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Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo

Boston Celtics star to change name to 'Freedom'

Enes Kanter has long been a vocal critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

ENES KANTER, the Boston Celtics center from Turkey, will change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom when he takes US citizenship on Monday, The Athletic sports website reported.

Kanter, 29, has long been a vocal critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, dubbing him the “Hitler of our century” in 2017.

But he hasn’t reserved his criticism for Turkey, condemning the human rights record of China and calling out NBA superstar LeBron James for failing to advocate for Covid-19 vaccines and for his ties to Nike for what he believes is the company’s failure to act regarding the treatment of minorities in China.

“Don’t forget, every time you put those shoes on your feet, or you put that T-shirt on your back, there are so many tears and so much oppression and so much blood behind it all,” Kanter said in a CNN interview charging that “millions” of people from the Uyghur ethnic group are forced to work in factories in “modern day slavery.”

Kanter has denounced Chinese President Xi Jinping as  a “brutal dictator” and condemned his country’s policies in Tibet.

Kanter was drafted third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA draft. He is in his second stint with the Celtics in an NBA career that has also seen him play for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.

© – AFP, 2021

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    Mute gary jordan
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:31 PM

    Well he pretty much got hit by a car in the Wales game and was 100% in minutes !! He could get over anything in 48 hours !!

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Feb 18th 2014, 4:41 PM

    And if I remember correctly, the car is a write-off.

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    Mute Niall Moonan
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:38 PM

    Hopefully if won’t spread through the camp.

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:52 PM

    I can’t believe they’re out camping in this weather! Mad stuff!

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    Mute youknowimright
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:28 PM

    In BOD we trust

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    Mute GATHERINGYOURMONEY14
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    Feb 19th 2014, 1:28 AM
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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:55 PM

    I’m sure Bod will recover- he’s seen worse. Great to see Donnacha back in camp and driving up the standards. Sounds like Schmidt has everyone playing for the collective.
    Can’t remember Ireland ever being able to lose a match and have such an outstanding points difference that the championship was still on.
    This, and Cole’s absence makes me quitely confident.
    Roll on that flight on friday. Twickers here we come.

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    Mute Druids Guess
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:40 PM

    Who starts instead of O’Driscoll. Candidates are Marshall (a 12), Henshaw (Inexperienced / better fullback) Cave (untried) McFadden (better for sub role / better winger), Bowe (not fully fit / untried). I assume McFadden as cover last week is the likely call. Not sure if there is any outstanding candidate for this game but Cave as a natural 13 nearly gets my vote. When Payne becomes eligible in autumn he leapfrogs them all. Hopefully O’driscoll recovers because without him an edgy win will become a narrow loss

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    Mute Liam is ainm dumb
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    Feb 18th 2014, 3:56 PM

    If BOD out has to be Cave at 13, im a big Henshaw fan but he better suited to FB and his best performances for Connacht has been there

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    Mute Neil Dunn
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    Feb 18th 2014, 3:58 PM

    I’d agree with you on Cave. He’s a natural 13 who is in great form. If you can’t get in scoring the way he has been provincially this year, then you’re forever doomed.

    That said, I’d also like to see Madigan go in the centre. I continue to believe that might be his way to break in.

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    Mute Humphrey Jones
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    Feb 18th 2014, 4:54 PM

    Cave is injured.

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    Mute Jonathan Leonard
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    Feb 18th 2014, 5:58 PM

    Cat amongst the pigeons here but I would think there’s a real chance of Darcy to 13 and Marshall at 12.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Feb 18th 2014, 4:59 PM

    There’s a few options, joe had used Darcy at 13 before, pushing Marshall to 12.
    He could go for any of henshaw, cave or McFadden and of course joe being joe there’s always the option he has up his sleeve.
    If we can manage without PoC on the morning if a game then we can do the same without bod with a weeks notice.

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    Mute Ken O Con
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    Feb 18th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Big difference between England and Scotland though Chris. I’d prefer to have BoD there before any one else. Defensive ability if no other reason. I think it would upset the team a bit too.

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    Mute Piotrek Król
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    Feb 18th 2014, 2:55 PM

    Who’s Bug?

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    Mute Mossie Murphy
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    Feb 18th 2014, 3:54 PM

    And this is the start of the mind games.. Latest score = 1-0 to schmidt

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    Mute Gary Salmon
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    Feb 18th 2014, 6:32 PM

    Darcy to 13 and Luke Marshall at 12 if BOD isn’t fit? If I remember correctly Darcy made his debut in Paris in 2004 at 13 when BOD was injured

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    Mute Patrick Heavey
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    Feb 18th 2014, 6:20 PM

    Trimble can cover outside centre, McFadden to the wing Henshaw to the bench.

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    Mute Lord Scramoge
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    Feb 18th 2014, 8:32 PM

    It will be Henshaw if BO D is out, good game to try him out. If your good enough your old enough as they say

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    Mute Ina Smidiríní
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    Feb 18th 2014, 4:39 PM

    Odriscolls vertigo playing up again me thinks.

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    Mute Lee Smith
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    Feb 19th 2014, 11:35 AM

    Does anyone here know where the Ireland rugby team usually train? I know that Leinster and Munster have their own facilities at the University College grounds and the Ireland football team uses Malahide’s facilities at Ganon Park. Anyone?

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    Mute Sarah Collier
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    Feb 18th 2014, 9:04 PM

    Who’s bug?

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