Linsanity Officially Crosses the Border

Jeremy Lin continues to have what could be called a very good month. Facing the Toronto Raptors, Lin made the first game-winning field goal of his NBA career: A gorgeous pull-up isolated 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds on the clock, enough to complete the New York Knicks’ fourth quarter rally for the 90-87 victory, their sixth in a row. Given the clutch moments we’ve seen from Lin in the last week – a 38-point showing against Kobe Bryant, game-sealing free throws against the Minnesota Timberwolves – was his big shot anything less than expected? When there’s even talk that his success might help resolve the famously bitter MSG-Time Warner Cable dispute, it’s time to put away the cynicism about his unlikely ascension and just enjoy the ride.

The Knicks certainly haven’t been this compelling in years. Even though they were playing in Toronto, it didn’t seem like an away game: When Lin made his shot, half the entire Air Canada Centre rose up in collective cheer like they were rooting for the Raptors to lose all along. (Lin seems to have earned fans both rank and file and professional.) Now, there’s talk over whether Carmelo Anthony’s role will change when he returns from injury – Carmelo Anthony, the big-time star that New Yorkers all but begged for last season, now diminished by inefficient shooting and his team’s poor record since his arrival from Denver. But Anthony remains one of the best players in the league, and doubters shouldn’t expect him to amble about when he returns from injury. “Instead, rival teams should be concerned that the breakthrough partnership of Lin and coach Mike D’Antoni – in combination with the bottom-line pressure to win in New York – is exactly what Anthony needs to elevate his career,” writes Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen. “Instead of fighting the progress of the Knicks, Anthony is likely to embrace it and become better than ever.”

The Knicks are still a game below .500 even with that winning streak – and, as those cynics will note, they’ve really only faced one quality team in that stretch. Next week will bring games against Dallas, Atlanta and Miami, contenders that won’t blink at the hype. In the meantime, New York has two more very winnable games – tonight against Sacramento and Friday vs. New Orleans. While Lin works on extending the streak, he can also work on finally moving off the couch into his own apartment.

That’s a lot for someone who’s been a household name for less than two weeks. “There is probably a crash coming; mental exhaustion, death by scouting, a drop from the incredible bar he has set, whatever,” Bruce Arthur writes for Canada’s National Post. “But right now the Jeremy Lin story is about how in a society full of nonsense and noise, of fizz and vapour, of pretty colours and manufactured products, we ache for real magic. Here it is.”

* * *

Back in November, we were told that before West Virginia could leave the struggling Big East for the healthier Big 12, it would have to lawyer up in a big way. At the time, the Big East claimed that WVU had to give 27 months’ notice before jumping ship, which the Mountaineers vigorously disputed. On Tuesday, the potentially fractious issue was settled: WVU will pay the Big East an unspecified amount in exchange for being allowed to join the Big 12 this year, just in time for football season. (Taxpayers, unite: You’re not on the hook!) Though the price tag to escape may be as steep as $ 20 million, it’ll soon be recouped: In the more financially lucrative Big 12, WVU will collect upwards of $ 19 million a year from television payouts, about double what it was getting in the Big East.

There are big ramifications on both sides on the field. The Mountaineers were perennial powerhouses of the Big East, which creates an opening for teams like Rutgers to take its shot. On the other hand, the addition will make the Big 12 that much more competitive, especially since Texas Christian will also be joining. For the first time in a while, though, WVU can rest easy knowing that its conference’s strength is secure, especially since talk of the Big 12’s tentative expansion remains just that. “Louisville, Cincinnati and BYU loom outside the Big 12′s gates, but the league must be assured that any member that joins won’t cause the 10 current members’ slices of the financial pie to grow any thinner,” explains ESPN’s David Ubben. “TCU’s and West Virginia’s admittance was about bringing in Top 25 programs with BCS success more than admitting a team with a huge fan base, though the Mountaineers possess both.”

* * *

Like the Grand Canyon and the Old Country Buffet, the Westminster Dog Show has something for everyone. For some, it’s a place to see the top dogs compete for the glory of being the best little pup around, no prize money required. For others, it’s a place where matrimonial bonds are forged, preferably whilst basking in the glow of victory. There’s even room for celebrities of the dog world to bark and pose, as though they needed the extra attention. In addition to all the fuss, the conclusion of the 136th Westminster show on Tuesday held a few surprises. Though ranked No. 1 in the nation and picked by many to take best in show, a cocker spaniel named Beckham was beat out by Malachy the Pekingese, a dapper little guy whose pampered scamper quickly lent itself to meme-ification and instant adoration. With such pomp and circumstance, how could judges – or the crowds – have resisted?

It isn’t all fun and roses, though: Westminster came under some criticism for switching sponsors from Pedigree to Purina, with critics claiming that Pedigree’s commercials promoting the adoption of shelter animals were at odds with Westminster’s primped image. Westminster, for the most part, didn’t entirely disagree: A spokesman told the Associated Press that they’d rather promote a happier version of dog ownership rather than one that emphasizes the unfortunately harsh reality of neglected animals across the country, though economic considerations were also mentioned. “The kennel club is free to accept whichever sponsors it chooses. But a dog show – one billed, no less, as a celebration of dogs – is the best possible forum to urge the adoption of shelter animals,” the Boston Globe’s editorial board writes. “Instead, the kennel club’s stance only highlights the disconnect between the plight of millions of mutts and the bizarrely cosseted existence of canine 1 percenters.”

Found a good column from the world of sports? Don’t keep it to yourself — write to us at dailyfixlinks@gmail.com and we’ll consider your find for inclusion in the Daily Fix. You can email Jeremy at jeremypaulgordon@gmail.com.

The Daily Fix