Post#1359 » by GettinitDone » Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:29 pm
A young player with his work ethic (in gym up to 3 times a day: morning lifting, break/lunch, afternoon shooting/ drills, break, evening game... everyday ALL SUMMER), passion & dedication for the game,
What would you do if you were a multi-millionaire athlete? "I'd rather be in gym, working out 3 times a day" is the easy answer. But unless you're financially smart, the multi-millions in your bank always tempts you to do something other than working out/ getting better. Like you know, spending your money: new house, new stuff, girls (if you're single), holidays, lots of great foods, partying, alcohol here and there, fun everyday, maybe weed/ heavier drugs here and there, and maybe doing a video showing how loaded you are by playing basketball with a $700 phone. It's all about FUN FUN FUN when you know you have millions in your bank account. Who doesn't have fun? He must be a nerd. And when the buzzer of the summer sounded, you realize you are out of shape and blame everyone who got you into this mess but yourself. Felton is a good guy, but he's the ultimate case of this that his love and passion of the game are NEVER big enough for him to trump the multi-million athlete's lifestyle of constant partying/ celebrations/ flashings. For Lin, who rejected endorsement deals so he could stay in gym, there's nothing more can be said about his dedication and work ethic.
Let's not forget his toughness, kid not only survived the world's biggest media and most ruthless/ merciless/ blood hungry fanbase in the world, he thrived. We have to remember he's still young and he thrived in New York. You may be able to handle criticisms if you're 25-30 years old or wiser. But when you're in your early 20s like most these rookies, you are extremely fragile to criticisms. Kwame Brown had game (people say he's a bust but if you can put 30pts and 19rebds in an NBA game, you have game), but MJ single-handedly destroyed his confidence. He got on him and bullied him psychologically. It broke him. Yet, what Kwame got from MJ was nothing to the pressure Lin had to face daily from fanbase that is 20-30-50 times bigger in New York.
He's not in his yacht partying with hoes all day, every day in summer. He's not in his friend's joint doing drugs. He is not into alcohol. He doesn't go to clubs. He doesn't drive or speed in fast autos and crash himself to retirement. He doesn't break himself against laws. He doesn't possess guns. He just **** stays in the gym and close to his God (I'm not christian, but if his dedication to his religion keeps him out of troubles many other athletes often fall for, I'm all for it). This kid is 100% about basketball. He studies himself, the great PGs, and even Felton and La Bomba. As nerdish as he can be, true student of the game. Barring serious injury (if he stays healthy), he is GUARANTEED to improve, and I mean, improve A LOT. He's as fail proof as anyone.