Jeremy Lin, the NBA playmaker of Taiwan and Chinese heritage whose rise last season sparked “Linsanity” worldwide, told GQ Magazine in a cover story that he still feels the sting of racist attitudes.
“I’m going to have to play well for a longer period of time for certain people to believe it because I’m Asian. And that’s just the reality of it,” Lin told GQ in a story from next month’s issue posted on the magazine’s Web site.
Lin is featured on the cover wearing a suit and basketball shoes and holding a basketball in his left hand with a headline: “Jeremy Lin will not be denied.”
“I don’t always pass with my left, but when I do, its for GQ ... thanks,” Lin posted on Tuesday on his Twitter page.
Lin, a 24-year-old Harvard graduate, was pulled off the bench for the New York Knicks last season, when the club had two starters felled by injury. He shocked everyone with a star turn that sparked a win streak and “Linsanity.”
The starters returned and so did reality, but the Knicks reached the playoffs and Lin was expected to play a role for new York in the upcoming season.
However, when the Houston Rockets made an offer of US$25 million for three years and the Knicks refused to match it, Lin departed for the Texas club, where retired Chinese star center Yao Ming played his entire NBA career.
“When we had Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, those were our centerpieces,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told GQ. “Right now, we’re really sort of figuring out who those foundational players will be, but if you had to ask me who’s most likely to be that guy, I think Jeremy Lin’s No. 1.”
However, Lin says that he still feels a sense of bigotry toward him, that people see his skills as more limited because of his unique status as the NBA’s first Asian-American player.
“If I can be honest, yes. It’s not even close to the only reason, but it was definitely part of the reason,” Lin said. “There’s a lot of perceptions and stereotypes of Asian-Americans that are out there today and the fact that I’m Asian-American makes it harder to believe, even crazier, more unexpected.”
Lin cited remarks by NBA TV commentator Charles Barkley about Yao when the Chinese superstar was made the top pick of the 2002 NBA Draft by Houston.
“When Yao came out his rookie year as the first pick of the draft, you have Charles Barkley saying: ‘If he scores 17 points in a game, I’m going to kiss a donkey’s butt,’” Lin said. “If you [play well] for long enough, I think you would get the respect.”
Lin felt racism slaps last season, such as an ESPN Web site headline “Chink in the armor” after he had a poor showing on the court.
“In my younger days, it would make me really angry,” Lin said. “I think the comments in college were pure racism. Stuff that was said by opposing players, opposing fans, opposing coaches. So none of this was even close to that.”
Lin became a star in Taiwan, his parents’ homeland, and China, where one of his grandparents is from. He recalled being so mobbed during an Asian visit in the off-season that he rarely escaped his hotel room.
“It’s a unique thing that I have this platform and I can grow the game there, but honestly, I find it a bit scary,” he said.
Lin also told GQ that he knows he has much more to learn and must do more to put himself among the upper level of NBA playmakers.
“People are always saying, ‘He has only started 25 games. There are so many uncertainties.’ And I agree,” Lin said. “Things that I struggled with before last year, I’m going to struggle with next year. There’s that learning process. I have to get better.”
‧ The full text of GQ’s feature on Lin appears at: www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201211/jeremy-lin-gq-november-2012-cover-story
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and