Floyd Mayweather Makes Intriguing Point in Inappropriate Jeremy Lin Twitter Rant

Floyd Mayweather's point was hidden in the tactless and inappropriate tone of his now infamous tweet about Jeremy Lin. In case you've been vacationing in a hut, away from civilization, this is what he said:

There seems to be some anger and even jealousy in his tone, and that disposition really hides what is a bold, but partially accurate observation.

Part of Jeremy Lin's popularity is because he's Asian-American, anybody that tells you different is in denial, or just ignorant to that point.

But, it's still only one aspect of the formula that has Lin as the absolute phenomenon that he has become.

The fact that he hails from Harvard plays a part in Linsanity. It's a institution known for many great things, but producing NBA stars isn't one of them.

The fact that he was so unknown two weeks ago is another major part of the meteoric rise; and, the fact that he's doing it for the New York Knicks is a huge part of it.

But, that still doesn't discount the effect that his ethnicity plays in the whole thing.

Lin's whole appeal is based on the fact that he is the improbable star. Whether we want to admit it or not, part of what makes most people see him as an improbable star has to do with with his race. Many people have such a problem admitting that race still does factor in many things in this world.

Even Lin believes being overlooked all those years was related to his race. He told Sfgate.com's Bryan Chu this about his recruitment, or lack thereof:

"

"I'm not saying top-5 state automatically gets you offers," Lin said, "but I do think (my ethnicity) did affect the way coaches recruited me. I think if I were a different race, I would've been treated differently."

"

Lin's high school coach is quoted by Ben Bolch in the LA Times with this statement after being asked about Lin's lack of attention from major collegiate programs after a successful high school career:

"

"“That’s when I’m going, there might be something to this here,” Diepenbrock said. “If [Lin] was African American or Caucasian, it might have been a different deal.”

"

See the similarities?

It's funny that these types of comments can be uttered when blindly championing his cause, but many of us won't accept reciprocal comments that balance the story and convey the truth.

Is it implausible to believe that just as people passed over him because he is Asian American, they also are more intrigued at how good he is because of his ethnicity?

I don't think so.

And, you know what, there is nothing wrong with that.

I don't see any problem with Lin getting love because he's Asian-American. He is truly a pioneer, and his success should be celebrated. Ignoring the part that his ethnicity plays in the deal only takes away part of the impact.

Lin is so big because his rise is bigger that basketball. Somewhere there is an Asian-American kid who loves basketball, but feels discouraged from pursuing it full boar because of the stereotypes.

Ignoring the significance of Lin's ethnicity takes part of the direct inspiration away from that kid. The same could be said for a kid of any other ethnic group that has a taboo against participating in something he or she loves.

Lin has been dynamic and exciting, but, most of all, he's been inspiring. And for all those waiting for a falloff, it ain't gonna happen.

The kid can ball. This isn't baseball, nobody is going to figure out he can't hit breaking balls low and away. His game is what it is, and that's solid.

So while Floyd Mayweather's comments may have come from the wrong place, they were partially accurate.

Let's take the nasty out of what Money says, and join the Asian American community in celebrating a pioneer.

He is popular partially because he's Asian American, and that's a good thing.