The Rest of the Linsanity Story: Unstoppable Voices
What makes the Linsanity story so wonderful is that the context of his story is such a triumphant showcase of what a person can do even in the midst of systemic bigotry or hurtful stereotype-casting. It is a story we all connect to as one of perseverance and going after the American dream. It is also an experience or story that many Americans, not just minority Americans can relate to: the story of being unnoticed and told that we do not matter (as an underdog) as much as others by society at large. It is the story of why we were so surprised by Jeremy Lin’s success. The fact that we were all quite shocked by a no name non-drafted, non-division I baller becoming a big sensation in a big name sport that is predominantly populated by African Americans and Whites tells us a bit of the rest of the story.
The rest of the story is about how someone like Lin could have gone so unnoticed by so many capable scouts. The real story in the midst of even celebrating that at last, we have another great Asian American male role model is also about the AA community not having many positive role models or even being an integral part of our American history even though some of us have been in America for over 6 generations or more. What has remained silent is that many Americans and even Asian Americans do not know much about AA history. Due to various factors that are beyond the scope of this blog post, AA’s are not as outspoken as other minorities and have not been acknowledged as much in mainstream American society or history.
For example, prior to Lin, most Americans could guess that there were not many AA’s who have ever played NBA pro ball (4 to be exact), not many would know the rest of the story. This narrative is about Wat Misaka who was not only the first ever Asian American NBA baller, he was also the first person of Color to ever play in pro ball. He was actually a predecessor to Jackie Robinson whom many pay homage to. But why is it that most Americans do not celebrate Misaka as much? Do we know that his story is a great story of hope? Do we know that he opened the door for people of Color to participate in pro sports as equal team members? Do we know the rest of Wat’s story?
Like Lin, even though Misaka’s story has a great plot and ending, there is an important part of the story that rarely gets shared. That untold story is about how Misaka came out of so much adversity in order to be the first or be a role model for so many. Wat remained steadfast at a time when racism was the flavor of the day during and post-WWII. While Misaka’s name is more famous now, Misaka’s story did not begin with much fanfare or words, but with much abilities and ball skills.
Misaka was a winner like Lin. Although small in size (5’7”), he led his own high school to a state championship. As one of the few AA’s who has ever played college basketball, in 1943-44, Wat helped lead the Utah team to a 18-3 record and a NIT bit and NCAA championship that was played (you guessed it) at Madison Square Gardens. Because he played for the Univ of Utah during that season nearby Camp Topaz, an internment camp of about 8,100 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and placed to reside behind barbed wires, Wat became famous especially to proud Japanese Americans in the tragic camps. Wat was the hope for his down-trodden community through his ball-handling. He reminded them of happier times where the game matter and other things like racism did not hold them in prison. He also reminded them of the American dream that indeed we can pursue all that we desire no matter what color our skin.
After his bid for national championship, like other patriotic Americans, he went into the armed services for 2 years to serve his country. As an American patriot, he fought on the same teams as the men who interned his family, friends and community. Before returning home to a bid to play for the BBA (which became NBA) for (you guessed it?) NY Knicks due to the inclusiveness of then owner Ned Irish who also enrolled the first African American baller for the Knicks in 1950.
Misaka inspired many Japanese Americans to love basketball. That is why there exist in AA communities, a phenomenal called AA basketball leagues. These leagues were created for AA’s to play in the midst of the reality of the subtle or blatant bigotry that can happen in the great sports of America. In these AA basketball leagues, many of these ballers found respect that they could not find in mainstream.
But the story does not end with the odiousness of racism in sports or America, it ends with the hope of a people finding their own voice in the midst of so much dishonor or disrespect. What is amazing is that from a quiet Japanese American community, we find people of justice prevailing to honor Wat for his role as a legend, not only in Basketball, but in American history. In 2008, a documentary film was made by an Asian American and her husband to honor Misaka’s story. In August of the next year, Wat finally got the credit that was due him after sixty years of silence as he was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his role in basketball and history. Again, the triumph of creating the rest of the story so that others will know that indeed all of us matter is a great secret story of the Asian American community.
That is the untold story or the rest of the Linsanity story. Like Misaka, Lin’s story is now told to millions in America and to the world, even though it began with meager undesirable plots. Lin’s & Misaka’s stories are about unstoppable courage, faith and voice in America. And we are all the better for these quieter stories. (I stand before you as an official NY Knicks fan now. I even know how to live stream the games. Unstoppable voices are stories that motivate me to live better.)
***The film is called Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story directed by Bruce & Christine Toy Johnson.
