Linsanity

The point guard from Harvard, an elite college better known as a springboard to the presidency than to basketball success, has galvanized a struggling Knicks team and launched a craze dubbed “Linsanity” by New York’s tabloids. – Reuters

“The kid’s a fluke.” ”The next coming.” “It’s incredible.” “Everyone’s a Knicks fan.” “Kobe will shut him up.” The words differed from seat to seat but the conversation was the same.

They stood at a tall round table that was surrounded by televisions that all showed the same thing. A woman was standing on a basketball court holding a big black microphone in front of her face. She stood next to a tall Chinese man in a Knicks jersey. Last week the man was unrecognizable. Today, when his image showed up on the screen, a series of chants and hollers started rattling through the bar.

“It’s Linsanity!” someone yelled. “Boooo.” “Go Knicks.” “He’s done for.” “History in the making.”

They order a round of drinks and watched as the young guard took his first shot of the night.

“I told you,” he said. “The kid’s amazing.”

A cute girl in a tight shirt placed four beers on the table. Someone said something stupid and the girl smiled and walked away.

“Your pathetic you know that.”

“Just breaking the ice, man. She’ll come back.”

He emptied half of the glass down his gullet.

“See, almost time.”

A rumble ran through the length of the bar. People slammed on tables, shouted, shook shoulders and raised glasses.

“What happened?” he said.

The ball was brought across the half court line and toward the sideline where a man in a suit raised his arms into a T.

A drunk stumbled over to the table and put his arm over somebody’s shoulder.

“You’ve got to see this.”

The image on the screen went by in slow-motion as they watched Jeremy Lin spin through the lane and toward the basket.

“Kid’s legit,” the drunk said. “Straight up.”

His arm fell from the shoulder and he stumbled toward the next table. They watched him point up at the screen. “It’s Linsanity,” he yelled. “Linsanity!”

“MVP.” “A genuine talent.” “Overrated.”

The cute girl walked through the echo of conversations and picked up the empty glasses from the table.

“Another one?” she asked.

“Yeah, honey. Put it on my tab.”

She feigned a smile and walked away.

The crowded bar broke out into another round of cheers and they watched the slo-mo replay on the TVs that hung from the ceiling.

“Kid’s amazing.”

He watched the girl as she handed out beers, picked up empty glasses, and flashed a delicate smile around the room.

“Do you think I have a chance?” The question was lost among the chatter of the room.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” “It’s incredible.” “Who is this kid?”

The girl placed two bottles down at the table. He leaned over the table and grabbed her by the hand.

“What time do you get off, sweetheart?”

She pulled her hand back and placed it on her shoulder. Her smiled widened as her voice tightened.

“It’s a crazy night, tonight,” she said. “Have you seen this Lin kid? It’s crazy.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Amazing.”

She brushed the hair away from her face and tapped her fingers against his shoulders.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

She walked back into the sea of people, entering into, and exiting out of, conversations.

“The Knicks are back.” “It’s a fluke.” “MVP.”