"Like Cameron Indoor Stadium Times 5"

That's how ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla described the Sinan Erdem Dome here in Istanbul.

And that was how it felt last night during one of the memorable games I've ever experienced. Fortune smiled on Turkey to allow it to escape with an 83-82 win against Serbia and head to the gold medal game against U.S.

This picture, taken about three minutes after the buzzer, is from the top of press row and captures the Turkish team in mid-embrace below.

Turkish political rally; No such rally for France

The bottom two photos show just how vibrant Turkish democracy is. They were taken of a political rally held by proponents of changes to Turkey's constitution to voted on in an upcoming referendum. Hence, the signs reading "evet," which means "yes" in Turkish.

The top photos are of the first Turkish national team's first basketball game ever held at the new 15,500-person Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul. This arena is where all the coming Worlds elimination games will be held, and is considered the crown jewel of Turkish basketball.

It got pretty loud, but could get louder. I imagine the place could have fit about 1,000 more people. I got chills during the pregame, but I haven't attended these games as long as ESPN's Chris Sheridan.

He told me at the pool today that the last time he'd gotten the chills at an international basketball game was the U.S.'s victory over Spain in the gold medal game of the 2008 Olympics.

Turkey controlled the game from start to finish, winning 95-77.

Back in Istanbul again: This Time for FIBA Worlds

Here's my home for the next week - Ibis Hotel in Istanbul. As you can see from the window photo, I can just barely make out the Bosphorous Strait. Still, I can open my window up and breath some of that fresh air in - which more than makes up for the obstructed view.

This hotel's sweet, but cut off from the rest of the world by a six-lane highway in front of it, and a lake behind it. And there are no sidewalks around it to walk on.

Good for taxi business; bad for budget-conscious, ambulophilic freelancers.

Izmir's Goup D Press Room, Tall Blacks really have some open hips

Above is the press room in Izmir, site of Group D at these basketball world championships. It's the cauldron that froths with the activity journalists from Spain, Lithuania, France, New Zealand and Canada every night. In the foreground, three of my Canadian reporter friends powwow.

Joseph Campbell would have a field day with this.

It's a scene from press row before New Zealand's match against Canada yesterday. The Kiwi players, known as the Tall Blacks, are performing a a traditional Haka dance.

The cheery chorus begins:

"'Tis Death

'Tis Death

'Tis Life, 'Tis Life

'Tis Death, 'Tis Death

'Tis Life, 'Tis Life

"This is the man, the fierce powerful man."

No kidding, aboriginal anthem.

The fierce powerful men chanting your words knocked Canada out of the tournament that night.