Bill Bradley on Knicks’ ‘Linsanity’: ‘Draft Character, Not Statistics’
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Source: ABC News
“There has to be a decision made to draft character not statistics, and do that for three or four years,” said Bradley, who led Princeton to a Final Four in 1965, then played for the Knicks from 1967 to 1977.
“I think Jeremy Lin is a really interesting player. He had 15 or 20 good games before he was injured. He has to be on a team though that moves without the ball so he can be at his best,” Bradley added.
He concluded with a lesson about basketball that may be applicable to politics.
“If he is on a team where they hold it down and play people one-on-one, then he is not going to be able to maximize his contribution to the team, and the team is not going to win a championship.”
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/bill-bradley-on-knicks-linsanity-draft-character-not-statistics/
It's really strange that this interview came out today with Sen. Bill Bradley on Jeremy Lin, commenting on Jeremy Lin having "character." Just a few days ago, I made a thread raising the question of whether Jeremy Lin could follow in Bill Bradley's footsteps and go from NBA player to running for office as a Democrat.
I was bemoaning the fact that no one from the Democratic establishment has extended feelers to Lin. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002683558
Obama and Palin have both laid claim Lin in the media. Hillary Clinton posed for a photop with Jeremy Lin at the Time's 100 Most Influential People event (they were both on the list). And Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote Jeremy Lin's entry in the Time's article.
Jeremy Lin seems to have many of the qualities that could make for an interesting Democratic candidate, following in the footsteps of Sen. Bill Bradley.
He's got cross-over appeal since both Obama and Palin like him. Devout Christian who is not part of the Religious Right. Asian-American born in California from immigrant parents. Has started a charity to help underprivileged inner city youth. He's getting a ton of experience in how to handle the media spotlight, after his global fame from Linsanity. He's genuinely charismatic with a sense of humor. He's smart with an Economics degree from Harvard. He'll probably have a fat personal bank account from his years playing in the NBA. No shortage of donors or fundraising ability from his celebrity. Breaking racial stereotypes and fighting against prejudice to become the first Asian-American player of Taiwanese/Chinese decent, first player from Harvard in 50+ years. The work ethic and ability to handle a physically grueling schedule that would serve him well on a campaign trail. His personal story of underdog perseverance and Linsanity is highly marketable and can be attractively packaged to the electorate. There is no doubt he can attract and hold media attention.
And now, successful several-term Democratic Sen. Bill Bradley, one time NBA player as well as presidential candidate, says that Jeremy Lin has "character."
Can someone from the Democratic party at least reach out to him before the Republicans do?
They go gaga over the fact that he's devout Christian in the NBA, despite the fact that he's not a part of the Religious Right and not a culture warrior. He was raised in California, educated in Harvard, Mass., and lives and plays in NYC. But the fact that he's a devout Christian has gotten him labeled the "Tawainese Tebow" and gets him all sorts of cross-over support.
I would hate it if the Republicans get him to run on their ticket instead of on the Democratic ticket like Bill Bradley. I know Jeremy Lin isn't running for any office while he's still playing. But at least try to reach out to him and get him to do fundraisers for Democrats or something to rope him into the party!
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