Jeremy Lin Catches Obama's Attention: President Is 'Very Impressed' With Knicks' Sensation

President Barack Obama has caught 'Lin-sanity.'

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked about the New York Knicks' point guard Jeremy Lin Wednesday on Air Force One while en route to Milwaukee. "As you know, the President is an avid sports fan, and a particularly avid basketball fan, and we were speaking about Jeremy Lin on Marine One as we flew here -- to Andrews Air Force Base this morning," said Carney. "It's just a great story, and the President was saying as much this morning. It's obviously terrific for the New York Knicks, but it's the kind of sports story that transcends the sport itself."

"So it's a great story. And, yes, he's very impressed and fully up to speed," continued Carney. "I know he’s watched Lin play already and he’s seen the highlights from last night’s game."

Lin has become an unexpected sensation in his past six games, averaging about 26.8 points per game, and even outscoring the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant on Feb. 10 with 38 points. He played for four years at Harvard University but was not drafted by an NBA team. He signed with the New York Knicks in December after being cut from both the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. He is the first American-born player of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA.

Lin made a game-winning three-pointer as time expired Tuesday night, lifting the Knicks over the Toronto Raptors, 90-87. Lin scored the last six points of the game, having 27 points and 11 assists in total.

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Comments

[Todd Laurent]

03:49 PM on 03/21/2012

Hey sports is sports and i think it is awesome the president stays up on all current events even sports. Linsanity has really touched the whole nation all the way up to the white house Lin you should be extremely proud of your self...

Jase Laurent
www.schoolofintimacy.com

[cshae89546]

02:18 PM on 02/16/2012

You would think that as the nation sinks deeper and deeper into debt and the likelihood of a major conflict and possible nuclear war grows in the Middle East that Mr. Obama might have more important things to do for the people of America than watch basketball games. The democrats have proven themselves superior to the past administration only as it pertains to outrageously out spending the irresponsible and unpatriotic George Bush and in lying to the American public

[Aurical]

03:57 PM on 02/16/2012

He didn't give a press conference about a basketball player, a question was asked. You are already working from the position of him being wrong, WHATEVER he did. If the question was not answered there would be the same level of feigned indignation that he feels "superior and out of touch" to not weigh in on popular culture.

[razaminaz]

01:08 PM on 02/16/2012

I agree everyone is entitiled to an opinion, but does every word that comes out of Obama's mouth have to be news? Not just Obama but anyone famous. Look at our choices to read on AOL now, celebs and what they are doing, who they are dating, what they think. How about some real news like what the government is doing behind our backs, why we feel the need to give money and military aid to other countries when many of us, if we are lucky, live pay check to pay check. I love music and other entertainment, but I know none of the entertainers care about me and I don't care about them. Entertain me, I don't care about your personal life, and Mr. Obama, we have a country in deep trouble, if you want to talk, talk about what you are doing to fix it besides flying all over the place.

[dagacheme]

11:54 AM on 02/16/2012

Great Obama. Why don't you invent some new unconstitutional czar position and appoint him to it?

[michaelgary1]

10:42 AM on 02/16/2012

Why all the hype over this guy? He's just another athlete. Of course he's good, he's a pro isn't he? Amazes me how the media turns this guy into a "god".

[enoughobama]

02:11 PM on 02/16/2012

not suprised they turned another idiot obama into a god

[pmack27]

09:57 AM on 02/16/2012

cool story, bro

[Phoenix Lee]

09:53 AM on 02/16/2012

the biggest asian american since bruce lee and a much safer profession.

[RPM1]

09:43 AM on 02/16/2012

annoyin

[Prnzez]

09:37 AM on 02/16/2012

Obama loves the spotlight and wants to hang with anyone who's in it, i.e., celebrities, sports figures.

[nq5511]

12:25 PM on 02/16/2012

Obama doesn't need to seek the spotlight but was voted into it by the majority of Americans, and he will remain so in history due to becoming the first Black president. Good fortune if he loves it.

Most of the famous, though, try to get to Obama. They scramble for invites, or complain if they don't have access to him. They feel honored if they get it, and their value goes up in the industry due to the press. Many, unfortunately, never heard of Etta James until Beyonce' sang her hit song of old to President and First Lady Obama. Instant headlines!

[enoughobama]

02:12 PM on 02/16/2012

but he does

[Sarah Fretterd]

10:59 PM on 02/16/2012

what....etta james is an icon in the jazz world...even my children of 33 and 23 know who she is...you obviously only heard of her when beyonce sang her song....which only goes to show out of touch you are with the history of music!

[1088]

09:32 AM on 02/16/2012

Weighs in, I thought he was asked by the press? This is one reason why I dislike the media, for when they ask a question, they twist the answers.

[kasson719]

09:21 AM on 02/16/2012

And, he should be just as "impressed" at the mess this country is in, so much of it his doing, or should we say, 'lack of'.

[1088]

09:34 AM on 02/16/2012

The black man is trying to fix the mess Bush and his cronies left in ruins.

[pmack27]

09:58 AM on 02/16/2012

3 years, zero progress. backwards actually

[skeakins]

12:10 PM on 02/16/2012

Dems have controlled Congress for the past 5 years. They own this economy.

[ronjdomer]

09:15 AM on 02/16/2012

Cut from the Houston Rockets?! What a disaster! Losers! I live in Houston.

[xc700sonic]

09:07 AM on 02/16/2012

I don't give a hoot how tall ,what color or what kind of underware this guy has, just hope he stay on a good path and away from all the pro sports BS.

[YanksWS96]

09:05 AM on 02/16/2012

After seeing Lin defeat the Raptors Tuesday night, Obama turned to one of his advisers and asked why Larry Johnson wasn't in the game.

[heyguy734]

09:01 AM on 02/16/2012

This is exactly why the Huffington Post is one of the most hypocritical, mickey mouse news sources in America!!! This is not newsworthy! If President Bush claimed to enjoy a sport or a specific athlete the Huffington Post would have wrote an article about how his priorities were not where they needed to be. I hate that AOL is linked up to this propaganda filled news source!

[yellowdoggie]

09:06 AM on 02/16/2012

heyguy, you don't have to be here. I'll fan you if you go away.

[heyguy734]

10:42 AM on 02/16/2012

i dont want you to "fan me" you tool. grow up!

[razaminaz]

01:12 PM on 02/16/2012

Neither do you, everyone has a right to an opinion.

[Aurical]

03:51 PM on 02/16/2012

You are the one that took the time to set up a profile and go through the steps of joining and THEN complain as if you are offended! You are fooling no one. That makes as much sense as buying a membership to a cigar bar and complaining about the smoke! Use your free market right to leave if you are SO offended, by all means.