For decades American basketball leagues, like other American sports leagues have no room for Asians. But suddenly in the premier pro league, we have an NBA lockout, resulting in cancelled games and a shortage of practices. Then in a late turn-around we get crazy game schedules and unexpected player movement, resulting in confusion and injuries. But as if on cue, in comes an unlikely NBA hero in the form of a lanky 6’3″ undrafted Asian American in the domain of slick, quick, strong and athletic seven footers and 250 pounders.
“LInsanity”
In comes Jeremy Lin who got to play a ton of minutes for the New York Knicks due of circumstances beyond his control that fateful night February the 4th, the last night of three consecutive game days for the tired Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. This was followed up by an opportunity to start at point two nights later and as they say, the rest is NBA history. Former coaches, team owners, scouts, schools and other people who didn’t give Jeremy a second glance are now scratching their heads in disbelief.
We can include Kobe Bryant who was bested by Mr. Lin when the once proud and mighty Lakers came visiting the Knicks at the Garden four days after.
Now six starts and counting, and mostly without the Knicks big guns, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, Jeremy has achieved the unimaginable — NBA scoring records, points plus assists acclaim, NBA Player of the Week, “Worldwide Linsanity Fever”, record share prices of Madison Square Garden stocks, the NBA’s top selling jersey and not to mention seven straight wins and breathing new life into the Knicks’ playoff chances.
So What Happened?
Racism or stereotyping happened. Case in point, Foxsports writer, Jason Whitlock’s now infamous “tweet” following Lin’s besting of Kobe. And we can add love-him or hate-him 5 Division Boxing Champ Floyd Mayweather Jr., for according to Mr. Mayweather via twitter once again, “all the (Jeremy Lin) hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.” Of course Manny Pacquiao fans know Floyd very well because of his past racial comments against Manny, an Asian pro boxer.
Paving The Way For Asian Ball Players
Nobody may want to admit it, but Jeremy Lin can finally be the “invisible” White Elephant in the room, that we can all see and start to talk about. Finally people should accept that a few Asians, even Asians of average build (height and weight) can play basketball and have enough basketball skills to make it in the NBA. And they don’t need to be Yao Mings. As with Floyd Mayweather’s nemesis, 8 Division Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao (5’6″ and 147 pounds), Asians can also be among the best-of-the-best in the world pro boxing arena.
Is it still hard to conceive that people from other parts of the world have caught up with those from once traditional powerhouse sports nations? It is not really hard to recognize this. Let us instead embrace it, accept it and give Asians a chance. And yes, ethnic and racial jabs and puns are optional.