Author: Dogan Eskinat
Earlier this month, I found myself pushing my limits on the cobbled climbs of Belgium, participating in We Ride Flanders – the amateur version of the legendary Tour of Flanders. As a recreational cyclist from Türkiye, more enthusiastic than athletic, the experience was both humbling and exhilarating. Winding through rolling hills and centuries-old villages, cheered on by locals waving flags and ringing cowbells, I realized that in Flanders, cycling isn’t just a sport – it’s part of life itself. On climbs like the Eikenberg, I ground my way forward, feeling the same blend of exhaustion and euphoria that surely touches…
In a league defined by noise, controversy and chaos, Okan Buruk has mastered the art of quiet dominance. While Fenerbahçe has spent three seasons playing musical chairs with marquee coaches – Jorge Jesus, İsmail Kartal and now Jose Mourinho – Buruk has built a winning machine. One that doesn’t blink. One that punishes every slip. One that now leads the Süper Lig by five clear points – and, more importantly, by five and a half with the head-to-head advantage. This isn’t a late surge. Galatasaray has led the title race from the very beginning. Week after week, Buruk’s side has…
I once watched Fenerbahçe’s penalty shootout against Sevilla with an American friend. As the tension mounted, I stood up and cheered for every Fenerbahçe goal. My friend looked at me, puzzled. “Aren’t they your rivals?” he asked. I smiled and said, “Tonight they’re not Fenerbahçe – they’re just a Turkish team.” That was the spirit. When our clubs played in Europe, we dropped the tribalism. Their victories were our victories. We were a football nation. Today, that spirit is dead. Turkish football has spiraled from passionate rivalry into toxic factionalism. We no longer sit together at games. We root against…
If I had to sum up 2025 in three words, they’d be resilience, rebuilding and renewal. Catchy, right? But behind those buzzwords are stories that’ll define this year – and maybe even the decade. Resilience: Trump’s comeback Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit: the man’s got staying power. Against all odds – and more scandals than a soap opera – U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump has staged one of the most dramatic political comebacks in history. His return to the political spotlight proves one thing: resilience isn’t about being perfect; it’s about refusing to stay down. Whether…
Some bananas are for breakfast. Some, apparently, are for billionaires. Last week, Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous duct-taped banana, titled Comedian, was auctioned off for $6.24 million. A banana! Sold for more than most luxury yachts! Naturally, this sent the world spiraling into a debate about art, absurdity and the squishy concept of value. But while this golden fruit enjoys its 15 minutes of fame, let’s take a moment to celebrate another banana: Europe’s Blue Banana, the OG overachiever of bananas. The Blue Banana, for the uninitiated, is not a fruit but an economic metaphor. It’s the crescent-shaped stretch of Europe connecting…
The political crisis unfolding in Germany comes at a precarious moment for Europe, one likely to intensify under a potential second Trump era. Germany, a traditional pillar of European stability, now faces unprecedented internal fragmentation, a challenge that, if unresolved, could weaken the EU at a time when unity is essential to confront global shifts and economic uncertainties. Yesterday at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum, I saw firsthand the tensions within Germany’s fractured coalition. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) general secretary argued that Germany’s fiscal challenges stem from excessive spending rather than limited income, reflecting the FDP’s commitment to austerity…