04/19/24
February 15, 2012
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
how about an Over under before Jeremy Lin hits the wall and disappears
Don't think it will happen as Lin can be effective without putting up big numbers.
If it does, it will coincide with the week Carmelo returns to the lineup, hoists 24 shots up each game, plays no defence, and the Knicks go back on a losing streak.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:02 AM on February 15, 2012
how about an Over under before Jeremy Lin hits the wall and disappears
Whatever you're setting it at, I'm probably taking the over. I don't think there's any precedent for someone playing this well and then vanishing.
posted by tron7 at 10:25 AM on February 15, 2012
I know if it wasnt New York, or the Kid wasnt Asian, this would be a story talked about in the last 5 min of Sportscenter, not the first 5, but how about an Over under before Jeremy Lin hits the wall and disappears.
That's bullshit. He graduated from Harvard and was cut by two teams. This is a classic sports underdog story.
posted by bperk at 10:38 AM on February 15, 2012
I know if it wasnt New York, or the Kid wasnt Asian, this would be a story talked about in the last 5 min of Sportscenter, not the first 5 ...
An undrafted 23-year-old cut by two teams this season scored more points his first four starts than any player in NBA history. He's led the Knicks to six straight wins without Carmelo Anthony in the lineup. Several of his stats put him among the biggest stars in the league.
This Sidd Finch tale would be a huge story wherever it happened and regardless of race. It's one of the most remarkable out-of-nowhere stories in the history of pro sports. The fact he's Asian-American and graduated from Harvard are just the icing on the taro.
posted by rcade at 10:52 AM on February 15, 2012
The kid's actually got me slightly interested in the NBA, and that's really saying something. On the other hand, as I was on the treadmill this morning, I watched a 7 minute or so SportsCenter segment comparing Lin to Tebow. If I'd had a sharp implement handy, I may have slit my wrist. I tought we might get a Tebow break until August. Instead, someone else comes into a different league and shows tremendous skill, and the first thing to come to mind is Tebow?
posted by tahoemoj at 10:59 AM on February 15, 2012
Several of his stats put him among the biggest stars in the league
Yes, but everyone wishes he hadn't happened so the media could continue to hype self-proclaimed basketball gods like Lebron James and the crap they spew that enlightens us all (at least until the playoffs roll around).
Lin's play has created the hype, not the media. The media has tagged on to Lin's success. I imagine the Knicks must feel like they've been struck by lightning finding a quality player who's jersey sales will be in the top 5 this year.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:58 AM on February 15, 2012
I wonder how long it will take for conspiracy theories about a player like this ending up at the Knicks.
posted by rcade at 11:59 AM on February 15, 2012
Why wait? Let's see, he was cut two different times. And not even by good teams . . .
posted by yerfatma at 12:08 PM on February 15, 2012
Instead, someone else comes into a different league and shows tremendous skill, and the first thing to come to mind is Tebow?
I can't understand how any player can come into any sport showing tremendous skill and be compared to Tebow.
I think Tebow would be able to make a basketball flutter like a wounded duck.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:17 PM on February 15, 2012
Like Lin, Tebow throws an excellent bounce pass.
posted by tron7 at 12:36 PM on February 15, 2012
If you're going to compare Lin to anyone, as fellow undrafted free agents, wouldn't the appropriate comparison be to Tony Romo, not a former 1st rounder?
Then again, Romo never inspired a wingnut to do this.
posted by tahoemoj at 12:42 PM on February 15, 2012
Consipracy theories? Of course there's a conspiracy. How could there not be? And it's bigger than you think.
Lin's career breakout is conveniently occurring exactly at the time when the VP and heir apparent of China, Xi Jinping, is visiting the US.
And yesterday, a Pekingese (!) won the Westminster Dog Show.
Oh - and Vice President Xi has a daughter who attends...Harvard.
Just too many weird coincidences. How much more evidence do you need?
I need to go find out if Jason Whitlock ate a bucket of General Gao's chicken last night. That would totally seal the deal.
posted by beaverboard at 01:04 PM on February 15, 2012
What happened to a team hiring Gruden so we could get him out of the MNF booth?
posted by bperk at 01:12 PM on February 15, 2012
Jaws is leaving the MNF booth.
Meh, maybe that means he can get back to actually analyzing games and showing us stuff instead of telling us how he's watched every second of game footage from the season and can assure us some nobody is going to be the next big thing.
posted by yerfatma at 01:42 PM on February 15, 2012
It's too bad more people can't just enjoy what Lin is doing and stop hoping he'll fail so they can make themselves feel good by saying, "I told you so."
The Knicks were missing a decent threat at point guard, and Lin should only be helped by Amare and Anthony returning to the lineup. The Knicks had to play better (it would have been nearly impossible for them to play worse) and Lin has lit a spark. He has also made me tune in to Knick games (although if the Sabres didn't suck so bad I would have been watching them last night instead), something a borderline NBA fan like myself didn't expect to happen.
posted by dyams at 04:22 PM on February 15, 2012
Kid wasnt Asian
I can understand why this might add to the attractiveness of the story to the media, but I really don't think it matters. Lin was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Palo Alto. That makes him a US citizen by birth, or if you must, an American. His parents were immigrants from Taiwan, but that changes nothing. My parents also immigrated - from Canada and Barbados - but that didn't make me anything special. What makes Lin special is that he has talent that was not recognized until circumstance gave him a chance to exhibit it. Once the Knicks have some of their injured back court players return, bet on his playing time decreasing.
posted by Howard_T at 04:23 PM on February 15, 2012
Sorry, I started this conversation, then my computer and i had some "differences of opinion".
Kid wasnt Asian .I can understand why this might add to the attractiveness of the story .
How can you not. He has the chance to pull a totally different demographic of fans into liking Pro basketball. Given, an underdog is an underdog, but the NBA is always trying to market and expand their product.
how about an Over under before Jeremy Lin hits the wall and disappears
I will set it 18 more games. In most seasons, the schedule is more spread out. I think this run of games and practice will wear him out.
posted by Debo270 at 08:26 AM on February 16, 2012
His parents were immigrants from Taiwan, but that changes nothing.
His Asian heritage changes a lot for a global game. For himself, for other future Asian-American and Asian NBA players and for millions of kids in China who would idolize a star player with a common heritage.
Lin would've been a phenomenal story regardless of his race or background. But seeing a guy who looks like him do this is David Stern's dream come true. The big pro sports are salivating over the Chinese market. The NBA's in the best position to spread the game to kids there. Football, baseball and hockey require more players and equipment. Basketball takes five people, a hoop and a ball.
posted by rcade at 08:56 AM on February 16, 2012
The race issue seems to me to be the 27 other NBA teams who saw an Asian-American kid that went to Harvard and slept on him. And if the Knicks were healthy, they would've slept on him too.
It's great to watch. I watched the Laker game and the Raptors game and it was about five hours of the best sports watching in recent memory. After that, I couldn't even begin to give a shit what the haters say.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:58 PM on February 16, 2012
27 other NBA teams who saw an Asian-American kid that went to Harvard and slept on him. And if the Knicks were healthy, they would've slept on him too.
His brother's couch must be worn the fuck out.
posted by tselson at 10:51 PM on February 16, 2012
I know if it wasnt New York, or the Kid wasnt Asian, this would be a story talked about in the last 5 min of Sportscenter, not the first 5, but how about an Over under before Jeremy Lin hits the wall and disappears.