Jeremy Lin prefers planking over Tebowing

In less than a week, Jeremy Lin has gone from a little used NBA bench-warmer to the biggest story in the league.  Now everyone is comparing the Harvard-grad to the NFL's sweetheart Tim Tebow after Lin guided the New York Knicks to a three-game win streak.

Lin is a self-confessed planking fan so you're more likely to catch the Knicks point guard extending body across a stiff object than getting down on one knee in reflection ala Tebowing.

Lin has been bombarded with comparisons to Tebow and admitted the Denver Broncos quarterback has been a driving force:

"Actually lot of inspiration just because he's such a polarizing figure but I think the things he says in his interviews, his approach to the game is just unbelievable and I respect him so much.  I want to be able to do some of the things that he does in terms of the amount of charity work and the non-profit work, and the way he impacts people off the field.  I think that is what is most inspiring to me about him."

The comparisons between the two are inevitable and will probably continue as long as the economics-grad piles up numbers.

There is one thing most can agree— both are oddities in their desired arenas.

Lin, the rare Asian-American to play on an NBA court and Tebow the chaste athlete on a football field.

Lin, like Tebow, is a devout Christian and leaves all of life's ups and downs in the hands of God but— aside from their overwhelming wills to win— the paths to their respective pro careers took different courses.

The Knicks player wasn't drafted and received no offers as a recruit; while Tebow was a top high school prospect,  a Heisman Trophy winner and first-round pick.

Still, the point guard with a knack for the pick-and-roll has turned himself into a nationwide sensation— much like "Tebow Mania" did a couple of months ago

While thousands of Tebow jerseys sold out before the QB even won a game, the few No. 17 Knicks jerseys were already on the clearance rack just last week.

Now retailers are scrambling to stock their shelves after the sparse Lin jerseys were snatched up and had fans resorting to making their own.

So desirable are the No. 17 jerseys right now, they are selling for $54.95— $10 more than the jerseys of Knicks stars Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

"Linsanity" has taken over New York City.

Tickets for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden have doubled on StubHub if you can find a seat.

Lin's feel good story is still on the opening page of what would be a nice Hollywood script.

He still has a long way to go before anyone knows if he is the real deal or just another Ken Maas.  Remember him.  Maas— as a replacement for Don Mattingly— hit 10 home-runs in his first 72 at-bats for the New York Yankees in 1990 to set a major-league record— only to fade faster than Kris Humphries' marriage.

If Lin lives up to the hype, count on him to plank rather than Tebow.