Roger Federer Talks Jeremy Lin, Hopes To Meet Knicks Sensation

NEW YORK — Roger Federer is a big basketball fan, so he's keeping tabs on Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and hopes they can meet.

On a conference call Thursday to promote a March 5 exhibition against Andy Roddick at Madison Square Garden – home, of course, to Lin's Knicks – 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer said he's "heard a bit about" the latest NBA phenomenon.

Federer says it's quite an "incredible story, actually, and I hope he can come to the exhibition."

He calls the Harvard player's surprising stardom an example of "why, I think, we all follow sports – because of great stories like this," when "all of a sudden, someone breaks through that you didn't know or didn't expect."

Comments

[Mansa]

12:36 PM on 02/24/2012

Fed is right, but he is in a sports where black players are few. Yet when the Williams sisters broke into the sport and dominated mainstream America was just very cool in the embrace. Even now with their dual records the white world hasn't really appreciated their talents. Maybe that's why they don't play that much. Just win some slams, take the money and run.

And Shani Davis, the outstanding speed skater--hardly liked by America. And in a sports with very few blacks.