US Boxer Floyd Mayweather hints at racist element in hype surrounding Jeremy Lin - NBA Update
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has been the talk of the sports world for the last one week because of his magical displays on the NBA court over that period.
Lin, the ultimate underdog sensation, has initiated the revival of New York Knicks, who at one time were looking rather ordinary and what makes his performance more phenomenal is that he did it solely on his own, when star players like Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were out of action.
However, at a time when all of the basketball and sporting fraternity has been going gaga over Harvard grad’s heroics, there is one man who holds a completely different opinion and he is none other than US boxer Floyd Mayweather.
According to Floyd, who has history of making racially charged comments, the mammoth attention that has been given to Lin over last week is completely unnecessary. According to him, the reason for the worldwide praise is because of the fact that Lin is “Asian” and not a black American.
Floyd used social networking website Twitter to express himself.
"Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise,"
ESPN tried to contact him through his advisor later in the day to ask him about the particulars of his comments, however he did not respond.
Floyd however took to twitter again to explain.
“Its OK for ESPN to give their opinion but I say something and everyone questions Floyd Mayweather," the boxer tweeted. "I'm speaking my mind on behalf of other NBA players. They are programmed to be politically correct and will be penalized if they speak up. Other countries get to support/cheer their athletes and everything is fine. As soon as I support Black American athletes, I get criticized."
So does Mayweather has a valid point or is he just over reacting?
Let’s look at why Lin has managed to draw all this hype first.
Lin has become the only player in the history of NBA to score 20 plus points and more than 7 assists in his first four career starts and not only that, but he has also made a new record of making 109 points in first four career starts- which is most by any player in history.
Before this, he was considered as an ordinary bench player but what he has pulled off last week, has earned the respect and the praises of the sporting world.
Floyd however has not yet back-tracked on his comments.
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