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ESPN fires employee for Lin headline seen online

By Associated Press

POSTED: 07:56 a.m. HST, Feb 19, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 03:33 p.m. HST, Feb 19, 2012

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin (17) passes away from New Orleans Hornets' Al-Farouq Aminu during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, in New York.

BRISTOL, Conn. >> ESPN fired an employee responsible for an offensive headline about Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

The headline Friday on ESPN’s mobile website was used for a story about a New York loss in which Lin had nine turnovers. The headline was an idiom that contains a word that also can be used as a slur against Chinese.

“I don’t think it was on purpose or whatever, but (at) the same time they have apologized. And so from my end I don’t care anymore,” Lin said after leading the Knicks to a 104-97 win over Dallas on Sunday. “Have to learn to forgive, and I don’t even think that was intentional. Or hopefully not.”

Lin is the NBA’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He captivated fans by leading the Knicks to seven straight wins before Friday’s loss.

In a statement Sunday, ESPN apologized for that headline and said it is aware of two other “offensive and inappropriate” comments. An ESPNEWS anchor who used the same phrase was suspended for 30 days. The cable network said a similar reference was made on ESPN Radio New York, but the commentator is not an ESPN employee.

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kahu808 wrote:

It appears we have a way to go in our society when a news organization like ESPN continues to use these offensive labels. ESPN took appropriate action in this case.

on February 19,2012 | 07:51AM

Classic_59Chevy wrote:

"An ESPNEWS anchor who used the phrase has been suspended for 30 days." - - - Why wasn't he/she also fired ??? - - - " And ESPN says a similar reference was made Friday on ESPN Radio New York, but the commentator is not an ESPN employee." - - - Why wasn't THAT commentator BANNED from all future ESPN broadcasts???

on February 19,2012 | 08:02AM

TMJ wrote:

I'm guessing he wasn't fired bacause he wasn't white.

on February 19,2012 | 08:22AM

serious wrote:

I agree with both of you. I don't for a minute believe these "what I really meant to say was" or "I was misquoted"! Fire them--give them their golden parachutes!!

on February 19,2012 | 10:05AM

NanakuliBoss wrote:

Huh?

on February 19,2012 | 11:16AM

surfergirl808 wrote:

headline says fired... a 30 day suspension is not at all the same.... FIRE THE IDIOT.

on February 19,2012 | 08:40AM

BO0o07 wrote:

The fired employee's immediate supervisor or boss should also be severely reprimanded or suspended.

on February 19,2012 | 09:40AM

false wrote:

Appropriate action taken!

on February 19,2012 | 09:47AM

Poipounder808 wrote:

Now if Frank Delima had said it we would all be laughing...

on February 19,2012 | 10:55AM

Cubsfan wrote:

Now if Frank Delima was a ESPN writer, he would also have been fired. Now if Jim Carrey had said it we would all be laughing...

on February 19,2012 | 02:17PM

Manapua_Man wrote:

Good thing no one at ESPN begged Lin "a thousand pardons..."

on February 19,2012 | 03:10PM

EjHo wrote:

Now that would be funny... Put a smile on my face.

on February 20,2012 | 04:38AM

kekelaward wrote:

Maybe the fired ESPN employee can get a job at ABC, ESPN's parent corporation....they let their "journalists" make racist remarks without penalty consistantly.

on February 20,2012 | 07:38AM