basketball . The night before, Kobe Bryant had laughed off a question about whether he would be called on to defend Jeremy Lin in New York. He had no idea what kind of game Lin played, and didn't understand the fuss about a player he could barely remember even playing against.

Now he knows.

"A great story," Bryant said. "It's a testament to perseverance and hard work. A good example for kids everywhere."

That it is. There's a lot to be learned from Lin's remarkable journey from nowhere to instant stardom at Madison Square Garden, where fans were so giddy Friday night that many were watching the game through masks bearing Lin's likeness.