In a previous blog, I talked about what the NBA would need in order to bounce back from the dreaded lock-out (that hideous work stoppage that cost the league games and has forced players into a grueling schedule that keeps them roaming like gypsies). They needed a miracle… Or at least the facsimile of one. Ask and ye shall receive.
JEREMY LIN, a relatively unknown backup backup point guard has turned the basketball world upside down. A true Linderella Story!
‘Linsanity’ struck! Bringing with it: championship aspirations in The Big Apple, a hoard of ‘Lin’ puns and skyrocketing the NBA back into the global spotlight.
A Harvard graduate who went undrafted, Jeremy Lin was cut by two different teams before signing up to ride the New York Knicks bench as the team limped along.
Lin is Harvard edu-ma-cated.
He slept on his brother’s couch, saving the unguaranteed $800 thousand he was making (the league minimum for a second year player), because he never knew when his rollercoaster ride might end.
Finally, due to injuries, he got his chance to play. From there, a Lin’spiring tale began to take shape.
He came out on fire (not literally, that would be a hate crime). In his first 5 starts, he scored more points than any other player in their first 5, beating the likes of Lebron James, Michael Jordan, and Kazaam himself, Shaquille O’Neal).
He’s averaged 24 points and 9 assists a game (the kind of numbers you’d put up playing a video game on Super Lintendo) while leading the Knicks to an 8-2 record. Those 8 wins matched the team’s total wins all year up to the day we all went Lin-sane.
And being of Taiwanese-American descent, a whole new part of the world is tuning in to watch this kid play. Each game the Knicks play seems to set a new ratings record for their network.
Since Lin went on this tear, Forbes says his brand worth has risen up to $14 million! He’s tied with Kobe Bryant for 6th among athletes worldwide. What’s good for him is great for the New York Knicks, and is as good as gold to the NBA.
Madison Square Garden
His #17 jersey is flying off the shelves, and Nike has even begun production on Lin’s own shoe.
He’s become a solid Linvestment, as the Madison Square Garden Company (owners of the Knicks, among many other brands) has seen its stock rise from $29 a share to just above $31. This has added $139 million to the company’s market value in just two weeks!
The world is watching. This Lin-tense pressure could rattle even the staunchest of athlete. Jeremy Lin now has a daunting task in front of him. He must take the NBA to Linfinity and Beyond!
What do you think?
Image credit to teamstickergiant, chi-chu, and buggolo.
Article by Alex Brodsky
Alex is a video specialist and blogger at Quality Logo Products, putting his media background and screenwriting training to good use. When he's not working, he enjoys tinkering with his fantasy sports lineups, engaging in cheeky shenanigans, and cuddling. He must also get all of his caffeine from pop as he can't stand coffee. You can also connect with Alex on Google+.
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This is true, LIN-deed. But let us remember he is a LIN-tellectual man with LIN-credible abilities. So he wouldn’t have to LIN-ccur such trivial matters like fame. Although that won’t stop us from being LIN-fatued with him & his amazing talent! Boo-YAH!
Still my favorite grouping of LIN phrases I came up. Its amazing though to see how quickly people or grasping to a “fad” if you want to call it that. If it can be associated with something remotely positive people all over the world or grasping to jump on the band wagon just to have something to support and cheer for. Its a little weird like doesn’t anyone have anything better to do then fawn over this. Ehh that’s just me but it does make watching the games a little bit more exciting. But I’m still a D. ROSE fan all day, every day. Sorry Lin, your LIN-bilities just don’t LIN-pare.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I would choose D-Rose with a 108 degree fever and a broken arm over Jeremy Lin.
That being said, the reason people jump on these stories is because they love the under-dog. Everyone has been the underdog in regards to something in their life. You always hope to triumph, though that’s not always possible. David doesn’t always slay Goliath (and in the long run, Lin won’t keep this up), but it’s fun to live vicariously through one of these success stories.
He sounds good and all, but I still do not compare him to Michael Jordan. I know i really do not know all my facts, but basketball has always been my favorite sport to play/watch (I grew up watching all my brothers basketball games so its the one sport that i actually understand about every aspect of) But Michael Jordan was always my favorite. I was somehow infatuated by him and always found myself in my brothers room looking at his posters and magazines he had of the Bulls. (I was a weird child, I know). So as good as this Jeremy Lin may be, he will never measure up to my Michael Jordan.
Great Post tho, Alex! And I may be tempted to try that ice cream of his.
Trust me, NO ONE is comparing them overall, just their first few games. Lin has already cooled off a bit. MJ is the unquestioned GOAT (greatest of all time).
lol damn right!
Thank you for clarifying in my absence, Jeff. ANYBODY who thinks Jeremy Lin is the next Michael Jordan (or even Shaquille O’Neal) is sorely mistaken. His numbers so far have been remarkable, but teams have never played him before. Once they figure him out, he’ll show whether he actually has what it takes to play with the big boys.
Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, and we were lucky enough to grow up watching him play.
Thank you Alex for writing this blog!! For a week it seemed like every day there was another (and not necessarily new) ‘Lin-sanity’ article about his brand and what it means for marketers. Nobody ever took the time to explain how he got to where he was!! It was frustrating, but now I see his back story. Thank you!!
I’m surprised nobody really explained the back story. It’s his backstory that makes this so Lin-credible. But I’m glad I could clarify things for you.
I saw a stat that said ESPN talked about Jeremey Lin more in one day than the NHL combined in a week.
And I think that is the root of all evil here. These story’s are big because ESPN makes them big. If it’s on the east cost, they’re covering it to death. If some random dude from Golden State does what Jeremy Lin did, it’s just a nice story and they move along. With that said, it’s impressive as all get out, and so long as they don’t beat the Bulls, I hope nothing but the best for him!
Thanks for the Puns! There’s too many more that can’t be repeated here =]
I’m not going to argue that ESPN has a HUGE East Coast bias. They most certainly do. And this happening in NYC certainly makes it more of a story for them.
However, ESPN is just as good at beating a story to death when it happens elsewhere (i.e. Tim Tebow, Jim Tressel, LeBron making a pass in the all-star game).
As far as Lin goes, he seems like he’s really got a good head on his shoulders, he’s the type of player I like to see succeed and I do hope he has a stellar career in the NBA. Personally, I’ve probably watched more Knicks games since he came around than in the last 10 years combined.
Thanks for the lin-sane breakdown, Alex. It’s crazy to think that one single person can inspired such a lin-tany of puns. Talk about the power of personal branding! Now let’s see if he really can take the Knicks to Linfinity and Beyond!
It’ll be interesting. They’re a solid team, but Linfinity and Beyond may be stretching it. That’d mean they’d have to beat the Bulls, and we can’t have that happening
What great puns Alex! This is a lintastic post. I really don’t care at all about this Jeremy Lin guy or the NBA in general, but I loved this post.You kept my attention during the entire thing and that’s an accomplishment with sports facts. Nice work my friend.
Thank you! I’m glad I could keep you interested. SPORTS!
KAZAAAAAAAAAAM!
Do you realize who I am? I’m your GENIE!
This post was about hockey, right?
JK.
Hilarious stuff, Alex! “Super Lintendo”! Hah. Love it!
SPORTS!
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