this weekend diversion is Linsane, of course

no choice
Is there a bigger internet sensation this week than Jeremy Lin? And not just from the New York media. Not that I generally have my finger on the cultural pulse of the nation, but it feels inevitable that Manhattan Loft Guy join the throng. With pleasure!

I feel I need to add some value to the mix, so here is a Sports Illustrated piece from February 2010 that adds perspective to one burning question this week (just how good was he at Harvard?) and a host of less smoldering ones. Some pearls:

• guy’s middle name? Shu-How
• funky stat: “only player in the nation last season ranked in the top 10 of every major statistical category in his conference”
• Asian-American male basketball players in Division I: 18; Harvard students named “Lin”: 23
• 30 points, nine rebounds and two nasty slams in a six-point loss to then No. 14–ranked UConn

Money quote (and remember: this is talking about Lin as a college player):

For Mr. Improbable, of course, the best part about this surprising season is that nothing seems improbable anymore.

[quick UPDATE: I should have checked TheTwitter first, but here (h/t @LifeOfSelf) is a terrific scouting report on Lin from 2 years ago that ends with "If he can get the passing thing down and handle the point, Jeremy Lin is a good enough player to start in the NBA and possibly star." Take a bow, Ed Weiland!]

And here is a New York Daily News piece today on the (very!) little brother playing (only a little) small-time college ball, courtesy of my correspondent from Hamilton College.

A nice touch: “Lin declined several requests for an interview with the Daily News, citing his family’s wish for privacy.”

For the first time in years, I just checked the upcoming Knicks schedule, making plans to watch as many games as possible: at Minnesota tonight at 8; at Toronto Tuesday at 7; Sacramento Wednesday at 7:30; New Orleans on Friday at 8. Suddenly must-see-TV.

(Speaking of watching the Knicks: curse you Dolan!)

© Sandy Mattingly 2012