Victor Davis Hanson uses his latest National Review Online column to examine the buzz surrounding New York Knicks’ star Jeremy Lin.
In Lin’s storybook saga, it is hard to sort out all the racial-stereotyping and affirmative-action undertones, but I think it goes something like this: Lin was probably not given earlier opportunities commensurate with his proven talents, given that both Harvard graduates and Asians (perceived in the NBA as a twofer disadvantage) are probably unfairly stereotyped by basketball players, coaches, and general managers as less physical and more nerdy — and therefore not as athletic as either black or white players.
Yet, once the Knicks gave Lin even a small chance to display his innate talent, the profiling vanished. His undeniable merits as a shooting, passing, and driving point guard have earned him almost all of the recognition that he has garnered. Remember, the NBA is a for-profit league and prides itself on judging players solely on talent — questions of diversity or proportionate racial representation, usually, be damned. After all, the Knicks began winning with Lin playing more, and should they start losing with him in the lineup, his current celebrity status will gradually wilt away.
