02-22-2012, 10:51 PM
You're sure giving these words a lot of power that they don't have on their own. I think Jeremy has the right idea.
Espn sucks
You're sure giving these words a lot of power that they don't have on their own. I think Jeremy has the right idea.
02-23-2012, 12:21 AM
Just read a fantastic article on this issue at Grantland, with a particularly interesting bit about JLin's old Xanga account (it was like facebook before facebook, I remember it being big in my high school back in '02ish, particularly amongst Asian kids), and his screenname, ChiNkBaLLa88
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7601...jeremy-lin
People are saying that it's good we can look past Jeremy Lin as being "good for an Asian kid" and instead talk about him as plain being good for anybody, but it marginalizes his impact to a large segment of the population. The whole story is fantastic, but if Jeremy Lin was black, and everything else was the same, Harvard, unrecruited by everybody, cut from two teams, his story is a fraction as interesting and popular.
People say it's ridiculous to compare Jackie Robinson to Jeremy Lin, but I disagree, and can't think of a better comparison myself. Jeremy Lin is someone every Asian-American kid can relate to, and probably the first major Asian-American athlete who is playing the game like any other star in his sport plays it. First off he's from America, unlike Yao Ming, or Ichiro Suzuki. He's also not a physical freak like Yao, he's a guard whose game any kid can try and emulate on the court. Even if Jeremy Lin averages 10 points the rest of the season, he is the biggest sports story of the last year. If he keeps playing at an all-star level, it's probably the greatest sports story of the decade.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7601...jeremy-lin
People are saying that it's good we can look past Jeremy Lin as being "good for an Asian kid" and instead talk about him as plain being good for anybody, but it marginalizes his impact to a large segment of the population. The whole story is fantastic, but if Jeremy Lin was black, and everything else was the same, Harvard, unrecruited by everybody, cut from two teams, his story is a fraction as interesting and popular.
People say it's ridiculous to compare Jackie Robinson to Jeremy Lin, but I disagree, and can't think of a better comparison myself. Jeremy Lin is someone every Asian-American kid can relate to, and probably the first major Asian-American athlete who is playing the game like any other star in his sport plays it. First off he's from America, unlike Yao Ming, or Ichiro Suzuki. He's also not a physical freak like Yao, he's a guard whose game any kid can try and emulate on the court. Even if Jeremy Lin averages 10 points the rest of the season, he is the biggest sports story of the last year. If he keeps playing at an all-star level, it's probably the greatest sports story of the decade.
Just read a fantastic article on this issue at Grantland, with a particularly interesting bit about JLin's old Xanga account (it was like facebook before facebook, I remember it being big in my high school back in '02ish, particularly amongst Asian kids), and his screenname, ChiNkBaLLa88
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7601...jeremy-lin
People are saying that it's good we can look past Jeremy Lin as being "good for an Asian kid" and instead talk about him as plain being good for anybody, but it marginalizes his impact to a large segment of the population. The whole story is fantastic, but if Jeremy Lin was black, and everything else was the same, Harvard, unrecruited by everybody, cut from two teams, his story is a fraction as interesting and popular.
People say it's ridiculous to compare Jackie Robinson to Jeremy Lin, but I disagree, and can't think of a better comparison myself. Jeremy Lin is someone every Asian-American kid can relate to, and probably the first major Asian-American athlete who is playing the game like any other star in his sport plays it. First off he's from America, unlike Yao Ming, or Ichiro Suzuki. He's also not a physical freak like Yao, he's a guard whose game any kid can try and emulate on the court. Even if Jeremy Lin averages 10 points the rest of the season, he is the biggest sports story of the last year. If he keeps playing at an all-star level, it's probably the greatest sports story of the decade.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7601...jeremy-lin
People are saying that it's good we can look past Jeremy Lin as being "good for an Asian kid" and instead talk about him as plain being good for anybody, but it marginalizes his impact to a large segment of the population. The whole story is fantastic, but if Jeremy Lin was black, and everything else was the same, Harvard, unrecruited by everybody, cut from two teams, his story is a fraction as interesting and popular.
People say it's ridiculous to compare Jackie Robinson to Jeremy Lin, but I disagree, and can't think of a better comparison myself. Jeremy Lin is someone every Asian-American kid can relate to, and probably the first major Asian-American athlete who is playing the game like any other star in his sport plays it. First off he's from America, unlike Yao Ming, or Ichiro Suzuki. He's also not a physical freak like Yao, he's a guard whose game any kid can try and emulate on the court. Even if Jeremy Lin averages 10 points the rest of the season, he is the biggest sports story of the last year. If he keeps playing at an all-star level, it's probably the greatest sports story of the decade.
02-23-2012, 05:58 AM
(02-22-2012, 10:51 PM)CowboyIndian link Wrote:You're sure giving these words a lot of power that they don't have on their own. I think Jeremy has the right idea.
Jeremy is doing the classy thing, although what else can he do?Â
But the words do have power on their own. Society would not tolerate people taunting blacks with the n word or broadcasting it over the news, so it should not tolerate the equivalent c word either.
(02-22-2012, 10:51 PM)CowboyIndian link Wrote:You're sure giving these words a lot of power that they don't have on their own. I think Jeremy has the right idea.
Jeremy is doing the classy thing, although what else can he do?Â
But the words do have power on their own. Society would not tolerate people taunting blacks with the n word or broadcasting it over the news, so it should not tolerate the equivalent c word either.
02-23-2012, 10:04 AM
(02-23-2012, 09:53 AM)garvin link Wrote:Personally I am not at all convinced that the adversity in Lin's basketball career has been based on racism. The idea that UCLA, the 59ers and Trent Johnson didn't want an Asian guy on their teams is absolutely preposterous as far as I am concerned. The same goes for the NBA: I never heard of anybody who said Yao Ming couldn't play. To the extent that Lin has overcome prejudice in the NBA, it's been against short guys who went to Harvard.
Lin's not short--he's a solidly built 6'3" 200. That's big by NBA point guard standards.
While it's ridiculous to compare him to Jackie Robinson, I do suspect a bit of stereotyping is at play here. The better comparison is probably someone like Toby Gerhart, whom coaches couldn't wait to move to fullback or linebacker.
(Also, there was quite a bit of skepticism about Ming before he came into the NBA. I remember the TNT guys ragging on the pick incessantly; I believe Bill Simmons proclaimed Ming over Jay Williams would be remembered as one of the worst picks in NBA history, like Bowie over Jordan.)Â
(02-23-2012, 09:53 AM)garvin link Wrote:Personally I am not at all convinced that the adversity in Lin's basketball career has been based on racism. The idea that UCLA, the 59ers and Trent Johnson didn't want an Asian guy on their teams is absolutely preposterous as far as I am concerned. The same goes for the NBA: I never heard of anybody who said Yao Ming couldn't play. To the extent that Lin has overcome prejudice in the NBA, it's been against short guys who went to Harvard.
Lin's not short--he's a solidly built 6'3" 200. That's big by NBA point guard standards.
While it's ridiculous to compare him to Jackie Robinson, I do suspect a bit of stereotyping is at play here. The better comparison is probably someone like Toby Gerhart, whom coaches couldn't wait to move to fullback or linebacker.
(Also, there was quite a bit of skepticism about Ming before he came into the NBA. I remember the TNT guys ragging on the pick incessantly; I believe Bill Simmons proclaimed Ming over Jay Williams would be remembered as one of the worst picks in NBA history, like Bowie over Jordan.)Â
02-23-2012, 10:52 AM
How would you like it if everytime someone said your name a gong sounded in the background, like for Long Duc Dong in Pretty in Pink?
Food for thought.
Food for thought.
02-23-2012, 12:06 PM
The comparison I hear that makes the most sense is with Fernando Valenzuela.Â
If you lived through Fernando-mania in the 80s and know what he meant to the West's MA community you probably can understand what I mean.
If you lived through Fernando-mania in the 80s and know what he meant to the West's MA community you probably can understand what I mean.
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.
The comparison I hear that makes the most sense is with Fernando Valenzuela.Â
If you lived through Fernando-mania in the 80s and know what he meant to the West's MA community you probably can understand what I mean.
If you lived through Fernando-mania in the 80s and know what he meant to the West's MA community you probably can understand what I mean.
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.
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