Saturday, July 21, 2012

Jeremy Lin Is Now A Rocket



Jeremy Lin is now officially a Houston Rocket. The Knicks had until 11:59 PM EDT on July 17, 2012 to match the Rocket's 3 year $25 million contract. They let it pass after months, MONTHS of saying to the world that they were going to match ANY offer. Since July 1, when the teams around the NBA started talks with Free Agents, Jeremy Lin's story was just behind the Dwight Howard saga. A a player with such a limited resume, Jeremy Lin dominated the US sports talk world for a couple weeks. After this week, we won't hear much of Jeremy Lin until the season's training camps get on the way. The question in October will be if he can sustain his play to a whole season.

As I read and hear of the developments behind the real reasons for the Knick's failure to match the offer, it makes James Dolan and his crew look like elementary school kids. As a life long Lakers fan, it would have been nice to extend an offer to Lin, but with Nash around, there's no need. I am sad. Maybe in a few years when Nash has retired and Jeremy Lin's contract is up.

Last weekend, while talking about Jeremy Lin's future with the Knicks, I couldn't get over the fact that Melo called Jeremy Lin's contract "ridiculous". What?! Have you ever heard others complain about another players contract so publicly. Retired players and analyst, etc. whom use to play do not count. And JR Smith going so far to say the locker room would not welcome him. What?! I only had one reaction, racism. Jeremy Lin is of Taiwanese decent and of Chinese ethnicity. That's a huge factor. I couldn't help be feel betrayed. If James Dolan is to feel betrayed, Melo should be the first. Didn't Jason Kidd get drunk and run into trees? What the heck?! NYC is suppose to be the US mecca of cultural sensitivity. Suppose to be. By the action of NYC's current headline takers, James Dolan, Melo, and JR Smith will never admit it's racism. How could they?



Friday, July 20, 2012

626 Night Market - 626 夜市 IS BACK in July 2012



The fine folks that put on the first 626 Night Market are back for an encore event on July 28, 2012. Apparently, Pasadena is part of the 626. I thought it so north that it would be either 323 or 818, but its mostly 626. Go figure.



This time, I will not be going. I am hosting a BBQ that day and won't be able to make it out. But I hear that the event promoters listened to all the disgusted reviews of the first night. Thus, they've selected a bigger venue! That's a start!

Personally, it's impossible to replicate the Taipei night markets. Impossible. I haven't spent all that much time in Asia, but from what I have seen, the Taipei Night markets stand on its own. The HK night markets are their own personality as well. Can't be duped. But they can try to make a SoCal version. Which I would welcome and try to get out to if it becomes more regular and closer to The Heights!

In honor of the 626, some transplants to the 626 made this homage a few months ago. They also cover a lot of The Heights in another video honoring Colima Road which is also part of the 626.





Thursday, July 19, 2012

Jeremy Lin On Jimmy Kimmel



In even older news, Jeremy Lin appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show in June. Jeremy Lin joined in on an Skype scavenger hunt against the Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers. Jeremy Lin and Roy Hibbert had to find 3 things in their apartment based on what Jimmy Kimmel wanted them to find. Funny stuff, I rarely get to watch Kimmel and this bit was really good and funny.

Jeremy Lin found all three items slower than Roy Hibbert, but due to Jimmy Kimmel disqualifying Roy for the first item, Jeremy Lin lost 1-2.

Very funny and light hearted bit. I hope to see more of these type of things with our favorite NBA players! Good job JKL!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

K-Town Episode 1 Premieres



O...M...G... The K-Town reality show finally premiered last week on July 11. LOUD is putting out episodes weekly for the rest of the summer on YouTube. Prior to the shows premiere, the reaction to a reality show about Los Angeles' K-Town has been mixed. Stereotypes are at the heart of the mixed reactions. Some will see it as breaking down Asian stereotypes for the better. While others see it as perpetuating a subculture that isn't representative of Asian Americans in the whole. But than again, as the Asian version of Jersey Shore, no one's going to mistaken Jersey Shore members for the rest of the US. I think people just like to see a train wreck.

For me, I also have mixed reactions. Mainly because the lives that the individuals choose to live on the show is very far from my reality. Yupe, way back in the 1990s, I had the opportunity to taste a slice of K-Town as a life long resident of the city of angels. The K-Town that I remember is very different that presented on the premiere episode. My K-town is all about the food. I worked close to K-Town for five years and frequented the fine food establishments for lunch during that time. I don't know if I've seen it in the dark since the 1990s (passing by on the freeway at night does not count).

The characters presented are all very camera friendly. Let's be honest, pretty people will get viewers to stay. Introductions were good. We need to get invested in the train wreck to come. Drama, drama, drama, Korean American style. Will we hear the irresistible Korean whining voice?

I didn't make it through the whole episode, I got bored. I went to do other things and I haven't wanted to finish the episode. I'll have to see if episode two will keep my interest.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Jeremy Lin At The 2012 ESPYs



This is a bit of old news, but last week, Jeremy Lin took Los Angeles by storm. In the city of his birth, Jeremy Lin was there to accept the award for "Breakthrough Athlete of the Year". Jeremy Lin had some stiff competition in Alex Morgan, RGIII, Anthony Davis, and The Gronk! As much as I am a Jeremy Lin fan, I would have voted for THE GRONK based on his dance performance after his super bowl lost. You just can't understate how we were all Gronked. We were GRONKED!



Jeremy Lin was presented the award by Timothy Richard Tebow and Jessica Claire Beil. Jeremy Lin's acceptance speech was both humble and geek heaven at the same time. Landry Fields and Jeremy Lin will most likely be on different teams for the 2012-2013 NBA season.

Good job fans, you gave the award to the best guy there. But you got it wrong, THE GRONK should have won. Think about it, we could've tasted the dance of THE GRONK onstage.