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| Linsanity is sweeping the nation. |
'Linsanity' is sweeping the nation. New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is something of a surprise package in the NBA so far. He's the first Harvard product to join the NBA since 1953/54 and was signed by the Knicks as an emergency backup at guard after he was cut from the rosters of both the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.
"He (Jeremy Lin) has been an unheralded prospect, a hometown sensation, a scrutinized ethnic symbol and a basketball curiosity, at once intriguing and underestimated and ultimately discarded," wrote Howard Beck in The New York Times. But what is it that makes Lin the phenomenon that he is turning out to be? His story is a remarkable one, owing to the fact that he is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin is a Harvard alumnus, but unlike most superstars who end up in the NBA, he went to university without any athletic scholarship.
Lin has already been given his own nickname: "Linsanity." Coincidentally or not, that word has a lot of similarity with "Vinsanity," the nickname given to Vince Carter. Looking at Lin's stats for the month of February, he's scored more than 20 points on nine occasions, his best being 38 points against the L.A. Lakers on February 10. Lin's sudden outburst of form in the month of February was reason enough to earn him a call up to the 2012 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge held in Orlando. The Knicks are 8-3 since Lin became their starting point guard, a run that includes wins over the Lakers and Dallas. Lin was also the reason why the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors as he scored a last-second threepointer. He's already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for two consecutive weeks and even made the cover of Time. "He's legit," Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Rick Brunson told the N.Y. Daily News. "That kid can play." Lin, however, had a quiet game during the All-Star Weekend, scoring only two points, but that won't in any way subdue his already growing fame.
"I am definitely surprised that people are still talking about Linsanity or whatever," said Lin during a news conference. "I think, hopefully, as the season progresses it will go from that to New York Knicks. And hopefully the Knicks can win basketball games and we can make a good push after the All-Star break and people will start talking about the Knicks and not necessarily me." Lin is trying his best to avoid the media's attention from distracting him when it comes to playing the game. The New York Knicks are, in my books, still a work in progress, despite featuring the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, but with the potential that's on the roster, the team could be major contenders in future seasons.
I came across a hilarious article the other day. Lin is now an ice cream flavour. Don't you find that strange? The ingredients include vanilla frozen yogurt and lychee honey swirls, though the sports blog Deadspin claims that the flavour previously included bits of fortune cookie. It's been confirmed that the fortune cookie bits will be replaced by bits of waffle cones after allegations of racial insensitivity spread amongst critics. What annoys me is the fact that the flavour is reportedly only on sale in Boston because I would love to sample this new 'Linsane' flavour.
Whatever the future of this massive bandwagon, Lin's rapid rise to success will go down as one of sports' 'fairy tale' success stories. It will be interesting to see whether all the media attention he's receiving will affect his game, but one thing is certain (and I know it's clichéd): it's been a "Linsane" season so far.
"He (Jeremy Lin) has been an unheralded prospect, a hometown sensation, a scrutinized ethnic symbol and a basketball curiosity, at once intriguing and underestimated and ultimately discarded," wrote Howard Beck in The New York Times. But what is it that makes Lin the phenomenon that he is turning out to be? His story is a remarkable one, owing to the fact that he is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin is a Harvard alumnus, but unlike most superstars who end up in the NBA, he went to university without any athletic scholarship.
Lin has already been given his own nickname: "Linsanity." Coincidentally or not, that word has a lot of similarity with "Vinsanity," the nickname given to Vince Carter. Looking at Lin's stats for the month of February, he's scored more than 20 points on nine occasions, his best being 38 points against the L.A. Lakers on February 10. Lin's sudden outburst of form in the month of February was reason enough to earn him a call up to the 2012 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge held in Orlando. The Knicks are 8-3 since Lin became their starting point guard, a run that includes wins over the Lakers and Dallas. Lin was also the reason why the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors as he scored a last-second threepointer. He's already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for two consecutive weeks and even made the cover of Time. "He's legit," Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Rick Brunson told the N.Y. Daily News. "That kid can play." Lin, however, had a quiet game during the All-Star Weekend, scoring only two points, but that won't in any way subdue his already growing fame.
"I am definitely surprised that people are still talking about Linsanity or whatever," said Lin during a news conference. "I think, hopefully, as the season progresses it will go from that to New York Knicks. And hopefully the Knicks can win basketball games and we can make a good push after the All-Star break and people will start talking about the Knicks and not necessarily me." Lin is trying his best to avoid the media's attention from distracting him when it comes to playing the game. The New York Knicks are, in my books, still a work in progress, despite featuring the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, but with the potential that's on the roster, the team could be major contenders in future seasons.
I came across a hilarious article the other day. Lin is now an ice cream flavour. Don't you find that strange? The ingredients include vanilla frozen yogurt and lychee honey swirls, though the sports blog Deadspin claims that the flavour previously included bits of fortune cookie. It's been confirmed that the fortune cookie bits will be replaced by bits of waffle cones after allegations of racial insensitivity spread amongst critics. What annoys me is the fact that the flavour is reportedly only on sale in Boston because I would love to sample this new 'Linsane' flavour.
Whatever the future of this massive bandwagon, Lin's rapid rise to success will go down as one of sports' 'fairy tale' success stories. It will be interesting to see whether all the media attention he's receiving will affect his game, but one thing is certain (and I know it's clichéd): it's been a "Linsane" season so far.
Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8219§ionID=4&issueID=198
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAFLP9ejvDE
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