Well, I figure the D&D forum also needs its own Jeremy Lin thread. So, here goes: One thing the Lin story reminds me is Obama's election in 2008. Each of Lin and Obama has, of course, enjoyed the support within his own race/ethnic group for being pioneers and barrier-breakers. People, especially those of us in the racial and ethnic minorities, recognize that there is still quite a bit of racism in the country and one’s race still carries with it stereotypes and disadvantageswe and we are happy to see at least one example of someone overcoming it Another part of the story, however, that American in general like the stories of barrier-breaking even when the protagonists don’t come from their own race or ethnicity. Many Americans, including myself, felt proud on election night 2008 about the election of the black president and what it said about this country. Something similar (though, of course, not a perfect parallell) seems to be happening now, people root for Lin to make it in a field where people from his background has not made it before. Floyd Mayweather is right that a big part of Lin's popularity has to do with being Asian and not black like the majority of NBA players. However, I don't think it's any more a matter of fans being against black NBA player than Obama's election being a matter of Americans being racist against white politicians. Also, it should not be ignored that being Asian American cannot make a player popular without on-court excellence. Jeremy Lin was Asian American last year, too, when he warmed the bench and his poularity was much more limited (and lets not even get started with the Wang Zhizhis and Yi Jianlian's of the league). Being the first black Presidential candidate of a major party, and later the first black President probably helped Obama's popularity a good deal. It's an advantage one enjoys for being a barrier-breaker. Of course, being black, without more, could not have gotten Obama elected if he was just the empty suit with no skills that the bassos of the world like to think of him as (a mistaken caricature that lead to such hilarities as Herman Cain being a serious contender for the GOP nomination for a while). In is regard, Ann Coulter, basso & Co. are the political equivalent of Floyd Mayweather. Thoughts?
My Google button broke. Will you please provide me with the link to the stats where Young threw for more than 400 yards, 4 touchdowns, and leading his team to 5 consecutive wins in his first 5 starts? Thanks.
Basso's inclusion is completely unwarranted, and Ann Coulter is more like Isaiah Thomas on the Pistons after they got eliminated by the Celtics. I also think Ming broke more barriers than Lin, but that Lin is similar to Obama in that the Knicks for the last decade are like Bush's second term.
