When watching a National Basketball Association (NBA) game, one may notice a six foot three, 200 pound Taiwanese man. To some this may be an unusual sight because of stereotypes. I believe that these stereotypes and some additional racist remarks have made this player’s basketball career much more difficult than some other players’ journeys.

This player is the New York Knicks’ point guard, Jeremy Lin. Although Lin is very well known for his playing ability now, he did not begin as a starter in the NBA. Lin, a Harvard graduate, was an alternate for the Knicks before becoming a popular point guard. He sat out until other players were injured, receiving his chance to play. According to www.guardian.co.uk, after he played his first game the racial remarks and the "lin sanity" began among fans.

All over the Internet I have seen articles about editors and television announcers that have been fired due to racial comments said toward Lin; however, these firings have not stopped the rude commentaries. I viewed a recently aired "Saturday Night Live" skit that repeated some racial slurs and basically made fun of the whole issue. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream recently created a flavor called "Taste the Lin-sanity." The ice cream was combined with honey and fortune cookie pieces. While some may think that the flavor is a compliment toward Lin, I think that adding the fortune cookies pieces is a stereotype overkill.

Despite the rude comments, Lin is very courageous and perseverant in the way that he continues to perform to the best of his ability. I applaud him for surpassing these stereotypes.

I would like to know what would possess people to say such things toward Lin. He is just fulfilling a dream, trying to make a career. People need to be more supportive toward Lin and should want to help him succeed. I hope that people will realize that the negative comments toward Lin do nothing except make the need for racial equality more noticeable.

People need to realize that the racial jokes are unnecessary and rude. I encourage Jeremy Lin to keep playing basketball and to keep helping the Knicks win more games.