, thank you. I saw their character first hand when they moved into, and took over, the general Glendale area back in the late ‘70s.

I didn’t know Armenians were basketball fans either; I don’t think this is going to hurt the Lakers.

And, as for Kobe, many have developed their bias along the way and stuck with that image. All I know is he is a smart, successful American... and a surprisingly patriotic one, at that.

[La Enchiladita]

Like it or not, Turkish Airlines has inaugurated non-stop flights from LAX to Turkey and this is why Kobe’s promotion is significant.

[eleni121]

You really need to study up on who the Turks are dear lady.

You are looking more and more ridiculous with your inane comments about the Turks.

genocidal murderous Turk=genocidal murderous Muslim

They turned muslim from animist in the 10th century when they began invading the Middle East from their central asian homelands. Thereafter everything they have touched has turned to blood. Many of the people they conquered became Muslim in order to survive some of whom are ‘Crypto Christians...but very few. Most went to the dark side.

Anyone who does business with them has put profit above morality.

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

Seriously, start by studying the Ottoman Empire and then preach about the “goodness” of the Turks...

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

You really need to study up on who the Turks are dear lady.

Amazing realizing this lady has no clue on the Ottoman Empire and their evil way!

Incidentally, Kim Kardashian wasn't available for comments and she cannot start dating Kobe since he's married. Not that would stop him ;)

[Clemenza]

Yes, The most civilized treatment of religious minorities in the world at the time, a thriving center of trade for all, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and a place where even slaves could rise to positions of wealth and power (even while still officially slaves by law).

I don't see the Turks rioting because they didn't get their welfare check, unlike a certain country to their west.

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

The most civilized treatment of religious minorities in the world at the time, a thriving center of trade for all, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and a place where even slaves could rise to positions of wealth and power (even while still officially slaves by law).

Clearly, you avoided centuries of history of the Ottoman Empire. And being born in a nation just across from Turkey, I know first hand of the "civilized treatment" from the Turks: pillaging, burning of cities, raping, beheadings, enslaving of Christian.

Here's one which will be just up your comprehension alley: Vlad Tepes aka Dracula (the real historical figure and not the Hollywood concoction) younger brother was enslaved by the Turks and made a personal sex slave to the Byazid (look that one up!!!) and his own wife took her life upon facing the realities of enslavement under the Turks. Oh yes, and while at it look at what this "civilized" center did to Constantinople upon conquering.

And while at it, have a conversation with anyone from the Balkans and/or Eastern Europe. They will tell you more about the "civilized treatment of religious minorities".

P.S. Mandatory reading also for everyone from the mean, bad, west: anything by Oriana Fallaci.

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

Yes, The most civilized treatment of religious minorities in the world at the time, a thriving center of trade for all, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and a place where even slaves could rise to positions of wealth and power (even while still officially slaves by law). I don't see the Turks rioting because they didn't get their welfare check, unlike a certain country to their west.

I just wanted to share with you this amusing tidbit from Clemenza and allow you to get a chuckle from it. All this time and we were never aware of the fact that it was, in fact, the other nations decimated by the Ottomans, who were mean and evil, while enlightment and civilized behavior was occurring under the Ottomans... So what do you think: indoctrinated, clueless or a weak attempt to rewrite history based on misinformation?

[eleni121]

Your post astounds in its lack of knowledge of Muslim Ottoman history.

May I suggest you put aside your pernoal bias against Greeks and other Christian peoples of the Balkans, stop reading apologia written by revisionist historians like Mazower, and delve into the reality of slavery, child abduciton, and absolute horror during the satanic Ottoman Empire.

Then check out a video of some Euros who are gradually coming to learn what contemporary Turks are today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRmgI_WXff0