To all you naysayers and doubters, UPenn did a study a couple years ago and did found that there was racial difference in calls being made, depending on the race of the player and the referee. The study specifically looked at only blacks and whites, and I don't doubt that Asian(s) would be any different.
3
Not only that, during his college playing days, Lin would get verbally abused with racist remarks/chants by opposing fans (the kind of stuff that wouldn't be seen as being kosher if directed at black players).
The worst was at Ivy League away games.
The worst was at Ivy League away games.
3
These is way too much self-pity in the comments of Lin supporters. Fact is if he wants to run with the Big Dogs he better be prepared for the fight.
As for the comparisons with Jackie Robinson -- give me a break. If Lin's teammates refused to play with him, opponent teams shamelessly insulted his race, and fans threatened to kill him and his family, then you could mention Lin in the same breath as Robinson.
Absent such challenges, let's keep it real.
As for the comparisons with Jackie Robinson -- give me a break. If Lin's teammates refused to play with him, opponent teams shamelessly insulted his race, and fans threatened to kill him and his family, then you could mention Lin in the same breath as Robinson.
Absent such challenges, let's keep it real.
1
Typical poo-pooing when it comes to bias, much less racism against Asian-Americans.
The stuff Lin had to endure during his college playing days (racist remarks/chants) would not have been directed at black players in this day and age.
The stuff Lin had to endure during his college playing days (racist remarks/chants) would not have been directed at black players in this day and age.
4
Where are his teammates? Where is his coach?
When someone takes liberties with a player on your team, there must be at least one larger person who stands up for his teammate and lets the other team know that roughhouse treatment will be dispensed in kind at the other end of the court. See Maurice Lucas of the championship Portland Trailblazers era. Hall of Fame center Bill Walton states in his autobiography that there were regular fist fights on the court during his early years in the NBA.
There are times when you must fight fire with fire.
When someone takes liberties with a player on your team, there must be at least one larger person who stands up for his teammate and lets the other team know that roughhouse treatment will be dispensed in kind at the other end of the court. See Maurice Lucas of the championship Portland Trailblazers era. Hall of Fame center Bill Walton states in his autobiography that there were regular fist fights on the court during his early years in the NBA.
There are times when you must fight fire with fire.
2
Finally a noble use of social media! And I'm happy that we were all able to see Kobe the Cheap Shot exposed.
5
So why aren't blows to the hear an automatic foul, like in the NFL to quarterbacks' heads (while wearing a helmut)? I guess the NBA is more of a contact sport for their quarterbacks (point guards)....
4
Never been a fan of Jeremy Lin -- he is a player of modest talent, cry-baby, injury prone, and quick to exploit racial politics for self-promo.
This article reflects a trend in the comments of Asian American supporters of him over the years. This trend reflects a resentment of Afro-American accomplishments and relative acceptance in American popular culture.
Far too many commentators cross the line into ethnic envy. Since Asian figures often have little appeal in popular culture, there appears to be a common belief that critiques black cultural status out of resentment.
It reminds one of the arrogance reflected in debates over standardized testing. The misguided assumption that because individuals score well means they are somehow inherently better despite making any substantial contribution to society.
At any rate, it is time to move past the red herring symbolism of Jeremy Lin. If Asian American commentators have a problem with the recognition of black achievement and relative social acceptance they should say so plainly.
At best, this may initiate an honest, productive, and manly conversation.
This article reflects a trend in the comments of Asian American supporters of him over the years. This trend reflects a resentment of Afro-American accomplishments and relative acceptance in American popular culture.
Far too many commentators cross the line into ethnic envy. Since Asian figures often have little appeal in popular culture, there appears to be a common belief that critiques black cultural status out of resentment.
It reminds one of the arrogance reflected in debates over standardized testing. The misguided assumption that because individuals score well means they are somehow inherently better despite making any substantial contribution to society.
At any rate, it is time to move past the red herring symbolism of Jeremy Lin. If Asian American commentators have a problem with the recognition of black achievement and relative social acceptance they should say so plainly.
At best, this may initiate an honest, productive, and manly conversation.
I live in Houston and watched most of the Rockets games on television when Jeremy Lin played here. These "fragrant fouls" are just the tip of the iceberg. Lin was fouled repeatedly and did not get the calls, while he got fouls called against him with barely any contact. I used to think that he was a wimp for not standing up for himself, but now I think he is a true Christian in beleiving in the principal of turning the other cheek. I don't know if he is consciously emulating the behavior of Jackie Robinson when he faced massive prejudice in being the first African American to join Major League Baseball, but I hope his conduct will inspire people of all races reflect on their own attitudes and prejudices.
7
I'm amazed how many commenters are saying these don't meet the definition of a flagrant and then giving the wrong definition of a flagrant foul in the NBA. It's easy enough to look it up:
Section IV--Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
So now after seeing the rule I find it hard to believe anyone can say Kobe's clothesline foul was somehow necessary contact. That was so clearly a flagrant foul it can't be questioned. I don't know if Lin is or isn't getting a fair shake but it's clear the refs in the NBA have no set standard when they call fouls.
Section IV--Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
So now after seeing the rule I find it hard to believe anyone can say Kobe's clothesline foul was somehow necessary contact. That was so clearly a flagrant foul it can't be questioned. I don't know if Lin is or isn't getting a fair shake but it's clear the refs in the NBA have no set standard when they call fouls.
13
If one picture is worth a thousand words, it's pretty easy to see why this video has elicited so much dismay.
Like the NHL, the NBA likely needs to take a closer look at itself in the mirror.
Like the NHL, the NBA likely needs to take a closer look at itself in the mirror.
6
Maybe it's race (most likely it is). Maybe it's jealousy (back-to-back SI covers). Maybe it's just favoritism. But the bottom line is the Bottom Line. If Lin keeps getting hammered like this without repercussion, he's going to have a very short career. The injuries and concussions are going to mount. No twenty years for him. And that's serious dollars out of his pockets. This time the NBA truly is taking food out of his family's mouth. And, sadly, for reasons mentioned above, maybe that's what the other players and ref want. Hence, if I were JLin's agent, I would be in Adam Silver's face right now and them some. Nothing personal. Just flagrant fouls.
5
Some people are commenting that because Lin is a second string guy, he gets no call. How is this any different when we see the rich and powerful gets away with murder while everyday Joe gets harass by police.
It is not OK to have a system that favor the rich and powerful. And it is not OK to accept this corrupted system because it is the way it has been. We should speak up about the unfairness regardless of where it happens. This situation shows that even a nobody can get their voice heard. And we should put our support behind it, and not making comment on keeping the unfair status quo.
It is not OK to have a system that favor the rich and powerful. And it is not OK to accept this corrupted system because it is the way it has been. We should speak up about the unfairness regardless of where it happens. This situation shows that even a nobody can get their voice heard. And we should put our support behind it, and not making comment on keeping the unfair status quo.
9
I am a fan of Jeremy Lin and I think he has been a huge part of the revival of the Charlotte Hornets this year. The fouls on the video, however, do not necessarily meet the NBA's definition of flagrant, even though there is some serious contact. As a rule, guards who drive into a crowded lane are going to take some contact. Sadly, in the NBA, older players get more protection than rookies, starters get more protection than subs, and star players definitely get the most protection of all. Lin deserves credit for his bravery going to the basket and suffering some hard fouls. But a bloody lip or nose, or an awkward fall, is not necessarily evidence of a flagrant foul.
1
Yeah, so the clothesline from Kobe and the upper cut from Marshmallow are not flagrant? You are an Apologist.
8
if we are in the 80's
it's not flagrant foul.... but we are not in the 80's
it's not flagrant foul.... but we are not in the 80's
3
what the videos show re the lin fouls and the fouls to other guards taking the ball to the rim to dispute the claim that he is disproportionately fouled (hard and flagrant) is that the nba scrum under the basket is unnecessarily brutal and detracts from the artistry of the game. hard and flagrant...rugby, not basketball.
Long time NBA fan here, and I'm a serious critic of NBA officiating. But there isn't much to see here beyond homers crying about their guy. This is the story of any minor NBA small guy: abused by the bigger guys, abused by the stars, and neglected by the officials. The calls of racism are ridiculous.
It's worth remembering: flagrant fouls are called based on perceived intent, not on the actual outcome. Another point worth remembering: All stars are not officiated the same way as regular players. Four of the fouls shown (Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, James Harden and Demarcus Aldrige) are all-stars. Hence the no flagrant. Of these four, three are generally considered weasels by serious fans: Kobe, Carmelo and Harden (Aldrige's play was clearly not intentional, so does not meet the criteria for a flagrant). Oh, and most fans consider Jason Terry a weasel as well.
The NBA officiating is notoriously poor. But I cannot honestly say that this view, compiled by a likely biased fan, shows that Lin is being discriminated against. You want to see biased NBA officiating at its worst? 2000 and 2002 Western Conference Finals.
It's worth remembering: flagrant fouls are called based on perceived intent, not on the actual outcome. Another point worth remembering: All stars are not officiated the same way as regular players. Four of the fouls shown (Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, James Harden and Demarcus Aldrige) are all-stars. Hence the no flagrant. Of these four, three are generally considered weasels by serious fans: Kobe, Carmelo and Harden (Aldrige's play was clearly not intentional, so does not meet the criteria for a flagrant). Oh, and most fans consider Jason Terry a weasel as well.
The NBA officiating is notoriously poor. But I cannot honestly say that this view, compiled by a likely biased fan, shows that Lin is being discriminated against. You want to see biased NBA officiating at its worst? 2000 and 2002 Western Conference Finals.
6
As great as Kobe was, the Kings should be been in the NBA finals, not the Lakers. Yet, the NBA big shots made the call for the big markets, NYC and LA.
Section IV--Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
Show me where it says anything about intent in that rule? Intent no longer is part of the rule and hasn't been for at least ten years.
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
Show me where it says anything about intent in that rule? Intent no longer is part of the rule and hasn't been for at least ten years.
5
There are tons of other evidences, excluding those from superstars. Besides, how do you tell a foul is intentional or not? Nowadays discrimination is surely not as explicit as the Jackie Robinson era. But just a somewhat disguised bias here and there, those things add up to huge impact, especially all targeted on the only one asian in the league. It's easy to say high level things, but clearly you are not feeling what the victim feels.
4
Lin drew 813 fouls without a flagrant call. Two other players drew more fouls than Lin without a flagrant call. Who were those players?
What is the rate of flagrant fouls to legal fouls in the NBA? Who commits the most flagrant fouls? Who is the recipient of most flagrant fouls?
My team is always getting hacked on every offensive possession and the refs never call it. On Defense, my team always get called for lots of ticky tacky stuff. The refs have it in for my team.
I have selected some video clips to prove my point.
What is the rate of flagrant fouls to legal fouls in the NBA? Who commits the most flagrant fouls? Who is the recipient of most flagrant fouls?
My team is always getting hacked on every offensive possession and the refs never call it. On Defense, my team always get called for lots of ticky tacky stuff. The refs have it in for my team.
I have selected some video clips to prove my point.
1
The first three players listed that hit Jeremy Lin hard were all his former teammates - Kobe Byrant, Carmelo Anthony and James Hardin. Co-incidences? I think not.
3
As Asian population increases in the US and Asians in Asia become more aware of the western culture, we will be more vocal about our mistreatment. I think the peak of basketball is at NCAA, so NBA is worthless to me, but for Asian basketball fans, people like Lin is their star, unlike those famous guys even I know the names of. If all Asians fans ditched basketball, there would be less audience for NBA to cater to. Sports is show biz, so make it enjoyable to many people, not just for fans of famous stars.
5
As a longtime fan of the game, I can really appreciate the difficulty of the tasks referees perform, namely making split-second decisions based on personal interpretation of a set of rules regulating physical contact (which happens so frequently in basketball that even thinking about trying to keep track of it becomes somewhat tiring). Moreover, because of the popularity of the game, the referees are under intense pressure constantly (Blatant attempts by referees to distort the game, or ridiculous missed calls can become very obvious and humiliating). My impressions from casually watching games is that referees in general do a good job.
With all that in minds, past empirical evidence (Price & Wolfers, 2010, Quarterly Journal of Economics; http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html) does suggest that NBA referees exhibit "own race bias", i.e. white referees tend to call more fouls on black players, and black referees tend to call more fouls on white players (The study was meticulous: the assignment of referee crews to NBA regular seasons games is essentially random; it included every single regular season game between the 91-92 and 03-04 season; it employed some of the most advanced statistical tools).
My explanation for Lin not getting calls is that he is neither white nor black, and thus at a disadvantage because the NBA referee crews are mostly white or black.
With all that in minds, past empirical evidence (Price & Wolfers, 2010, Quarterly Journal of Economics; http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html) does suggest that NBA referees exhibit "own race bias", i.e. white referees tend to call more fouls on black players, and black referees tend to call more fouls on white players (The study was meticulous: the assignment of referee crews to NBA regular seasons games is essentially random; it included every single regular season game between the 91-92 and 03-04 season; it employed some of the most advanced statistical tools).
My explanation for Lin not getting calls is that he is neither white nor black, and thus at a disadvantage because the NBA referee crews are mostly white or black.
9
Clearly Jeremy Lin is being treated poorly by opposing players and the referees non calls. One could point to racism, but I think it's the surprising assertiveness of Mr Lin that catches the opposing players off guard. He has been terribly short changed by the referees, so much so that I question the referees fitness to call the games. Mr Lin is a shorter player, but that ought to be more of a reason to protect him. Every foul, called or not, in this video is flagrant. There ought to be a legal remedy for Mr Lin, either against the opposing players, or the refs. That will be the only way he can protect himself. This is sad.
11
Amen, but again he isn't really short for a guard...6'3"
1
A great follow up video is made by Tom Haberstroh from ESPN tries to illustrate quantitatively what was demonstrated by Hsiu-Chen Kuei qualitatively. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725 Over last 3 years, Jeremy Lin had 813 fouls on drives to the basket without a flagrant called which leads the NBA guards. Of all positions he is the third behind Kevin Durant and Pau Gasol. He is a clear outlier.
What I think is amazing about the story is that it is another example of power of social media. A fan makes a video puts a video on YouTube. It goes viral and in a few days it is in New York Times and ESPN.
What I think is amazing about the story is that it is another example of power of social media. A fan makes a video puts a video on YouTube. It goes viral and in a few days it is in New York Times and ESPN.
5
Yes, he is a clear outlier: he isn't that good, and he is the backup point guard on a medium quality team. The two you compare him to are perennial stars. And the NBA officiates its stars very differently than 2nd string players.
Yes, the power of social media...BUT the power of this woman has me at awe!!
3
Yes, the power of social media...BUT the power of this woman has me at awe!!
Look at Metastasis (below) for some reason I can't reply directly to him....he mentions JLin is on a medium quality team, BUT they are in the PLAYOFFS...Lakers NO, Knicks NO, Rockets NO....coincidence those are the frustrated players?
Look at Metastasis (below) for some reason I can't reply directly to him....he mentions JLin is on a medium quality team, BUT they are in the PLAYOFFS...Lakers NO, Knicks NO, Rockets NO....coincidence those are the frustrated players?
4
Invasion of accepted roles usually does not go over well. Asians are expected to be accomplished in the tech world, medicine, education, etc. but not professional sports, particularly the NBA. This has also been observed in the NHL in recent years when other than white players have gained some success.
5
Right
1
Even in those areas - they lag behind when it comes to reaching higher management and earning power.
2
It is possible that he is the victim of bias but you could probably make a similar video about every rotation player in the league. He has played almost 10,000 minutes in his NBA career. That is probably something like 25,000 or 30,000 plays. You could also probably just as easily make a video showing that he, or any other player, gets away with murder.
2
He used to get hammered here in NY also. I wouldn't call it racist but I do think there has been resentment of all the publicity he got. It would be interesting to do a study of Allen Iverson as both were small penetrating guards who played without fear.
7
You are rightfully pointing out the other party to the flagrant foul issue: the players who have butchered JLin. Why the bad blood Kobe, Marshmallow and Harden? JLin was your former teammate who gave nothing but his 120% for the team.
3
Clearly some players get preferential calls like Harden who is flailing his arms to get contact for fouls. Yet Jeremey Lin gets whacked in the head and no foul is called. Smaller players get beaten up and Step Curry the leagues best player gets beaten up every night and does not get calls. Have you seen the claw marks on his body. The NBA needs better referees as there is to much variability in the calls. We just want a fair game!
8
What could be the reasoning for a NBA official to not call a foul when a player got pocked in the eyes, get a broken nose in a "honest" attempt by defender to attack the ball beyond creation a crowd pleasing hybrid of a NFL-NBA game ?
4
What's disappointing is the NBA's response. Let them eat cake.
14
To all those making this all about racism, that was not the intent. Reading the accompanying letter to the NBA, here is the main concern: "Lin's health and safety are at risk, as Lin gets hit unnecessarily and excessively in the face, head, and neck areas by other players frequently. The most alarming aspect of these incidents is that the referees didn't make the right calls to protect the player, Lin, from harm. Evidently, the lack of calls and reviews from the referees encourages other players to continue using hard foul tactics on Lin." "Fans want the NBA officiating to be more transparent and fair, whether the player is a superstar or not."
12
Jeremy Lin is a great story. But he's nothing more than an average (possibly even below average) NBA player. His stats from this past season:
Scoring: 11.7 PPG (98th overall, 25th among NBA Point Guards)
FG%: 41.2% (111th overall, 27th among NBA PGs)
3 Point FG%: 33.6% (113th overall, 33rd among NBA PGs)
FT%: 81.5% (53rd overall, 19th among NBA PGs)
Assists per game: 3.0 (63rd overall, 41st among NBA PGs)
Steals per game: 0.74 (138th overall, 41st among NBA PGs)
Assist to turnover ratio: 1.57 (65th overall, 44th among NBA PGs - and nearly the worst of any PG in the league)
The NBA is a star's league. Rightly or wrongly, stars get the calls. Judging by the stats above, Jeremy Lin is anything but a star. Couldn't that be a reason why he doesn't get calls?
Scoring: 11.7 PPG (98th overall, 25th among NBA Point Guards)
FG%: 41.2% (111th overall, 27th among NBA PGs)
3 Point FG%: 33.6% (113th overall, 33rd among NBA PGs)
FT%: 81.5% (53rd overall, 19th among NBA PGs)
Assists per game: 3.0 (63rd overall, 41st among NBA PGs)
Steals per game: 0.74 (138th overall, 41st among NBA PGs)
Assist to turnover ratio: 1.57 (65th overall, 44th among NBA PGs - and nearly the worst of any PG in the league)
The NBA is a star's league. Rightly or wrongly, stars get the calls. Judging by the stats above, Jeremy Lin is anything but a star. Couldn't that be a reason why he doesn't get calls?
2
@ RDC — Of course, the causality could run the other way: that the inordinate hammering he absorbs, egregious fouling that officials are failing to call, explains the stats above.
— Brian
— Brian
9
Or not: flagrant fouls all happen in the lane. Lin's PER is average for his entire career, except for a blip into better than average during that short coming out in NYC (before defenses started recognizing his particular skill set).
to be fair, can't compare stats to that of starting only PG . His role this past season has been coming off the bench, less play time, role of SG and sometime PG.
1
1. Some comments seem to point to black conspiracy towards Lin. The nba refs, owners and officials are mostly white. The accusation is directed at the leagues officiating. The accusers are saying that Lin should get more of his foul calls declared as a flagrant. The refs make that decision not the predominantly black nba players. Not sure how blacks are suppressing Lins flagrant calls
2. Some comments blame Carmelo of the Knicks. Carmelo wouldn't explain Lins issues at golden state, Houston, LA Lakers. Lin left New York because his contract was structured with the 3rd year as a poison pill for ny. These are know facts. Why the ugly Carmelo posts?
3. Lin is a better player than Tim tebow but the script is similar. He can be polarizing because he has a vocal fan base that wants the best for him. He is very marketable and hence teams want Lin! They drool over Chinese and Taiwanese untapped pools of $$ and fans. This creates some distortion in favor of Lin. Lin also isn't stupid he effectively uses his fan base like tebow. Good for him. He isn't Jackie Robinson in terms of performance but he has power
4. All star voting has been tricky. Hypothetical Foreign player can generate millions of votes from outside the USA and get on the team when his performance isn't as impressive. The business side encourages this because you get more fans and grow the nba. But there can be downsides.
Lin continues to improve as a player. Asians want their own stars. It will happen soon
2. Some comments blame Carmelo of the Knicks. Carmelo wouldn't explain Lins issues at golden state, Houston, LA Lakers. Lin left New York because his contract was structured with the 3rd year as a poison pill for ny. These are know facts. Why the ugly Carmelo posts?
3. Lin is a better player than Tim tebow but the script is similar. He can be polarizing because he has a vocal fan base that wants the best for him. He is very marketable and hence teams want Lin! They drool over Chinese and Taiwanese untapped pools of $$ and fans. This creates some distortion in favor of Lin. Lin also isn't stupid he effectively uses his fan base like tebow. Good for him. He isn't Jackie Robinson in terms of performance but he has power
4. All star voting has been tricky. Hypothetical Foreign player can generate millions of votes from outside the USA and get on the team when his performance isn't as impressive. The business side encourages this because you get more fans and grow the nba. But there can be downsides.
Lin continues to improve as a player. Asians want their own stars. It will happen soon
5
Some of these fouls are against players who are very very unlikely to be called for a flagrant foul. Kobe Bryant? Carmelo? No way. They'd have to be extra egregious.
And I seriously disagree that Yao Ming was mistreated due to his race. This is just over zealous fan idolatry latching on to a marginally effective basketball player.
And I seriously disagree that Yao Ming was mistreated due to his race. This is just over zealous fan idolatry latching on to a marginally effective basketball player.
5
You missed the point entirely. It's about fairness whether Lin is a superstar like Kobe or not. Whether he is black, white or Asian.
BTW, I don't think you know basketball. You put Marshmallow in the same sentence as Kobe.
BTW, I don't think you know basketball. You put Marshmallow in the same sentence as Kobe.
5
Without "average, marginally-effective, isn't-that-good" players and you'd have no superstars. Steph Curry is a newly discovered superstar. He's the first to say he's as good as he is because of his great teammates. He knows no player in the NBA is "average or marginally-effective" if they earn 11,000 minutes over their career to date and several multi-million dollar contracts. Glib to say Lin is just so-so. He plays in the NBA and he's Chinese-American, unless he prefers to see himself as Taiwanese-American. That's remarkable. If he wasn't Asian American, he probably would have developed his game to the next level. But he's been swimming against the current as a basketball player and exhaustion sets in before excellence.
2
Current NBA basketball is a boring version of the peak years of the game 1979 ( Dr J. Majic, Bird to Shaqs retirement in 2011.. Practically unwatchable now, with Dwayne Wade as its sole left over from the glory years.. The game isn't the same...
1
You're pointing to the era of isolation plays as the paragon of pro basketball? Seriously?
2
First of all some people here are laying this on Jeremy's door step. This vidio was a product of a fan! i think it does show a glaring problem in what constitutes a flagrant foul and how refs should try to be more consistent in calling it or not. My personal feeling is that there is some prejudice involved even if it is a subconscious reaction. i along with the LA fan wish the Knicks had kept him. This triangle garbage is for younger fans. i'm on the back nine and would like to have seen a competitive Knicks team before my "comet" comes back! LOL!
1
I don't know why people have so hard time understanding that we have innate bias in our cognitive system. It's proven research after research. Be it conscious and subconscious, it's there. Once we admit EVERYONE has bias against anything out of norm or anything that's different from us, we can start correcting all these twists that we have in the social fabric.
Did the refs consciously have bias against Lin with inimical intent? I doubt it, but they probably have subconscious bias that rule for the superstars and rule for the prevalent black players while rule against the rare and usually thought to be meek Asian player. Just admit it and try to rectify that bias. It's not something to be ashamed of. What people should be ashamed of is keep denying there's any bias which is quite contrary to all the researches, and thus logic and reason.
Did the refs consciously have bias against Lin with inimical intent? I doubt it, but they probably have subconscious bias that rule for the superstars and rule for the prevalent black players while rule against the rare and usually thought to be meek Asian player. Just admit it and try to rectify that bias. It's not something to be ashamed of. What people should be ashamed of is keep denying there's any bias which is quite contrary to all the researches, and thus logic and reason.
11
reminiscent of the nfl coach (new orleans?) telling his players, kill the head and the body will follow.
4
Exactly. A few more bumps in the head and he'll probably have serious brain damage.
5
Of course the league will never admit that the were flagrant. However, perhaps now he will be treated fairly.
6
I really wish he were still with the Knicks - another brilliant move by them. Lin really sparks the team he is on and its a credit to him that he plays for Jordan. Officiating in the NBA has always been suspect with stars never having calls against them but are protected from slight brushes. Lin is getting beaten up, that has been obvious for years. Maybe now they will do something.
8
Another reason Lin draws so many fouls is basketball 101,he drives to the basket .........A LOT.Instead of passing or spotting up for a 3 pointer he drives the lane for a lay up,a sure fire way to draw a hard foul.
6
So why hasn't Lin gotten a least 1 flagrant foul call? ESPN questions this too. Lin has been been fouled 813 times in the past 3 seasons and NONE OF THESE WERE CALLED A FLAGRANT FOUL. Why not even one? DO THE MATH. At least one! No, not even one.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
10
It's called playing ball while Asian. A variation of Asian Americans as the model minority who avoid confrontation or conflict, defer to authority, prefer self-control and social order over discord, emoting, or causing trouble. Bullies, con artists, hustlers, fraudsters bank on Asians not retaliating, taking legal action, involving police, complaining to management, or lodging protests.
Jason Terry doesn't mess with any of Lin's teammates because he assumes that Lin isn't about to lose it and smash a fist into Terry's mouth guard but other players might. Racist? Duh? Anyone who cynically dismisses this as just hardball and no one in here but us chickens is just playing whitefish swimming in an ocean while denying people get wet or drown. Why would a hegemon denounce hegemony?
I've spoken the Queen's English all my life. I can count with the fingers of one hand whites who didn't congratulate me for not having an accent. I can count with the same fingers the number of times I've been called "Chinaman" and then asked why it's pejorative or racist, or blithely told it's not.
Dynamiting a path for the Transcontinental Railroad was a losing dance with death so bosses ordered compliant and obedient Chinese workers -- thought stupid, gullible and disposable -- to fuse and set dynamite and be blown to bits with such regularity that "Not a Chinaman's chance" became a potent expression of racial contempt.
Guess Adam Silver is eager to revive it.
Jason Terry doesn't mess with any of Lin's teammates because he assumes that Lin isn't about to lose it and smash a fist into Terry's mouth guard but other players might. Racist? Duh? Anyone who cynically dismisses this as just hardball and no one in here but us chickens is just playing whitefish swimming in an ocean while denying people get wet or drown. Why would a hegemon denounce hegemony?
I've spoken the Queen's English all my life. I can count with the fingers of one hand whites who didn't congratulate me for not having an accent. I can count with the same fingers the number of times I've been called "Chinaman" and then asked why it's pejorative or racist, or blithely told it's not.
Dynamiting a path for the Transcontinental Railroad was a losing dance with death so bosses ordered compliant and obedient Chinese workers -- thought stupid, gullible and disposable -- to fuse and set dynamite and be blown to bits with such regularity that "Not a Chinaman's chance" became a potent expression of racial contempt.
Guess Adam Silver is eager to revive it.
9
I watched all the replays. I'd say that the NBA ref made good calls in most of the replays, except maybe Kobe's block. All of them were hard but clean blocks. The opposing players made legitimate attempts to block the shots.
2
Hmm, the race comment cuts both ways. He wouldn't have gotten so much attention in the first place if he wasn't Asian. He's at best a middle of road player but the media attention he has gotten is as if he were a star.
3
The media attention he got came from triggering a winning strike on the Knicks, even without Anthony! Any other Knick winning streaks you can name?
Which led to the review of his being ignored coming out of stunning success in California high school ball.
Hmmmm. Just saying stuff. Everyone an expert!
Which led to the review of his being ignored coming out of stunning success in California high school ball.
Hmmmm. Just saying stuff. Everyone an expert!
5
What about the racial bias of the fan?
And what a perfect example of syllogism!
It goes like this :
"Jeremy Lin is "Asian", he's been unfairly treated by the refs, therefore it must be because he's Asian."
PS: Lin is referred to as Asian despite the fact that he is probably more American than Ted Cruz will ever be, being born on American soil
PPS: Another example of the need to teach liberal studies and reasoning in schools
And what a perfect example of syllogism!
It goes like this :
"Jeremy Lin is "Asian", he's been unfairly treated by the refs, therefore it must be because he's Asian."
PS: Lin is referred to as Asian despite the fact that he is probably more American than Ted Cruz will ever be, being born on American soil
PPS: Another example of the need to teach liberal studies and reasoning in schools
1
The NBA would never admit fault but clearly they can see the negative reaction this has on its fans in China/Taiwan/HK. After Yao and now Kobe's departure, they should be embracing players that can attract more global viewership, and in turn more revenue. Let's hope that they are addressing it behind closed doors.
1
What do we expect from NBA officials? Officiating? That went out the window twenty years ago. The game is diluted and its all about marketing their product.
Most guards palm the ball, traveling is a lost word, fouls are selectively. Of course the NBA would say that the players are too big and too fast and making legitimate calls would slow down the game, but at the end of the day its entertainment at its worst that's why most of us that have played the game don't even bother to watch it anymore. PS: Carmelo wishes he had Lin back after the scrubs he's played with since the Knicks traded Lin.
Most guards palm the ball, traveling is a lost word, fouls are selectively. Of course the NBA would say that the players are too big and too fast and making legitimate calls would slow down the game, but at the end of the day its entertainment at its worst that's why most of us that have played the game don't even bother to watch it anymore. PS: Carmelo wishes he had Lin back after the scrubs he's played with since the Knicks traded Lin.
3
I like how the NBA falls back on "the rules". If these calls are somehow consistent with the rules, then we can easily conclude that the rules are blatantly inadequate.
Moreover, this kind of "defense" from the NBA completely ignores the inconsistency between fouls called against Lin offenders vs. other offenders. The least they could have done would have been to promise to "look into it". Instead, when confronted with good evidence, they decide to dig in their heals. Yet another bad call by the NBA!
Moreover, this kind of "defense" from the NBA completely ignores the inconsistency between fouls called against Lin offenders vs. other offenders. The least they could have done would have been to promise to "look into it". Instead, when confronted with good evidence, they decide to dig in their heals. Yet another bad call by the NBA!
6
Jeremy Lin is not getting equal protection under the law. No way! Several of the shots he took in the video could have resulted in expulsion from the game for the perpetrator. I can understand why Carmelo Anthony is still cheap shoting Lin, however. He is still annoyed by the way that Lin won all those games when he was Knick and Anthony was out and what a sensation was caused by Lin and what buzz kill it was when Melo came back. I really think the NBA/refs ought to start doing their jobs. The treatment Lin has received is disgusting. I'd pay special attention to Jason Terry who seems like a cheap shot artist.
10
Bet most people who commented haven't even read the article or watched the video. This article is by no means about racism. It's questioning the fairness and consistency of NBA refs' call.
3
The vicious hits on RGJ have practically doomed his briefly brilliant NFL career but aside from his team’s official complaints I have never heard of anyone contacting the NFL with documented ‘fragrant’ fouls against him (and you can make the case for any number of other players).
Folks, the game is not for the faint of body/mind/courage. Google ‘broken noses’ and you will see the many NBA players (including ‘superstars’) who have been at the receiving end of ‘fragrant’ fouls (and with some going uncalled by the refs). Shaquille O’Neal probably had more rough fouls against him in any given season (‘but there was no need to call them out because he ‘could take it’’) than Mr. Lin has endured in his entire NBA career! If Mr. Lin had gone against the Detroit Pistons of Bill Laimbeer I guess the UN Security Council would have been petitioned!
Mr. Lin is a professional basketball player in arguably the most physically demanding professional league in the world and does not need (nor has he requested to my knowledge) any patronizing (especially from the NYT). Let us enjoy his game and if you feel any Lin treatment is uncalled for do not try to frame it (maybe inadvertently) as to pander to some of man’s primitive instincts.
Folks, the game is not for the faint of body/mind/courage. Google ‘broken noses’ and you will see the many NBA players (including ‘superstars’) who have been at the receiving end of ‘fragrant’ fouls (and with some going uncalled by the refs). Shaquille O’Neal probably had more rough fouls against him in any given season (‘but there was no need to call them out because he ‘could take it’’) than Mr. Lin has endured in his entire NBA career! If Mr. Lin had gone against the Detroit Pistons of Bill Laimbeer I guess the UN Security Council would have been petitioned!
Mr. Lin is a professional basketball player in arguably the most physically demanding professional league in the world and does not need (nor has he requested to my knowledge) any patronizing (especially from the NYT). Let us enjoy his game and if you feel any Lin treatment is uncalled for do not try to frame it (maybe inadvertently) as to pander to some of man’s primitive instincts.
1
I'm a fan of Steph Curry, last year's MVP (and probably this year's, too). It would be easy to create a tape showing him being knocked down on drives to the basket - without fouls being called.
Lin "may" be the victim of disparate treatment, but a fan's video compilation is hardly evidence of that. Isn't it the job of journalists to find out whether racism against Lin is a reality? Based on this story, there would be plenty of people interested in the result of it's research.
It is sad that the Times now thinks a story about the popular reaction to a fan's perspective is treated as worthy of the front page; without any effort at informing the public about whether there is merit to the fan's view.
I guess this is why we get the society and politics we have today.
Lin "may" be the victim of disparate treatment, but a fan's video compilation is hardly evidence of that. Isn't it the job of journalists to find out whether racism against Lin is a reality? Based on this story, there would be plenty of people interested in the result of it's research.
It is sad that the Times now thinks a story about the popular reaction to a fan's perspective is treated as worthy of the front page; without any effort at informing the public about whether there is merit to the fan's view.
I guess this is why we get the society and politics we have today.
1
So only the news you deem fit to print?
4
I don't have THAT option. But this article is an example of "she said" (racism as exemplified by Lin not getting calls) and "he said" (the NBA saying, "nothing to see here.")
What's a different "real journalism" option?
Doing some research into calls and non-calls with comparable players and reporting the findings. Wouldn't it be interesting IF racism consistently explained differences in flagrant foul calls?
Maybe not Pulitzer material, but certainly better than infotainment.
What's a different "real journalism" option?
Doing some research into calls and non-calls with comparable players and reporting the findings. Wouldn't it be interesting IF racism consistently explained differences in flagrant foul calls?
Maybe not Pulitzer material, but certainly better than infotainment.
Lin may have cult STAR status and is surely a solid PLAYER, but the NBA only protects STAR PLAYERS! Lin is not a star player. He is not an allstar - is that purely due to racism?
Lin's propensity to be fouled is highly dependent on how HE plays the game. He is a zig zaging spastic attacker of the rim. Allen Iverson didnt get those calls either and got hammered everygame, but took pride in his style of play. I really think Jeremy does too, and doesnt really need some soccer mom defending him.
Does anyone think this will help him on the court with the refs or in the lockerroom with teammates?
When Porzingus was drafted and booed by the Garden crowd, would it have been helpful for him, the team, or the league to cry racism?
I really think this does Jeremy a diservice.
Lin's propensity to be fouled is highly dependent on how HE plays the game. He is a zig zaging spastic attacker of the rim. Allen Iverson didnt get those calls either and got hammered everygame, but took pride in his style of play. I really think Jeremy does too, and doesnt really need some soccer mom defending him.
Does anyone think this will help him on the court with the refs or in the lockerroom with teammates?
When Porzingus was drafted and booed by the Garden crowd, would it have been helpful for him, the team, or the league to cry racism?
I really think this does Jeremy a diservice.
1
Of course it's racism, and of course the NBA would deny it.
3
You know, I wouldn't be surprised if some of this is rooted in the stereotype of Asian men as being less aggressive, more docile, and therefore easier to push around and get away with it...
3
Anecdotal evidence can be very useful for asking questions but is of absolutely minimal value in drawing legitimate conclusions. Is Lin treated differently by officials because he is Chinese American? I don't know, but neither do other commenters, certainly not if they are basing their judgment on an edited video.
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is a serious examination of whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but must look at those of others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called, but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. (And, yes, stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.)
Might someone out there produce Yao Ming's stats on flagrants. As his style and role were clearly different, such stats might well be relevant, even if not determinative.
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is a serious examination of whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but must look at those of others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called, but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. (And, yes, stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.)
Might someone out there produce Yao Ming's stats on flagrants. As his style and role were clearly different, such stats might well be relevant, even if not determinative.
2
As an Asian American, it is difficult to watch this video without thinking of racial undertones. In fact, I am reminded of the on-going Officer Liang trial -- another example in which you could reasonably argue that an Asian American has been singled out for harsh treatment.
As someone who does not play or watch basketball, I don't draw any conclusions based on a short video. It seems plausible that NBA refs are sloppy and biased toward star players. It also seems plausible that other players who share a common background would pick on the new-ish Asian guy who went to Harvard.
Whatever the case may be, I doubt that having a Taiwanese ayi tattle on your behalf is going help Lin very much on the court. Good luck to Lin. It is hard to stand out. I'm glad he is representing (also glad he ditched the fauxhawk).
As someone who does not play or watch basketball, I don't draw any conclusions based on a short video. It seems plausible that NBA refs are sloppy and biased toward star players. It also seems plausible that other players who share a common background would pick on the new-ish Asian guy who went to Harvard.
Whatever the case may be, I doubt that having a Taiwanese ayi tattle on your behalf is going help Lin very much on the court. Good luck to Lin. It is hard to stand out. I'm glad he is representing (also glad he ditched the fauxhawk).
3
When you face racism, what do you do? You don't reciprocate that prejudice. You don't "return the favor" to any other people. Unfortunately that's not how certain athletes and referees behaved.
2
There might be something else at play here as well?
In football, and even tennis, calls are missed. In football, the coach can contest a missed call. In tennis, a player can contest a missed call. Basketball is one of the fastest moving sports and we have the luxury of watching replays, in slow motion. Even in some of the excerpts shown in this "highlight" reel, I had to replay clips to see what had actually happened.
Racism might not be the only factor.
In football, and even tennis, calls are missed. In football, the coach can contest a missed call. In tennis, a player can contest a missed call. Basketball is one of the fastest moving sports and we have the luxury of watching replays, in slow motion. Even in some of the excerpts shown in this "highlight" reel, I had to replay clips to see what had actually happened.
Racism might not be the only factor.
3
During Linsanity, even William Rhoden committed a foul.
6
Some pretty awful smack downs. However, Lin's tenure was the peak of NBA fun in NY over the last 20 years - hands down a blast.
12
as mark jackson said "Lin is the most criticized undrafted free agent in league history". He is a reverse Jackie Robinson who gives voice to the gamer generation, the Asian generation(fastest growing minority group now) and is a very spiritual person. Knowledgeable fans know that he is superior player and ATHLETE and competitor. This does seem fishy but kind of like Limber(see the similarities) he angers his opponents and takes them out of their games. I love the guy and remember him almost leading Harvard over UCONN before anyone heard his name. Good luck and I am a jlin7 blog reader
14
Don't recall the ncaa's but do recall his 25 puts vs the Nets in early Feb., waaaa?!! The Knicks absolutely need a point guard who consistently goes to the basket, re-sign him!
3
I just watched the spectacular PBS documentary on Jackie Robinson and I can 't help but make parallels between Lin and Robinson.While Lin certainly might not face the overt racism that Robinson faced 70 years ago, Lin is the only Asian playing in a league that is 75 percent black. Might there be jealousy, anger, frustration because Lin received a big contract and fame from his Linsanity days?
23
A big contact and a ton of publicity for Lin that perhaps wasn't deserved? Yes I can see some animosity towards him about that.
1
Even Bird said "But it's a black man's game, and it will be forever." Maybe we should all learn to live with that.
11
The refs tend to be white btw
If Lin isn't getting the foul calls its not because of a black person conspiracy
If Lin isn't getting the foul calls its not because of a black person conspiracy
Say again? Invented by a white Canadian guy. Mostly owned by white billionaires. Commissioners have all been white. But it's a black man's game? How's that related to a player who gets fouled 813 times in three seasons but not one flagrant despite obvious examples that weren't called? The single Chinese American NBA player is a foul-magnet? Too bad Jackie Robinson just didn't learn to live with segregated baseball, obviously a white man's game. I'd say it's the water you're drinking but the drought's not over. Unfathomable logic nonetheless.
4
Interesting quote from Bird. I'd say African AMERICAN men's league.
Look what little respect the best team of the last two decades has garnered. The San Antonio Spurs - with stars from France, the Virgin Islands and Argentina.
And the Jackie Robinson parallels are interesting. It just goes to show you - no group has a monopoly on virtue or vice. The sooner society as a whole understands that, the better off we'll be.
Look what little respect the best team of the last two decades has garnered. The San Antonio Spurs - with stars from France, the Virgin Islands and Argentina.
And the Jackie Robinson parallels are interesting. It just goes to show you - no group has a monopoly on virtue or vice. The sooner society as a whole understands that, the better off we'll be.
Players will take as much advantage as they can if the refs don't blow the whistle. What I don't understand is WHY DON'T HIS TEAMMATES HAVE HIS BACK. If the refs let a flagrant slide like that, you do the same to their point guard the next time they get down the floor.
26
The NBA is pretty much unwatchable because of ridiculous fouling and high subjectivity on what constitutes a foul. Drawing a foul is part of the game -- Karl Malone made a career out of it. Pathetic.
7
813 fouls in 3 seasons? To put that number in perspective, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined for a total of 678 3-point shots made this season. Or put another way, Steph Curry has made 960 3-point shots in the past 3 seasons. It is *almost* the equivalent of both Curry and Klay getting fouled for every shot they made but not getting the call.
For Lin to not get a fragrant in all those hammerings must surely indicate that something is amiss in the league.
For Lin to not get a fragrant in all those hammerings must surely indicate that something is amiss in the league.
22
"For Lin to not get a fragrant "
Yeah, something sure stinks...
Yeah, something sure stinks...
1
Or maybe it suggests that below average NBA players don't get all the calls they should
2
Sorry, but none of these are flagrant fouls. If you swipe at the ball and miss, it is not flagrant. A flagrant foul requires that the defender not make a legitimate play on the ball. These plays are part of the game. Many, are not even common fouls. Getting whacked in the face is common, because the ball is there. Try not putting the ball near your head. You have obviously not played the game of basketball.
13
Sorry T. max, but it looks like you're the one who hasn't played the game. Here it is straight from the rule book: Section IV--Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
"With or without the ball..." So making a legitimate play on the ball has nothing to do with it. It's about whether or not the contact was unnecessary. And I don't think Kobe needed to remove his head on that play.
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed.
"With or without the ball..." So making a legitimate play on the ball has nothing to do with it. It's about whether or not the contact was unnecessary. And I don't think Kobe needed to remove his head on that play.
3
I guarantee you that if your bro Kobe had been on the receiving rather than the giving end of the closeline there would have been a flagrant foul and you would be telling us it was deserved. Give us a break.
1
You are either blind or have never played basketball yourself if you think those fouls by Kobe and Melo are not flagrants.
5
Hmmm. The hardest fouls came from his his former teammates -- Bryant, Anthony, Harden -- and they instantly looked the other way as soon as they did it. What?! No-sorry-buddy,-tap-on-his-shoulder or recognition for playing together before or anything--just a look of contempt, if not indifference. It's like being in the Karate Kid movie without a Mr. Miyagi to save him.
35
Correctiom: just anthony and bryant were hard fouls. Hardens was not a hard foul.
In the last three years, Lin got more fouls than anyone without getting a flagrant call. See Tom Haberstroh's Big Number: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725 Is it an outlier? a coincidence? or is he being treated differently by the referees in a league that has only one Asian player?
9
And your answer is?
1
Hang tough, Lin! You must know that you are more than just an NBA player to many of us in the Asian community. So many of us are so proud of you. Show the NBA, the world, what you've got. Someone knocks you down, shoot, you get up, and make him pay for it with the exact same foul!
7
You can make a case his teammates on the NY Knicks were jealous of his
success and did not help out when he was double teamed when handling
the ball. Also when he got screened on defense, there was a minimum of
switching taking place. Then they claimed his defense was weak.
success and did not help out when he was double teamed when handling
the ball. Also when he got screened on defense, there was a minimum of
switching taking place. Then they claimed his defense was weak.
8
I became an NBA fan during the Showtime era, while teaching in LA, about 5 miles from 'Compton' and what became the first MagicJohnson Theaters
I am bored by College Hoops, and mostly have followed the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Warriors
From everything I've heard and read, I am 100% trusting the professionalism of the NBA refs, and the league's nonstop ongoing review process
I listen with great interest, whenever commentators who are a million times more knowledgeable than me discuss each and every foul
BTW- I am a HUGE fan of Jeremy Lin, and I can't believe the Lakers traded him away
ANYBODY who drives into traffic while going to the hoop like he does IS going to get beat up. I for one, hate that, but I can't imagine a way that they can officiate it any better than they do now
I remember the BAD-BOYs of the D-Troit Pistons led by Bill Lambeir who used to use what was essentially violence against opposing teams. We are a million miles past that.
I am bored by College Hoops, and mostly have followed the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Warriors
From everything I've heard and read, I am 100% trusting the professionalism of the NBA refs, and the league's nonstop ongoing review process
I listen with great interest, whenever commentators who are a million times more knowledgeable than me discuss each and every foul
BTW- I am a HUGE fan of Jeremy Lin, and I can't believe the Lakers traded him away
ANYBODY who drives into traffic while going to the hoop like he does IS going to get beat up. I for one, hate that, but I can't imagine a way that they can officiate it any better than they do now
I remember the BAD-BOYs of the D-Troit Pistons led by Bill Lambeir who used to use what was essentially violence against opposing teams. We are a million miles past that.
11
Is there racism in in every shadow, under every rock, behind every action?
9
Is there no racism anywhere?
1
This counts as seeing racism where it doesn't exist? I don't think you watched the video. It's amazing how consistently the TV commentators remark about the impunity with which other players hard foul Lin. Those aren't the words of the video's creator; those are the TV broadcasters. Just count the number of times they say things like "wow" with a tone of amazement and incredulity.
A statement much closer to the truth would be "even where racism is staring you in the face, some people choose not to see it".
A statement much closer to the truth would be "even where racism is staring you in the face, some people choose not to see it".
3
The announcers in every clip are Hornets announcers. And the home announcers are ALWAYS, well, homers. With the vast majority of NBA games not broadcast nationally, most of the broadcasts are by these local, and biased, crews. How many network televised games did the Hornets have this year? 1? 2?
Anyway, this is a meaningless observation.
Anyway, this is a meaningless observation.
Watched the video. Shame on the NBA! The NBA needs to stop this mistreatment immediately.
8
"...Hsiu-Chen Kuei waited until her husband and three sons had gone to bed one night recently before surreptitiously beginning work on an ambitious personal project..."
No, sensible people that understand the NBA is the worst officiated league in the world would describe Ms. Kuei's project as a colossal waste of time. NBA officiating supports many conclusions - but the Asian racial bias theory is pure SNL heyday work. Two seasons ago, Lebron James played 40+ minutes / game over a seven game stretch, a robust player ..... and a latter day miracle -not a foul! The NBA is a potpourri of stars taking 4 steps to the basket, make up calls, and with the playoffs upon us.... a loose whistle that takes games into the mid-80s scoring range. Lin is treated no better and no worse than any other NBA guy who is not worthy.... in the eyes of the league marketing gods.
No, sensible people that understand the NBA is the worst officiated league in the world would describe Ms. Kuei's project as a colossal waste of time. NBA officiating supports many conclusions - but the Asian racial bias theory is pure SNL heyday work. Two seasons ago, Lebron James played 40+ minutes / game over a seven game stretch, a robust player ..... and a latter day miracle -not a foul! The NBA is a potpourri of stars taking 4 steps to the basket, make up calls, and with the playoffs upon us.... a loose whistle that takes games into the mid-80s scoring range. Lin is treated no better and no worse than any other NBA guy who is not worthy.... in the eyes of the league marketing gods.
7
This has gone on since the league began!! The players and refs get to know each other on a personal level then it becomes a matter of "quit your whining" and other responses from refs that now think that it's ok to not do there job fairly cause what the heck I know these guys!! I haven't seen the video but I'm sure Lin gets hacked plenty without getting any calls!! LINSANITY II. This, though could be a totally different animal and needs to be addressed. Do you think the refs would let Curry (don't get me wrong, he's a great player), get hammered that way, nah, wouldn't happen. It's like anything else, you've got the haves and the have nots!!
4
Um, you must not have been watching the Warriors games the last few seasons if you think this doesn't happen to Steph Curry!
2
NBA officiating is largely clownish.
6
Don't the nba review the ref's work after each game like they do in the NFL?
1
Is this a joke? It certainly irritates me. What makes Jeremy Lin any more special than other basketball players? Perhaps he isn't as big a star as he thought he was going to be when he entered New York stage. Perhaps he should quit basketball!
8
Missing the point Emma. It is not Lin doing the complaining. It is spectators and fans.
4
What makes Lin special? Maybe because he's been fouled more than any other player without any fouls designated flagrant despite numerous instances of obvious egregious contact with his neck and head as stipulated in the NBA rule book. Flagrant fouls are assessed when a player is seriously endangered. Maybe you think that's a joke and find it irritating. Maybe you confuse cage fighting and playing basketball. Perhaps the non sequiturs in your comment is evidence that you should quit watching basketball. It's ok. We all have our limits.
3
This is cool. The Taiwanese connection. The NBA could not have organized a better story if it hired a hollywood screen writer. Immigrant--to Harvard--to the NBA...to VICTUM! of racism and establishment bias.
AND the guy never complained or whined. Kobe Bryant can visit China all he wants; but, if you really want to hook one billion Chinese fans on the NBA, you gotta have blood and drama and tension and an underdog. Enter Jeremy Linn. Fabulous!
For the record...If the league had called all the fouls perpetrated--but ignored by NBA referees--on Shaquille O'Neal, he'd still be shooting (and missing) one pointers. Shaq got paid. Jeremy is getting paid.
And, Jeremy, like Shaq, will continue to make bank after he retires...unless he whines.
AND the guy never complained or whined. Kobe Bryant can visit China all he wants; but, if you really want to hook one billion Chinese fans on the NBA, you gotta have blood and drama and tension and an underdog. Enter Jeremy Linn. Fabulous!
For the record...If the league had called all the fouls perpetrated--but ignored by NBA referees--on Shaquille O'Neal, he'd still be shooting (and missing) one pointers. Shaq got paid. Jeremy is getting paid.
And, Jeremy, like Shaq, will continue to make bank after he retires...unless he whines.
4
Get over it. The NBA is rigged, like WWF and Roman gladiator contests. The refs have been controlling the game for years. handing out fouls when appropriate to keep the large market team in the game. And you are still watching?
6
Yelp! Remember how the small market Sacramento Kings were cheated out of the Western Conference championship so that the Lakers could play against the Nets for the NBA title!
As for JL, we love him in Reno when he once played for the NBA-DL Bighorns.
He won't complain but just get up and play! Go Hornets!!!
As for JL, we love him in Reno when he once played for the NBA-DL Bighorns.
He won't complain but just get up and play! Go Hornets!!!
4
Fairness? In the NBA? You mean the sport that used to have a penalty for something called "traveling"? You can't be serious.
4
#KLM
Knick Lives Matter (and if they could win they'd matter more)
Knick Lives Matter (and if they could win they'd matter more)
1
What does Lin say?
I am a Golden State Warriors fan and am often appalled at how Stephen Curry is manhandled ... not for his race, but because he is such a dangerous shooter. Still dangerous none the less, and very often missed by the refs.
9
As a fellow Harvard Alum , I am proud of Lin's ascension to the NBA. I attended Asian American Night in Boston on Monday and Lin had a great game and every tick tack foul went his way against the Celtics. If there is bias against him, it was not evident on Monday night.
1
Reviewing the video makes the case for Jeremy Lin being victimized. Lets look at a couple of the perpetrators here. Carmelo Anthony is an overrated player for a losing team. Carmelo is a forgotten man in the NBA , and for really good reason. Carmelo has always wanted to be treated special, despite never bringing championship level performances as a professional that match his supposed skill set.
Its seems to be fair to conclude that the thin-skinned Carmelo and Kobe were trying to give him payback for Lin taking a bit of their fame while on the Knicks and Lakers. Carmelo and Kobe are also envious that the NBA fans respect Jeremy Lin's educational pedigree graduating from Harvard. Meanwhile Carmelo completed only one year of school, and Kobe skipped out on his chance at a great education.
Its seems to be fair to conclude that the thin-skinned Carmelo and Kobe were trying to give him payback for Lin taking a bit of their fame while on the Knicks and Lakers. Carmelo and Kobe are also envious that the NBA fans respect Jeremy Lin's educational pedigree graduating from Harvard. Meanwhile Carmelo completed only one year of school, and Kobe skipped out on his chance at a great education.
15
Just one thing. Kobe Bryant did get a great education. He is a bright guy. Not all learning happens in school as a matter most learning doesn't happen in school.
This is just a wild guess, but I'm betting that a number of people who are upvoting comments about supposed African-American NBA discrimination against Asian-American NBA players are white - and have never watched an entire NBA game in their lives.
Remember folks, the more these dinosaurs try to divide everyone else, the longer they can keep believing they can keep their obviously rather tenuous hold on what they think should be the status quo. Don't help 'em out by falling for it.
Now can we all get back to saying, "Steph Curry for 3!!!" because that never gets old. And on this day of all days concerning the NBA, Steph Curry and the Warriors and the retirement of Kobe Bryant should be the focus instead of this "story".
Remember folks, the more these dinosaurs try to divide everyone else, the longer they can keep believing they can keep their obviously rather tenuous hold on what they think should be the status quo. Don't help 'em out by falling for it.
Now can we all get back to saying, "Steph Curry for 3!!!" because that never gets old. And on this day of all days concerning the NBA, Steph Curry and the Warriors and the retirement of Kobe Bryant should be the focus instead of this "story".
8
The real story is how NBA style of game and current players are boring compared to the great run from 1979 to 2011
Oh wow! Jeremy's gotta be hatin' this!
Now he will be fouled even HARDER! And the three refs will DEFINITELY be looking the other way.
I've had season tix for the NBA for 30 years. Second row...thigh high level. I would end up covered in sweat from the players every game. My god it's so physical to the point of brutality. And they don't have full pads and helmets! The expression is "no blood no foul." And more important you do NOT complain about how you're being treated by the other team or refs.
These guys are powerfully built and they are aggressive as hell...all for a little orange ball that looks the size of a softball in their massive hands.
You can watch ANY NBA game and you will see forty fouls not called. It's called continuity of the game. One of my best friends was Earl Strom, one of the all time best NBA and ABA referees ever. "You want to referee a game where NO ONE remembers you were on the court. The fans want to see hoops; they don't want to see guys lining up for free throws. You don't want to be who the fans remember from a game."
Social media is out of control. I'm tired of such people deciding what is right and wrong with a sport. They don't buy tickets or support a mediocre team year after year, but now put a video on Youtube and you have an audience.
The world is getting less real year after year...
Now he will be fouled even HARDER! And the three refs will DEFINITELY be looking the other way.
I've had season tix for the NBA for 30 years. Second row...thigh high level. I would end up covered in sweat from the players every game. My god it's so physical to the point of brutality. And they don't have full pads and helmets! The expression is "no blood no foul." And more important you do NOT complain about how you're being treated by the other team or refs.
These guys are powerfully built and they are aggressive as hell...all for a little orange ball that looks the size of a softball in their massive hands.
You can watch ANY NBA game and you will see forty fouls not called. It's called continuity of the game. One of my best friends was Earl Strom, one of the all time best NBA and ABA referees ever. "You want to referee a game where NO ONE remembers you were on the court. The fans want to see hoops; they don't want to see guys lining up for free throws. You don't want to be who the fans remember from a game."
Social media is out of control. I'm tired of such people deciding what is right and wrong with a sport. They don't buy tickets or support a mediocre team year after year, but now put a video on Youtube and you have an audience.
The world is getting less real year after year...
25
Trail and jury by You-tube? Think of all the money we'll save when the whole judicial system is disbanded. Way to go fan with all that time on their hands to obsess over Lin! Now go save the world.
7
Why do you think the YouTube member does not go to the games? And the people who watch the game on TV are supporting the game just as much, advertising revenue and broadcast rights make up majority of NBA earnings.
1
As an NBA fan of over 50 years who watches several games each week, the premise of this article is ridiculous. Mercy, anyone with enough time on their hands could put together a video of fouls committed on LeBron James that would make this Jeremy Lin video look like a child's tea party or pillow fight. During last season's playoffs, Boston's Kelly Olynyk nearly tore the arm of Cleveland's Kevin Love out of its socket, dislocating his shoulder and requiring surgery, but that's just hard basketball and the two are now on good terms. Kermit Washington nearly killed Rudy Tomjanovich and ultimately ended his NBA career. While anecdotal arguments can be superficially convincing, it is equivalent to using players in NBA teams to estimate the average height of Americans. This video suffers from what is called selection bias because rather than comparing observations regarding Jeremy Lin against all other NBA players, it compared them against no one. Review the tape of an equal number of minutes over a full season comparing Jeremy Lin to LeBron James, Steph Curry, Dwight Howard, or Russell Westbrook and get back to us. Otherwise, Jeremy Lin need to be watching film of James Harden or Dwayne Wade about how to draw fouls, not whining about not getting the same calls other NBA players also aren't getting.
16
Lin gets whacked because of the childish haircut. Stephen Curry gets mugged all the time and his payback is to become the best player in the league. After he got drafted in 2009, Steph has gotten stronger, faster and better. Lin needs to earn the right to get 'ref calls'. If Lin had been serious about playing in the NBA, he should have gone to the ACC and not to Harvard. That's probably the other reason he is getting beaten up in the paint.
6
Lin's not serious about playing in the NBA? Gets whacked because of his haircut? Beaten up because he graduated from Harvard? Has anyone clotheslined Birdman or does he get a pass for his Mohawk and tats? Wear your pants backward or just live in a village where everyone does? Not a good look but sometimes it's just not worth mentioning. Not if you earned the right to wear your pants like a dunce.
3
Lin is a small (by NBA standards) player. So is the MVP, Stephen Curry. Curry is regularly batted around like a shuttlecock and gets very few foul calls. LeBron drives to the basket like a freight train and regularly gets foul calls for much less.
Until the NBA stops trying to be the NFL and begins to award finesse rather than brute strength, I don't think this is going to change.
And I don't think it has anything to do with Lin's ethnicity.
Until the NBA stops trying to be the NFL and begins to award finesse rather than brute strength, I don't think this is going to change.
And I don't think it has anything to do with Lin's ethnicity.
8
So actually the nba has actually changed the rules over the last few decades to make the game more open and less physical.
Flagrant fouls of which this articles refers didn't exist in the nba until the 1990s and they changed many rules to make it less physical and more free flowing.
And Curry most definitely does not receive many fouls that could be considered flagrant if he falls down it because he is making a tough shot and he's off balance not from an extra hard hit.
Flagrant fouls of which this articles refers didn't exist in the nba until the 1990s and they changed many rules to make it less physical and more free flowing.
And Curry most definitely does not receive many fouls that could be considered flagrant if he falls down it because he is making a tough shot and he's off balance not from an extra hard hit.
1
I read the comments before watching the clip. Let me say, I grew up in a house with a die-hard Knicks fan. I remember the big Knicks-Heat brawl with Van Gundy hanging on to Mourning's leg. I know that's not the standards, but as someone who grew up watching basketball, I failed to see the big deal with the fouls. Based on the crying in the comments section, I expected worse! I think most of these folks aren't regular basketball fans, so they're a little tender-hearted. What do you expect is going to happen when a 6'9, young, 200 pounds of mostly muscle, team of men are quickly hustling for a ball?! It's a competitive sport- arms fly, people get hit. This is not a gentlemen's sport. If you can't hang with the big boys, get off the court.
Are the refs fair? No. But is it racism? I doubt it. I'm sure popular players get more breaks, but that's life. People respect talent. Sorry folks...toughen up or turn the channel. If it makes you feel better, I'm sure Lin will now be handled with kid gloves.
Are the refs fair? No. But is it racism? I doubt it. I'm sure popular players get more breaks, but that's life. People respect talent. Sorry folks...toughen up or turn the channel. If it makes you feel better, I'm sure Lin will now be handled with kid gloves.
12
Like Jeremy Lin & the woman who made the video, I'm also from Silicon Valley. My first reaction when watching this video was that we will see this problem solved in about 10 years with computer technology. NBA refs are notoriously bad at making the right calls, but their job is also ridiculously difficult given our biological limitations. Our current tech is only able to parse pictures and categorize content somewhat accurately. But it's not a difficult extrapolation to apply our current machine learning techniques to live video in order to make referee calls that will be better and faster than any number of humans can make. Referees, your days of favoring the superstars are numbered.
3
My god! What do you want?
Let's analyze EVERY trip down the floor with ten cameras. Then let's stop and review the footage and perhaps we can have 6 hour games like they have in baseball now.
Enough with the technology! These refs are VERY good. Joey Crawford has been around for 3 decades.
Remember when the NFL refs were on strike? They brought in high school refs, college refs and they couldn't do the job. Why? Because pro sports are so FAST, are so PHYSICAL that the plays take place in nanoseconds. It takes a markedly trained eye to watch these ten professionals on the floor.
Sure it's easy to see a mistake after the 12 cameras and four analysts tell you what is going on. They show the same play from every angle over and over in slow-motion with arrows, dotted lines, etc. No one knows how to even watch a live game anymore. They sit in arenas and look up at jumbotrons to see the replay.
Well the referees don't have the advantage of analysts and replays. For 48 minutes they have to stay on top of the game. We are so spoiled that we can't just watch a game anymore without replays and analysis.
These refs are good. I was close friends with many of them. You really need to give these pro refs a break. They ARE human..and that's what great--it's all about being human. Leave sports alone.
Let's analyze EVERY trip down the floor with ten cameras. Then let's stop and review the footage and perhaps we can have 6 hour games like they have in baseball now.
Enough with the technology! These refs are VERY good. Joey Crawford has been around for 3 decades.
Remember when the NFL refs were on strike? They brought in high school refs, college refs and they couldn't do the job. Why? Because pro sports are so FAST, are so PHYSICAL that the plays take place in nanoseconds. It takes a markedly trained eye to watch these ten professionals on the floor.
Sure it's easy to see a mistake after the 12 cameras and four analysts tell you what is going on. They show the same play from every angle over and over in slow-motion with arrows, dotted lines, etc. No one knows how to even watch a live game anymore. They sit in arenas and look up at jumbotrons to see the replay.
Well the referees don't have the advantage of analysts and replays. For 48 minutes they have to stay on top of the game. We are so spoiled that we can't just watch a game anymore without replays and analysis.
These refs are good. I was close friends with many of them. You really need to give these pro refs a break. They ARE human..and that's what great--it's all about being human. Leave sports alone.
7
Yes, the refs are the best we have and everyone understands their job is nigh impossible, which is largely why we usually don't bother to change the refs calls after the fact. But machines can do the refs job so much better. You are right that robot refs will change the nature of the game. I don't think it will slow down the game though because using robot refs will result in instantaneous calls and remove the need for human analysis of replays. We will only need to go over replays for the entertainment value. I suspect NBA management will embrace the technology in the beginning because novelty is always a big draw for the audience. And how will players respond when they know every foul will be caught and called? I can't wait to find out. Resistance is futile.
@Connie
You are SO caught up in Silicon Valley Technology that you can't see the forest for the trees.
"Novelty is a big draw?" No it is NOT! What draws people to sport is watching humans pushing the envelope of athletic ability and near perfection.
I watch baseball for the split second timing of "turning two" or a suicide squeeze or a walk off single--think of the Captain doing that in his last at bat for the Yankees! Watching a no-hitter or a perfect game in the World Series.
And if you don't understand one term I have used you have missed out on what actually draws fans to games.
I feel sorry for a generation of fans who need to be "entertained" every second of a game. Fans whose attention spans have shrunk to 8 seconds, who are bored unless there are cheerleaders, mascots in the crowd, Kiss cams, vendors bringing food and beer to your seats...not just popcorn and Cracker Jacks, but $30 appetizers and cocktails.
Every arena or stadium has luxury boxes where you watch an occasional replay on a screen but spend the time schmoozing or making business deals.
We have football games inside domes. I remember the "Ice Bowl", having to bundle up in five layers to watch football. Now we watch in cushioned seats in air conditioned indoor arenas.
This is why soccer--REAL fubal will never really catch on in the USA...we want "novelty." And that is sad. Because you will NEVER understand great sports writing as in a Roger Angell book if you only expect novelty.
You are SO caught up in Silicon Valley Technology that you can't see the forest for the trees.
"Novelty is a big draw?" No it is NOT! What draws people to sport is watching humans pushing the envelope of athletic ability and near perfection.
I watch baseball for the split second timing of "turning two" or a suicide squeeze or a walk off single--think of the Captain doing that in his last at bat for the Yankees! Watching a no-hitter or a perfect game in the World Series.
And if you don't understand one term I have used you have missed out on what actually draws fans to games.
I feel sorry for a generation of fans who need to be "entertained" every second of a game. Fans whose attention spans have shrunk to 8 seconds, who are bored unless there are cheerleaders, mascots in the crowd, Kiss cams, vendors bringing food and beer to your seats...not just popcorn and Cracker Jacks, but $30 appetizers and cocktails.
Every arena or stadium has luxury boxes where you watch an occasional replay on a screen but spend the time schmoozing or making business deals.
We have football games inside domes. I remember the "Ice Bowl", having to bundle up in five layers to watch football. Now we watch in cushioned seats in air conditioned indoor arenas.
This is why soccer--REAL fubal will never really catch on in the USA...we want "novelty." And that is sad. Because you will NEVER understand great sports writing as in a Roger Angell book if you only expect novelty.
1
His teammates don't seem to have his back much either. If this were baseball, Lin's pitcher would be throwing high and inside to the opposing team's batters, if not outright plunking them.
14
It would be interesting to the racial background of the refs involved; although the media runs daily stories on white racism against blacks, black racism against Asians--as students, grocers or drivers--receives little comment.
Nonetheless, NBA refs are notorious for double standards--stars get preferential treatment in basketball more than any other sport--note the shock and outrage expressed by Jordan or James whenever a ref dared to call a foul on them.
Nonetheless, NBA refs are notorious for double standards--stars get preferential treatment in basketball more than any other sport--note the shock and outrage expressed by Jordan or James whenever a ref dared to call a foul on them.
5
Several instances of blatantly violent unsportsmanlike behavior that are seemingly directed at one clearly "different" player don't condemn the entire league. But viewing this clip raises angry critical notions in my mind about a several athletes and apparently a particular referee.
9
This isn't an issue of racism it's an issue of stars getting all the calls, and the regular players not. Guards who drive to the hoop tend to get hit a lot, and most of the fouls in the video were shots to his face, which normally aren't flagrant fouls since it's usually a result of a player going for the ball.
Usually a flagrant foul is a deliberate sweeping or tomahawk motion of the arm across a player's neck or body that doesn't look like a basketball play, and I'm sure he's received those as well without getting the call, but I don't see why the refs would decline to call a flagrant because he's Asian. He doesn't get the calls because he's not Durant, Kobe or Harden, which hurts integrity of the game as much as racism would.
Usually a flagrant foul is a deliberate sweeping or tomahawk motion of the arm across a player's neck or body that doesn't look like a basketball play, and I'm sure he's received those as well without getting the call, but I don't see why the refs would decline to call a flagrant because he's Asian. He doesn't get the calls because he's not Durant, Kobe or Harden, which hurts integrity of the game as much as racism would.
6
In fact, the first example of flagrant foul illustrates the call: a windup and hammer.
Noteworthy here that the worst hits are made by players who, other evidence suggests, may have a vendetta against him: Kobe Bryant (who Lin embarrassed in his most dominant game with the Knicks), Carmelo Anthony (widely believed to have been embarrassed by Lin's outperforming him as a Knick); and other former rivalrous teammates of Lin's, James Harden and Jason Terry of Houston. Coincidence? Non-incidents? The officiating here is plainly terrible, and the compilation does suggest bias. But I'm also calling out the individuals whose plainly flagrant fouls (and apparent lack of contrition) suggest hateful intent.
It's also striking that not one of the flagrant fouls, if accidental, is followed by an apology or any gesture like helping Lin off the floor. Why wouldn't someone apologize who just bloodied someone's nose or pulled their head dangerously backward by accident?
It's not too much to request apologies from the players, or consequences from, or for, the league.
It's also striking that not one of the flagrant fouls, if accidental, is followed by an apology or any gesture like helping Lin off the floor. Why wouldn't someone apologize who just bloodied someone's nose or pulled their head dangerously backward by accident?
It's not too much to request apologies from the players, or consequences from, or for, the league.
33
Of all the hits in the video, Carmelo Anthony's hit had NOTHING to do with playing basketball. I've played and watched basketball for 40 years and I've never seen anyone take an upper cut to try to stop a drive to the basket. He was going for the throat. I wonder why...
5
This isn't chess.
1
Whether or not Jeremy Lin is drawing very hard fouls from white and black players because he is Asian is difficult to say. It may be that, knowing how valuable Lin is to Charlotte and believing that he may, because of his relatively slight physique, be easy to put on the sidelines, the players deal out the punishment to get Lin off the court.
Of course, the refusal of the officiating crews to call flagrant fouls when Jeremy Lin is the target, feeds the aggressiveness of opposing players, making matters much worse.
It is very disappointing that after a great start, NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, seems to have turned into the hoops version of NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. Silver is bending over backwards to avoid doing the right thing for Jeremy Lin and the Charlotte Hornets.
It may be time for Michael Jordan to draw a big fine from the NBA by speaking up and highlighting Adam Silver’s dereliction of duty
Of course, the refusal of the officiating crews to call flagrant fouls when Jeremy Lin is the target, feeds the aggressiveness of opposing players, making matters much worse.
It is very disappointing that after a great start, NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, seems to have turned into the hoops version of NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. Silver is bending over backwards to avoid doing the right thing for Jeremy Lin and the Charlotte Hornets.
It may be time for Michael Jordan to draw a big fine from the NBA by speaking up and highlighting Adam Silver’s dereliction of duty
4
Unsurprisingly, discussion of racism against Asian-Americans elicit racist comments like, "but look how racist they are in China!"
Now, I'm not yet convinced the bad officiating is rooted in racism. But Lin is an American citizen, born and raised in California. What does racism in China have to do with Lin?
He has a lot of fans in China? So does Lebron. How does justify racism against Lin?
The unspoken assumption here is that Lin is more Chinese than American (despite his parents are from Taiwan.) It seems for Asian-Americans, it doesn't matter if you are born here, raised here, or even had a family that has been in the United States for generations. As long as you have foreign face, you will always be treated as a foreigner.
Now, I'm not yet convinced the bad officiating is rooted in racism. But Lin is an American citizen, born and raised in California. What does racism in China have to do with Lin?
He has a lot of fans in China? So does Lebron. How does justify racism against Lin?
The unspoken assumption here is that Lin is more Chinese than American (despite his parents are from Taiwan.) It seems for Asian-Americans, it doesn't matter if you are born here, raised here, or even had a family that has been in the United States for generations. As long as you have foreign face, you will always be treated as a foreigner.
8
The more sweeter the victory when you outwork, out-educate, out-compete and out succeed the white, "native" Americans.
2
There are statistical ways to measure whether or not Lin gets called for more or less fouls (flagrant or not) than the average player who drives as much as him and has similar gravitas around the league. I'm sure Fivethirtyeight.com will publish something in the coming days with the numbers.
Also, the rash of flagrant fouls being called is something relatively new in NBA. Like the last 2-3 years new.
Also, the rash of flagrant fouls being called is something relatively new in NBA. Like the last 2-3 years new.
3
and has similar gravitas around the league.
----------------------
Why should that have anything to do with it.
----------------------
Why should that have anything to do with it.
The biggest mistake the Knicks ever made was trading Lin, they should have dumped Carmelo, hard, the zeitgeist changed when Anthony returned that season, Lin saw the bench, and the fizz left the Knicks.
10
"813"
The most fouls called by any guard in the NBA without a flagrant.
The numbers confirm what we are seeing in the videos.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
The most fouls called by any guard in the NBA without a flagrant.
The numbers confirm what we are seeing in the videos.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
5
Hsiu-Chen Kwei did an admirable job in documenting the uneven refereeing in the NBA. Look no further on how the Warriors Steph Curry is beatup regularly and doesn't get to go to the free throw line.
Contrast this with other stars, that are great actors, and are constantly getting free throws even when they are not touched.
But we Golden State fans get the bragging rights for a remarkable season.
Contrast this with other stars, that are great actors, and are constantly getting free throws even when they are not touched.
But we Golden State fans get the bragging rights for a remarkable season.
6
As a Korean American born in Chicago, I've experienced overt and subtle racism for most of my life. I'm not complaining. Just stating my reality. It's like that scene from the Blues Brothers, when Jake asks Elwood how often the train goes by. "So often you don't even notice." But I'm also a hoops fan. While I think this article is very interesting, and definitely raises some intriguing questions, the timing could've been better. On a day when two of the most amazing things happened in the NBA, (73-9 and 60!) I think this might have resonated with more fans if it had been published just a day later.
8
The NBA has the worst referees in all of sports. No sport has more phantom calls in which merely being in the vicinity of an offensive player whilst he is shooting - without any physical contact whatsoever - results in a foul. This has been the case for decades. Then of course lest not forget flopping! So it is funny to me when a player is being brutalized on the court and does not receive the benefit of a foul call. Essentially, an NBA basketball game is a synchronized entertainment event that has less to do with sport and more to do with an experience. It is the "pro wrestling" of professional sports in which music blares during a game and dunking a basketball and then genuflecting are ends in themselves (other than winning). Can you imagine any other sport playing music whilst play is in action? The NBA is not about sport and hasn't been about sport for some time. It is a carefully choreographed "dance!" I find this troublesome because the beauty of sports is that it is supposed to be a level playing field, the one place where the better team or player wins whilst adhering the the same rules as all teams and players, unlike real life where rarely the playing field is level. The presumed meritocracy of sports is akin the the American Dream of working hard, fairness, success, etc.
But it is merely an illusion at least with the NBA. So there is no surprise when referees fail to acknowledge obvious foul calls: it is not about rules but about creating an extravaganza.
But it is merely an illusion at least with the NBA. So there is no surprise when referees fail to acknowledge obvious foul calls: it is not about rules but about creating an extravaganza.
3
Life in many ways has certainly gotten simpler . . . and I don't mean thanks to technology, that's done just the opposite; I mean it's the simple answer to every imaginable unfortunate situation and problem, because it's now always due to racism, or so it's assumed. Now with a simple answer for why everything's broken, fixing it should be just as simple too, right?
I mean it's not like other great basketball players were ever fouled a lot before, simply because that was the only way to stop them from scoring. Or maybe because going for the basket is what players like Lin tend to do more? I know there's no connection, so therefore it's got to be something insidious.
I mean it's not like other great basketball players were ever fouled a lot before, simply because that was the only way to stop them from scoring. Or maybe because going for the basket is what players like Lin tend to do more? I know there's no connection, so therefore it's got to be something insidious.
5
Myopic enough for you to qualify as a NBA ref. Enlightening also to know that racism is such an exclusive experience that Lin isn't qualified to be a victim. It's not insidious to be oblivious to connections. It's usually just a mental defect.
3
I've really enjoyed watching him with the Hornets this year. The team plays well together, and I expect them to raise eyebrows during the playoffs. Lin's continued improvement and contributions have been an important part of the Hornets' success in the second half of the season.
7
So where is Lin's coach, where is his team's management? Why aren't they standing up for their very fine player? They should have made the league stop this flagrant unfairness by now.
13
The white players aren't fouling Lin in the video.
8
I'm calling a flagrant on the maker of the video, but she definitely has a future in media if she wants one. With all the "let's push a narrative and watch everyone argue to death over their personal baggage" stuff, I figure she'll fit right in. I've been a long time basketball fan and player; having grown up and played against a few NBA players and a lot of college players. The one thing that they all know is that you can make a video like this for everyone in the sport. Calls and non-calls go both ways. Nice try though.
Lin is a darn good player. And believe it or the fact that he pushes through unfazed, one of his best attributes, may actually work against him. He should do what Lebron does, and act like he's been shot whenever someone brushes by him.
Lin is a darn good player. And believe it or the fact that he pushes through unfazed, one of his best attributes, may actually work against him. He should do what Lebron does, and act like he's been shot whenever someone brushes by him.
8
Presumably the NBA or other websites collects data on players and the fouls they draw. This story calls for a data analysis. Centralized data will trump anecdotal evidence every time.
6
Have you watched the way Steph Curry gets wacked around on the court. He's last year's MVP and it doesn't seem to matter. The truth is Jeremy and Steph are small in relationship to the others on the court. The biggies have a hard time containing their movements and in their awkwardness get a bit too physical. As far as the refs, well, I think that's where the song "three blind mice" came from. I'd swear they're getting paid off if I could only prove it.
8
Let's face it pro basketball refs have been pro wrestlingesque for a long, long time. Baseball followed down that route in the 90s when the umpire's egos got bigger than the strike zone. Maybe they should have a contest between baseball umps and basketball refs over who can be the most bizarre and pathetic. I will admit though that the little strike zone box they show on TV seems to have humiliated the baseball umps so bad that slowly those arrogant fools have changed a little.
3
I've watched every Warrior's game this season except about three of them.
Never have seen less calls in favor of a superstar than Steph Curry.
His drives to the basket are often met with bumps, collisions and swipes that connect with various parts of his body.
Now, it's OK to try and stop a player from hitting the shot and forcing him to shoot free throws (although at 90% from the line fouling Curry doesn't pay) so long as it is not flagrant.
But, I've seen clear fouls that have not been called.
Some are just laughable they are so obvious.
(Hmmm, why is Steph on his butt right now? Contact? Yeah.)
And, for the record, I'm not a fan who sees everything as a transgression against my chosen team. I'm normal, not rabid or paranoid.
I'll watch the video of Lin now... I have no doubt this woman is on to something.
Never have seen less calls in favor of a superstar than Steph Curry.
His drives to the basket are often met with bumps, collisions and swipes that connect with various parts of his body.
Now, it's OK to try and stop a player from hitting the shot and forcing him to shoot free throws (although at 90% from the line fouling Curry doesn't pay) so long as it is not flagrant.
But, I've seen clear fouls that have not been called.
Some are just laughable they are so obvious.
(Hmmm, why is Steph on his butt right now? Contact? Yeah.)
And, for the record, I'm not a fan who sees everything as a transgression against my chosen team. I'm normal, not rabid or paranoid.
I'll watch the video of Lin now... I have no doubt this woman is on to something.
9
I've never seen Steph assaulted as directly as LIn was by Kobe and Carmello. That's what's going on here. If it's because of racial reasons, I can't tell for sure. But I think part of Carmello's short-lived humiliation when he was out injured, Lin was gong wild, and no-one except Carmello's family wanted him to return just then to the Knicks, was the fact that some Asian dude was showing him up. That just showed how small a person Carmello is.
5
Both NBA and referee unions are establishments and institutional inertia always attempt to perpetuate the status quote for the benefits of the current management at the expense of fair play and honesty. NBA should heed the fan’s demand to review the flagrant fouls and root out referees who have consistently made the wrong call to prevent the unnecessary injuries and avoid the same mistake made by NFL for delaying recognize that severe blow to the head can cause Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a brain degeneration.
1
When all those videos are collected in one place, it sure looks terrible. However, as a Warriors fan who watches a lot of games on TV, I can tell you that I've had the same observation about Steph Curry. He regularly gets hammered, hard fouls away from the ball are almost never called and what look like flagrants to me are almost always called simple fouls. I believe the "flagrant" category includes an element of being "unnecessary," which I understand to mean that there is no argument that the foul was the result of a play on the ball. I don't think the refs (or the opposing players) are discriminating against him because he is Asian, or because he went to Harvard. He's a hard-nosed guy (which everybody has to be in the NBA - particularly if, like Jeremy, his game includes a lot of drives to the hoop) and I've seen nothing to suggest that he isn't respected by his peers or the refs. If one is rooting hard for a team (or a player), one sees and reacts to the hard fouls and missed calls. I agree with other commenters who suggest that if there is really a concern that he's being singled out (either by opposing players or the refs), comparable videos be complied on other players (of similar size) whose games include a lot of driving to the hoop. I don't think it's his hair style(s) either. There are a lot of wacky hairstyles in the league. I don't think anybody cares.
9
This is an excellent example of what results when cognitive bias drives a skewed analysis, particularly when an agenda may also be involved. Also interesting to note how some others can be swayed by such a polemic.
11
Really now. What type of cognitive bias? Have you asked yourself the same question? Perhaps, just objectively, a little bias blindspot? Or more likely, Dunning-Kruger. Would like to see you take a few hits yourself and see if you still try to blame folks for being stupid about believing this...as you taste your own blood in your mouth or get the wind knocked out of you while you get clotheslined. Maybe then you'll just call a spade a spade instead of playing the elitist ostrich in the sand
2
A hard video to watch. Something is not right.
Players can inadvertently do some severe fouls - remember we are watching replays in slow motion, real time is a bang, bang thing.
But, some players in that clip are clearly are going for head and not ball.
Carmelo's uppercut stands out.
The refs today are pretty bad I think. I've watch NBA for almost 50 years.
It's been a lot better.
But this is solvable. The league used to have a massive fighting problem.
Brutal sometimes. They cleaned it up completely.
You fight, you are gone for while. Bye bye.
(players on the bench can't even step on the court if there's a tussle)
These fouls need the same punishment.
It's not to hard to see a player going for a block and their forearm hits a head in the process. That's one thing a replay can show.
But, some of those shots were about damage and replay can show that too.
And those need to cost a player suspension time which costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars a day. Do the math.
Racism or not, it needs to stop in all cases.
It's doable.
Players can inadvertently do some severe fouls - remember we are watching replays in slow motion, real time is a bang, bang thing.
But, some players in that clip are clearly are going for head and not ball.
Carmelo's uppercut stands out.
The refs today are pretty bad I think. I've watch NBA for almost 50 years.
It's been a lot better.
But this is solvable. The league used to have a massive fighting problem.
Brutal sometimes. They cleaned it up completely.
You fight, you are gone for while. Bye bye.
(players on the bench can't even step on the court if there's a tussle)
These fouls need the same punishment.
It's not to hard to see a player going for a block and their forearm hits a head in the process. That's one thing a replay can show.
But, some of those shots were about damage and replay can show that too.
And those need to cost a player suspension time which costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars a day. Do the math.
Racism or not, it needs to stop in all cases.
It's doable.
11
Good lord! Have these people ever played basketball? Have they ever seen an NBA game? "These fouls" are just fouls. Sure the more "important" fan favorites get away with more, but when somebody goes to the hoop in a crowd, he is going to get hit. That's the game. Do you want to put helmets and pads on these guys? This is absurd.
I am Chinese American and love what Jeremy has done in the league. That said, I do not consider most of these fouls to be flagrant. I don't know the exact language of the NBA rules, but what I'm looking for is both a windup and a follow through, and I just don't see them. A forceful hit alone is not by definition flagrant.
In many of these examples, Jeremy is driving to the basket. You have to expect a defender to go with him and swat at the ball. That's what Kobe did. But he didn't follow-through, so not a flagrant foul.
You also have to look at the timing. Jeremy will drive, jump, hang while altering his shot, then release. Defenders react when he jumps, and he gets hit when he hangs. Those are regular fouls, but not flagrant.
Steph Curry, of similar size to Jeremy, tends to release the ball early, on his way up, on both his jumper and his drives. He rarely hangs, so he doesn't get hit by a swatting arm. He often does bumped, sometimes rather roughly, on the way down, but those aren't called either.
Quite frankly, there are times when Jeremy is the one who looks out of control. He's got a quick first step but not great hops, and he's not very elusive in the air. It's hard to get a flagrant call in that case.
In many of these examples, Jeremy is driving to the basket. You have to expect a defender to go with him and swat at the ball. That's what Kobe did. But he didn't follow-through, so not a flagrant foul.
You also have to look at the timing. Jeremy will drive, jump, hang while altering his shot, then release. Defenders react when he jumps, and he gets hit when he hangs. Those are regular fouls, but not flagrant.
Steph Curry, of similar size to Jeremy, tends to release the ball early, on his way up, on both his jumper and his drives. He rarely hangs, so he doesn't get hit by a swatting arm. He often does bumped, sometimes rather roughly, on the way down, but those aren't called either.
Quite frankly, there are times when Jeremy is the one who looks out of control. He's got a quick first step but not great hops, and he's not very elusive in the air. It's hard to get a flagrant call in that case.
20
Well put. I clicked on the video expecting to see something controversial and saw nothing that I would have classified as a flagrant foul, except possibly the Anthony foul. And flagrants are rarely called anyway. Most instances were of guys clearly going for the ball, and often the contact is the result of Lin hanging in the air during out-of-control drives. It seems to me that the creator of the video - and many of the commenters - either are too enamored with Lin to be objective, or just don't understand what a flagrant foul is, or both.
8
He does get tossed around, but it's part of his style. There is more blatant racist gestures towards Asians in sports and entertainment, so I hope this help shed some light
6
It's not Lin only, but more that if the player is not a top player on a team it is more than likely that the calls will rarely go their way. It is not an Asian thing. It's a dollar thing.
9
Kobe Bryant scores 60 points in a spectacular and fitting career finale. The Warriors win 73 games becoming arguably the best regular season team in NBA history. Yet the well known fact of NBA referees (and referees of all sports for that matter) playing favorites and connecting that to Jeremy Lin on the hardly correlating basis of race is the front page - only in the Times, my friends!
12
Based on the video, he is not getting calls that superstars or others would get. Harden, Melo, Kobe are whacking him across the face in the flow of play, at times drawing blood, with no call. Conversely, he didn't even touch Harden and got called. Refereeing in the NBA is bad, albeit the difficulty of the task is off the chart, so mistakes are made in every quarter of every game. But Lin doesn't seem to be getting a fair deal.
22
Every team has an enforcer, and if that guy won't stand up for you, you'll have to do it yourself. I suspect he'll play center field and deck someone like a free safety on a long down court pass. That would get people off of him.
in my opinion this dude has been railroaded like few other players...on any given night he can drop 30...his defense has improved. I just do not get why he is like the second backup. At 6-3 205 or so he is probably as big if not bigger than the average shooting or point guard. The fact that he gets mangled is one thing but his lack of playing time - his deep bench role - i just dont get it at all - he is constantly a plus in the plus/minus calc for the time he plays - often a plus by a significant margin
30
This probably is one of the best representation of how subtle racism works in this day and age. Contrary to what people make it out to be most of the times, racism is not just on blacks and hispanics.
39
Subtle racism is an oxymoron. There is nothing subtle about real racism but we rarely see that anymore. So we substute a subtle thing so we can all be victims.
As an first generation Filipino born in NY, an avid basketball fan and participant in many pick up games my last 20 years, there is no doubt that Asians on the court get criticized and often discriminated against compared to white and black players.
There are many instances that although my skills are far more superior than say white or black players I would be chosen last for no other reason than being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with it. The Jeremy Lin phenomenon while a Knick was amazing but short lived. He got driven out of town for no other reason than upstaging Carmelo and the egos of those around him.
It's a real shame that Lin gets hacked and fouled more than most but until the public perception exists that Asians can't play American sports like basketball or football or soccer the more likelihood claims like this will go unnoticed and simply ignored.
There are many instances that although my skills are far more superior than say white or black players I would be chosen last for no other reason than being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with it. The Jeremy Lin phenomenon while a Knick was amazing but short lived. He got driven out of town for no other reason than upstaging Carmelo and the egos of those around him.
It's a real shame that Lin gets hacked and fouled more than most but until the public perception exists that Asians can't play American sports like basketball or football or soccer the more likelihood claims like this will go unnoticed and simply ignored.
25
As a Toronto Raptors fan, I didn't even read the article before deciding to comment on the referring in the NBA. Watching Cleveland play disgusts me. Nothing is called against Lebron James, while every time he's touched a foul is called. What this does is force the opponent to be tentative, because they're actually playing not to be put in foul trouble, while the cavaliers play unfettered by caution. It's just disgusting.
The playoffs is here, and the NBA want Lebron James to be in the finals so they bend the rules to make it happen. Just disgusting for a league to allow, and condone. It robs other cities of having a winning team, and if they don't address this huge flaw, I'll just watch games without paying to see them. I won't watch any game featuring LJ.
The playoffs is here, and the NBA want Lebron James to be in the finals so they bend the rules to make it happen. Just disgusting for a league to allow, and condone. It robs other cities of having a winning team, and if they don't address this huge flaw, I'll just watch games without paying to see them. I won't watch any game featuring LJ.
9
I do not follow the NBA and am older now, in my 70s but I recall how situations like this were handled in the 50s and 60s. Each team had at least one "enforcer", who was put in when the opposing team decided to get too rough. I cannot be convinced that this wouldn't work. The multi-million dollar a year so-called tough guys today wouldn't be so tough if they knew there would be personal consequences to their own health and welfare. Sometimes the playground bully need to be taken down. Obviously the referees and the league could care less. This is not about racism its about manning up.
6
Well folks, that's humanity for ya. "Race" and "fairness" are often mixed together. Quite a lot of humans have negative reactions to people based primarily on those peoples' different racial appearance. Not just whites either, much as a lot of folks would like to think, or rather those people thought of as "white" based on their racial appearance.
In other words, racist unfairness raising its ugly head in sports? Why would sports be any different from nearly everywhere else?
In other words, racist unfairness raising its ugly head in sports? Why would sports be any different from nearly everywhere else?
3
NBA officials are culpable and complicit in the thug like behavior that has tarnished the NBA. The antics of former players such as Bill Laimbeer should have served to elevate the game beyond physical abuse. If the NBA is going to continue down this path, the sport needs a living breathing commissioner to turn things around. If you want to watch sanctioned violence, watch the NHL. At least there the players have protective equipment and have cleaned up their sport considerably. Once athletes understand that playing in the NFL is suicide, perhaps they will move on to the NBA. Kudos to Hsiu-Chen Kuei for caring, and sympathy to Mr. Lin for enduring this flagrant mistreatment.
13
Would the reaction from the media be this sympathetic if white fans made up a similar tape of a white basketball player being fouled hard and suggested that race plays a role?
There's a curious pattern in recent decades in which the best white NBA players, such as John Stockton and Steve Nash, developed in nearly all white places, suggesting that white talent is discouraged early in more integrated setting. But nobody seems very interested in looking into the reasons behind this pattern ...
There's a curious pattern in recent decades in which the best white NBA players, such as John Stockton and Steve Nash, developed in nearly all white places, suggesting that white talent is discouraged early in more integrated setting. But nobody seems very interested in looking into the reasons behind this pattern ...
6
I saw him put up 19 in the first half on Celtics earlier this week.
They clearly started shoving him around pretty hard in the second half.
i think it's simply a strategy that teams have been employing to slow him down when he gets hot and will continue to test the refs until it stops working.
I saw the game where Kobe came down across his head. Even the commentators didn't think it was a flagrant. But if that were Steph or Klay they would have called it a flagrant 1.
They clearly started shoving him around pretty hard in the second half.
i think it's simply a strategy that teams have been employing to slow him down when he gets hot and will continue to test the refs until it stops working.
I saw the game where Kobe came down across his head. Even the commentators didn't think it was a flagrant. But if that were Steph or Klay they would have called it a flagrant 1.
18
What Ms. Kuei should do is to study of representative sample of foul calls in favor of Harden of Houston. Then juxtapose the many phantom fouls-calls he receives with the body slams delivered to Lin, such as the one recently in Boston, which Tommy Heinshon, easily the most the "homer" in the league, even found to be a questionable call. And this from a guy who thinks the Celtics hardly ever deserve a foul call. The Boston crowd knew it was a bad call. The league simply has to stop the excessive calls for Harden, which are too often the difference between winning and losing for a mediocre team.
8
I don't know the answer but the idea that the refs are not calling fouls on him due to his association with China is not believable. The rules for such fouls are very complex and can't be adequately evaluated by some clips strung together. I believe if you touch the ball no matter how violent the resultant it is a normal part of the game. If he makes a large portion of his opportunities that will reduce the benefit of fouling him.
2
Taiwan is not China
2
Yes it is.
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/position/1
The above are detailed stats that put Lin in context
This has been a good season for him. RPM wins indicate that he is similar to Shaun Livingston who also bounced around before fitting better with the Warriors
Staying out of the bias or racism angle on his fouls but wanted to offer some performance stats to put his play in perspective
Chinese fans desire an nba hero of their own
Lin is a good player but sometimes his tremendous marketability distorts objective evaluations of his performance. "Linsanity"
I hope he continues to do well with Charlotte and plays well during the playoffs. He will certainly draw a large group of international fans to the nba.
The above are detailed stats that put Lin in context
This has been a good season for him. RPM wins indicate that he is similar to Shaun Livingston who also bounced around before fitting better with the Warriors
Staying out of the bias or racism angle on his fouls but wanted to offer some performance stats to put his play in perspective
Chinese fans desire an nba hero of their own
Lin is a good player but sometimes his tremendous marketability distorts objective evaluations of his performance. "Linsanity"
I hope he continues to do well with Charlotte and plays well during the playoffs. He will certainly draw a large group of international fans to the nba.
8
As a 6'3" guard, he is hardly an imposing physical presence on the basketball court. The NBA is a very physical league, and I suspect that Lin is neither the first nor the sole player of his size to be physically pushed around by larger players. A good basis for comparison would be how he fares on foul calls relative to a peer group of other NBA guards.
9
Well, if it's flagrant fouls, the article does say "... ESPN reporter Tom Haberstroh, who noted in his own short video that the 813 fouls that Lin had drawn over the past three seasons represented the highest total for a guard — and the third highest number for any position — without a flagrant foul." Might be interesting to see how many uncalled flagrant fouls the 2nd and 3rd guards in that list got. In any case a flagrant is a flagrant, whether you're 6'3" or 7'6".
7
I'm not sold that the cause of the calls against Lin is racism, but I would hasten to point out that racism need not be a conspiracy. It does not even have to be intentional. There is now a large body of psychology and social science research on unconscious racial bias. One need only do a quick internet search to find information on this topic.
There is a lot more to it, but the very short version is that most of our decision-making is actually not done at the conscious level, and even conscious decisions involve a lot of "background work" in our brains that we do not consciously take note of. In this process, bias of any kind (not just racial), can influence the decisions we make.
A ref may honestly be trying to make the right call, but that doesn't mean biases don't go into the call.
There is a lot more to it, but the very short version is that most of our decision-making is actually not done at the conscious level, and even conscious decisions involve a lot of "background work" in our brains that we do not consciously take note of. In this process, bias of any kind (not just racial), can influence the decisions we make.
A ref may honestly be trying to make the right call, but that doesn't mean biases don't go into the call.
20
After all this can NBA refereeing be called fair? Jeremy Lin is not the only player that gets no calls from NBA referees. Take for example Zaza Pachulia of the Dallas Mavericks. He gets butchered left and right but not a single whistle from referees. It makes one think that there is a pattern of referees looking the other side while certain players are being flagrantly fouled, while the same referees are overzealously protective of others in less harmful play situations. NBA game commentators need to be more forward in pointing out these patterns and call flagrant fouls by their names during the game. NBA needs to address this issue immediately for the sake of the game's integrity.
18
Big Brother, et al--cops, environmental health specialists and hydrologists, governors, politicians. criminals, footballers, and now the NBA all claim in their defense, they are only following the rules. Rules they made. Rules that inflame those seeking justice and fairness. Rules that lightly dismiss in official speak the grievous errors that are there for all to see!
NBA: you are wrong. Your letter makes it worse. Welcome to the club of blind mules.
NBA: you are wrong. Your letter makes it worse. Welcome to the club of blind mules.
4
It is well known that NBA referees exercise judgment and favor the superstars. I doubt Steph Curry gets the same treatment from the refs as Jeremy Lin.
10
I don't know. I live in SF and I'm a Warriors fan (and a fan of Jeremy Lin, too). I see Steph Curry get hit a lot in situations where I think there ought to be a call and there isn't. Sometimes I jump out of my seat screaming. But, as I say, I'm a Warriors fan.
Jeremy Lin gets about $16 million per year in endorsements from Asian countries. His salary is $2 million. He gets publicity because he went to Harvard. He was a phenom In New York despite his mediocre talent. He goes into the lane without much speed and juking more than elevating. Some may think he's foreign born. Those are all possible reasons for the rough treatment. Let's put it on the front page and call it racism, though.
25
Yea, are you really suggesting it's okay to beat on the rich, slow Asian guy? Which way is your sarcasm lending? Rich or poor, fast or slow, Asian or otherwise, Harvard not withstanding, all people deserve dignity, equal treatment, and respect. I find the corollary implication, that other players are too fast too be swiped, racist.
17
If part of the harsh treatment is because some people think he's foreign born (possibly because of how he looks, racially?) then it is racism.
2
Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird famously touched upon this controversy decades ago. Black players are always full of "raw talent" while white (and asian) players are "hard working". The Racism denies non-black players the coaching and scholarships afforded black players beginning at a young age. The racism also denies black players proper credit for working so hard on their craft. Lin is definitely mistreated, those facts are undeniable.
Anecdotal evidence can be very useful for asking questions but is of absolutely minimal value in drawing legitimate conclusions. Is Lin treated differently by officials because he is Chinese American? I don't know, but neither do other commenters, certainly not if they are basing their judgment on an edited video.
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is a serious examination of whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but those of others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called, but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. (And, yes, stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.)
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is a serious examination of whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but those of others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called, but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. (And, yes, stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.)
10
I somewhat disagree it is about the technical definition of the category of foul and if they meet it. We all know that superstars get more calls in their favor.
1
It's very hard to tell if Lin is being singled out. There are other players who get fouled hard for a variety of reasons. Some players invite and create contact as part of their game. The NBA is about superstar players who get the privilege of special treatment because of their key role in marketing a global, multi-billion dollar business, Lin is not even close to that level although he does get a lot of international attention. He was a lot of fun to watch with the Knicks during that magical 6 week run. But he's settled into an average/below average PG, poor defender, capable backup for stretches. Which is ok; the NBA is still an elite club. The wacky hairstyle and silly you tube prank videos probably aren't helping his credibility or earning much respect from the competition.
6
The nba has had atrocious and overtly biased officiating for years - it is good to see them get some criticism but unfortunate that it took this long and had to be colored by race.
65
Before drawing any conclusions about racism, keep in mind that Lin has been in the NBA for six years and the video consists of about 6 clips.
34
Good point. Almost by definition they cannot be typical.
1
Then it might interest you to know that for the past three years Lin has had the most fouls called by any guard in the NBA without a flagrant (813).
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725
1
Keep in mind Lin has never had a foul against him call a flagrant.
No question he is being treated differently. Of course, his very effective style of play is different...it highlights the lack of hustle by so many of the other NBA players. It also shows the poor defensive skills of many of the NBA players. The pro game has deteriorated remarkably over the past decade. Lin's systematic maltreatment is only the latest example of an organizational rejection of a certain style of basketball. Players routinely palm the walk, take two steps before a dribble and three steps on a layup...no calls. I Can't say whether t is racist or not, but I would certainly want to entertain that discussion. But, for whatever reason, it is happening to Lin. I wish the so-called leaders of the NBA would recognize Lin for the potential goldmine he is...not 6'10" and still very effective at the game. That appeals to a lot of fans. Violence without consequence turns fans off...and out of the seats.
13
Great comment.
I believe Lin is bullied around, and I think it's a combination of factors:
- Asian-American. Yes, believe it or not Asians do suffer from bias and discrimination. And btw, a positive stereotype, e.g. "really smart", is still a stereotype.
- Harvard. Ivy leaguers generally don't get much respect in sports (don't want to hear it from Ryan Fitzpatrick fans). Who wouldn't want to knock a Harvard guy down a peg or two? (rhetorical)
- Lin-sanity. Once he became overexposed by the media, there was a target on his back, i.e. let's knock him back down to earth. Top it off with the maybe-overpriced contract he received, and you could see someone guys having a chip on their shoulder (ehem Carmelo).
- Asian-American. Yes, believe it or not Asians do suffer from bias and discrimination. And btw, a positive stereotype, e.g. "really smart", is still a stereotype.
- Harvard. Ivy leaguers generally don't get much respect in sports (don't want to hear it from Ryan Fitzpatrick fans). Who wouldn't want to knock a Harvard guy down a peg or two? (rhetorical)
- Lin-sanity. Once he became overexposed by the media, there was a target on his back, i.e. let's knock him back down to earth. Top it off with the maybe-overpriced contract he received, and you could see someone guys having a chip on their shoulder (ehem Carmelo).
11
The Warriors win 73 games, breaking what was thought to be an unbreakable record from the Jordan era. Kobe Bryant scores 60 in his final game as a pro.
Yet this story from the NBA about Jeremy Lin is on the front page of the NYT the day after those two newsworthy stories occur?
Anyone who has watched pro ball for any meaningful time knows without question that the refs can be awful, subjective and more likely to make more poor calls than good ones over the course of a game. The star treatment is also in full force and effect in the NBA. This is common knowledge.
Why the NYT continues to be so adamant about posting race baiting stories based on the most flimsy of evidence is hard to comprehend. The other recent piece about baseball is another example (though the title of that piece is obviously more deliberately inflammatory and pejorative than this one).
So whose the big bad racist in this piece? The NBA and its band of refs favoring black superstars over a poor Asian American? Give me a break.
Cover this "story" if you must, but please use some editorial discretion and place it elsewhere in the paper and not on the front page.
Yet this story from the NBA about Jeremy Lin is on the front page of the NYT the day after those two newsworthy stories occur?
Anyone who has watched pro ball for any meaningful time knows without question that the refs can be awful, subjective and more likely to make more poor calls than good ones over the course of a game. The star treatment is also in full force and effect in the NBA. This is common knowledge.
Why the NYT continues to be so adamant about posting race baiting stories based on the most flimsy of evidence is hard to comprehend. The other recent piece about baseball is another example (though the title of that piece is obviously more deliberately inflammatory and pejorative than this one).
So whose the big bad racist in this piece? The NBA and its band of refs favoring black superstars over a poor Asian American? Give me a break.
Cover this "story" if you must, but please use some editorial discretion and place it elsewhere in the paper and not on the front page.
13
The reason it moved from sports where it was placed in earlier editions to the front page is strong reader interest measured by clicks, emails and comments. What you find uninteresting a lot of readers find very interesting. The Times is accommodating proven reader interest by displaying the article in a dominant position.
The Kobe and Dubs 73 stories played out over several weeks, actually the entire season, and was covered by every sports publication and website. No surprise that Kobe and the Dubs were of less interest to readers as the only news was they both achieved what we expected. Ball hog scores 60 is a yawn.
The Lin article is framed as an extraordinary use of social media by an atypical NBA fan, Hsiu-Chen Kuei, to raise a concern with the NBA that drew the attention of over 1 million people, and that's before it goes online in China.
Part of the racist stereotype of Asian-Americans is that we're passive, non-confrontational, compliant and long-suffering. Bullies and hucksters love picking on Asians thinking there's little risk of retaliation, police involvement or
protest. We're inscrutable, deceptive, mysterious and scheming. We're gluttons for hard work, math whizzes, and emotional robots who charlie chan our way through life, muttering obscure aphorisms and deflecting attention.
A stay-at-home San Jose Chinese mother, Hsiu-Chen Kuei, dramatically blew that stereotype to bits. And with Jeremy Lin no less. Race-baiting? In America? Just shocking.
The Kobe and Dubs 73 stories played out over several weeks, actually the entire season, and was covered by every sports publication and website. No surprise that Kobe and the Dubs were of less interest to readers as the only news was they both achieved what we expected. Ball hog scores 60 is a yawn.
The Lin article is framed as an extraordinary use of social media by an atypical NBA fan, Hsiu-Chen Kuei, to raise a concern with the NBA that drew the attention of over 1 million people, and that's before it goes online in China.
Part of the racist stereotype of Asian-Americans is that we're passive, non-confrontational, compliant and long-suffering. Bullies and hucksters love picking on Asians thinking there's little risk of retaliation, police involvement or
protest. We're inscrutable, deceptive, mysterious and scheming. We're gluttons for hard work, math whizzes, and emotional robots who charlie chan our way through life, muttering obscure aphorisms and deflecting attention.
A stay-at-home San Jose Chinese mother, Hsiu-Chen Kuei, dramatically blew that stereotype to bits. And with Jeremy Lin no less. Race-baiting? In America? Just shocking.
Refs in the NBA are biased and corrupt in game fixing.
5
I'm a huge Jeremy Lin fan. I watch a lot of basketball and I don't agree with this. Jeremy has a tendency to exaggerate a little when hit.
6
Here in the Bay Area, Lin's home turf, people make videos of all the calls that Steph Curry doesn't get. Lin had a hot streak and once he got noticed, he got shown for the back-up player he is.
8
Friedrich Nietzsche on basketball: "There are no facts, only interpretations."
6
Is it too much to ask the Hornets, where are his team mates when some of those obviously intentional fouls occur? In baseball the mere hint of a threat to a player by the opposing team is enough to empty both benches. What WOULD happen if someone nailed Kobe or some other super star this way? This is bush league behavior by a bunch of spoiled brats, and the league ought to hand out stiff fines and suspensions when a player is treated this way.
2
Intentional fouls are part of the game, ones designed to hurt players are not. College has very strict rules that I sometimes disagree about, the NBA has different ones.
1
Certainly, Lin could be subject to what is suggested by Ms Kuei, but I'd be careful here. If you focus on a specific player, as was done in this case, you would probably see a similar pattern (some stars excluded, of course). Kind of like highlight videos, it's a pretty skewed look at what is going on overall. Discrimination against Asian players doesn't seem likely to me.
7
this is beautiful. i hate injustice and bias, and the documented fouls are so flagrantly obvious that the commentators remark on them in real time!
next step: the fans themselves need to raise cain when this kind of thing occurs. shout, stomp, scream and curse. stop the game. make them review the play. demand fairness for your team players.
next step: the fans themselves need to raise cain when this kind of thing occurs. shout, stomp, scream and curse. stop the game. make them review the play. demand fairness for your team players.
8
It is hard to believe that officials, consciously or otherwise, do not call flagrant fouls because a player is Asian. Why in the world would numerous refs risk their job performances by discriminating against an Asian? A conspiracy with no motive or benefit? Get out!
It is much more likely that something about his style of play makes it often appear that he is the initiator of the contact, or at least an equal participant.
It is much more likely that something about his style of play makes it often appear that he is the initiator of the contact, or at least an equal participant.
5
I'm not convinced it's racism, either, but I would point out racial bias need not be a conspiracy. It might not even be intentional. There are huge bodies of psychological and social science experiments and data on this if you just do a quick internet search.
5
I wouldn't say it is because of race, but favoritism towards some stars. The NBA is all about making money and I'm sure some refs will overlook calls against some of their stars. The Wesley Johnson contact seems coincidental, but for anyone to say that Carmelo or Kobe were not intentional, you haven't kept up with the jealousy these guys had toward Lin when they were teammates. Kobe never liked Lin, and Carmelo didn't like Lin when he lost the media attention with Linsanity. Brother Stoudemire verified this.
2
I wish the Warriors had kept Jeremy Lin. Can you imagine that backcourt? And from an impartial observer and basketball fan, it does seem like Lin is fouled hard a lot and that its tolerated -- more so than any other guard. I should probably watch less basketball...
5
I don't know that Lin would have gotten many opportunities on a team so deep in talent like the Warriors. I'm glad he is somewhere where he can make meaningful contributions to his team.
1
Hard fouls are part of the game, make the shot and the free throws and it will be reduced. If you miss many free throws fouls will come your way. Hack a Shaq is famous in this regard. Good thing he is nice and took it well, he possibly could have improved his shooting to make them pay.
1
Thanks to Andrew Keh for a piece well done. The video and letter vividly represented fans around the globe.
8
Have a hard time accepting that this is racial or even particular to Jeremy Lin. The old NBA trope is that the "stars" get calls that your average "Just A Guy" player will never get. Jeremy Lin, despite the national phenomenon that was Linsanity®, is a good-but-not-great player - the sort of guy who does not get the benefit of the doubt.
All of this is clouded by the nature of basketball; basically everything is a foul on any given play, and refs can be wildly inconsistent within a game. Flagrant fouls and clear path fouls are even worse - unless it is truly cut and dry, even seasoned NBA watchers have to guess on any given play what will earn the flagrant call. Many fouls in basketball are intentional (and therefore flagrant 1 by the letter of the law) but are not called as such. And the majority of those plays do not involve Jeremy Lin.
The video in question starts off with some good examples - i'm not even sure those would be consistently called a flagrant regardless of player. The video creator is also conflating a hard foul with a flagrant one, but NBA refs seem to have that problem as well so that can be forgiven :)
Consider also that your typical player may be fouled - or commit fouls - hundreds of times per season, so there's a ton of material to work with.
I'm a huge fan of 5'9" Isiah Thomas and could absolutely put together a clip reel of him getting MUGGED in some outrageous ways with no call, but I'm not sure that's proof of any grand conspiracy against him.
All of this is clouded by the nature of basketball; basically everything is a foul on any given play, and refs can be wildly inconsistent within a game. Flagrant fouls and clear path fouls are even worse - unless it is truly cut and dry, even seasoned NBA watchers have to guess on any given play what will earn the flagrant call. Many fouls in basketball are intentional (and therefore flagrant 1 by the letter of the law) but are not called as such. And the majority of those plays do not involve Jeremy Lin.
The video in question starts off with some good examples - i'm not even sure those would be consistently called a flagrant regardless of player. The video creator is also conflating a hard foul with a flagrant one, but NBA refs seem to have that problem as well so that can be forgiven :)
Consider also that your typical player may be fouled - or commit fouls - hundreds of times per season, so there's a ton of material to work with.
I'm a huge fan of 5'9" Isiah Thomas and could absolutely put together a clip reel of him getting MUGGED in some outrageous ways with no call, but I'm not sure that's proof of any grand conspiracy against him.
18
This may absolutely be true--Jordan Rules have long existed. That doesn't make them right. Good on this fan for calling out stuff that shouldn't be happening in the first place. Just because it's been a tradition doesn't make it a good tradition.
2
Mostly good points but Isaiah Thomas played in a rougher time. The nba has cracked down on a lot of the physicality that was in the game at that time.
That's fair, and I am 100% in agreement. It's always been my biggest problem with the NBA.
But my point is not that this isn't problematic, it's that it isn't anything specific to Jeremy Lin.
Anyone who makes their living driving to the hoop a few dozen times per game is going to get hit hard in foul-worthy ways on a regular basis. But unless they are James Harden or Lebron James, they should not expect to get those calls. It's absurd, but its the way of things.
But my point is not that this isn't problematic, it's that it isn't anything specific to Jeremy Lin.
Anyone who makes their living driving to the hoop a few dozen times per game is going to get hit hard in foul-worthy ways on a regular basis. But unless they are James Harden or Lebron James, they should not expect to get those calls. It's absurd, but its the way of things.
1
Lin is a minority of one. He is going to be a target, much as black players historically have been targeted in the NHL. The first wave of Europeans in the NBA, who were falsely labelled as soft by their American peers, also faced this situation. In the case of Lin, he may also be facing considerable resentment from other players due to the lucrative sponsorship opportunities he has received due to his popularity in Chinese markets.
The work conditions for Mr. Lin are far from anything like what Jackie Robinson faced. Nevertheless, there is enough evidence, on video and also in numerous published comments from NBA players, to suggest something rather ugly. The League should look into this seriously, and try to determine if Mr. Lin is being treated differently because of his Chinese ethnicity and the color of his skin.
The work conditions for Mr. Lin are far from anything like what Jackie Robinson faced. Nevertheless, there is enough evidence, on video and also in numerous published comments from NBA players, to suggest something rather ugly. The League should look into this seriously, and try to determine if Mr. Lin is being treated differently because of his Chinese ethnicity and the color of his skin.
127
Agree, why is Lin a minority of one? We speak of diversity in the workplace, why not professional sports. More difficult, but we need to reach out to those communities not represented in the sports world , and focus on training. Or draft more Asian players and other nationalities from foreign competition. Lin would not be isolated as J. Robinson was.
2
If Lin is being resented by other players, it's probably because he's getting more press and more attention than his basketball talent merits. He's a solid NBA player and that is to be respected. But he's just that...a solid player....and not a star.
This video is shocking. Anyone with a modicum of understanding of basketball could see the injustice done to Lin these many times. The opposing players and their coaches deserve the harshest kind of criticism for permitting this kind of play. Why has the NBA not taken action?
7
Perhaps because by the official rules these are normal fouls?
2
I have not seen the video, so will have to reserve my judgment. The statistics are noteworthy, though.
I find it counter-intuitive that the NBA would tolerate allow any kind of officiating bias against Lin. After all, the NBA is all about the money. Lin has generated a lot of new hardcore fans for the NBA, in the US and overseas. I don't see the NBA leaving money on the table by needlessly alienating those fans.
I find it counter-intuitive that the NBA would tolerate allow any kind of officiating bias against Lin. After all, the NBA is all about the money. Lin has generated a lot of new hardcore fans for the NBA, in the US and overseas. I don't see the NBA leaving money on the table by needlessly alienating those fans.
Is Lin treated differently by officials because he is Chinese American? I don't know, but neither do other commenters, certainly not if they are basing their judgment on an edited video.
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is some serious follow-up examining whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but those of many others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. Yes stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.
Anecdotal evidence i can be very useful for asking questions but of absolutely minimal value in drawing legitimate conclusions.
In fact, I am not sure this is even an appropriate Times Home Page story. What would be a good story is some serious follow-up examining whether Lin is or is not treated in such a manner. One would have to watch many, many more hours of complete game videos to even approach a legitimate conclusion. One cannot merely look at Lin's games but those of many others also. The issue is not whether he should have had more flagrants called but whether he had fewer called than other players of comparable style of play and stature. Yes stature is relevant in the real world. Just ask any bench player in the N.B.A. or a rookie taking called strikes on a Madison Baumgarner pitch.
Anecdotal evidence i can be very useful for asking questions but of absolutely minimal value in drawing legitimate conclusions.
4
It's tough to watch. No need to read too much into why this is happening, but they do need to knock it off.
Basketball is supposed to be a non-contact sport. The officials are blowing it.
(and before anyone says "other players get treated the same way" let me respond "if that's true, officials are blowing it there too.")
Basketball is supposed to be a non-contact sport. The officials are blowing it.
(and before anyone says "other players get treated the same way" let me respond "if that's true, officials are blowing it there too.")
5
Perhaps at some level there is no contact, but if you want no contact Golf is your game. There is always contact, blocking out, getting position, stopping shots or blocking them is all things that result in contact. I used to hear that the hand is part of the ball so hitting it is nothing. The wrist or arm is not.
The time period during which Mr. Lin accumulated record foul-calls isn't clear, but back in 2012 he performed very well on the court, according to a presumably unbiased report:
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/16/2800502/jeremy-lin-new-york-knicks...
Kuei tries to convey that Lin, an American-born son of immigrants from Taiwan, was the victim of excessive physicality from opponents and insufficient protection from the league and its referees.
Whether that's true is hard to say—but in any event it can't be denied that basketball is a game Jeffry knows how to play..
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/16/2800502/jeremy-lin-new-york-knicks...
Kuei tries to convey that Lin, an American-born son of immigrants from Taiwan, was the victim of excessive physicality from opponents and insufficient protection from the league and its referees.
Whether that's true is hard to say—but in any event it can't be denied that basketball is a game Jeffry knows how to play..
China is one of the most racist countries around when it comes to black people.
https://www.chinafile.com/library/china-africa-project/chinese-racist-vi...
But a journeyman athlete gets some rough fouls (like EVERYONE else) in the NBA and this is supposed to be proof of African-American racism towards East Asians? Please...
https://www.chinafile.com/library/china-africa-project/chinese-racist-vi...
But a journeyman athlete gets some rough fouls (like EVERYONE else) in the NBA and this is supposed to be proof of African-American racism towards East Asians? Please...
8
I'm not convinced that the officiating against Lin is racism, but THIS comment sure looks like racism.
First, the complaints are regarding the officiating.
Second, Jeremy Lin is an American citizen who was born and grew up in California. The maker of the video live in California. Yet, you are trying to draw some kind of parallel to racism in China? Why? What does that have to do with Lin or the video?
Lin is an American, but like many other Asian-Americans that seem to perpetual foreigners in the eyes of mainstream American society.
Perhaps next time white Americans are accused of racism against African-Americans, we can draw false equivalences to racism in West Africa?
First, the complaints are regarding the officiating.
Second, Jeremy Lin is an American citizen who was born and grew up in California. The maker of the video live in California. Yet, you are trying to draw some kind of parallel to racism in China? Why? What does that have to do with Lin or the video?
Lin is an American, but like many other Asian-Americans that seem to perpetual foreigners in the eyes of mainstream American society.
Perhaps next time white Americans are accused of racism against African-Americans, we can draw false equivalences to racism in West Africa?
4
What does China have to do with this?
3
Jeremy Lin is a trailblazer for Americans of Asian-descent in the historic sense of the word, just like Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer for Americans of African-descent, and, unfortunately, overt racial animus, prejudice, hostility and even violence towards trailblazers comes with the territory. Hang in there, Mr. Lin.
4
I really doubt that he is a trailblazer. I seem to remember a center from China who got a good deal, so it is not race.
I suspect you mean well, but you **do** realize you just made my point. If in over the past 20 years you can only remember one other Asian, ie Yao Ming, then by definition, Lin is a trailblazer, since over the span of that time there's been nothing but white, black and Latino. Like all trailblazers of whatever hue, there's incredible hostility against new comers. Even you let your hostility against Lin show by denying him the historic trailblazing importance of his presence on the hardwood floor. If you are so hostile to him, think about what's happening on the floor.
It looks like Lin gets the short end of the stick, but I don't think it is because he is Asian. The NBA has an insane shadow-theater style set of rules about who gets a foul and who doesn't, especially with flagrant fouls. Whether you are a "star" or there is obvioius malintent are big reasons. Most of the time they are called as part of their occult system of make-up calls. Lin is a quality player, but he is no star and I think that is the main reason he hasn't gotten the calls. Notice how none of the plays in the video come from his time at New York during "Linsanity".
Lin is a talented and fun player to watch, I think a lot of fans like him because of that and not because he is Asian, and I really think most people claiming that the NBA is discriminating against Asians because of a youtube video probably don't watch basketball. I like NBA basketball, but if you want to be fair watch a video of the epic flops in the past month alone; the refereeing system isn't governed by logic
Lin is a talented and fun player to watch, I think a lot of fans like him because of that and not because he is Asian, and I really think most people claiming that the NBA is discriminating against Asians because of a youtube video probably don't watch basketball. I like NBA basketball, but if you want to be fair watch a video of the epic flops in the past month alone; the refereeing system isn't governed by logic
6
J. Lin needs to relax. The NBA can make or break players, that's why it's the pinnacle of professional basketball. I love the game. Someone need to show Mr.Lin footage of the good old days when hard fouls were an afterthought. I always thought highly of Maurice Lucas of the Portland Trailblazers as an enforcer in the league. But the one game that always stays with me in terms of NBA toughness/hard fouls was the hit by Karl Malone on Isaiah Thomas. I will never forget the blood running down Isaiah's face. The game was played in Utah, otherwise Detroit Piston fans would of hurt K Malone for that unwarranted disgusting foul. Isaiah still has a nasty looking scar on his face because of that foul. Lin should consider the WNBA if he can't handle the NBA contact.
3
Lin didn't write the column which I wonder if you read.
8
It was a fan who compiled the video, not Lin.
3
Good point but instead of just saying he likes his fans and the fouls are no big deal he agrees. I would never indicate such even if I actually thought I was getting a raw deal.
1
Despite all the FouLin of Jeremy, he still kept a complacent demeanor. Good sportsmanship there. The league definitely needs to Linspect the flagrant fouls on him.
14
No doubt that Jeremy Lin is not being treated equally by refs or at least some of NBA players. The question may be is it an ethnic bias or is it because of his background as a non-scholarship, deans list, 4 year Ivy League player? Not sure which or both may be behind it. It would be interesting to go back to see how Grant Hill and Bill Bradley were first treated on their arrival in the NBA. While not Asian Americans both had a similar academic, Ivy League pedigree.
6
I bet it is not significantly either of these. His style of play is the most likely reason.
As an Asian-American I take great interest in this allegation. At the same time, I take greater interest in how this can make the front page of the NYT, who seem to take pride in wagging the finger at any hint of racism or any other liberal violation. And no, I'm not saying racism is ok, or that this isn't newsworthy!
7
Point is well made brother. NYT and all mainstream media love to play the race card in its coverage. Disgusting.
3
The story is about a viral video and the response to it.
1
NYTimes reported on referee racial bias back in 2007:
"A coming paper by a University of Pennsylvania professor and a Cornell University graduate student says that, during the 13 seasons from 1991 through 2004, white referees called fouls at a greater rate against black players than against white players...[they] found a corresponding bias in which black officials called fouls more frequently against white players, though that tendency was not as strong. They went on to claim that the different rates at which fouls are called “is large enough that the probability of a team winning is noticeably affected by the racial composition of the refereeing crew assigned to the game.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html
Perhaps the NBA needs more diversity in their referees.
"A coming paper by a University of Pennsylvania professor and a Cornell University graduate student says that, during the 13 seasons from 1991 through 2004, white referees called fouls at a greater rate against black players than against white players...[they] found a corresponding bias in which black officials called fouls more frequently against white players, though that tendency was not as strong. They went on to claim that the different rates at which fouls are called “is large enough that the probability of a team winning is noticeably affected by the racial composition of the refereeing crew assigned to the game.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html
Perhaps the NBA needs more diversity in their referees.
39
Justin Wolfers (then of Penn, now of Michigan) recrunched the numbers recently and found that in the years since there has been no bias. He theory was the study got refs to think about their own potential latent bias. Maybe this video will have the same effect.
2
Great find! It immediately shuts up those who claim the refs are not biased.
For all of the literal physical abuse Jeremy Lin has taken on the court, the hardest hit he ever took was from his Knick teammate; Carmelo Anthony. It was Anthony's resentment and jealously of "Linsanity" that led to Jeremy's departure from New York. We, the fans, are still reeling from that departure. We were robbed of a player who might have been this generation's Bill Bradley.
I dislike Carmelo Anthony for many reasons, but what he did to Jeremy Lin is something I can never forgive.
I dislike Carmelo Anthony for many reasons, but what he did to Jeremy Lin is something I can never forgive.
18
Lin didn't work out on a few teams: golden state, Houston, New York, Houston. He has fit well in Charlotte and I'm happy for him.
I don't think melo is the reason why he bounced around/failed to stick for a while.
His numbers are respectable but do not indicate star level performance like you suggest either.
I'm glad you are a fan of his but let's not lose context.
I don't think melo is the reason why he bounced around/failed to stick for a while.
His numbers are respectable but do not indicate star level performance like you suggest either.
I'm glad you are a fan of his but let's not lose context.
8
I agree with you.
I stopped being a Knick fan after seeing what Melo and Dolan did to Lin:
https://lincredibles.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/espn-six-degrees-of-separa...
I stopped being a Knick fan after seeing what Melo and Dolan did to Lin:
https://lincredibles.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/espn-six-degrees-of-separa...
While I'm sure Lin experiences some latent/sorority type of racism from some other players, I hardly think it is institutionalized on a league wide level to include the referees. In my opinion, of the clips shown, maybe half could have warranted further review by the officials, but I don't think you can cherry pick a handful of flagrant calls against other players and deduce that the league is racist. You could probably find just as many plays by any other aggressive, hard driving point guard that in the minds of his fans should have been flagrant. It's a contact sport.
7
To me, this is a strand in a bigger story: As a long-time observer of the NBA (going back to the mid-70s Celtics with Dave Cowens) and a gym rat: There is clear favoritism towards certain players - in terms of calling fouls on their drives - and letting them get away with an extra step or two (traveling is rampant in the NBA - watch Lebron's drives in slow motion). Palming is frequently not called on the stars (look at Paul Pierce's late game dribbling and outside shots in his Celtic days). This allows for more "spectacular" drives than the rules actually allow (and in the mind's eye begs for the elegant - and legal - drives to the basket of past stars like Dr. J. ...).
To me, the lack of deserved calls in Lin's favor is the flip side of this. Clearly, the refs aren't out to "protect" Lin - as they are with the stars .... It is reasonable to wonder if Lin's race (mainly) and other more minor factors (his vehement Christianity plus his Harvard grad status) don't all combine to make him somewhat of an outsider in the NBA fraternity ... which the refs calls reflect ...
To me, the lack of deserved calls in Lin's favor is the flip side of this. Clearly, the refs aren't out to "protect" Lin - as they are with the stars .... It is reasonable to wonder if Lin's race (mainly) and other more minor factors (his vehement Christianity plus his Harvard grad status) don't all combine to make him somewhat of an outsider in the NBA fraternity ... which the refs calls reflect ...
74
Thanks Bill. This is one of the more thoughtful comments in response to article and on-point with the video creator's goals. She did not say racism, but leans more towards favoritism. The NBA is only interested in making money and they will not respond accordingly. Not a surprise.
4
Remember "Jordan Rules."
Mr. Palmer - no doubt that stars get more calls. The NBA is a star's league and it's also a form of entertainment and people pay to see players like Steph Curry, Durant, and Russell Westbrook do their thing.
Jeremy Lin, while a feel-good story, is a below average NBA player and his stats from the 2015-16 season reflect that. If there's any resentment from other players, could it be that perhaps Lin is getting more attention than his talent and ability merit?
Jeremy Lin, while a feel-good story, is a below average NBA player and his stats from the 2015-16 season reflect that. If there's any resentment from other players, could it be that perhaps Lin is getting more attention than his talent and ability merit?
1
Non-whites are capable of racism? I don't believe it.
6
Since this is an article about the officiating of mostly white officials, why are you attacking black players? Far too many commenters are showing their true colors, so to speak.
8
Nope. The subject matter here is two-fold: an NBA minority player as victim of "excessive physicality from opponents and insufficient protection from the league and its referees."
In fact, Michael, it's your bias and the Times bias that are showing here.
In fact, Michael, it's your bias and the Times bias that are showing here.
So you believe that racism is only associated with white people which was the point.
It's a sad statement on a divided America and world that those who wish to gripe about their lives will seize upon anything if it furthers their agenda.
Does anybody remember John Stockton of the Utah Jazz? One of the greatest players of all time - he's in the NBA Hall of Fame. He's also white and only six feet tall. But John Stockton, the son of a bar owner in Spokane, Washington, took guff from no one. He didn't cry racism on bad calls or racism when he got a hard foul. If Stockton didn't like a call or thought someone fouled him hard, he'd jaw at the ref or go after whoever fouled him.
I saw him get in the face - or at least the chest - of Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan, more than once. Not infrequently, Karl Malone (the two-time NBA MVP who is black) of the Jazz would have to use his 6' 9" frame to hold Stockton back in a bear hug to get him off the other player who fouled him. But Stockton always made his point, and more importantly was a great, great player, which is not all that definite with Lin - and that's why Stockton was ultimately both feared and respected by other players much stronger and taller.
Lin probably realizes the realities of professional athletics. His fans, on the other hand, need to get a clue if they want to watch a professional sport in America. Fast.
Does anybody remember John Stockton of the Utah Jazz? One of the greatest players of all time - he's in the NBA Hall of Fame. He's also white and only six feet tall. But John Stockton, the son of a bar owner in Spokane, Washington, took guff from no one. He didn't cry racism on bad calls or racism when he got a hard foul. If Stockton didn't like a call or thought someone fouled him hard, he'd jaw at the ref or go after whoever fouled him.
I saw him get in the face - or at least the chest - of Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan, more than once. Not infrequently, Karl Malone (the two-time NBA MVP who is black) of the Jazz would have to use his 6' 9" frame to hold Stockton back in a bear hug to get him off the other player who fouled him. But Stockton always made his point, and more importantly was a great, great player, which is not all that definite with Lin - and that's why Stockton was ultimately both feared and respected by other players much stronger and taller.
Lin probably realizes the realities of professional athletics. His fans, on the other hand, need to get a clue if they want to watch a professional sport in America. Fast.
12
Lin didn't cry racism. He's got all the class of Stockton but is less aggressive and talented. The refs blew a lot of calls for some reason(s).
I know I am as shocked as any casual basketball fan to learn that the officiating in the NBA is but one thin notch above that of the WWE in quality and consistency. My shock is only exceeded by the surprisingly tone-deaf response of the league office.
5
Open season on Lin? Appears so. Shape up on the ref'ing NBA !
3
The bigotry in this country, infecting all Americans, is deplorable. There is only one race, the human race.
1
If Jeremy Lin is singled as a result of racism (always a real possibility) it is particularly disgraceful. If not this also can shed light on the type of dangerous assaults athletes face everyday while playing. As we have seen this can lead to immediate damage or long term tragedy. So even if this is just all coincidence, it can help address a major problem. Though I doubt seriously that will happen.
2
What "major problem"? They get paid a lot of money, know the conditions that they work in, so no problem as far as I can see. Many jobs are more dangerous and pay a lot less.
1
If Jeremy Lin is singled out as a result of racism (always a real possibility) it is particularly disgraceful. If not this also can shed light on the type of dangerous assaults athletes face everyday while playing. As we have seen this can lead to immediate damage or long term tragedy. So even if this is just all coincidence, it can help address a major problem. Though I doubt seriously that will happen.
6
This story is bringing to light what many of us basketball aficionados have been talking about for decades....the NBA is the worst officiated professional sports league in existence. Beyond the favoritism shown the super stars, now we're seeing clear evidence that there appears to also be a race and ethnicity angle to this bad officiating as well. It's a real shame that the NBA panders to the marketing magic of sports rather then craft a real league played hard, tough and beautifully as it is in the college level -- and on play ground courts throughout our country. After watching this video, it seems that we will be hearing more about a CTE epidemic in the NBA.
It would be great for the NBA to re-configure this league with standards of play so that it progresses from the cabal that it's been since David Stern was Commissioner to a league that is interesting to follow all season long --- not just at playoff time when dollars are on the line and the beauty of the pro game can be teased out from the folly it is for the first seven months of the season. There is little hope that the NBA will do this, however. You don't get heroism from cowardice.
It would be great for the NBA to re-configure this league with standards of play so that it progresses from the cabal that it's been since David Stern was Commissioner to a league that is interesting to follow all season long --- not just at playoff time when dollars are on the line and the beauty of the pro game can be teased out from the folly it is for the first seven months of the season. There is little hope that the NBA will do this, however. You don't get heroism from cowardice.
29
Bring back Mendy Rudolph and Norm Drucker! They knew that a good call is the foundation of Justice!
1
Make a video of Yao Ming's NBA career. Guess what? You won't see a pattern of racial discrimination on foul calls. Lin is a slightly built guy who makes his living driving the paint. Yao Ming was a 7'6" all-star center and skilled post-player. This is not racial discrimination, just the styles of two completely different players.
18
Best solution is to stop watching NBA, it is just a rigged pantomine of a game.
1
It's not just the NBA refs who go easy on marquee players.
I don't recall this season when Coach K's Duke team of intentionally flagrant trippers ever got called for a technical for their ballerina like moves ending in a trip.
Coach K, darling of the NCAA basketball money machine, gets calls and no calls that no one else does in the NCAA- the films don't lie.
I don't recall this season when Coach K's Duke team of intentionally flagrant trippers ever got called for a technical for their ballerina like moves ending in a trip.
Coach K, darling of the NCAA basketball money machine, gets calls and no calls that no one else does in the NCAA- the films don't lie.
A stay-at-home mom using Final Cut Pro - only in Silicon Valley.
13
I find it impressive that he gets up, brushes himself off, and goes back to playing basketball after the vast majority of these fouls. I have no clue whether he is unfairly targeted, and even if he is, if it is due to racism. However, I know that regardless of the injustices that the world throws at a person, such a person would probably benefit from Lin's example of pushing through the adversity to achieve his own success.
7
It's pretty obvious that he's been dissed because of his race. Some guys in the NBA just couldn't handle an Asian American star and have been bad mouthing him from the get-go. As a Knicks fan, I can only sorrowfully look back on the history and wonder how better off we would have been had we packed off talentless and jealous jerks, such as JR Smith, much earlier and kept Jeremy.
6
players get brutally fouled all the time. In fact, look at the refs calling the game. How these guys can keep up with the run of play is beyond me. If fact, I would argue, too many of them are too old and/or to far out of shape. As for Lin, I do think there is racism towards him. The Knicks had a chance to get him back this year and despite being woefully short of talent at the guard position, they didn't sign him. And once, on ESPN, in a game in which he was the leading scorer on both teams, there was not a single highlight of him.
Correlation is not causality, you are making assumptions and that is a well known thing.
The Race Card: the last refuge of ideological scoundrels and it doesn't matter if they are white, black, yellow or red.
5
This is great that these fans care so much and are putting effort into making the NBA accountable! Way to go fan teams!
2
Devil's advocate: does Lin trash talk? Did he do or say something off court to bring on such enmity?
Is it possible that the excitement around Jeremy Lin has drawn in a number of fans which are not familiar with professional basketball to the sport? Is it possible these same people - which are paying especially close (if not exclusive) attention to Lin - are overstating these seemingly 'unfair' encounters?
Professional basketball is not the sport you see kids playing at church. This is an intense, fast paced game with lots of physical contact. The contact when players drive to the basket (as Lin frequently does) is especially forceful.
Complaints about officiating are as old as basketball itself. I would imagine a similar highlights (or lowlights) video could be easily assembled for 50+ other players in the league.
The real question is why we're singling out the performance of one Asian-American player for scrutiny. Is that, itself, not racism?
Professional basketball is not the sport you see kids playing at church. This is an intense, fast paced game with lots of physical contact. The contact when players drive to the basket (as Lin frequently does) is especially forceful.
Complaints about officiating are as old as basketball itself. I would imagine a similar highlights (or lowlights) video could be easily assembled for 50+ other players in the league.
The real question is why we're singling out the performance of one Asian-American player for scrutiny. Is that, itself, not racism?
10
"Complaints about officiating are as old as basketball itself. I would imagine a similar highlights (or lowlights) video could be easily assembled for 50+ other players in the league."
I think this is the key point here.
I really like Lin, he's a Harvard guy after all, but this is more of a leaguewide problem than anything specific to him. Extremely questionable officiating is a hallmark of the sport, and has been even before we found out the refs were betting on games. It would not be hard to make a similar video for dozens of other guys.
To be clear, I'm not defending the NBA or the calls in the video. There are some awful calls in there - but that's the point.
Being terrible is standard operating procedure for NBA refs. It transcends racial lines.
When you think about it that way, it's really very progressive.
I think this is the key point here.
I really like Lin, he's a Harvard guy after all, but this is more of a leaguewide problem than anything specific to him. Extremely questionable officiating is a hallmark of the sport, and has been even before we found out the refs were betting on games. It would not be hard to make a similar video for dozens of other guys.
To be clear, I'm not defending the NBA or the calls in the video. There are some awful calls in there - but that's the point.
Being terrible is standard operating procedure for NBA refs. It transcends racial lines.
When you think about it that way, it's really very progressive.
7
Yes, Yes it is racism. Thinking first of race as a reason for everything.
The unspoken but obvious implication here is that Black men are violent and aggressive and are picking on the Asian kid.
It seems that some forms of racism are more privileged than others.
It seems that some forms of racism are more privileged than others.
5
some accusations of racism have more merit than others ....
1
Well, actually...not at all....you are the only guy saying this...probably says something not so good about your opinions about black men and violence. What everyone else is talking about is that the referees, black, white or whatever their skin color.....are not calling these fouls. The unspoken implication, is that a better reading by you would have revealed, is that perhaps the NBA ref community favors a style of play or perhaps its more marquee players or whatever it is....but it disfavors Lin or his style of play. Probably they think that the NBA doesn't supervise their refs very well and the refs need additional training in spotting and calling fouls.
3
Wait a minute. When you say "unspoken but obvious implication," aren't you really saying "nobody has actually said this. I have no evidence for it, but I have convinced myself itself it is true?" I mean, you are claiming this is an attack on black players in particular, when the fans' complaint is explicitly directed at league officiating.
I think the video needs to studied and compared to fouls against other players. The stats cited about Lin need to be examined, and see if there are alternate explanations. But at least Lin's fans have come up with some evidence for us to examine.
But your comment seems to encapsulate only a single-minded determination to push for a particular narrative, with zero supporting evidence. That is the kind of irrational bias that drives racism in this country.
I think the video needs to studied and compared to fouls against other players. The stats cited about Lin need to be examined, and see if there are alternate explanations. But at least Lin's fans have come up with some evidence for us to examine.
But your comment seems to encapsulate only a single-minded determination to push for a particular narrative, with zero supporting evidence. That is the kind of irrational bias that drives racism in this country.
3
Huge Lin fan here, but this story is weak. A dedicated fan could make the same video for almost any regular guard in the NBA. You could also make a video showing how popular players regularly get away with non-calls.
80
Let's see a Stephen curry compilation...
This story is not weak and for a huge fan, you're clearly not cognizant of the bias. ESPN even compiled statistics based on empirical data and posted it on this video: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15198725&ex_cid=espnapi_internal
1
Kuei specifically said in a quote that she did not want to make assumptions about the reasoning behind the bias, and that she encouraged fans of other players to make their own videos. She also argued that this was a fight for fairness in the NBA in general, not just for Jeremy Lin. Of course, if other fans are unwilling to make their own videos, then there is not exactly a lot of evidence that others were treated as poorly as Lin, as you claim.
Jeremy Lin clearly hasn't received his fair share of foul calls. But I'm not sure this is completely due to racism.
The NBA has always favored its stars over 2nd (and 3rd) tier players. Top players receive a disproportionate share of foul calls. They are often protected by refs when they do commit them (see Jordan's shot over Bryon Russell, game 6 of 1998 Finals) for good reason: fans pay to watch stars, not the scrubs (er, subs).
The NBA has always favored its stars over 2nd (and 3rd) tier players. Top players receive a disproportionate share of foul calls. They are often protected by refs when they do commit them (see Jordan's shot over Bryon Russell, game 6 of 1998 Finals) for good reason: fans pay to watch stars, not the scrubs (er, subs).
7
I like this. and it is terrific that fans are techno-savvy and very smart PR wizards. America needs more Asian athletes and hopefully the NBA will lean from their creative fan base.
41
Thank you. Well said.
Videos of Lin's greatest hits won't change anything. I like Lin so I couldn't watch. Perhaps the opposing players buy into the stereotype that Asians are meek and won't fight back. I hope Lin will develop an "elbows-out" style of playing and start delivering a few hard hits of his own but in a way that does not result in him being called for fouls.
14
Of course, if he brushes another player, he'll get tagged with a foul.
1
There seems to be an unspoken rule among the officials: the superstars not only are given the benefit of more foul calls in their favor, but they also get the benefit of seldom being called for their own committed fouls.
In that video, which is only a small sample, several of the openly flagrant fouls against Lin were by superstars, and they were not called.
Well of course, the NBA is not going to admit there are any problems with their referees' not calling fouls.
In that video, which is only a small sample, several of the openly flagrant fouls against Lin were by superstars, and they were not called.
Well of course, the NBA is not going to admit there are any problems with their referees' not calling fouls.
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One of the most egregious was by Carmelo Anthony, who hated Lin when he was a Knick and resented that he played better and was more popular in his time on Knicks. I used to like Carmelo, but he should be sued for not playing any actual basketball for the Knicks. Contract fraud.
1
Blake Griffin and Chris Paul get hit like this quite often without a flagrant foul being called. In fact, I once saw Blake Griffin get hit in the face hard enough to give him a bloody nose. The refs didn't call any foul, let alone a flagrant one, because the play that caused the bloody nose was a legitimate attempt to get or stop the ball.
Watch enough basketball, and you'll see hard fouls all of the time. The difference between a flagrant and a hard foul has everything to do with intent and degree: Was the contact intentional or incidental? Was it unnecessary? Did the player wind up to take a swing or follow through excessively? Did he grab the player around the neck or shoulders? If you look at the NBA's video rule book, and then watch this video, you'll see that these were rightfully not called flagrant, even Kobe's foul.
Watch enough basketball, and you'll see hard fouls all of the time. The difference between a flagrant and a hard foul has everything to do with intent and degree: Was the contact intentional or incidental? Was it unnecessary? Did the player wind up to take a swing or follow through excessively? Did he grab the player around the neck or shoulders? If you look at the NBA's video rule book, and then watch this video, you'll see that these were rightfully not called flagrant, even Kobe's foul.
43
For above the neck contact, per NBA rules the intent is irrelevant. Kobe's foul on Lin is a flagrant 100% of the time regardless of context.
1
actually the difference is in semantics and perspective.
Short of "Bounty-gate" like incentives the instilled mantra is to commit a "hard" foul in defense of the rim. Having played long ago and as both recipient and deliverer I can tell you first hand NO ONE has that much agility to finesse the foul. And as to suggesting that merit is somehow distinguishable by "intentional or incidental" is ludicrous: perhaps if every "intentional" foul [no chance or effort to contact the ball itself] was a Flagrant foul all this nonsense would abate...and hopefully we'd get back to a more entertaining game. But we already have that: it's called college basketball.
Given the way the game has degenerated - yes degenerated - it is more like football or rugby than anything Naismith ever imagined [presumably a contest of skill]. Yes the ratings may be up and everyone associated is making money hand over fist, but niceties like travelling, palming, 3-seconds or even "position" have long ago been forgotten.
Back to the article in hand, if anyone thinks there is parity I only have to assume they have been drinking from a tainted well: as often noted by even the various commentators the "newbies/rooks" DON'T get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to certain calls.
What more needs be said? They are all created equal perhaps, but some or more equal than others.
Short of "Bounty-gate" like incentives the instilled mantra is to commit a "hard" foul in defense of the rim. Having played long ago and as both recipient and deliverer I can tell you first hand NO ONE has that much agility to finesse the foul. And as to suggesting that merit is somehow distinguishable by "intentional or incidental" is ludicrous: perhaps if every "intentional" foul [no chance or effort to contact the ball itself] was a Flagrant foul all this nonsense would abate...and hopefully we'd get back to a more entertaining game. But we already have that: it's called college basketball.
Given the way the game has degenerated - yes degenerated - it is more like football or rugby than anything Naismith ever imagined [presumably a contest of skill]. Yes the ratings may be up and everyone associated is making money hand over fist, but niceties like travelling, palming, 3-seconds or even "position" have long ago been forgotten.
Back to the article in hand, if anyone thinks there is parity I only have to assume they have been drinking from a tainted well: as often noted by even the various commentators the "newbies/rooks" DON'T get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to certain calls.
What more needs be said? They are all created equal perhaps, but some or more equal than others.
1
The video may be anecdotal, but the ESPN analysis of 813 J. Lin fouls as the highest for a(ny) guard and 3rd at any position is not really able to be challenged.
2
The racism faced by Lin is unprecedented.
94
Except that it is. See: Jackie Robinson, and he had it much worse, off the field and on. I doubt Lin receives death threats.
9
...and the $2,139,000 he's paid this season is unspeakable!
5
Really? Ever hear of Jackie Robinson?
2
Sigh, as an Asian American, this "movement" is an embarrassment. Any longtime basketball fan will tell you that regular fouls are called today which never would've warranted a second glance from players and refs back in the '80s and '90s, much less the flagrant fouls. Moreover, star players such as LeBron, Kobe, etc. endure much harsher treatment than Jeremy Lin when they drive to the basket, and oftentimes their defenders don't even get fouls called on them.
25
It is not a movement, these are just sports fans like you who have passion for the game and can openly express their opinion.
Are you serious about LeBron and Kobe?! Kobe in his prime would always get a call driving to the basket. LeBron would get foul and if not would exaggerate or even flop. Give me a break.
3
> Any longtime basketball fan will tell you that regular fouls are called today which never would've warranted a second glance from players and refs back in the '80s and '90s
---
This is actually not accurate and highly subjective. Looking at historical data for the past ~70 years, fouls are being at a significantly lower rate than the past. The past 5 seasons have had some of the LOWEST fouls called in history. The 80s and 90s featured significantly more fouls called and free throws attempted.
Defenses are far more sophisticated and far less penetrable in this day and age with psuedo-zone defenses, while players on average are much faster, stronger, and more athletic. As such, players are quite likely driving harder and enduring more physical defenders, incurring more violent clashes along the way, in the modern game.
Link to the relevant data on decreasing fouls in the last 5-10 years:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html#stats::30
---
This is actually not accurate and highly subjective. Looking at historical data for the past ~70 years, fouls are being at a significantly lower rate than the past. The past 5 seasons have had some of the LOWEST fouls called in history. The 80s and 90s featured significantly more fouls called and free throws attempted.
Defenses are far more sophisticated and far less penetrable in this day and age with psuedo-zone defenses, while players on average are much faster, stronger, and more athletic. As such, players are quite likely driving harder and enduring more physical defenders, incurring more violent clashes along the way, in the modern game.
Link to the relevant data on decreasing fouls in the last 5-10 years:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html#stats::30
Asians experience racism like this every day in America. The NBA should be ashamed of itself. The referees are obviously bigoted, and it certainly appears that the word has gotten out-- it's open season on Jeremy Lin, since the refs won't call a flagrant foul even if his head is separated from his body. Unreal.
143
The referees are obviously bigoted because a below average NBA player is not getting calls? Rightly or wrongly, the NBA is a star's league and Jeremy Lin is not a star. Besides he received the 3rd most foul calls of anyone in the league. He's getting the calls. Seems that maybe some folks here who are quick to blame referees for being bigoted or racist might actually be bigoted and racist themselves.
Actually, the video only took a few samples to showcase the unfairness on Lin. Kuei has not included in other incidents. Even in Tom Haberstroh's analysis, Lin did not get enough calls from his drives. Just compare the number of drives Lin took with other leaders on the league. Lin drew 813 fouls out of 1528 drives, while Durant drew 989 fouls out of 939 drives. There is clear indication on mistreatment on Lin, whatever the cause it may be. One latest example was on the game against Celtics. Lin was charged with offensive foul, while Lin was driving up and the two defenders came up and one bumped into Lin's head. Lin was fouled on the floor. Even the Celtics announcer commented after the replay: Um.. I don't know about this foul. This video shows only the tip of the iceberg of the entire mistreatments on Lin.
170
Amazing how KD managed to draw more than one foul per drive. With his free throw shooting, you'd think the teams would simply let him go straight to the hoop rather than giving him just over 2 free throws per drive.
1
So Durant got more fouls than he had drives? Better check your math there.
The fact that Lin got 813 fouls (3rd most of any position) suggests to me that he's getting calls.
And in your Celtics example, isn't it possible that maybe it was just a bad call? Calls that most non-stars in the NBA have to deal with at one point or another?
The fact that Lin got 813 fouls (3rd most of any position) suggests to me that he's getting calls.
And in your Celtics example, isn't it possible that maybe it was just a bad call? Calls that most non-stars in the NBA have to deal with at one point or another?
If the Knicks aren't the worst and most mis-managed team in the NBA, I don't want to know who is. How far they have fallen! Lin could have been the foundation of a whole new team but the Knicks, as usual, squandered the opportunity.
45
Foundation player?!? Nah. Haaa. Lin is better than he gets credit for, but he's not the best player on a playoff team, let alone a Championship team.
While Linsanity was a great story, he isn't good enough to be the foundation of a team. He's an average NBA player, at best.....that's why he might not get all the calls.
There's a serious story here -- discrimination against an NBA minority.
Glad to see this reported in the Times.
Glad to see this reported in the Times.
204
There is a serious story here. A below average NBA player not getting calls.
As one who has been AND IS STILL being bullied, he knows what he is talking about.
Jeremy Lin on Bullying http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article713...
Jeremy Lin on Bullying http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article713...
@RDC:
Consider why he's below average?
David Stern, while NBA Commissioner, said "Lin faces discrimination. I'm not sure if it's because he's Chinese or a Harvard graduate." Several of his coaches have said openly Lin would have been assessed and treated differently if he had been white or Black.
Racism is about potential and opportunity, as well as expectations. Given the opportunity, Lin has excelled. Since the Knicks, he's been mainly fan-bait or trade bait. Hard to achieve above average if expectations are negative and opportunities are rare.
He's shown he's well above average. That he's not is a worthwhile story, your comment notwithstandiing. Knee jerk cynicism is like adolescent acne on an adult face. Not a good look. Definitely should skip the prom.
Consider why he's below average?
David Stern, while NBA Commissioner, said "Lin faces discrimination. I'm not sure if it's because he's Chinese or a Harvard graduate." Several of his coaches have said openly Lin would have been assessed and treated differently if he had been white or Black.
Racism is about potential and opportunity, as well as expectations. Given the opportunity, Lin has excelled. Since the Knicks, he's been mainly fan-bait or trade bait. Hard to achieve above average if expectations are negative and opportunities are rare.
He's shown he's well above average. That he's not is a worthwhile story, your comment notwithstandiing. Knee jerk cynicism is like adolescent acne on an adult face. Not a good look. Definitely should skip the prom.
An awful lot of stuff is called subjectively by refs in NBA. Home court advantage and star treatment has long gone on. How many times have you seen stars travel while making dunks?
Since isn't considered a "Star" he won't get the calls.
Since isn't considered a "Star" he won't get the calls.
52
Most of what people call "travel" isn't a travel. It's called a "gather" step, and it hasn't been called a travel in decades. Simply Google "gather step nba" and you'll see the NBA changed the language in the rule book a few years ago to better reflect the way the game has been played for decades.
It's true stars get treated differently. Look up how Jordan would challenge refs and slap Reggie Miller only to stay in the game.
It's true stars get treated differently. Look up how Jordan would challenge refs and slap Reggie Miller only to stay in the game.
Lin, at the height of "Linsanity" claimed that he would have arrived sooner if it werent for the racism that held him back along the way. As soon as his game fell quickly back to earth, Lin still got his big contract, and left town blaming the Knicks for not going along with his contract demand of a 15 million poison pill in his final year from just a couple of weeks of "Linsanity".
Lin could have put his Harvard educated mind to working on the holes in his game, instead he decided to put his brand first. Nothing wrong with that, at the same time, there always seems to be one more excuse from Lin or his rabid fans about why "Linsanity" lasted only a couple of weeks, (mostly against teams with losing records), why he left NY, why he has bounced around from team to team. Enough already.
Lin could have put his Harvard educated mind to working on the holes in his game, instead he decided to put his brand first. Nothing wrong with that, at the same time, there always seems to be one more excuse from Lin or his rabid fans about why "Linsanity" lasted only a couple of weeks, (mostly against teams with losing records), why he left NY, why he has bounced around from team to team. Enough already.
11
What a crazy comment - Jeremy Lin is one of the hardest workers in the league. Read about him. He's never really made a big issue of his race or his brand of Christianity or made excuses. As for his going for the money, both he and the Knicks were right. Lin got the money - who would have advised him to do otherwise, but Houston overpaid. And the Knicks - they continued to make bad personnel decisions, at least up to but not including Porzingas.
Lin's career mostly shows that he thrives with certain coaches and certain systems. He's not a truly top level caliber player, but he's very good.
Lin's career mostly shows that he thrives with certain coaches and certain systems. He's not a truly top level caliber player, but he's very good.
75
Regardless of whether you agree with this video, by regurgitating a false narrative from 4 years ago while embellishing it with your own dose of falsehood totally discredits your argument.
Does Lin, who turned down millions in endorsements plus opportunity to appear in David Letterman's show during the height of his popularity, sounds like someone who "decided to put his brand first"?
And where is the source of "Lin blamed the Knicks for not going along with his contract demand of a 15 million poison pill in his final year"? Don't tell me you got it from the Donald.
Does Lin, who turned down millions in endorsements plus opportunity to appear in David Letterman's show during the height of his popularity, sounds like someone who "decided to put his brand first"?
And where is the source of "Lin blamed the Knicks for not going along with his contract demand of a 15 million poison pill in his final year"? Don't tell me you got it from the Donald.
24
Yeah, I agree. He's been a solid double digit scorer since leaving hte knicks and would probably have been the Guard on this Knicks now. Instead they have Jose Olderon at the number 1
1
Take any active guard and isolate clips from a season and you can make the same argument.
The root of fan? Fanatic
The root of fan? Fanatic
14
Surely this story is from the Onion and not the NYTimes. I suggest a class action lawsuit and federal investigation into the discrimination against the Indiana Pacers. The stats are clear, no NBA titles while the nearby Chicago Bulls have 6 championships. Blatant discrimination vs the Pacers. Come rally w me for justice!
10
Big mistake to have left the Knicks.
Dead to me.
Dead to me.
5
are you kidding me with that? still? the knicks NEVER OFFERED HIM A CONTRACT. they told him to go out and field other offers and they would match. they never did. he went with THE ONLY CONTRACT OFFERED by the rockets, with that poison pill 3rd year (also rocket GM Morey's idea). the knicks LET HIM WALK for nothing in return!! its on NY, not on Lin.
122
it wasn't exactly his choice, was it.
27
knicks let he go not the other way around, grow up bro and move on. i think it's nice having ball hog superstar Melo in Knicks sure everything is great there
38