Jeremy Lin (Photo : Getty Images/Streeter Lecka )
The controversial video that shows how Jeremy Lin is often hit on the head and face but not called has triggered the issue of racism in the NBA.
When the video became viral, it caught the attention of Jeremy Lin himself. Lin appreciated the effort and thanked the fan responsible for making it but he himself downplayed its significance and responded that he made a vow to no longer argue with the refs and stay focused on basketball.
But the discussion will continue. Recently a Redditor (u/dopestdope) sent an email to the NBA. It did not accuse racism directly but did mention this:
"The NBA has a huge following in Asia and Lin is one of the very few active players with full Asian descent in the NBA. It's disheartening to see Lin's mistreatment by the NBA referees. As fans, we ask you to please review this matter seriously and to take action."
It has actually elicited a response from Adam Bernstein of NBA Fan Relations. The response read:
"Contact that is deemed flagrant by referees and other hard contact (whether called or not) is reviewed by Basketball Operations after each game. During its review, Basketball Operations uses a set of criteria (which you can find here), multiple video angles and enhancements, and its comparable database to calibrate its judgment. When deemed appropriate, a postgame Flagrant Foul can be assessed (including for contact that was not called in the game), and applicable points, warnings, fines and/or suspensions are issued."
It continued: "While some of the plays in the video you referenced involved hard contact, none was subsequently deemed a Flagrant Foul given the full circumstances, angles and comparables from past games. Referees do make mistakes, which means they miss calls that should have been made. When that occurs, we collect the data and provide referees with feedback to ensure improvement."
"Thank you again for contacting us and for being a fan of Jeremy Lin and the NBA."
It also did not tackle the race issue and sounded like a generic response.
Hoops Habit took on the sensitive topic as they pointed out that Jeremy Lin has indeed taken on the cudgels of representing and defending Asians referring to his tweet on the Academy Awards joke.
There was also the fact that Lin took light, but nevertheless drew attention to how security in other arenas still stop him as he did not seem to fit the mold of how a basketball player looks.
Lin's sudden rise to stardom in New York, the world's biggest media market may have caused many to raise their eyebrows and some players, raise their elbows. There were some quarters who felt that the recognition was too much, too soon. That his newfound fame was somewhat "underserved." There was the argument that if an Afro-American player posted numbers like what Lin produced in that short span of Linsanity, it would not have been a big deal.
It resulted in a huge contract offer by, of all teams, the Houston Rockets who drafted Yao Ming into the league. That was also undeserved, even in a basketball standpoint.
But it can be argued that Lin has paid his dues when he took close to a minimum salary with the Hornets this year and is now working hard to earn the next big contract.
It is impossible to determine the motivations behind the players who hit Lin or the officials who should have called those fouls, but as long as the fans see a discrepancy, questions will always be raised. There is no answer, just an end to the questions.
Lin is proving that he belongs in the league because of his talent, skill and hard work and the NBA should ensure that there is no reason for Lin not to be given his proper place.
