(CNN) -- The "Linsanity" surrounding the New York Knicks' surprise phenom at point guard may be motivated by something bigger than sports. Yes, Jeremy Lin is a terrific athlete, whose almost accidental discovery by the Knicks and little-engine-that-could perseverance make for great radio commentary and pop cultural mythology. But there's something deeper at play here: Lin is iconic of a new kind of hero for the 21st century. And he is not alone. Take Lin's story by itself: A Harvard graduate and only occasional Ivy League basketball star, Lin struggles to get recognized in the NBA. He is picked up by the Golden State Warriors only to be released. Then, plagued by player injuries and in need of an extra backup point guard, the Knicks pick up Lin as a temp backup, only to dump him back in the D-league when they think they don't need him. After a string of losses, they bring him back on board more for the hell of it than anything else, and Lin lights a fire under the team, leading it to a run of dramatic victories.
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Douglas Rushkoff says Jeremy Lin is iconic of a new kind of hero for the 21st century
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Lin, Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama are cool, strategic facilitators, he says
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He says they must keep the ball moving and keep the story from being about themselves
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Rushkoff: Obama must avoid having teamwork approach cast by others as socialism
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