August 20, 2012 6:58 pm ET

MSG's stock has reached an all-time high, post-Linsanity. (Getty Images)
It wasn't just a theory about Jeremy Lin's departure from the Knicks having a major impact on MSG's stock. It was real.

After he signed an offer sheet with the Rockets, MSG was down $93 million. He clearly was having an influence on it. When Lin made his first start for the Knicks Feb. 6, MSG shares were trading at $29.49. On July 5, the stock had risen more than 30 percent up to $38.80. But after Lin signed the "poison pill" offer sheet than might make it tough to retain him, shares dipped to $35.50, an 8.5 percent fall.

Except maybe that was all really a coincidence. Or at likely a natural ebb and flow of a stock price with outside factors impacting it. Because at close of business on Monday, MSG's stock price hit an all-time high. Via Deadspin:

Shares of $MSG closed the day at 39.39, for a market cap of $2.98 billion. That's an all-time high for the stock, squeaking past the previous high at the beginning of NBA free agency, and blowing past the numbers at the height of Linsanity. This means nothing, but so does everything that came before it.

In other words, no one with any real influence gave a damn about what uniform Jeremy Lin would wear in the fall. MSG is a strong company, with or without Jeremy Lin, and we're seeing that re-correction. From a three-month low of 34.73 on July 23, shares have climbed steadily, gaining 13.4 percent in just 28 days. Which isn't to say the Knicks aren't a better or more marketable team with Lin than without him, only that his departure wasn't the death blow it was made out to be, and that MSG Inc. is healthier than ever, even Lin-free.

It made enough sense though. Jeremy Lin's incredible popularity and buzz ramped up attention on the Knicks, merchandise sales, ticket sales and visibility. Everyone was buying in, everyone wanted a piece.
Not sure if I got the entire article. My pc is f'd up and I am not good at copying with my iPod.

mrKnickShot wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:imagine how high their stock would be with the entire asian community included

Well if each asian bought a share in MSG, then ...

Ha! There are a lot of Asians in China. Not as many in Taiwan.

nyk4ever wrote:one of the biggest laughs i had on this site was when people correlated msg's stock price to the departure of lin. that was pretty god damn funny.

I think people where just looking for any weapon at hand to bash that decision.