Jeremy Lin: A Cut Above the Stereotype
By wchung | 06 Aug, 2026

Athletes like Jeremy Lin give Asian-Americans hope for a better media image.

Harvard's Jeremy Lin goes up for a shot against Yale.

The sports world was abuzz last week with the ridiculous game-winning three pointer executed in triple overtime from none other than perennial college superstar…Asian-American Jeremy Lin from the…Harvard Crimson? Likely story right?

Jeremy Lin first made some waves last year when he led the Harvard Crimson over the then Boston College Eagles in an upset bid, an Eagles team that beat the undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels the week before. Harvard offers little in terms of athletic scholarships. It’s usually your academic strength that gets you into the prestigious Ivy League school, but Jeremy has also found his niche on the basketball team.

The 6’3”, 200 lb. senior guard has game for days and has been a starter four years running now. His ridiculous circus shot last week is already being considered the game-winner of the year and his name has shot into the vocabulary of people who have had little exposure to Asian-Americans in general.

What’s there left to say? He’s a playmaker, an impact player, the guy you want to have the ball when the last couple seconds of the game are ticking away. As an Asian American athlete myself (okay, I just like to play basketball, football, baseball, whatever else in my spare time), Jeremy is definitely an inspiration for me. His stellar play is and can be the inspiration for all of the young Asian American athletes out there.

Seriously, you don’t have to feel forced to embrace the badminton or tennis racket or whatever else we’re stereotyped to play these days. Mathletes, anyone? We can compete, we’re not physically lacking as the stereotype goes, and in the case of Jeremy Lin, you better keep your eyes open cos if you don’t, you’re gonna get your ankles broken and a jumper shot in your face for all of the world to see.

11/21/2009 6:50 AM