The Humble Hero from Harvard
Most sportscasters and NBA analysts will
tell the story of Jeremy Lin in the context of how the breakout star is saving the
New York Knicks’ season, especially through this tough stretch without the
multi-million dollar stars, Carmelo Anthony and Amari Stoudemire. But the analysts
with the ability and foresight to look at the big picture implications can
easily see how this guy might be the guy to save the entire league.
I’ve spoken at length about how the
NBA needs a hero. The downward spiral they’ve been on for years is fueled
by this flux capacitor of selfishness with the increasingly egomaniacal
players, the press who get paid to give the fans a story they want, and the
fans that are being manipulated into believing in stats and the importance of
winning by the machine. This is what we’re feeding our kids. The only way out
of this mess is to find a selfless hero to give the press something to write
about that the fans can appreciate. Which means he needs to be a winner, first
and foremost, to sustain a public image. Kobe was that guy for years until the sexual
assault charges ruined his Food, Folks and Fun image. LeBron was for a while
too until he finally got tired of pretending he wasn’t an arrogant blowhard.
And not that Jeremy Lin is going to ever reach the talent level of those two,
but if he continues with this streak that he’s on and makes waves in the
playoffs, he could be the story that saves professional basketball.
Some don’t believe the NBA needs saving. I
understand. They still have fans. But I did something I hadn’t done in seasons.
I watched a game. Well, the last 8 minutes of a game, but still. The NBA has
become about highlights and contracts and superstars who score 35 points on 45
shots (that’s not very good). I was really hoping the entire season would be
locked out to hopefully teach it a lesson. Then up from the ashes comes a
humble Harvard Asian-American point guard who has been sleeping on his brother’s
couch through the 10-day contracts he’s gotten from the Knicks. And he’s done it to not just the Wizards and the Jazz, but now the beloved Lakers. He has garnered the attention of the casual viewer, like me, who has tired of watching the
chest-pounding, showboating ways of today’s NBA.
This doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to fall
victim to an egomaniacal tirade or a run-in with the law – probably not even a parking
violation. And the timing is perfect. He’s come to the forefront of our focus just
after football season, when a lot of us are searching for something to merit
our attention, and just at the tragic fall of one of the best role models in all
of sports history with the Penn State saga. He is the first person of
Asian-American descent to start a game in the NBA and the second Harvard grad.
He has already become an international star and has increased traffic on the
Knicks websites by 3000%.
I’m looking for a role model. Someone to
inspire kids to play for something besides showing up other kids and end zone
celebrations. This is my hope for the NBA and sports in general. I’m putting
all my chips in on the Lin-sanity craze. And maybe it’s too early. Maybe he won’t
be the superstar I’m hoping he’ll be, and thus may fall out of the spotlight.
Maybe once Carmello comes back, the team chemistry will fall apart and he’ll fade
into the background. Or worse, maybe the NBA will lose their focus on him and
start to spotlight Carmello and the stats again. But hopefully the media and
the fans can keep their attention on him for a while, for whatever reason.
Because in a league that’s more common to high school dropouts than Ivy League
grads*, it would be nice for a humble Harvard kid to share some of the
spotlight. For the kids.
* (Note: This is based on no real research. Please don't quote me on any of it.)
* (Note: This is based on no real research. Please don't quote me on any of it.)
