Linsanity won’t last forever

Sometime, somehow, sports professionals ceased to be real people.

They became distant, cossetted demi-Gods, elevated to be worshipped, judged and hated, fair game for the most awful insults.

But still, there’s nothing we enjoy more than the feeling one of us has beaten the odds, slipped through the net and joined the paid ranks.

Which goes some way to explaining the Linsanity phenomenon sweeping the States, a story that has spread far beyond the NBA, beyond sport even.

Jeremy Lin is the kid who wasn’t drafted, who got no scholarship, who had no team, no job.

A shock chance came with the New York Knicks as rosters were hastily reorganised following the lockout. But no fanfare.

Until he shot 25 points on his debut three weeks ago. And a record total in his first four outings. And played key roles in every game as the Knicks turned round their season with seven wins on the spin.

He’s a Harvard grad, so it’s not quite rags to riches. But America has lapped up tales of his change in circumstances.

How he slept on teammate Landry Fields’ couch the night before his life changed.

Of course, now that they have made him a star, he will soon be fair game himself.

Brace yourself Jeremy, hate and loathing are just around the corner.