Lin-decent exposure

A couple of weeks ago I didn’t know Jeremy Lin from Loretta Lynn.

Now they’re calling it “Linsanity” in New York. The Knicks guard had four good games and one decent one and they’re labeling him a sensation.

Can we just take a step back?

Lin is a quirky-good story. An undrafted point guard from Harvard, he is the first U.S. -born player of Chinese descent in NBA history. He caught on fire recently, scoring 25, 28, 23, 38 and 20 points. But in the 20-point game he was just 8-24 from the field.

He appears to be a modest, grateful pro athlete, which this country craves. Because he’s a long shot, it makes him even more appealing. His expressions of faith have drawn comparisons to football player Tim Tebow.

But I don’t see an undrafted guy who suddenly had a few good games staying on the radar very long. In fact, I think it’s Linsane to even make a big deal at this point.

It’s Linconceivable and Lincomprehensible he’s getting so much run. (On the other hand, he’s a headline writer’s dream.)

Asked about him last week, Kobe Bryant told reporters, “I know who he is but I don’t really know what’s going on too much with them.”

He also said, “I don’t even know what he’s done. Like, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I’ll take a look at [the tape] tonight though…”

I don’t really blame Bryant for laughing at some of the questions. Jeremy Lin has been a big deal for 10 days. Kobe has been called the second-greatest player in basketball history. So far Lin hasn’t even done as much as ex-Jazzman Troy Hudson, who as a Timberwolves player briefly went by the nickname “Laker Killer” during one playoff run.

Bryant made nice by later saying of Lin: “A great story. It’s a testament to perseverance and hard work. A good example for kids everywhere.”

Still, he had a point.

One overheated P.R. executive wrote: “‘Lin-sanity’ will be bigger than Air Jordan if Lin can deliver on the court — any many worldwide are rooting that Jeremy Lin and ‘Lin-Sanity’ is here to stay.”

IF he can deliver on the court. Which he can’t, at least not in a Jordanesque way. And maybe not even in the way Harold Miner did.

I say leave the Lincredible reviews until he’s done something lasting.