ESPN has now fired the employee that wrote the headline “Chink in the Armor.” The headline was seen on the sports network’s mobile site. A news anchor for ESPNEWS has been suspended for using the phrase on the air.
The headline was referring to Jeremy Lin, the latest Knicks sensation and one that has generated a lot of hoopla over the last couple of weeks. The phrase was used, though, after Lin had a game that wasn’t as stellar as those previous. Lin has nine turnovers in Friday night’s game against New Orleans – a game that the Knicks ended up losing.
ESPN executives apologized for not only this headline, but two other comments that were on other ESPN outlets. ESPN said that the comments and the headline were inappropriate and offensive.
The anchor has been suspended for 30 days. The other comments were made by commentators that are not employed by ESPN.
Lin is the first player in the NBA who is of Taiwanese or Chinese descent. He’s led the Knicks in the last seven games to victory and become a sensation with the fans. “Linsanity” has become a common catch phrase used to describe the fans’ reactions.
Lin graduated from Harvard and was not drafted. He eventually would receive a contract with the Golden State Warriors. From there he would go to the Houston Rockets. Lin would join the Knicks early this season. He was claimed off of waivers in December. He was supposed to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. In fact, the Knicks considered releasing him before Lin’s contract was guaranteed. Lin only played a total of 55 minutes in the first 23 games of the season for the Knicks.
Lin would step on the court for the Knicks on February 4 and would rack up 25 points. The next few games he would endear himself with Knicks fans.
