The NYT article is titled "Breakout Stars Shine a Light on Those Left Out". Because there are no black professional athletes in any kind of spotlight, right? Do they even watch pro sports?
Great work again by the New York Times, finding racism wherever it hides in America. Racism could be hidden in the dust bunnies behind the fridge; it could be hiding somewhere in your morning coffee; racism could just be behind you right now, ready to pounce - but wait! The New York Times will help you identify it in all its many and inevitable forms so you yourself don't need to figure things out on your own. They'll just tell you about all the racism that's fit to print.
Oh where Oh Where do I start. First of all, Lin is a point guard, and Tebow is a Quarterback. Both positions are not just the leaders of the team, they are the focal point for the action, the play starter. Secondly, Tebow and Lin are totally different aside from the Christianity point, Tebow was one of the most sucessful college QBs of all time. But he was considered overrated by all of the experts. if anything it is extremly similar to a young Lebron James, mixed with the quirky mechanics of Hideo Nomo. Lin on the other hand, was too college oriented, and too Asian, to be a NBA starter, inspite of Tebow like sucess (of lesser magnitude and against lesser opposition). Cruz is a wide reciever, there are several wide recievers on any play. He has gotten some fame, but the NY Giants are carried by one person, Eli Manning, and when their defense got healthy they won, while right now the Knicks are carried by no one except Lin. As far as underdog black basketball players, how about Muggsy Bogues, who was probably one of the top 10 most popular players during his run in Charlotte. Muggsy grew up very poor in inner city Baltimore, and he is now the coach of united Faith Academy in Charlotte. If anyone is similar to the Lin story it is Muggsy.
I rather imagine that if a young black athlete were to espouse and encourage the mores of Tebow and Lin, the racist response to his/her world view would come from the NYT.
"When was the last time a young, untested professional African-American athlete had been on the receiving end of this type of adulation?" How about Stephen Curry's run with Davidson in the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament?
Answer: Bo Jackson. NYT reporters don't even know sports. Their circulation numbers are dropping because they can't even answer their own fact questions. Just ignore them like everyone else is doing.
Well, Tiger Woods put golf on the map when he received similarly obsessive media.
It's interesting that the media constantly tells us when the first woman, first African-American, first...does something. Then when the first Asian-American does something, we're chided for noticing that. I'm pretty sure that if Lin received little or no credit or media for turning around the Knicks, we'd be told that this is evidence of some anti-Asian problem in the U.S. You can't win.
Doc Gooden during his rookie year (much deserved adulation)
Air Jordan during his entire career (again, much deserved)
Emmit Smth, both in college and as a Pro
Hershel Walker (especially in College)
I haven't followed sports, professional or otherwise, for almost 2 decades. The above examples may be dated, but they certainly highlight the fact that sports writers will hype anyone regardless of race.
The NYT article is titled "Breakout Stars Shine a Light on Those Left Out". Because there are no black professional athletes in any kind of spotlight, right? Do they even watch pro sports?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess the great solipsistic echo chamber that is the N.Y. Times never heard of Mariano Rivera.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGreat work again by the New York Times, finding racism wherever it hides in America. Racism could be hidden in the dust bunnies behind the fridge; it could be hiding somewhere in your morning coffee; racism could just be behind you right now, ready to pounce - but wait! The New York Times will help you identify it in all its many and inevitable forms so you yourself don't need to figure things out on your own. They'll just tell you about all the racism that's fit to print.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh where Oh Where do I start. First of all, Lin is a point guard, and Tebow is a Quarterback. Both positions are not just the leaders of the team, they are the focal point for the action, the play starter. Secondly, Tebow and Lin are totally different aside from the Christianity point, Tebow was one of the most sucessful college QBs of all time. But he was considered overrated by all of the experts. if anything it is extremly similar to a young Lebron James, mixed with the quirky mechanics of Hideo Nomo. Lin on the other hand, was too college oriented, and too Asian, to be a NBA starter, inspite of Tebow like sucess (of lesser magnitude and against lesser opposition). Cruz is a wide reciever, there are several wide recievers on any play. He has gotten some fame, but the NY Giants are carried by one person, Eli Manning, and when their defense got healthy they won, while right now the Knicks are carried by no one except Lin. As far as underdog black basketball players, how about Muggsy Bogues, who was probably one of the top 10 most popular players during his run in Charlotte. Muggsy grew up very poor in inner city Baltimore, and he is now the coach of united Faith Academy in Charlotte. If anyone is similar to the Lin story it is Muggsy.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI seem to recal Tiger Woods getting even more adulation, once upon a time.
BTW, and what white president got as much adulation & "leg tingling" as Obama?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWas that whole LeBron James thing a dream? As a Clevelander, I wish it had been.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI rather imagine that if a young black athlete were to espouse and encourage the mores of Tebow and Lin, the racist response to his/her world view would come from the NYT.
/cynicism
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTiger Woods?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseumm... LeBron James?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusejust off the top of my head...
Michael Vick?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUm, Lebron James anyone?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, Obama's certainly no athlete (ever watch him throw a baseball?) but I'd say his rookie year was an orgy of overhyped adulation.
In some ways, the guy is still a rookie. Some still exult. And Obama himself still doesn't know what he's doing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"When was the last time a young, untested professional African-American athlete had been on the receiving end of this type of adulation?" How about Stephen Curry's run with Davidson in the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTiger Woods, that was easy.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnswer: Bo Jackson. NYT reporters don't even know sports. Their circulation numbers are dropping because they can't even answer their own fact questions. Just ignore them like everyone else is doing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, Tiger Woods put golf on the map when he received similarly obsessive media.
It's interesting that the media constantly tells us when the first woman, first African-American, first...does something. Then when the first Asian-American does something, we're chided for noticing that. I'm pretty sure that if Lin received little or no credit or media for turning around the Knicks, we'd be told that this is evidence of some anti-Asian problem in the U.S. You can't win.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's easy - Jason Heyward of the Braves. There was such hype about him last year that people jokingly called him a future hall of famer.
He kind of fizzled out in year 2, though to be fair, he's still only 22.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo Floyd Mayweather is writing for the NYT now? He was yapping along in that vein a week ago. He even got Spike Lee riled up.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo name a few:
Doc Gooden during his rookie year (much deserved adulation)
Air Jordan during his entire career (again, much deserved)
Emmit Smth, both in college and as a Pro
Hershel Walker (especially in College)
I haven't followed sports, professional or otherwise, for almost 2 decades. The above examples may be dated, but they certainly highlight the fact that sports writers will hype anyone regardless of race.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJust to add a few more recent;
Kobe Bryant - straight from high school to the pros
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKevin Garnett - same
LeBron James - before his ill-fated Decision 2 years ago.