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Lin Enjoyed NBA Commissioner Treatment, Fans Spent Ten Thousand Yuan for a 5-Minute Meeting
The All-Star Rookie Challenge in Orlando drew special attention because of Jeremy Lin. Lin's [Shaq team] lost to the [Chuck team] with a score of 133:146. Lin only played for 8 minutes and 55 seconds, making him the player with the least playing time on the [Shaq team]. However, this did not affect the "Linsanity" that swept through Orlando as fans and media all flocked towards Lin. A special press conference was also held for Lin before the All-Star Weekend, which in the past was only given to Commissioner David Stern.
Enjoying the All-Star Weekend, Relaxed Mindset
When Lin’s [Shaq team] entered the court, there was a commotion on-site. As the players walked onto the field, the fans wildly shouted "Jeremy," drowning out the introductions of the other players with their cheers for Lin. Lin accepted a pre-game interview from the on-site host. When asked if Shaq had provided any guidance during training, Lin said, "Shaq didn't even show up for the pre-game practice," which caused laughter among the audience.
After Lin made his appearance on the court, he was substituted off. Many fans dressed in Lin's No. 17 jersey were dissatisfied with the mere 8 minutes and 55 seconds Shaq gave Lin, continuously shouting, "We want Lin." During most of the time Lin sat on the bench, the on-site cameras repeatedly focused on him. The on-site host also took the opportunity to interview Lin at the bench. It seemed that Lin was in a very good mood. He said, "This is an interesting weekend. We all need to relax and have fun. I've played a lot of games in the past two or three weeks, so this weekend is a perfect chance to rest."
Esbol NBA Satisfied Media and Fans by Holding Two Special Press Conferences
Before and after the rookie game, the All-Star events held a special press conference each day for Lin. This was the first time such an opportunity was given to a player, as previously only the NBA commissioner had special press conferences. The first one was open to all media, while the second one was specifically for Asian media. At the pre-game press conference, Lin said, "I originally planned to go to a warm tropical beach and spend my vacation with my family. But I am also very happy to be here." A reporter asked about his life after becoming famous, and he laughed, saying, "I am still a minimum wage player. Nothing has changed."
A Female Fan Spends $42,388 for a 5-Minute Meeting
A female fan named Miriam Schechter spent $42,388 on the Knicks' official website to purchase the jersey Lin wore during the Lakers game. She also received four VIP tickets to Knicks games, but she expressed that what she wanted most was the last gift: a five-minute face-to-face meeting with Lin. According to CNBC, this calculated Lin's value per minute at $8,477.6.
According to the New York Post, Miriam bought it for her husband, Mitchell Schechter. Schechter is a seasoned lawyer who, after Lin's sudden rise to fame, always said he was deeply moved by Lin's story of never giving up. "When my wife told me about this opportunity, I almost couldn’t breathe. I was overwhelmed," Schechter said, "I’m 58 years old, but suddenly something like this makes me feel like I'm 14 again. It's really very special."
Schechter realized his dream of meeting Lin during the Thursday Knicks vs. Hawks game. Before the game, during the Knicks' shooting practice, Schechter could freely shoot hoops on the court. Afterward, he sat in the 11th row to watch the game that night, and afterward, Lin personally handed the jersey over to Schechter.