In Flushing, the Queens neighborhood that is home to the city’s second largest Chinatown, “Linsanity” was a phenomenon the residents embraced.
Asian players in Kissena Park
Restaurants were filled with patrons cheering on Jeremy Lin during New York Knicks games, the area’s basketball courts were filled with more Asian players than usual, and those who have never watched an NBA game suddenly became fans. To the people of Flushing, Lin — whose lightening quick rise to fame earlier this season was cut short by a knee injury — represented passion, hype and pride.
“My father, he never watched basketball before, now he started watching,” said Steve Lam, a Knicks fan even before Jeremy Lin, “Now it’s just more exciting, I’m more looking forward to every Knicks game.”
As much as the excitement he brought to the community, Lin brought controversies as well. Everybody wanted a piece of the pie. People on the street argued over Lin’s ethnicity.
The Chinese said Lin was Chinese, but the Taiwanese argued that since his parents were from Taiwan, so he should be Taiwanese. Then the conversation headed to whether Taiwan is a part of China, and on it went.
On YouTube, videos like “Jeremy Lin – Taiwanese Pride” or “Asian Pride” attracted tons of comments. Even Americans enter the fray, one commenter said, “Lin was born in America; therefore he is an American, not an Asian.”
But after a while, arguments faded away because people realized that they could be proud of him no matter his ethnicity.
The public’s love for Lin went well beyond the fact that Lin attended Harvard. He was the underdog. More than that, he looked different from everyone else on the court, yet seemed so comfortable and confident.
Many people in Flushing’s Asian community admired such a confidence, whether it was found in the younger generation or the older generation. They all understood how difficult it is to be different.
Wong wearing "Linsanity"
There have been eight other Asians in the history of NBA, but none of them had stirred up such an excitement in the Chinese community as Lin.
Another reason people loved Jeremy Lin was that he actually plays good basketball. “His three point is so great, when they lose points, he just shoot some three points and make it,” said Richard Li, a 21-year-old student from Queens College, who has started playing basketball again because of Lin.
People just loved watching Jeremy Lin, whenever there was a Knicks game, all the sports bars and restaurants in Flushing were packed. Watching Jeremy Lin together with families and friends became a must do thing.
Dante Claure, the manager of Applebee’s in Flushing Sky View Center mall, spent $5,000 just to make a Chinese version of his menu to accommodate the new wave of customers who were mainly there to watch Jeremy Lin.
“It’s definitely worth it,” he said. “When people started to notice Jeremy Lin, they started coming here little by little, and when he became famous, suddenly we were a full house.”
Those who couldn’t make it to the bars and restaurants stayed home and enjoyed the game with their families. “We don’t have cable before, but after Jeremy Lin, we just install it and watch him,” said Li.
Not everyone can afford Knicks tickets, but they cannot resist the fun of watching “Linsanity” together with friends and families.
Unfortunately, “Linsanity” was cut short by a knee injury, and Knicks lost to Heat 4 to 1 in the playoff while Lin was sitting on the bench. It was a heart breaker for the community.
Some said that they were glad that Lin missed the playoffs because that way he would get enough resting time for his knee so that he can come back next season fresh and healthy.
As much as the fans wanted Lin to be back to the Knicks next season, nothing is certain in this world of professional basketball. But one thing is certain, that is no matter where Lin goes, the community’s love for him will follow.
http://youtu.be/X3356qaLem8