Lin-Sanity: A doubled edged sword?

Jeremy Lin

      There are times when the name says it all when it comes to NBA success.  The name can say it all and help define careers, create legacies, and yes even ignite myths based on past performances.  Some of the greatest players that have stepped foot on the hardwood floors of the NBA also had the best names MJ, The Black Mamba, The Dream, The Iceman, Flash, Chocolate Thunder, and yes Sir Charles.  This past week, a new name was born, a new legend was created by a fan base so thirsty that they still believe that Willis Reed is walking through the tunnel.  Jeremy Lin has taken New York City by storm and yes it's time for Lin-Sanity!  Sometimes all one needs is an opportunity to show
their worth, show that they're worthy of playing at the highest level.  Jeremy Lin, a Harvard graduate, was cut by the Goldenstate Warriors and the Houston Rockets before landing in New York City but how did he get here, where did this phenomenon come from?

While growing up in Palo Alto California, Lin was taught the game of basketball by his father at the local YMCA.  Falling in love with the game is easy, mastering the game is the tough part and over the last five games, Lin has mastered his game and now as the starting point guard for the New York Knicks, Lin has created a fandom that rivals Tebow Mania.  Lin-Sanity is taking over the world, sweeping the nation and with all of the good press, there will be come bad press and unfortunately the stupid acts of others are out of Lin's control.

Jeremy Lin spent four years at Harvard, playing for the basketball team and majoring in Economics.  During Lin's four year stint at Harvard he averaged 12.9 points, 3.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2 steals per game.  Lin was also a three time All-Ivy League selection, as a sophomore, junior, and senior and finished his career in Harvard's top five in scoring, assists, and steals.


After having a brief stint in the D-League, one that saw Lin post a triple double in his first game, the NBA can calling.  As mentioned earlier unfortunately, Lin was cut but since both teams have expressed regret about how Jeremy Lin was seemingly let go without being given much of a chance.  After being peppered by the media most of the week about the Warriors letting Lin go, Head Coach Mark Jackson decided to address the situation.

"I got a text message from Spike Lee (on Saturday) morning, thanking me, like I had something to do with it. I never saw him do a layup, so people can stop asking me. He never practiced for us, so leave me out of it."


Ignorance Galore

Really?

As the Lin-Sanity legend was growing as Jeremy Lin carved the Lakers defense, making Derek Fisher look like a player in his late 40's versus his late 30's, a sign in the New York crowd caught my attention.  At first glance the sign seemed harmless, a jab at Kobe Bryant but after thinking of it for a while, the sign was quite offensive.  Kobe Bryant has adopted the name of "The Black Mamba", not because he is of African descent but more due to the black mamba being the fastest snake in the world, one that is considered aggressive and highly venomous, one of the top ten most venomous land snakes.  Bryant saw the characteristics of his game in the black mamba, no more, no less.  Last friday when I saw the fan made sign I was disgusted.  This is not a cry wolf situation about racism but what this is, is a call out on ignorance that shouldn't be tolerated.  That sign should not have ever been allowed inside of Madison Square Garden nor should it have been displayed by ESPN, the self proclaimed worldwide leader in sports.

Not to be outdone by ESPN, foxsports columnist Jason Whitlock in a moment that was meant to be funny sent out the following tweet after Linsantiy overtook the Lake Show.

I absolutely love Whitlock's work as I have followed him for well over ten years but the tweet above was a sheer moment of ignorance.  Whitlock has stated multiple times, to enjoy his tweets but judge him by his work but tweets like the one above even though it was meant in jest, has no place in this world.   Some have called for Whitlock to be fired for the tweet but I'm not doing so, but he should be used as an example of what not to tweet.  Ask yourselves this question, what if the role was reversed?  What if an insensitive remark was made about an Caucasian, African american, or Hispanic american?  It just gives one something to think about, in no case should ignorance of this type be tolerated. 

A moment of redemption

After realizing the error of his ways, Jason Whitlock apologized for his tweet above by releasing a statement on twitter regarding the backlash he's faced in the middle of Lin-Sanity.  

I get Linsanity. I've cried watching Tiger Woods win a major golf championship. Jeremy Lin, for now, is the Tiger Woods of the NBA. I suspect Lin makes Asian Americans feel the way I feel when I watch Tiger play golf. I should've realized that Friday night when I watched Lin torch the Lakers. For Asian Americans and a lot of sports fans, his nationally-televised 38-point outburst was the equivalent of Tiger's first victory in The Masters. I got caught up in the excitement. I tweeted about what a great story Lin is and how he could rival Tim Tebow. I then gave into another part of my personality -- my immature, sophomoric comedic nature. It's been with me since birth, a gift from my mother and honed as a child listening to my Godmother's Richard Pryor albums. I still want to be a standup comedian. The couple-inches-of-pain tweet overshadowed my sincere celebration of Lin’s performance and the irony that the stereotype applies to pot-bellied, overweight male sports writers, too. As the Asian American Journalist Association pointed out, I debased a feel-good sports moment. For that, I’m truly sorry.  

Lin-Sanity is real

The Yahoo sports blog The Post Game recently revealed many truths about Lin-Sanity and some have actually given the New York Knicks financial gain.  All of this is of course sparked by Lin-Sanity, five games started, an average of 27 points, 8 assists a game, and a five game winning streak on top of that.

• Lin’s No. 17 jersey is the NBA’s top online seller since February 4.

• Knicks merchandise sales are No.1 overall in the NBA since Lin’s breakthrough game.

• Five of the NBA’s 10 most popular items are Knicks-related since ‘Linsanity’ started.

• Lin’s Chinese Wikipedia-style page (Baike) has picked up 3.5 million hits.

• Modell’s Sporting Goods Inc. in midtown Manhattan can’t keep Lin’s gear on shelves; they went through multiple shipments of jerseys and T-shirts over the weekend.

• The Knicks have taken advantage of Linsanity, raising average ticket prices by 27 percent since Lin scored 25 points off the bench against New Jersey in his breakout game.

• The Knicks’ upcoming road opponent Toronto has a huge price differential to see Lin play (cheap seat: $44.00) as opposed to an upcoming game with the Spurs (cheap seat: $12.50).

• Madison Square Garden stock has zoomed by 6.2 percent to $31.25 since the day before Lin started the Knicks on their winning streak.

To be continued.......

Lin's ascension in the NBA could end up being one of the best basketball stories in years as long as the Knicks continue their winning ways.  Lin represents the true story of the "underdog" fighting for his unlikely chance and making the most of said chance upon receiving it.  Allowing ignorance or hated to cloud the journey and story of Jeremy Lin would be an absolute tragedy.  Jeremy Lin will be a free agent at season's end and the Knicks will have to make a very tough decision because if Jeremy Lin continues this incredible run and the Knicks are able to make the playoffs, then they must use the full mid-level exemption to re-sign Lin so that Lin-Sanity can continue in New York versus elsewhere.  Continue the thirst Knicks fans but please don't become salty.  

Dedicated to Vic!

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Derek Fisher's Letter to NBA Players in response to Jason Whitlock's Claim

All,

Interesting times right now. The clock is ticking and we are aware that games are being lost, our jobs are on the line as are those of all the arena workers and business owners impacted by the lockout.

We have been prepared for this and need to make sure we are getting the best deal possible. As this sets the precedent for the next 6, 7, 10 even 20 years. My goal, the Executive Committee's ONLY goal is to present you with the most fair deal possible. A deal that is both fair on system and BRI. One isn't more important than the other. They are both extremely impactful to our business, our sport and our day to day life in the league.

Our Executive Committee, NBPA staff and I are navigating the negotiations very carefully. We need to continue to work hard on your behalf and get the season going if possible. I've been speaking with many of you and we are working with your opinions, suggestions, and requests front and center. This is your union, and we work with and for you.

Many of you have asked about the timing of the cancellation of games. We know as players and interacting
with our fans and the people that work in these arenas on a daily basis this is having an impact. If nothing more, the league and owners should understand people's livelihoods are at stake. They should be able to take the over 1 Billion dollars we've offered them and open the doors of their arenas and let us, along with the ushers, parking attendants, everyone impacted to get back to work.

Usually I wouldn't even dignify absurd media reports with a comment. But before these reports go any further, let me say on the record to each of you, my loyalty has and always will be with the players. Anyone that questions that or doubts that does not know me, my history, and what I stand for. And quite frankly, how dare anyone call that into question. The Players Association is united and any reports to the contrary are false. There have been no side agreements, no side negotiations or anything close. We are united in serving you and presenting the best options and getting everyone back to work.

The attempt by "sources" to divide us will be unsuccessful. We will continue to work every day to do right by you, the businesses that depend on our league and our fans.

The NBA and the owners have not allowed us to go back to work. So they have essentially turned their backs on not only the players, but the fans that have made them billions. I hope they decide to change that. It's the only way everyone wins. I urge each of you to stay involved. Call me and your fellow players on the Executive Committee and the NBPA staff with anything you need or questions you may have.

I will be in touch later this week with updates on the details of the negotiations. Stand United.

With much respect,
Derek

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Divide and Conquer: NBA Lockout 2011

Divide and Conquer also known as divide and rule refers to a strategy that breaks up existing power structures and prevents smaller groups from linking up.

David Stern 

Lets not shroud this in something that it is not, this is about winning, always was but winning is in part perception.  Take a look at NBA Commissioner Stern's press conference last evening after talks between the owners and the player union broke down again.  During said press conference, Stern took the misinformed on a magical tour through his world of spin where the owners supposedly "moved" yesterday from 47% to allowing the players to have 50% of Basketball Related Income "BRI".  That may have been news to the misinformed casual fan who wants the players to take a deal at all costs due to that type of fan being thirty for NBA basketball, but the reality is that everyone in the know has known that a 50/50 split has been what the owners have wanted all along.  There was no new revelations last evening from Stern other than the cancellation of NBA games through November 30th, but even with that news, it was expected to be announced once the week began anyway, so again many of you got spun yesterday
by Stern to put the players and their leadership at fault here.  The major players in the lockout are Commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver who represents the owners versus Executive Director of the NBPA Billy Hunter and President of the NBPA Derek Fisher represents the players.   At its core it seems to be a fair fight, power matching power, equal sides but what if the sides aren't equal, what if the odds are in the favor of the NBA, what if in all reality the ratio is 3 against 1 with Hunter being the odd man out.

Michael Curry 

Last evening Jason Whitlock of Foxsports.com suggested that there may be a rift in the ranks of the NBPA.  In his piece Is Fisher in Stern's back pocket?  Whitlock detailed the sudden rise of power within the NBA Michael Curry, the previous NBPA president.  During his NBA career which started in the 93/94 season, Curry played for six franchises before retiring after the 2004/05 season.  Playing 11 years in the NBA is an accomplishment due to the fact that the average career spans about 4 seasons but Curry was known as a great defensive presence and a leader which is evident by Curry scoring only 2,986 points in his career.  To put that point total in perspective, during the 05/06 NBA season, Kobe Bryant scored 2832 for an average of 35.4 point per game while playing in 80 of 82 games.  Curry's career point total could be matched in a season by a player averaging 36.4 points per game as it has been surpassed in the past.

Curry's ascension throughout the NBA after serving as the NBPA was well chronicled by Whitlock.  June 21st of 2005, the NBPA agreed to the deal that just expired and a week later Curry stepped down as President.  A short time later, commissioner Stern named Curry the Vice President of Player Development for the NBDL.  As his ascension continued Curry would be named the NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations, and a year later assistant coach of the Detroit Piston and a year after that Head Coach of the Pistons despite little experience.  Curry is now the Associate Head Coach of the 76ers and perhaps positioned again to become a head coach.

This is relevant because Curry's ascension can be linked to an apparent link between Curry and David Stern.  If it's indeed true that Curry and Stern were linked when at a time they were supposed to be adversaries, could Derek Fisher be headed down the same road?  Is Derek Fisher selling out the players union for his own personal gain?  When negotiations broke last week, it was stated by Stern that there would be no more negotiations until the NBPA agreed to the 50/50 split of BRI but suddenly we had three days of meetings this past week.  According to Whitlock, there was a confrontation Friday morning between  Fisher, Billy Hunter, and another member of the executive committee based on the fact that Fisher has been "co-opted" by David Stern to deliver a deal of 50/50 to the owners.  Simply put there are major concerns about the relationship between David Stern and Derek Fisher with Billy Hunter being caught in the middle.

If Derek Fsher is truly working with Stern to deliver a 50/50 split behind the backs of the NBPA's executive committee then he has to be ousted a union President based on the fact that he is undercutting the union that pays him $2.6 million a year to be their president.  The NBPA's stance at this time is not to go below 52.5%  of BRI having already come down from 57%.  Each percentage point is worth $40 million and the owners are pushing for a ten year deal while the union would like to have a six year deal.  With that said the players have already agreed to give up $180 million per year for the duration of the potential deal, whether it be six or ten years, which equates to a substantial cut in pay because keep in mind that 90% of the players are making on average $5 million per year.  Fisher, a role player himself is throwing all of the other role players under the bus with his secret deal with Stern, again he needs to be ousted if the claims are true.

Derek Fisher & Billy Hunter

As David Stern spun the misinformed yesterday, he mentioned that upon hearing that the league's stance at a 50/50 split that Hunter ended the negotiations.  If Stern was counting on his improper relationship with Fisher to be his trump card, Hunter proved him wrong ending negotiations abruptly.  After yesterday's negotiations ended, no new negotiations are scheduled to take place, but we've heard this story before.  The owners want a BRI split of 50/50 and the NBPA wants a split of 52.5/47.5; this is where we are and before negotiations can start again Derek Fisher and Billy Hunter must bring their ideologies together and not just stand together at pressers.  The time is now to get this deal done but it has to be the right deal for both parties, no selling out, no me first mentality, this deal has to be done on good faith and not on undisclosed preconditions.  The players union must stay strong, must stay united because a union divided will usher in being conquered by David Stern and his minions.

Update:  Fisher responds to Whitlock's Claim

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