ESPN Fires Employee for Offensive Jeremy Lin Headline Seen Online

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by AP

Story Created: Feb 20, 2012 at 4:22 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2012 at 4:22 PM EDT

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP)--ESPN says it 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.
 
Lin is the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He has captivated fans by leading the Knicks to seven straight wins before Friday's loss.
 
In a statement Sunday, ESPN apologizes for that headline and says it is aware of two other ``offensive and inappropriate'' comments. An ESPNEWS anchor who used the same phrase has been suspended for 30 days. And ESPN says a similar reference was made on ESPN Radio New York, but the commentator is not an ESPN employee.

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