The Jeremy Lin Problem

[rug]

By DAVID BROOKS
Published: February 16, 2012

Jeremy Lin is anomalous in all sorts of ways. He’s a Harvard grad in the N.B.A., an Asian-American man in professional sports. But we shouldn’t neglect the biggest anomaly. He’s a religious person in professional sports.

We’ve become accustomed to the faith-driven athlete and coach, from Billy Sunday to Tim Tebow. But we shouldn’t forget how problematic this is. The moral ethos of sport is in tension with the moral ethos of faith, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim.

The moral universe of modern sport is oriented around victory and supremacy. The sports hero tries to perform great deeds in order to win glory and fame. It doesn’t really matter whether he has good intentions. His job is to beat his opponents and avoid the oblivion that goes with defeat.

The modern sports hero is competitive and ambitious. (Let’s say he’s a man, though these traits apply to female athletes as well). He is theatrical. He puts himself on display.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/opinion/brooks-the-jeremy-lin-problem.html

[bayareamike]

1. Religious athletes are hardly an anomaly. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

2. When you involve god in sports

god has already chosen the winner...........


and what difference does it make if a sports person believes in god or not??

[Kurmudgeon]

5. I don't believe God worries about sports. It's a human activity.

If He is, it's only peripherally. I expect He has larger concerns.

[laconicsax]

6. Tell me about it!

There are some BIG things going on in the universe--stars exploding, galaxies colliding, etc. It's a wonder that humans are even on the radar.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. I don't think God really cares about sports. Does anyone really think he has the time with all

hell breaking out all over the world with more important problems. Really? I doubt it. He is busy worrying about how to feed Africa and stop wars.

[laconicsax]

8. If only an omnipotent god could do something about starvation in Africa!

[southernyankeebelle]

9. Yes your right. I just don't think he gives a damn about baskball or football or any sport.

[laconicsax]

3. I'm sorry...what's anomalous about a religious athelete?

[BeyondGeography]

4. Having watched him light up Madison Square Garden again today

I can affirm that nobody really gives a shit, David.

[FarCenter]

10. There is a difference between Lin and Tebow

Lin appears to be offering his success on the court to god.

Tebow appears to be thanking god for his success on the field.

[MarkCharles]

11. An astute and accurate observation. n/t

[MarkCharles]

12. David Brooks gets crazier and crazier as do all

Republicans.

I don't know what these people are drinking, but it's making David Brooks and all his fellow Republicans more into religious fanatical talk, and less logical and reasonable in their insights.


I suppose David's readership was sinking further and further, as he attempted to write something worth reading about the current crop of damaged Republican Presidential candidates. I suppose he needed an eye-catching headline of relevance, and Jeremy Lin appeared on the scene just in time.

But I think trying to make sense of David Brooks since 2009 is impossible, no matter what that man is attempting to talk about.

[edhopper]

13. I think it is prudent to remind

us all that David Brooks is a moron.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. This is probably the most derided column on any subject this month

Here's a sample:
SB Nation: The Worst Column Written About Sports Ever Published

Charles Pierce: Our Mr. Brooks Takes It to the Rack

Salon: David Brooks: I have heard of Jeremy Lin

The Gothamist: David Brooks Thinks Jeremy Lin Is The First Religious Athlete Ever

New York Magazine: David Brooks Tries to Write About Jeremy Lin, Fails in First Paragraph

One more: Tom Levenson: David Brooks Is Always Wrong-Yeshiva Bocher edition

[Goblinmonger]

15. So do you agree with this article, rug?

Because the claim that a religious person in sports is an anomaly is, frankly, laughable.

[cleanhippie]

16. This is just another attempt to throw shit and see what sticks.

He seems to respond only when he feels that he can make some clever, backhanded, just skirting the rules, I said it but I didn't really say it, kind of remark.