By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
2/25/12
Guard
Jeremy Lin and his good buddy, New York Knicks backcourt
teammate Landry Fields, walked into
the packed interview room.
Lin took his spot at a
table on the dais. Fields grabbed the microphone reserved for news reporters
asking questions.
"Landry Fields,
from The Post," Fields said. "Apparently the San
Francisco Pro-Am has a league every summer with their college players. We'd
like to know: Who was the MVP? I'm pretty sure the dates are 2009 and 2010. If
you could just explain that."
Lin, who grew up in
the Bay Area and played
at Harvard, smiled. The sudden NBA and cultural sensation had an
answer for Fields, who played at Stanford.
"Yeah," Lin
said. "Landry Fields was the MVP of the San Francisco Pro-Am 2009, 2010.
He played for the Oakland Believers … and he doesn't have a lot of
friends."
Yukkin' it up All-Star
Weekend.
It's a testament to
Lin's level head in the face of a life-changing three weeks and unprecedented coverage
since the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent
injected the league with an insanely popular and positive story — about someone
about to be released from his third team and considering a return to the
D-League, playing in Europe or a temporary break from basketball.
Instead, Lin's often
remarkable and unexpected play has resuscitated the Knicks.
The story veers off
into so many compelling tangents, from his influence in Asia to the role his race
played in teams overlooking him to the idea that other lesser-known players
just need a chance to Lin's newfound marketing opportunities and bright future.
Charming and
self-effacing. Taking the blame when the Knicks lose. Crediting his teammates
when the Knicks win. Humorous if necessary. Serious if necessary.
…So far, the moment —
game-winning shots or turnover-rife performances — has not been too big or
overwhelming for Lin.
His faith has played a
large role in that.
When the Knicks played
the Miami Heat on Jan. 27, Lin went to pregame chapel with Fields,
teammate Jerome Jordan and
Heat forward Udonis Haslem.
Haslem told news
reporters that Lin asked his fellow worshippers to pray that the Knicks
wouldn't cut him at the Feb. 10 deadline to release players or guarantee his
league-minimum salary ($762,195) for the rest of the season.
"The chaplain
asked us to share a prayer request, and I knew February 10th was right around
the corner, so that was what was on my heart, just that I would be able to
continue to stay on the roster and be with the team the rest of the year,"
Lin said at a packed news conference just for him Friday night. "So that's
kind of what I shared with the group of guys."
He explained his Knicks uniform
number: 17. He likes No. 7, but that's Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony's number.
"Seven was my
number last year, and it's one of God's numbers that he uses throughout the
Bible," Lin said. "And I chose 17 because the '1' was to represent me
and the '7' was to represent God. And when I went to the D-League, I had 17, and
so everywhere I go, He would be right there next to me. And so that's why I
stuck with 17."
So it's not an homage by Lin, who
played with the Golden State Warriors last
season, to former Warriors great Chris Mullin, who wore No.
17?
"Oh, no, not at
all. I didn't even think of that," Lin said. "But he's a great
player. Trust me, I'm a huge fan of his."
As recently as nine
days ago, Lin wasn't even officially scheduled to participate in All-Star
Weekend. …Lin allowed that his inclusion in All-Star weekend has been surreal.
"Oh
absolutely," he said. "Just any press conference of my own in
general, let alone All-Star weekend. Just to be here and to see the company and
all the players that are here is just — it's been unbelievable, and I'm just
trying to take it all in and embrace it and enjoy it every step of the
way."
…Lin said he has not
gone on any spending splurges. "No. I'm still a minimum (salary) guy. That
hasn't changed," he said.
He has, however, moved
off his brother's couch and into a swanky high-rise apartment in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site.
He is due for a significant raise after the season, when he is expected to
become a restricted free agent.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you heard of Jeremy Lin in your country?
2. What are they saying about him in the media?
3. Why do you think he is so popular?
4. Do you think athletes are good role models for young people?
5. Who is your favorite
athlete? Can you tell us about him or
her?
