ESPN headline that got writer fired (re: Lin turnovers)

Question

Chink in the Armor***

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by June 28th 1776.

Answer 1

oh....our nation has become so sensitive

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by 1SGgamecock.

Answer 2

True, but a good writer would've known better.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by uscbeckham.

Answer 3

some things you just don't do.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by chick75.

Answer 4

If he had just made fun of Lin's Christianity then he would still have his job.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by SpartanburgCock77.

Answer 5

Heard Dan Patrick talking about this. He said that some younger generation folks didn't even have a problem with it because they didn't think it was a big deal.

But older folks trying to be super PC got worried.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Rollerdude123.

Answer 6

political correctness

Link: run amok

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by chucktowncock.

Answer 7

No ... you don't write that headline and expect to keep your job. It's like one of the most-derogatory labels you can apply to a Chinese person. It's akin to the N-word for that ethnic group.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by pollo del mar.

Answer 8

and his headline was merely some sports jargon. I have heard that expression used very often in sports and it was never thought to be derogatory.

However, I think it was unfortunately coincidental he used that expression regarding a Chinese player.

I do not feel he should have been fired.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cola G'Cock.

Answer 9

to Chinese people and may have never even heard it used in that way.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cola G'Cock.

Answer 10

some this is very offensive too.

I guess it is all a matter of where your mind is.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cola G'Cock.

Answer 11

It was hilarious, but no way should it be a headline on ESPN. Chink isn't as bad as negro, but its a helluva lot worse than honky.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by June 28th 1776.

Answer 12

I think political correctness has gone way over board but common sense should have told the writer that, that play on words would be offensive.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by b.wun.

Answer 13

Negro is a bad word now? How abt caucasian? The PC elite keeps switching it up on us.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Combahee Cock.

Answer 14

I agree that the writer should have known better, not because it's so terrible but because the PC climate of today won't tolerate it. Those of you old enough to remember All in the Family will likely remember how funny it was. Archie Bunker was the biggest racist ever. But, I don't recall any big uproar over it. In fact it was one of the most successful sitcoms ever. But if someone even thought of creating a show like that now, it would be shot down in a flash. Seems it's only okay to laugh at white males and christians now. Everything else is off limits. It's the pussification of America. God forbid anyone should get offended.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by importcock.

Answer 15

Blazing Saddles wouldn't have made it to the theaters.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by coxman.

Answer 16

Personally I consider using words that were historically discriminatory as simple etiquette rather than something the "PC elite" imposes on me. But that's just me.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 17

The writer composed it at 2:30am. He was probably tired. The writer's(Anthony Federico)wife is Chinese.


"Federico has also apologised to Lin, saying that he did not realise that what he wrote would be offensive.

"This had nothing to do with me being cute or punny," he told the New York Daily News.

"I'm so sorry that I offended people. I'm so sorry if I offended Jeremy."

Bretos was suspended after turning to another commentator on air and asking: "If there is a chink in the armour, where can he improve his game?" He too has said that he meant no racial reference, and disclosed that his wife was Chinese.

"My wife is Asian, would never intentionally say anything to disrespect her and that community," he said. "Despite intention, phrase was inappropriate in this context."

Link: Link

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by lakemurraycock1.

Answer 18

It's no so much PC than if this writer seriously did not realize his mistake, then he should not be writing for a major media outlet. You never know what else he may not know about and it may be worse. I'm not a big fan of the four letter network, but I can unsterstand their reasonning here. If the writer didn't understand the implication of the word "chink", then ESPN shouldn't allow that kind of risk on their staff. It's not about what ESPN thinks, it's about the risk to their market share.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Out of Conference.

Answer 19

You can't have a day go by without reading some kind of ethnic slur.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by GWMorris.

Answer 20

Whoa, didn't know it was Max Bretos.

Link: "Can't be more than 114!"

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by June 28th 1776.

Answer 21

This is exactly true. And shows the hypocrisy of our nation. So why does this hypocrisy exist? Because Christians don't form political groups to whine about being slandered because of their faith and force political movements to punish those who mock our faith. Jesus promised His followers would be persecuted for their faith. Though not being perfect, most Christians are secure enough in their faith that they don't need the approval of others, and can look past the mockery with some sense of humility and confidence.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Skyrooster.

Answer 22

I can see a censure... but fired?

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by ljk.

Answer 23

PC Police? Please. People on this board are the most sensitive I've ever seen. You're always looking for some slight by the media or some reason to assume victim status. So give me a break.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Bongsummers.

Answer 24

Skyrooster, imagine if ESPN had a headline about Tebow reading "Baby Jesus Nailed to the Cross by New England." Now imagine the complete outrage among Christian groups. It would have made the yearly "war on Christmas" charade look tame. And what Asian political groups rallied to have this writer fired? None. He was fired becausse ESPN has a professional standard and he didn't meet it. It would have been the same if an ESPN writer called our baseball team "rednecks" because they're from SC.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Bongsummers.

Answer 25

I fail to see how that is anywhere in the same universe as using a racial slur. Beside Christians make fun of other religions probably more than anyone.

This post was edited on 2/21 11:16 AM by T8erH8er17

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by T8erH8er17.

Answer 26

I've definitely seen Christians on here slandering all kinds of people for their appearances, beliefs, customs, etc.

As far as the writer is concerned, if it wasn't purposeful, it was just a very stupid oversight, and ESPN has no shortage of resources to find a replacement, immediately. Personally, I think the headline is funny even though it is insensitive.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Sulayman.

Answer 27

Not true, Christians whine all the time about anything they don't like. Most Christians I know are arrogant hypocrites who don't can't even see it. They generally only care about people who believe what they do and think like them and are try to push their beliefs and ways of life on people, and get angry when some tries to stop them from doing that. Most Christians are NOT humble. That is is just one of the things Christians say about themselves because they think they are better or "holier" than thou. I am not saying there is anything wrong with being Christian, but I think the Bible might have said something about casting stones and keeping pride in check. If you really want to be a good Christian maybe yous should stop worrying about other people's flaws so much and just worry about your own and pray for forgiveness for them.

This post was edited on 2/21 11:38 AM by T8erH8er17

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by T8erH8er17.

Answer 28

Not true about All in the Family. The show was satirical. It was showing the err of Archie's bigotry, and how it affected him and others around him.

It almost always ended up biting him in the ass, and that was the general point of the show.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by uscbeckham.

Answer 29

Not well at all.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by GWMorris.

Answer 30

In no way was I defending a racial slur or saying it's ok to say them. Only that I do believe Christians are targeted more than most for their faith (probably because many have misrepresented true Christianity, as T8terH8ter has evidenced, AND because the claims of Christ are offensive to many), and that the reason people aren't so "scared" to mock Christians as they are to say the N-word or a slur about Asians, or gay people, or whatever, is because for the most part, Christians don't make a royal case about being mocked for our faith as most other groups do. I don't. We know it comes with the territory of being a Christian. They mocked and killed Jesus and His disciples. And Jesus promised it would happen to any other of His followers. And plus, when Christ's love compels His followers who are truly representing Him (not those who say they follow Christ yet still show hate to their neighbor), they don't respond to attacks with hate, but with love and humility. THAT, I think, is the difference in the responses. Others get offended when a wrong is done to them (and maybe rightfully so) and seek for recompense and retaliation and legislation. A true follower of Christ doesn't always act so extreme when our faith is mocked so openly. Obviously this isn't always the case, but as a general rule. And that is not being prideful, just stating the motivation that drives the behavior.

Case in point, if I go up to someone and call them an "N-word" because they are black, it would not go over well and I could get sued or beat up or whatever. If someone comes up to me and calls me a "hatemonger" or any other offensive name because I am a Christian, I would not respond the same way. As a matter of fact, I would seek to communicate love to them, because that's what Christ would do. And so many other Christians I know are the same way, because of love. In fact, I would dare say that many black Christians would respond the same way if called the "N-word," because responding by their faith is more important than their rights or decency. It's a difference in motivation, and that was my point.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Skyrooster.

Answer 31

No. This is really not complicated. Christians have never been a repressed minority in America. People of character oppose using phrases or words that were used as slurs against repressed minorities. That is what this is about.

This post was edited on 2/21 12:31 PM by fancypantz

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 32

I agree with your statement that people of character oppose using phrases or words used as slurs. No doubt. But to say that Christianity is not one of the most mocked "group" of people in this nation is really turning a blind eye IMO. Repressed? Well, there are different opinions there. But I believe the origin of this thread was making fun of someone because of who they are. I may be missing something huge here, and if so, I'd love to be educated. But I don't recall much repression of Asian Americans.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Skyrooster.

Answer 33

If this is so... then it's stupid writing, not conincidence, I would think. This player has made his team BETTER, and that expression means the opposite - ie, a weakness. No, it's more reasonable that he knew exactly the "play" on words and intended it.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by ljk.

Answer 34

Another uneducated lemming...

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Combahee Cock.

Answer 35

To say he did not intend the headline i think is pretty suspect. Anytime of day you can go on to espn.com and see some sort of play on words headline. Saw one this morning about the Baylor Bears basketball team titled "Getting thier Bearings", there is a Albert Pujols titled "Albert says Halo", another ...they do this ALL the time, so I dont think it was a coincidence.
We definitely live in a society though where I feel there are times where it is acceptable to offensive to some groups (hispanics, christians, whites come to mind) while unacceptable to be offensive to others (muslims, blacks, homosexuals comes to mind).

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cock-a-Doo.

Answer 36

Righto. You whining about the "PC elite" shows that you're a free and creative thinker and not a "lemming" since no once has thought of that before. And since you know nothing about my education a wise person wouldn't call me "uneducated." But I realize that doesn't apply here.

This post was edited on 2/21 1:49 PM by fancypantz

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 37

Actually, someone DID have a show like that... Dave Chappelle. But he could get away with it because he is black. He ripped everyone, including his own race. I loved it, but a white person could NEVER get away with a show like that. THAT shows you where or country is right now. Everything is funny until the so-called white guy says it, and ALL of us in America ate pretty much a hodge podge of races and nationalities. I hate the level of liberal political contracts of today's society. Do not want to go back to the cruelties of days past, but we have really fine overboard with the clamps on truly great humor.

Still, this writer asked for it in this case.



Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by GLiDE..

Answer 38

It must be terrible for you to be so oppressed.

Like I said I consider not using slurs for previously repressed groups of people simple etiquette and class. Those always should be a choice rather than a requirement.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 39

How did religion even get brought into this thread? Its funny how no one even said anything about Christianity, then someone came on here whining about a hypothetical situation where people made fun of Lin being a Christian. If these events, or occurences where you are persecuted because of your religion, are real then use a real event.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cool Hand Cock.

Answer 40

Internment camps in WWII
History of building railroads and misuse of labor including murder
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

To name a few.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by MidwestCock.

Answer 41

This uptight, politically correct society needs to chill. Margaret Cho, the comedian said someone called her a Chink. She told him she was not Chinese, but Korean. Therefore she said, "I am a Gook."

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by lookhere.

Answer 42

Thanks for that. I guess I just don't hear a lot of Asian Americans running around complaining about their repressed past. And if that sentiment is among the Asian American community, that is certainly not something that is voiced.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Skyrooster.

Answer 43

You also don't hear them running around trying to deny the rights of other citizens or tell other citizens what is morally correct based on their personal relationship with God.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Sulayman.

Answer 44

People in this country are not even treated to religious persecution. If anyone is, its the Muslims who get it from zealous Christians eager to block construction of mosques. Which has happened all over the country. Thats real religious persecution. Not someone disagreeing with your view of religion. Thats freedom of speech.

Some people would be good to look at other countries to see what real religious persecution is.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cool Hand Cock.

Answer 45

From my perspective, it seems that Asian Americans don't play the victim card. Instead, they take advantage of available opportunities to get ahead.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by atl-cock.

Answer 46

When you're the vast majority of the population you really don't have any reason to need to.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by cockhornleghorn.

Answer 47

True. And here's a pretty comprehensive history

Link: http://www.zakkeith.com/articles,blogs,forums/anti-Chinese-persecution-in-the-USA-history-timeline.htm

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 48

No. It was using slurs associated with historically repressed groups. You've tried to twist it into generic "mocking." And my father in law is a minister and my daughter and future son in law are studying to become ones and still thing your assertion that Christians are "one of the most mocked group of people" is absurd. I guess I have a blind eye.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by fancypantz.

Answer 49

No. I responded to the Christian aspect of this when it was brought up by someone else. But even if not, this is the nature of discussion. And I respectfully disagree with you and your family that you say have those opinions. In the media, there is a line when it comes to "mockery" or inappropriate slurs of all groups except for Christians it seems.

We disagree. That's ok. My original response, and where I bow out of this thread, was when Christians are mocked and slurred against, most who truly represent the heart of Christ respond in love and not vengeance, whether it is warranted or not. This in no way justifies anyone ever using slurs against anyone, for any reason.

Best to you fancypantz, and your family in their ministry endeavors.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Skyrooster.

Answer 50

As long as ESPN or any other news/sports oulet continues to cover or refer to the NFL team in Washington, then all other slurs should also be acceptable. The "R" word is, if anything worse than the "N" word, yet no one bats an eyelash at that.

Originally posted on Fighting Gamecocks Forum by Cherokee Cock.