Jeter gets caught up in Knicks Linsanity

Derek Jeter is in Tampa busy with pre-spring training workouts and claims he hasn't watched the New York Knicks much lately except for "some highlights"— but even New York City's biggest sports icon over the past 15 years expressed amazement at the Jeremy Lin phenomenon sweeping the city and the NBA.

"I've seen some highlights," Jeter said yesterday at the Yankees minor league complex.  "It's always fun  anytime there is a new athlete, especially in New York, it's pretty exciting.  He brought some excitement to the Knicks."

Jeter must have been laughing on the inside after he was asked if he ever saw anything like the Knicks point guard sensation who—  a benchwarmer only two weeks ago— is now Madison Square Garden's Va-Lin-tine to Knicks fans.

The New York Yankees shortstop may not have ever crashed on a teammate's couch, but he's no stranger to media frenzies himself.  Jeter has been making highlight reels since 1996 and his quest for 3,000 hits last summer had the whole city watching his every move.

"There's a lot of excitement with that team, Carmelo [Anthony] coming over, now you have [Lin]," he said.  "I'm not a basketball expert but I do know he has added a lot of excitement to that team, which is good.  I think sports in general are a lot more fun when you have a team from New York that is doing well."

Derek Jeter should know.