Too bad Floyd Mayweather can't delete his sappy tweet about Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.
In a way, Mayweather got what he wanted for his massive ego, widespread attention for his opinion that the Harvard graduate who is of Taiwanese descent is getting all the hype and hoopla because is a rarity, an top flight Asian player in the NBA.
I don't see how this can possibly translate into bigger PPV sales for Floyd's May 5 fight against Miguel Cotto. That fight will do solid business, maybe spectacular business, because Cotto is always solid and is undeniably the No. 3 PPV Tv lure behind only Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
But back to Mayeweather's latest social media faux pas.
Not only have some well known African American sports scribes/commentators ripped into Mayweather's remak on Twitter but ardent Knick fans Chris Rock and Spike Lee have also opined that Floyd is by himself, a jury of one, in not appreciating the "Linderfella" story that has captured international attention.
Now my old friend Rev. Al Sharpton has totally embraced the Lin saga and placed in a social perspective that Mayweather completely missed.
Here's parts of Sharpton's neat column on the Huffington Post:
"Earlier this week, die-hard Knicks supporter and filmmaker Spike Lee joined my MSNBC show 'Politics Nation' to discuss a little non-political news: basketball is back with a vengeance. Thanks to the impeccable, almost unbelievable skills of 23-year-old Jeremy Lin, the sport and the Knicks themselves have seen a shocking resurrection from fans who grew increasingly exhausted of lock outs and negotiations. The timing couldn't be better; the story, some say, is 'Cinderella-like.' I prefer calling it a tale of perseverance; a narrative about the underdog triumphing after being consistently discounted. Perhaps, most importantly, it's a lesson for all of us to never look down upon the marginalized.
"Some people believe life is a lottery, that if you're born into the correct circumstances, you will excel. I view life as an opportunity, that given an equal shot and a level playing field, anyone can achieve their dreams and reach excellence. Lin's rags-to-riches story is about more than just basketball. Continuously dismissed by teams -- including his own -- and literally sleeping on his brother's couch in Manhattan, the Taiwanese American is living proof that the underdog can and will win. After being benched for so long, Lin is finally given a chance by default and goes on to save the Knicks and bring such renewed craze to the game that it's virtually impossible to find any available tickets at Madison Square Garden for the season. The Harvard grad who nobody believed had such fantastic sports skills now has the fastest-growing athletic brand according to Forbes -- $14 million and rising."
Well, you get the point. Rev. Al hits the jackpot here, of course Lin's story is a victory for all minorities.
It's hard to say if Lin will sustain his on the court success long term, whether he will turn out to the Asian answer to Larry Bird or to Magic Johnson.
But the feel good story plays on.
Maybe there's one other black American pro athlete who echoes Mayweather's feelings but I've yet to hear or see any concurring opinion.
If you hate the Tim Tebow story or the Lin story, you might want to decertify yourself as a member of the race, the human race.
What's not to like with Tebow, whose Philippine connection is that he was born there when his parents were missionaries.
Now comes a Pinoy connection for Brother Lin, more Linsanity.
When Pacman comes to New York next week to hype his June 9 Las Vegas bout against Tim Bradley, he will have a meet and greet/photo opp with the Knicks sudden supernova.
When the Pacquiao with Lin photos and video circulate worldwide, what will Mayweather say?
I hope he puts a silencer on his Twitter page but I kind of doubt he will.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
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