Duh...LIN-ning! 9/16/12

Of course it is time to discuss all things Jeremy Lin…how could it not be?

Just when you thought the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl would linger all throughout another dismal sports winter in New York, the biggest sports story in the country is the Knicks starting point guard, who two weeks ago was the 12^th guy off the bench and sleeping on his brother’s couch. Well those days are behind him, I’d say. In just two weeks he has gone from that humble existence to getting his contract guaranteed for the rest of the year, being the first Asian-American to start an NBA game, breaking the all-time scoring record for first 5 games started, (a list that includes Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and Shaqille O’Neal), guiding his team to a 7 game winning streak without their star player, becoming the NBA player of the week, selling out both his licensed AND counterfeit merchandise in only ten days, and, most importantly, staying at Trump Tower. I know I’ve never had a week like that.

Seriously, when was the last time anyone ever gave a shit about the New York Knicks? Wasn’t there a small screen on the corner showing the LAPD chasing a suicidal OJ Simpson down a highway?

Needless to say, the Jeremy Lin story has captivated so many people because he is playing in the greatest city in the world, you can’t possibly buy that publicity. And yes it was only a matter of time before someone brought up his race, so thank you “Asshole of the Week” Floyd Mayweather.

But there is much more to this kid than just his race. I love the fact that he went to Harvard, and let’s not forget, the last time an Ivy League player started for the Knicks they won two championships (That’s Princeton alum and NBA Hall of Famer Bill Bradley in case you are a recent jumper on the Knicks bandwagon and didn’t know). I love the fact that he is an NBA player who actually went to class when he was in college, not some “one and done” kid who is an illiterate millionaire because he has been pushed along and exploited by the hangers on around him. He gives great interviews, he is articulate and maybe not Charles Barkley quotable yet, but he can be.

Given how they have played since he has been starting and all the hype surrounding him, Lin has pretty much saved Mike D’Antoni’s job. And one more thing, Knicks fans need to calm down about Carmelo Anthony coming back and possibly hurting the chemistry this team has developed. Carmelo is not and has never been the personality cancer that Kobe Bryant is, and I have it from a good source that it was actually Carmelo who campaigned for Lin to get more playing time, driving D’Antoni nuts until he finally agreed. Seriously, only Knick fans can think that having one of the best players in the NBA back on your team would actually be a detriment.

As far as adding him to the pool of NBA rising stars selected to play in the rookie-sophmore challenge during NBA All-Star weekend, one question…is there a bigger rising star in the NBA right now? If you know who last year’s number 1 NBA Draft pick was raise your hand…still waiting…yeah, I didn’t think so. (Hint: He is playing in Cleveland, yeah they still have a team. Kyrie Irving)

And here is one more reason to go LIN-sane. Right now the greedy assholes at MSG Network are engaged in a feud over money with the even greedier ass-rapists at Time Warner Cable. This could not come at a worse time for Knicks fans who have TWC and cannot get MSG. MSG stock prices have risen dramatically, as have Knicks ticket prices on Stub Hub. 

And to think, all because the Knicks signed a fat, injured Baron Davis and a fragile Tony Douglas, who will be gone so fast when he gets healthy that his ass won’t even be able to say good bye to his shorts. Last year I remember writing that the additions the Knicks made would make them interesting to watch. Now, they have not only become fun to watch as well, but they can actually win.

“You don’t understand…Isiah Thomas took my childhood, now I finally have hope.”

                                                                                                     - Anonymous Knicks fan

And on a sad note, RIP to MLB Hall of Famer Gary Carter. He was always quotable, and was the backbone of that talented, insane, and incredibly entertaining 1986 New York Mets team that won it all.

ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK

Floyd Mayweather, I know you have a bad history with Asians, considering you have been shamelessly ducking Manny Paquiao. By the way, offering Paquiao peanuts to fight you then calling him a coward when he refuses such a bad deal, is pathetic for even you, and an insult to boxing and its fans. If you are that confident you can beat him, why all the terms? He has pretty much done everything you asked for and is willing to take any drug tests on your terms and now you wanna take his money too?

No one will ever call you the greatest fighter in the world just because you are undefeated. Sugar Ray Robinson has 19 losses, 6 draws, and is still considered the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time. Muhammad Ali has 5 losses and Rocky Marciano is undefeated, no one with a brain thinks Marciano was better than Ali. Anyway getting back to your stupid comment that Jeremy Lin; if you really think he is only getting props because he is Asian, why don’t you check a record book first and maybe you will realize that he has actually outdone every NBA player in his first 5 games, regardless of race.   

Even Spike Lee, who loves to make everything about race, told Maywether to step off about Lin, so what does that tell you?