One week ago, the New York Giants won the Super Bowl.
They had the ticker tape parade, the celebration, the front page.
Players were getting keys to the city, and Eli Manning was making the Late Night appearances on Letterman.
Tuesday that changed. As the plows pushed confetti off of Broadway, they unknowingly cleared the path for a new star to shine in the Big Apple. That star has come in the shape of a 6’3″, 200 lbs point guard, Jeremy Lin.
Lin began the season by being released by the Golden State Warriors, then released by the Houston Rockets before signing a deal with the Knicks. Lin bounced between the Knicks bench and the D-League, with the Feb. 7 deadline looming.
So what happened? The Knicks have struggled this season, with the main problem being point guard play. With no one to orchestrate the offense, stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony have not been able to keep the team in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. Toney Douglas was given a chance to run the offense, but under-performed. Veteran Mike Bibby was signed, but couldn’t play defense. Rookie Iman Shumpert played well in a few games, but is more of a shoot-first player – not the answer on a team with Anthony and Stoudemire.
Then in comes Lin and amazing happens.
In his first game, the Knicks against the New Jersey Nets, he puts up 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes. Knicks win.
In his second game, the Knicks play the Utah Jazz, and he puts up 28 points, eight assists, and two steals in 45 minutes. Knicks win again.
In his third game, a road game against the Washington Wizards, his stat line reads 23 points, ten assists, and four rebounds in 36 minutes. Knicks win again.
In his fourth game, this time a marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, he goes and puts up 38 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Knicks win again, and Lin outscores Kobe Bryant. With the game broadcast on ESPN, the whole country has just seen Jeremy Lin lead his team to a win over one of the best players ever in the NBA.
[easyembed field=”Vimeo”]
Now the problem fans are facing is finding a nickname for this undrafted, unheralded superstar. You can cast your vote here: What is the best nickname for Jeremy Lin?
Lin has sto-LIN social media, with individuals across the US weighing in.
- “We should have kept @jlin7.Did not know he was this good.Anyone who says they knew misleading U RT @trane711 Just accept the @jlin7 mistake” – from Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets
- “Jeremy Lin is killing right now, I’m always rooting for the underdog.” – from Rudy Gay, forward for the Memphis Grizzlies
- “I need to get a Jeremy Lin jersey. This dude making all nerds proud!” – from Doug Baldwin, wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks
For a player who was on the verge of being released to out-scoring Kobe Bryant, it is a fairy tale story for everyone.
