Trail Blazers C Enes Kanter appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” last night, and after receiving a loud ovation from the studio audience, the former Knick said, “I miss New York. I miss the fans.” Host Trevor Noah said, “The team doesn't want to bring you on, because they need to lose so they can get a good draft pick.” At that point, Kanter made the hand gesture of “my lips are sealed.” Noah said at Kanter’s last game as a Knick, he kissed center court, though “no New Yorker would kiss the ground anywhere in New York.” Kanter, who is from Turkey, said he learned English watching “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Jersey Shore." Kanter said the “first two months I didn’t understand a word they said” on “Jersey Shore,” and then the “next thing you know, I was in a tanning bed.”
Kanter’s political activism was another topic, with Noah saying, “You're one of those sports people who has decided to not just keep your talents on the court, but you've decided to speak up. You've spoken about what's going on in Turkey. A lot of people may or may not know this, but Turkey is one, if not the highest, jailer of journalists in the world.” Kanter: “I'm trying to use this platform to talk for all those innocent people who don't have a voice. People know my story, but there are thousands and thousands of people out there that their stories are way worse than mine.” Kanter said for speaking out against the Erdogan regime in Turkey, he has been labeled a “terrorist” and the “only thing I terrorize is the basketball rim” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 2/19).
Last night’s edition of NBC’s “Late Night” featured the recurring segment “Ya Burnt,” with host Seth Meyers putting the Knicks in the crosshairs. Meyers: “First up, the Knicks. How is it possible that you play above Penn station and still stink worse than anything in the building? You just traded your best player and went on an 18-game losing streak. You have a worse record than that team that plays the Harlem Globetrotters. Side burn: Washington generals. It's getting so bad that celebrities don't even want to come to your games anymore. Soon the only people left sitting courtside will be a Times Square Elmo and the Naked Cowboy. The Knicks: hit the bench. Ya burnt!” (“Late Night,” NBC, 2/19).
