Jeremy Lin, Inspiration for Chinese Parents Everywhere

The biggest news among the Chinese-American community this week is the incredible story of Jeremy Lin. If any of you readers have been hiding under a rock lately, Jeremy is the sensational new point guard playing for the New York Knicks. In his first three games starting last week, he has scored over twenty points per game and his team has won every game he's played in. Even when he is playing away from NYC the fans have all come out to support him.

Jeremy's story is even more amazing because he was cut by two other teams prior to landing at the Knicks. He was first picked up by the Golden State Warriors after graduating from Harvard (HARVARD!). He didn't get much playing time before he was let go and the Houston Rockets hired him. He spent even less time in Houston, just a few weeks, before he was transferred to New York. But thanks to some injuries to their starting players, Jeremy finally had a chance to show the world what he can do. YouTube is full of videos of the great plays he's made in the past week, inspiring the other Knicks players to up their games and leading to three straight victories.

The ability for Jeremy to succeed is even more special because it is occurring in the setting of team sports. Unlike Michael Chang, the Chinese-American who won the French Open in 1989, Jeremy has to be able to play with, and lead, other players who may have at first looked down on him, almost literally, as some Asian filler for the real players. He had to come out explosively to earn their respect. And earn it he has.

His background is so similar to mine. His father is Taiwanese who married a Chinese wife. I too am Taiwanese who married a Chinese. And it is our sincere hope that someday our children will be able to attend an Ivy League college and compete in any endeavor they wish, not just the stereotypical Chinese pursuits like violin or computer engineering. Just to be able to point to our kids that Chinese-Americans aren't all just nerds who can only excel at math and sciences but that we can compete with any American at the highest levels of professional sports practically brings tears to my eyes. I still remember all the times in junior high and high school when I was always the last one chosen to play on a team. It wasn't hard to think that being Asian was a main reason for being rejected as a teammate. Hopefully Asian children won't have to face this humiliation much longer. Here's hoping Jeremy can continue to play once the Knick's regular starters return.