#Linsanity bandwagon: I’m Not On It (Yet)

(Source: Shirt A Day)

I don’t like jumping on bandwagons, let alone ones that have taken over my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Oh wait, who am I kidding?! I love bandwagons! (See: infatuations and Oregon Trail.)

Anyways, after seeing my Facebook newsfeed and Twitter flood with comments and stories about Jeremy Lin, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement…

So… I started googling him.

This kid, graduated from Harvard, got “dropped” by NBA teams, and finally ended up in the New York Knicks. Then, by chance, due to exigent circumstances, the other two point guards couldn’t play, and Lin was placed on the court.

Before anyone realized what was happening, Lin shocked the world (at least, the social media world) with his consistent performance!

Then, the excitement exploded last week when he scored 38 points in the game against the Lakers. (By the way, that’s 4 points above Kobe Bryant!)

I couldn’t help but try to pick out the “learnings” from this event.  So here is what I’ve noted (feel free to add or dispute):

•  Success: The stars must all align.  No joke.  It seems like skill and opportunity coincided  in order for Lin to shock and awe the (social) world.  Given any other moment, there might not be #Linsanity!
• #Linsanity: News passes through social faster than traditional media.  It seems to me like another proof point that social media has become the source of fast-traveling news or creation of viral news.  (Whatever floats your boat!)  When the earthquake happened in Washington DC and I felt it in New York, I figured out what had happened via Twitter and Facebook because phones were dead and traditional news sites didn’t have coverage yet.  And, like the earthquake that shook me then, #Linsanity caught me by surprise when it took over my social sphere.
• Asian pride: This is purely anecdotal, but it proves a point.  My friend’s MOM is watching basketball because of Lin.  Seriously.  She never used to watch, but she was so proud to see an Asian-American excelling in a category where Asians don’t normally play.

So what’s the result?  I am kinda… almost… perhaps… okay, totally am… on the #Linsanity bandwagon.

(Note: In case you’re wondering why I have these “#” signs in front of “Linsanity,” it’s because that’s the trend topic tag on Twitter that has marked how ridiculous this craze over Jeremy Lin has become.  Check it out.)

Viva l’Espagne: World Cup Finale Kinda Bleh

Spain wins World Cup 2010

I just finished watching the World Cup finale where Spain won 1-0 during overtime.  (Sorry for spoiling the ending.)  My hope was to see some penalty kicks like that of 2006 World Cup finals between Italy and France.  Unfortunately, or fortunately for Spain fans, Iniesta scored for Spain with less than 10 minutes to go in overtime.

To be completely honest, I am not a die-hard soccer fan.  Nope, I’m merely a spectator that got sucked into the drama of soccer through various games like US v. Algeria and North Korea v. Brazil. Thus, I kept hoping this last game would be just as captivating as the Germany v. Spain game or any of the other ridiculous games in the past.  Sadly, fouls and yellow cards and not so great attempts on the goal riddled the game.  If only they waited until the penalty kicks then I could have at least been flabbergasted by their amazing goals.  Sigh.  Oh well… 2014, I guess.

Either way, congratulations Spain!  Good effort, Netherlands.  Wish I could have seen more of you, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.

Team USA Plants One In With Less Than Four Minutes To Go

USA v. Algeria: 1-0, last minute win for the US!

Click on picture for video recap on ESPN.com

Look, I’m normally not a big sports fan.  Occasionally I’ll watch the final games of b-ball or football; however, I am DRAWN, and I mean really drawn, to football.

Why?

For stuff like what happened today!

Four minutes added to the clock.  Score had been 0-0 throughout the game.  Plenty of shots kicked.  Plenty of goals denied.  Then, just as the game extended 4 minutes and all of our faith waning, the US attempted one last goal.  One guy attempted the kick.  Algerian goalie slid to block it.  Successful.  Ball rolled off the side.  US Donovon took the opportunity (while the goalie was down on his luck) and planted one right in. 

The crowd erupted!  No, not talking about the stadium.  I’m talking about the sports bar where I stood with my friend during this game.  A room full of bankers, finance geeks, shoppers, and more all jumped out of their seats, slapped each other on the head, butt, back, wherever.  Some grown men in suits head-butted each other while others hugged and rejoiced.  In a matter of minutes, the bar had become a place of one voice… one voice chanting “USA! USA! USA!”

Today, my friends, is the day that I am officially a FIFA fan. 

Go team USA!