How are the late 1990s portrayed in the novel, Necessary Roughness?

The novel is set in the late 1990's, a period in which racist behavior, and discriminatory behavior in general, was regarded more allowable and/or forgivable even within the following ten years. This setting in time is also significant because it pre-dates important technology such as widespread internet usage and cell-phones, both of which were present at the time but which were less pervasive and invasive - it is notable, for example, that the bullying experienced by Chan and his family manifests only in person, and not as cyber-bullying.