[The OC Register] Jeremy Lin is the NBA's Asian-American inspiration

Thanks for posting, OP. I regret clicking on the OC Register for anything though. One of the worst newspapers I've had the misfortune of reading.

 

Well said. Not sure if that's totally what is behind this writer's article here but it does describe the mentality of the paper. And a lot of the Orange County elites. In their political correctness, they just can't help indicating their prejudices and preferences sometimes

He maybe didnt mean it, but I think it was definitely used negatively within the surrounding context.
It reads as the Freak is Chinese Godzilla who doesnt relate; The Lin-ster is the self-made American dream.

 

Jeremy Lin! he is a cool humble smart guy, and the guy has game. he'll learn from playing with and against stephen curry.

go warriors

 

"Freak" isn't the problem. Lots of players were called "freaks": Shaq, LeBron, etc. It isn't really a derogative word in the context of the sports world.

I do think the communist stereotype is uncalled for. Sure, I am sure China has a system to "harvest" sports talents. But that doesn't mean EVERY good athlete from that system was nothing but a product of heartless manufacturing.

The community of Asian-American has a tendency of looking down on Asians from Asia, the "FOBs" (First Off the Boat) as they are called.

 

"FOB" actually stands for Fresh off the boat not first off the boat..
Makes quite a bit difference. If you were first off the boat then you probably have been here quite awhile and are no longer a FOB

 

I think this is particularly true with Chinese Americans. Korean, Indian or Pakistan Americans are pretty Ok w/ who they are and where their parents come from. Well, partly to blame is the mainstream culture that like to ridicule new Chinese immigrants, their accents, habits, etc. There is a long history of such sine the Chines railroad workers. What's sad though, the Chinese Americans took it as a shame, rather than embracing their culture and standing up against such ridicule, like the Latino.
Off basketball. Sorry.

 

Chinese American took their culture as a shame? Maybe true for illegal immigrants and those seeking refuge on a visitor visa.

For the last 20 years, most new Chinese immigrants are high tech engineers. They are well paid compared to average American. At the same time, China is a rising power. I can't see how they feel embarrassed of their background.

That being said, Chinese American are only 1% of USA population. Big minority compared to Latino and it's not surprising to see their presence and voice being ignored.

 

I kinda feel bad for Lin. The expectations that people have for him have been so inflated by virtue of a few summer league highlights.

He's going to be battling for minutes in Golden State behind Curry and Ellis, and if things start going south for the Warriors, chances are that fans will start calling for Lin to get more minutes (kinda like their very own V-Span lol). It's also very likely that if he gets minutes against the leagues top gaurds (Paul, Rondo, Parker, D Will, etc.) that he'll get owned on the court...

 

Speaking from my experience. I had this conversations w/ many ABCs I know and some of them would admit.
Of course there are Amy Tans, one of my favorite writers. Generalization is always bad, I apologize.

 

You are right. I somehow typed the wrong word.

 

You misunderstood his point, he meant the children of those people you are talking about. Most of them don't want anything to do with China, of course not all of them.