My first time to learn about Lin, the basket ball player, is from an Wall Street Journal article. If he did not played in NYC, it may not be written in a financial newspaper. With the reverse discrimination eye glasses on, I thought he was a 2-hit wonder against weaker teams and the game plans of the opposing teams did not take Lin seriously. My reverse discrimination is just human nature if you check or guess how many black computer programmers are in Google, Apple, Microsoft...?
Last night, I watched Lin on ESPN against a good but tired team, the LA Lakers. I enjoyed every second and I am a believer together with Magic Johnson and those who witnessed that a star is born if not already has been born. He will be bigger than Yao Ming in scoring but not in global marketing. His 360 move will be cemented in my memory. It is the biggest upset of the year for all sports that an unknown from no where beat the top player in NBA. Same chance of me beating Tiger Woods in golf - virtually 0 even the tiger lost both limbs.
He almost quit NBA and would play in China or become a pastor. He would lead his church basketball team to victory as an extra curriculum but would be unknown outside the church circle. Now, the entire world esp. Asia will enjoy his skill, IQ and his humbleness. Only in America, an undrafted player can start NBA games with that kind of statistics.
Chinese parents want their children to be in 'safe' professions like accounting, doctor... Lin is a pioneer. He has more to overcome and he has to work far harder. Most like myself have the natural discrimination and/or stereotypes that he will not be in NBA as there are few precedents. He gains our respect just for trying in unknown territories.
Similar to Tom Brady, his luck is due to injury of another player. God must have His own arrangements and now has the same good smile for Tebow, Brady... for another job well done.
I hope he will find temporary housing in NYC. As in the Chinese saying, you cannot have two tigers in one mountain esp. when the injured player returns. Most likely he will play in another team in a year or so unless the fans make them not to do so.
However, no one can stop the history of Lin in NBA against all odds, discrimination and ethnic stereotypes. We also enjoy successful underdogs as we're one of the underdogs. Who says the NBA drafting system is perfect? Those scouts, coaches, and managers must be wearing the same eye glasses I did, and are finding excuses like saying they're right but due to...
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Yes, discrimination is a human nature. In Hong Kong, we've class discrimination and in US we have racial discrimination.
ReplyDeleteThe black boxer has his discrimination against Lin. It hurts more as we try to fight for the discriminated against discrimination and the discriminated discriminated.
It is a bad human nature but try to keep it to ourselves and never pass this bad human nature to the next generation. We all have discrimination. How often do you walk to a black ghetto at night?
Another human nature.
ReplyDeleteIs Lin a descent of Chinese or Taiwanese?
Their parents migrated to Taiwan and then to US. Lin is a ABC, American Born Chinese. More than 80% (some say 90%) of Taiwanese were from China or the parents were from China.
In the 60s or so, KMT wanted to fight back and conquer the mainland. At that time, they thought they’re Chinese. Today Taiwanese realize it is not possible.
deWang said:
ReplyDeleteSingaporeans or Americans of Chinese descent will call themselves ‘Chinese.’ People not wanting Chinese descent in Taiwan to be called ‘Chinese’ means these people are playing identity politics.
Jeremy Lin has given interviews with Chinese television and referred to himself as Chinese.
Tony – everyone wants to be identified with the winner. It’s human nature. So, as long as China remains stable and continues to grow economically, it bodes well for eventual unification.
Mayweather, please tell me what other NBA player produces that kind of statistics and lifts the franchise value by millions. Being black, you may be discriminated before your career took off, and now you discriminate. How ironic! How stupid on your part!
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ReplyDeleteThe main difference between the talents Lin and Houston: one works hard and has a humble life while the other was a drug addict and was not humble. Select the right model for your children and value education.
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