This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Linsanity Not So Crazy

The atrribute of a hero exemplified by the New York Knicks point guard, Jeremy Lin.

By now, everyone has heard or read about Jeremy Lin and his saving graces on and off the basketball court.

He literally came off the bench as a virtual unknown and not only saved the New York Knicks season which was in dire need of repair, but has turned the sports world on its ear. He has made the cover of Sports Illustrated for two consecutive issues, a rarity in the world of sports. His ascendancy to this level of popularity is a phenomenon heaped upon a young man who truly merits the following and the fame. He is a true hero in my view; all of us around the world can learn something from this young man and "Linsanity."

A brief history of Lin’s story is helpful when analyzing how quickly he has risen to become a worldwide champion. Up until Feb. 2 Jeremy Lin was virtually unknown. He had been recognized for his talent and skills by his high school coach at Palo Alto High School in Pal Alto, California, when he played there as a high school student. However, he received no athletic scholarship for his play and went on to attend Harvard University where he majored in economics. While playing for Harvard, Lin once again received praise from his coaches and teammates. He was not drafted by the NBA initially, but later that year "received a partially guaranteed contract with his beloved Golden State Warriors."

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lin rarely played with the Warriors and was assigned to the NBA D-League, a development league, three different times during his rookie season. Facing personal failure once again, he was waived by the Warriors and the Houston Rockets in the preseason, before joining the Knicks in the early 2011-2012 season. The lockout once again thwarted his hopes of getting playing time and proving himself worthy of a starting position.

The New York team was off to a poor start once the lockout was over with an 8 - 15 record on Feb. 3, losing eleven of its last thirteen games. They were in desperate need of a point guard who could move the ball down court, find the open lane, and initiate plays for them. Even with superstars, Amaré Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks were performing poorly on the court.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On the evening of Feb. 4, with the Knicks loosing to the New Jersey Nets, Jeremy Lin was called off the bench to play point guard.

"He got lucky because we were playing so bad," remarked Knick's coach Mike D’Antoni.

Given his opportunity, Lin demonstrated his tremendous ball-handling skills, his uncanny ability to see all sections of the court ahead of him, and his aptitude for driving into the paint to complete lay ups or pass off a teammate for an assist.  He scored twenty-five points with five rebounds and seven assists, outplaying All-Star guard Deron Williams of the Nets. The rest, my friends, is history.  The phenomenon know as Linsanity was about to make its debut. I am very pleased with this global event. It is a positive occurrence and Jeremy Lin is worthy of the acclaim.

Heroes are much needed in society and culture. The idea of a redeemer, one who will save us in time of great need, is embedded in most cultures and belief systems throughout the world. As Joseph Campbell explained in Hero with a Thousand Faces, the myth of the hero has been a universal narrative since ancient times.

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

Such is the journey of hero in cultures and societies throughout the world. At this time in this place, Jeremy Lin tends to meet these criteria.

Today our global society is in dire need of a hero, one who shows us there is still hope for the oppressed, the underdog, the unnoticed and the rejected who work hard each day. doing what is fair and just but still comes up short. Jeremy Lin never complained or pouted when faced with adversity. He just worked harder, waited, and never gave up. He showed us what it means to be determined, to be passionate about something we love even when no one seems to notice.

He illustrates for us how important teamwork and sharing is to success. He is not about what he has done or what he can do; he is all about teamwork and how he can help his team and his teammates achieve success. Listen to his interviews post game.  You never hear him take credit for his scores or his assists.  He always credits the team and the play of others. In this day of "me, me, me." it is a pleasure to hear a talented young man speak in a selfless, humble manner and give credit to others.

Mr. Lin is a positive role model. We can learn a good deal from his style of play and his exemplary conduct. There are two schools of thought on athletes and role modeling. I am of the school that maintains an athlete at the top of his game, who is in the media and has a national following, needs to elevate his game off the court as well. He should be articulate, honest, hard working, compassionate, and somewhat humble. He or she is setting an example of behavior and demeanor for countless numbers of young people around the globe. That should be kept in mind at all times. A true hero understands this. It comes with the territory whether you ask for it or not. You need to comport yourself in a manner that is in accordance with the skills you bring to the sport.

Lin is this type of player. He presents himself well. He doesn’t draw attention to himself with bizarre behavior or gang style body art (tattoos). He speaks well, works hard, and is considerate of others. In short, he is a gentleman and worthy of the following he enjoys at this time.

Call me crazy, but I love Linsanity. I am becoming an ardent New York Knicks fan because of how clean and fluid the play has become since Lin has been playing the point guard position. I guess I am an "old school" pick and roll fan. His style of play, passing the ball and looking for the open man has rubbed off on his teammates as well, making for a fast and enjoyable game of sport. I like the fact that so many young and old people are caught up in this phenomenon waiting for their hero to emerge and save the day once again.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?