I’ve never been much of a basketball fan, but I’m pretty up to date with the big names within the sport. However, a couple weeks ago tons of people were tweeting and making Facebook statuses about Jeremy Lin and I had no idea who he was or what all the hype was about.
For those who were just as clueless as I was, Lin is the point guard for the New York Knicks and also the first Chinese/Taiwanese American NBA player. According to ESPN News, he recently set the record for being the first NBA player to score at least 20 points with seven assists in each of his first five starts, which helped the Knicks to seven straight wins. Currently, he holds the record for most points scored in a player’s first five starts. He is amongst legends Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson.
Although Lin looks like a player that has just come out of the blue, he is not. He has been trying to work his way up the ladder since high school. However, many turned a blind eye to just how good he was. After the game the Knicks won against the LA Lakers, where Lin outscored Kobe Bryant and set a career high of 38 points, Bryant shared a few words about the freshly unveiled player.
Bryant stated to ESPN, “Players playing that well don’t usually come out of nowhere…if you can go back and take a look, his skill level was probably there from the beginning. It probably just went unnoticed.”
That’s exactly what happened to Lin. He obviously did not become a good player by sitting on the bench for the Knicks’ first 23 games. Honestly, he might have been overlooked because he is Asian. Clearly he was not fully ignored because throughout his journey to the NBA other teams picked him up, but no one really gave him a chance to see his full potential, not even the Knicks. That is, until now.
According to the New York Post, before Lin could showcase his skills fully, the Knicks’ coach, Mike D’Antoni, was already thinking about releasing him from the team before Feb. 10 when his contract would become guaranteed. At that time, Lin finally made his debut during a game against the Boston Celtics. It was only due to the Knicks’ poor playing that Coach D’Antoni decided to give Lin some playtime, stating, “He got lucky because we were playing so bad.”
The New York Post ran this headline following the Knicks’ win over the Toronto Rapotors. | Originally Posted on Lin’s Athlete Facebook Page
It was after that game that Lin hit a hot streak and helped the Knicks in defeating their opponents in the next seven straight games. Thus, “Lin-sanity” was born. Sports fanatics took to their TV screens and were dazzled by the skills of “Mr. Lincredible”. However, not everyone gave into the Jeremy Lin hype.
Pro boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. tweeted on Feb 13th, “Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.” After receiving negative comments from his followers and the media, he continued on in another tweet, saying, “Other countries get to support/cheer their athletes on and everything is fine. As soon as I support Black American athletes, I get criticized…I’m speaking my mind on behalf of other NBA players…”
Mayweather believes the hype over Lin to be about race rather than talent. | Originally Posted on Mayweather’s Twitter
Interestingly enough, when I read his comments I wasn’t even surprised by what he said. He has a twisted view on how he sees black athletes. First of all, sports like football and basketball are filled with so many black athletes that it is impossible to praise them solely for the fact that they are black athletes. Yes, they are amazing at what they do, but they are recognized for being just that, for the simple fact that they are dominating certain sports.
Mayweather for example is a spectacular boxer and there are people who do praise him for how good he is; however, the image he sets for himself is what overshadows how great of an athlete he is. So this question can be posed to him as well, is he great simply because he’s a good boxer, or because he’s a good black boxer?
His arrogant and tasteless comments overpower the ability for people to see that remarkable boxer. This also goes for other black athletes that have lives that are surrounded by scandal. In that sense, yes, black athletes go out and play relative to how Jeremy Lin does, and do not get the same amount of praise because their activities outside of the game are more intriguing.
Mayweather also stated that Lin is only getting so much attention because he is Asian. I agree with that. How often do you turn on the television and see an Asian American outscoring some of the best players in the league? Not often. Lin is breaking down barriers and trying to make a name for himself. He isn’t making headlines just because he is an Asian basketball player. He is making headlines because he is an Asian basketball player who is very talented and has been overlooked.
When I read about how many records he set and awards he won throughout high school and college to see that he still went undrafted for the NBA for so long, it really makes me think. Lin’s skill level was there, but he was overlooked and I strongly believe it’s because he is Asian. Teams did not take him seriously and looked at his skill level they way they do other players.
Think about the dynamic of teams in basketball and football. In basketball the point guards are usually black due to this stereotype of them being fast and naturally good at aggressive sports like basketball; a lot of coaches tend to build the team around this stereotype. Then, there are Caucasian guys on the team, and you see them as being the person shooting all the three pointers, much like Steve Nash, Larry Bird and Dirk Nowitzki.
In football, the quarterbacks are majority of the time Caucasian and the running back and/or wide receivers are African American. However, those races that play the opposite position of the norm are underestimated.
When Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers spoke in an interview about fellow wide receiver, Jordy Nelson, who is white, he stated, “They [other teams] underestimate him…he [Nelson] uses that to his advantage…they look at him and go ‘OK, he’s the white guy, he can’t be that good.’ Well, he is that good…and it’s because of the work and time he puts in…” This is unfortunate, but true. No matter how much someone goes on and on about how others shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it happens.
Being a spectator of sports, I felt it was appropriate to talk to those who actually play them and find out their thoughts. When asked whether or not stereotyping exists when it comes to sports, sophomore, Ryan Kidd, an African American guard on the UT basketball team stated, “…people see a tall black person and think ‘oh he must play basketball’…our coach is a perfect example of that, he’s always like ‘those black guys, they’re fast’…it’s funny, but it’s true. The slowest guy on our team is Callum [a Caucasian player], but he can shoot.”
Teammate and freshman, Terrell Pritchett, who is also an African American point guard for the team, agreed with Kidd. He responded, “Definitely. Whenever I see a white person on an all black [basketball] team, I automatically assume he is a shooter…but that’s how it usually is, while every other black guy is supposed to be able to run fast and jump high…that’s just the way I see it.”
What I found interesting from talking to both of them is how they feel Caucasian and African American players are presented when commentators talk about them. Kidd stated, “Let’s talk about football, when there is a black quarterback, they [commentators] always talk about how his athleticism is what makes them good, but when it’s a white quarterback, it’s because he’s smart. They [media] play on that a lot.”
I’m in complete agreement. Why is it that there are different standards for certain races? I know that a lot of the time it is not a conscious thought to seek out certain races to fill different spots on a team, but there are a lot of unconscious thoughts that play into it.
I don’t think the system is the only one to blame. I think those who play on the team are also at fault.
If there is a stereotype going around in sports that black people are usually fast and athletic and white people are more intelligent and strategic, those races are going to unconsciously try to live up to that stereotype and also put other people in that bracket as well. Still, many people are not going to outright admit something like that.
Sticking with this topic of stereotypes dominating certain areas in sports, the controversy now is will Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony get along on the court? There is so much hype surrounded by the fact that when Carmelo Anthony comes back, these two won’t be able to cooperate. This assumption coming from the fact that before Lin, Anthony was the leading scorer for the Knicks and now, there may be a power struggle.
What many people fail to realize is, Anthony was the reason that Lin was able to get some playing time. Lin confirmed on The Michael Kay Show that Carmelo Anthony told Coach D’Antoni to put Lin in the game against the New Jersey Nets. Therefore, it is ridiculous that the media is trying to stir up controversy by saying things like “Can Carmelo Anthony fit in with Jeremy Lin?”
First of all, the thing that makes Lin so much different from other star NBA players is the fact that he does not try to show off or look at himself as the best. This could have played a part in why he was not drafted earlier, as well. He is just thankful for finally getting his opportunity to show what he is made of. In the same interview on The Michael Kay Show he also spoke about the best part of being a part of the team. He stated, “Making runs with the team. When we make a run or we open up a lead or we close a gap, I think that’s the most fun. Just sharing the ball…and having fun with the guys out there.”
Then he went out to say how thankful he was for the opportunity and Anthony having a hand in it. He continued, “I think it’s funny how some people are talking about ‘oh can Melo adjust into the system?’…the fact that he vouched for me shows a lot about him.”
ESPN has been on a roll with their discussions about Jeremy Lin. The most recent scandal for them would be when Anthony Federico, an ESPN writer, was fired for headlining his article “Chink in the Armor.”
It was not too long after that ESPN anchor, Max Bretos, repeated the same headline on television and was then suspended for 30 days.
After apologies were made to Lin for their thoughtless actions, Lin responded at a press conference stating, “They’ve apologized and so from my end, I don’t care anymore…have to learn to forgive.” This slip up also occurred with the New York Post as well when they referred to Lin as “Amasian.” Although Lin has been given many nicknames, there is no need to take it as far as to bring his race into it. At that point, things can begin to get offensive.
A controversial image displayed by the MSG network. | Originally Posted on Lin’s Athlete Facebook Page
Nevertheless, Jeremy Lin is the perfect example of underestimating a race. Although he is now getting well-deserved praise for his talents, it was a late coming. He was victim to the racial stigmas put on athletes.
It was not his skill level that kept him from finally getting to where he is now in the NBA, but it was the fact that unconsciously, people saw he did not fit in with the norm, overlooked his talent and didn’t give him a chance to showcase his worth. Now, he is that player that everyone is going to have his or her eye on.
Dominique Barchus can be reached at dominique.barchus@spartans.ut.edu.
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AWESOME JOB!!!!!!
Well analyzed and thorough criticism. good job!!