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    Ball Don't Lie

    New York hockey player says Jeremy Lin can punch him

    John Scott (Phil Ellsworth/ Getty)On Monday, the NHL had its annual trade deadline, with the New York Rangers swinging one deal to obtain enforcer John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks. This move was only notable in NBA circles, because, two weeks ago, he caught a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden and informed reporters that Derrick Rose could take Jeremy Lin with no problem. That might not seem like a terribly shocking opinion, given that Rose is the league's reigning MVP and quite possibly the most explosive point guard of all time, but we call this whole thing "Linsanity" for a reason.

    Now that he works in New York, Scott needs to take a different approach. So, like any normal person, he walked back his comments and said that Lin can punch him if he wants. From Christopher Botta for The New York Times' Slap Shot blog (via PBT):

    Now that Scott is a member the Rangers and works for the same parent company as Lin, he was offered a chance to soften his review.

    "No, it's O.K.," Scott said, laughing. "You can't kill a guy for offering his opinion. I was just saying he had one weakness to work on. Most of us have a lot more than that. Look at me. No one thought I could make it to the N.H.L., and there are a lot of people who still don't think I belong.

    "I haven't come close to reaching his level, and I never will, but I can relate to Jeremy. I hope I get to meet him soon at the Garden or the practice facility. For what I said, he can even punch me in the hallway if he wants to."

    Again, Scott has nothing to apologize for, because Lin would probably agree that he's not as good as Rose. He made these statements to appeal to the fans of his new team, which is no shameful act. Everyone wants to work in a positive environment.

    [Related: Jeremy Lin brings big surge to New York Knicks websites]

    Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding Scott's hockey etiquette. As an enforcer, punching is a part of his life. It's possible that asking someone to punch him is a sign of respect, or the way hockey players ask each other if they want to go to their birthday parties.

    I don't get that world at all. Did you know that the prime minister of Scott's native Canada is a moose?

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    30 comments

    • mike  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  2 months ago
      I doubt jeremy is a linatic.
    • KW  •  2 months ago
      Give Lin a break - he barely debuted and now they already want to size him up with Rose? Who's next? Kobe? Lebron? M.J.? Geeeeez!!!
      • Mr Chopstickninja 2 months ago
        Well he already did make Koby look like a chump if I remember correctly.
        What could Lin achieve if he was on a team like the Lakers or the Heat ?
        Probably a few rings.
      • Arun 2 months ago
        wow thats such a dumb comment, he is in Dantoni's system where it is all about the point guard. I guarantee you if you put any other decent point guard there, they will be successful. He would suck in any other system, that is why he was part of the D-league for two years.
      • Dwight Howard's Elbow ... 2 months ago
        If his system is all about the PG and that's the only reason Lin is doing well, then why did Iman Shumpert not thrive in it?
    • rogerp  •  New York, New York  •  2 months ago
      What`s everybody arguing about? Poker players are the toughest! Then golfers, bowlers & racecar drivers.
    • Wisdom101  •  2 months ago
      Do you really think Lin has time to even pay attention to these kind of craps?! He is too busy to practise and play basketball, busy to take it in all kinds of endorsement deals, interviews and TV shows. Besides he is a Havard graduate and a Christian and will never get down to such low level as nagging and punching sour grapes. He has a life, a respectful life.
    • Ronnie  •  2 months ago
      Eric Freeman is a hack and a d-bag who should be punched out.
    • Storm Shadow  •  2 months ago
      "Punch him in the hallway"? How about punch him in the n-u-t-s? :)
    • henryl  •  Cagayan de Oro, Philippines  •  2 months ago
      well, he was a blackhawk when he made that statement, now that he is a Ranger, it's good that he knows who's side is he now..
    • Ricardo  •  New York, New York  •  2 months ago
      Did someone say, "Foot in the mouth disease?"
    • sportsmanship  •  Troy, Michigan  •  2 months ago
      Lin is obviously a much better person than Scott can fathom! I am sure Lin has harbored no hard feelings at all over his comment, much less want to exact revenge on him.
    • Don  •  Mississauga, Canada  •  2 months ago
      lin is the futureeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    • Zack  •  2 months ago
      While many black people enjoyed, as much as people of other races, the inspiring Linderella story, there are some very jealous ones on this or other forums who kept on belittling Lin along racial line. I am not going to argue with these people, but just share some simple facts here. First, the media had sensationalized the black tennis players' success, despite the fact that the sport was mostly dominated by white, and the fact that the black tennis stars were very unpopular among their peers due to their huge arrogance. Second, black applicants enjoyed super low admission scores to ivy-league or any universities, compared to their white and asian high school classmates who demonstrated little jealousy even though it seriously hurt their very own interest; whereas the Linderella story did not hurt, but help the good black players by producing sky-high interests in NBA games -- so that they could continue to earn dozens of millions salary (compared to the NBA bottom salary of Lin). Third, Fourth, ... (any reasonable and righteous audience, regardless race, could fill the remaining points)
    • darter9000  •  Harborcreek, Pennsylvania  •  2 months ago
      I... umm... leave the flip-flopping to the politicians and stick with your guns. For crying out loud, you're a hockey enforcer, have some dignity. Dignity... dignity... well whatever, I can't think of a better term right now.
    • C  •  2 months ago
      hockey fans like dylan b. are delusional .. lin is getting beat up by 7 foot 250 pound monsters and always gets back up to play .. bloody nose.. chin.. bruises all over his body.. bball players are tough.. and much bigger than hockey players..

      besides mma guys are the toughest
      • mike l 2 months ago
        are you serious lets see lin take an elbow to the face loose all his front teeth and only miss one shift then get out there and win a champioship ask duncan keith about that
      • C 2 months ago
        kobe played with a broken nose and a concussion .. so what.. again.. bball players dont even wear pads and beat up each other every night..

        hockey players are tough.. but they are no where near as big as bball players.. again.. mma fighters are the toughest.. they fight with broken nose, hands, feet, orbital, etc..
    • Tray  •  Albuquerque, New Mexico  •  2 months ago
      ... there is an "innuendo" i can't seem to put a finger on, ... naw, it's not anything gay, lol
    • Mike  •  Annandale, New Jersey  •  2 months ago
      Why stop at Jeremy Lin? Everybody in this country should have the golden opportunity to punch a New York Ranger.
    • Artair  •  New York, New York  •  2 months ago
      In the ring they call it the sweet science, the Neanderthal would swing & miss & tire himself out. The whole idea is not the get hit.
    • dylan b  •  2 months ago
      When it comes to toughness in sports, all are second to Hockey players. Lin could give this dude a running dropkick and I bet Scott would just smile back and shrug it off.
      • The Lightning Round 2 months ago
        MMA and Boxing is far tougher. As is Rugby. No pads.
      • Hank 2 months ago
        Is MMA atleast a close second?
      • Terri-Bulls 2 months ago
        Figure skaters with sticks are not tough. They are pansies.
    • Waco  •  2 months ago
      How about a Donkey Punch? You into that??
    • Bill  •  2 months ago
      Hockey players are GENERALLY stupid big mouths. No suprise here that this is Ice Hockey newsworthy. Boxers are a step above these guys on the evolutionary scale.
      • SharksFinatic 2 months ago
        Surprisingly enough, hockey players are actually not "GENERALLY stupid big mouths". Most of them, believe it or not, are actually pretty nice guys. But go ahead, believe your incorrect stereotypes.
    • tariki  •  Manila, Philippines  •  2 months ago
      Lin could live only on short life as a super star... my prediction
      • marco antoninor 2 months ago
        no one cares you crab...Lin doesn't need stardom.
      • hien 2 months ago
        lin is a good player and can play in nba but he is not a superstar. hey, asleat he get brain
      • yo mama 2 months ago
        What's your prediction about the Philippines remaining a third world country?

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