501 replies to this topic

[SuperManny]

I didn't know Jeremy Lin played for all those teams.

Considering that it was a response to someone looking for prior ESPN headlines with a similar title I'm not sure what you were expecting.

[moondog80]

Here you go:

A chink in the armor? Bears need to get to Rodgers by exploiting Packers' depleted O-line
http://msn.foxsports...-Oline-00245261

...

Fair enough. I still think the writer was aware of what he was doing, but I'll say it's on the outer reaches of plausibility that it was an innocent mistake. I'll also point out that all those examples show the phrase to be used in the context of a team otherwise thought to be unbeatable having a flaw exposed. As nice as the Knicks' run was, nobody thought or thinks they are the obvious favorites for the title.

[SuperManny]

Fair enough. I still think the writer was aware of what he was doing, but I'll say it's on the outer reaches of plausibility that it was an innocent mistake. I'll also point out that all those examples show the phrase to be used in the context of a team otherwise thought to be unbeatable having a flaw exposed. As nice as the Knicks' run was, nobody thought or thinks they are the obvious favorites for the title.

Agreed that they were not favorites but they were undefeated with Lin starting at that point and I don't think a day went by where Lin wasn't the headline on ESPN. He was certainly being built up as the biggest story in the NBA.

[ichirob4ichiro]

I didn't know Jeremy Lin played for all those teams.

Now that's funny.

[axx]

Yeah, I know, but I was watching ESPN and they were talking about Jeremy Lin. Switched to ESPN2 and they were talking about Tim Tebow.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I don't think I've heard someone refer to an Asian person as a "chink" in 15 years. I hear the phrase "chink in the armor" all the time. I think its absolutely plausible for someone to use that phrase and not make the connection to the racist term. I'm 100% confident the anchor didn't make that connection.

It's doesn't matter. Even is the author did make an inadvertantly racist pun, somewhere along the line it should have been stopped and removed.

If you don't know that "chink" is an offensive term referring to Asian people, then that's too bad. It's offensive and it should never have been used.

This is akin to Dirt Dog's site using a lynching photo as a sports reference. Ignorant and/or offensive, there's no fucking excuse for it.

[Rocco Graziosa]

It's doesn't matter. Even is the author did make an inadvertantly racist pun, somewhere along the line it should have been stopped and removed.

If you don't know that "chink" is an offensive term referring to Asian people, then that's too bad. It's offensive and it should never have been used.

This is akin to Dirt Dog's site using a lynching photo as a sports reference. Ignorant and/or offensive, there's no fucking excuse for it.

I was more referring to the anchor. As I said I honestly believe he didn't make the connection when he made the comment. (and his mea culpa pretty much backs that up) The headline is a much different story, and I agree that person should be removed. That said, I stand by what I said initially...........I haven't heard someone refer to an Asian as a "chink" in 15 years. I'm not sure many people under the age of 30 would even know the reference. I could be wrong though.

[Mystic Merlin]

I'm not sure many people under the age of 30 would even know the reference. I could be wrong though.

I can only speak for myself and my group of friends/acquaintances (early to mid-20s), but we are aware of the reference. In fact, I'm amazed you haven't heard the word/phrase in this context in so long. As far as I'm concerned, it is common parlance (i.e., its meaning is known, even if the word isn't used a lot).

EDIT - It is possible we have an unusual amount of knowledge of racial slurs, but I doubt it.

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 20 February 2012 - 01:11 PM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I was more referring to the anchor. As I said I honestly believe he didn't make the connection when he made the comment. (and his mea culpa pretty much backs that up) The headline is a much different story, and I agree that person should be removed. That said, I stand by what I said initially...........I haven't heard someone refer to an Asian as a "chink" in 15 years. I'm not sure many people under the age of 30 would even know the reference. I could be wrong though.

I agree with you on the anchor, as others have said that was likely a Ron Burgundy moment.

As for the other point, I find it incomprehensible that someone of adult age wouldn't be aware of that use of the word as a racial slur. There's simply no excuse for it.

[moondog80]

I agree about the anchor, far more believable that his was an innocent mistake.

[PBDWake]

I learned Chink back in 2nd grade, back before everyone's parents had taught them how big assholes they were for the "Me chinese, me so dumb" songs some of the kids used to sing, and then again in middle school, when some people wanted to be the standout funny kid and pushed the joke envelope well into racism. I may not have heard anyone call someone else a Chink to their face, but terms like almost everyone I knew knew Chink and Spic and all the other slurs by high school. And checking with my brother, who just graduated high school, it's still pretty well known, especially as, apparently, some yuppie asian kids have decided to try and "take it back" the same way some black people tried to take back the N word, with "Chink Please!" going around.

[Rocco Graziosa]

I guess I was wrong. (racism, alive and well in America.....USA USA! )

I will say if anyone wasn't aware of it they certainly are now.

Edited by Rocco Graziosa, 20 February 2012 - 01:53 PM.

[rembrat]

I guarantee you everyone under 30 knows what chink is referring too. It is thrown around cassually too. A lot of my stoner buddies use to tell one another they had "chinky eyes" after a few blunts.

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

"Chink" also appears in one of the all time movie classics. I don't know how anybody could use the word in any context referring to Lin without it being offensive.

[nattysez]

If you are in the public eye, you have to consider context before saying/writing things.

"Chink in the armor" is absolutely an acceptable phrase -- as shown above, it's used all the time in the sports context. But using it in connection with Lin is clumsy at best and offensive at worst. It reminds me of the white official in D.C. who used the word "niggardly" with black co-workers. Again, that's a real word, but when you're white and talking to black co-workers, you've got to find another word to use.

Some might call this being overly PC, but I'd call it being considerate of/toward your audience.

Edited by nattysez, 20 February 2012 - 02:35 PM.

[richgedman'sghost]

Honest question: If the anchor was Chris Berman or Stuart Scott (or any of the more well known anchors), do you think ESPN would have suspended him/her? I honestly had never even heard of the guy before yesterday. Would ESPN have been more forgiving of the former? The anchor made a mistake, no question about it, but a 30 day suspension seems reactionary.

Edited by richgedman'sghost, 20 February 2012 - 07:54 PM.

[stevman17]

Honest question: If the anchor was Chris Berman or Stuart Scott (or any of the more well known anchors), do you think ESPN would have suspended him/her? I honestly had never even heard of the guy before yesterday. Would ESPN have been more forgiving of the former? The anchor made a mistake, no question about it, but a 30 day suspension seems reactionary.

Probably not. Furthermore, assuming there is a need for punishment, why wouldn't the managers be punished as well? Racism is an ugly thing, and as a society we should be on the lookout for it. Unfair treatment of labor is also an ugly thing, and it deserves to be scrutinized just as much. Hopefully one day we will have progressed as far as a society in not tolerating unfair treatment of labor as we have in not tolerating racism. A 30 day suspension for an underling, for an act that he probably didn't even realize he was wrong at the time, is wrong.

[Curtis_Lesspanic]

If Mike Greenberg can survive his epic MLK day goof then I would assume Berman and Stu-yah would be given a pass as well.

Now if they did something realy stupid like telling an offensive joke at a Roast, then all bets are off.

[Marbleheader]

Honest question: If the anchor was Chris Berman or Stuart Scott (or any of the more well known anchors), do you think ESPN would have suspended him/her? I honestly had never even heard of the guy before yesterday. Would ESPN have been more forgiving of the former? The anchor made a mistake, no question about it, but a 30 day suspension seems reactionary.

It doesn't appear Jason Whitlock is getting even a slap on the wrist for something quite similar.

[Rocco Graziosa]

It doesn't appear Jason Whitlock is getting even a slap on the wrist for something quite similar.

What did Jason Whitlock do/say?

[Corsi]

What did Jason Whitlock do/say?

[Byrdbrain]

Google "whitlock and two inches of pain", I assume you will find it. I think that was much worse and there is no doubt what he meant by it.
I think this was a stupid mistake and I do wonder if he realized what he was saying.
I think a suspension would have been plenty harsh, he does something similar again and "he gone".



Edit: too slow

Edited by ptremb, 21 February 2012 - 02:56 PM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

That is just beyond awful.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

So MSG has an advertisement of Jeremy Lin's head popping out of a huge fortune cookie saying come see the knicks on a fortune coming out of his mouth. I think the caption above it reads "the knicks good fortune"

How is that not offensive.... heck thats offensive to me and I'm not even asian

I will try and find the link.... I saw the add in a segment on "The Ed show" on MSG

http://www.cbsnews.c...ne-cookie-sign/


Edit for link

Edited by Carl Everetts Therapist, 21 February 2012 - 04:31 PM.

[Rocco Graziosa]

So MSG has an advertisement of Jeremy Lin's head popping out of a huge fortune cookie saying come see the knicks on a fortune coming out of his mouth. I think the caption above it reads "the knicks good fortune"

How is that not offensive.... heck thats offensive to me and I'm not even asian

I will try and find the link.... I saw the add in a segment on "The Ed show" on MSG

http://www.cbsnews.c...ne-cookie-sign/


Edit for link

Isn't a fortune cookie akin to a four leaf clover for the Irish? Is a fortune cookie a negative connotation to Asian people? I'm asking honestly because its obvious I'm not clued into this shit.

[mrsbeasley]

So MSG has an advertisement of Jeremy Lin's head popping out of a huge fortune cookie saying come see the knicks on a fortune coming out of his mouth. I think the caption above it reads "the knicks good fortune"

How is that not offensive.... heck thats offensive to me and I'm not even asian

I will try and find the link.... I saw the add in a segment on "The Ed show" on MSG

http://www.cbsnews.c...ne-cookie-sign/


Edit for link

It wasn't an advertisement, it was a sign made by a fan that they showed during a game. Still a stupid thing to do but it wasn't created by MSG nor used as an advertisement.

[Three10toLeft]

I stopped reading Whitlock a while ago because I got tired of the same old race baiting bullshit that he seems to inject in to everything.

But that tweet was funny. Some people need to lighten up.

[johnmd20]

It wasn't an advertisement, it was a sign made by a fan that they showed during a game. Still a stupid thing to do but it wasn't created by MSG nor used as an advertisement.

How is that stupid or offensive? It's a fortune cookie and the sign is saying Lin is the Knick's good fortune. I am having trouble finding the outrage.

[Lose Remerswaal]

I stopped reading Whitlock a while ago because I got tired of the same old race baiting bullshit that he seems to inject in to everything.

But that tweet was funny. Some people need to lighten up.

Hey, no one said racist jokes can't be funny.

Doesn't make them not racist.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I stopped reading Whitlock a while ago because I got tired of the same old race baiting bullshit that he seems to inject in to everything.

But that tweet was funny. Some people need to lighten up.

Because we all know that all Asian people have small dicks. And they're all terrible drivers, amirite?

I wonder how Whitlock would have reacted to a similar tweet about a black man having a large dick.

[TheShynessClinic]

Because we all know that all Asian people have small dicks. And they're all terrible drivers, amirite?

I wonder how Whitlock would have reacted to a similar tweet about a black man having a large dick.

With pride?

[PBDWake]

Because we all know that all Asian people have small dicks. And they're all terrible drivers, amirite?

I wonder how Whitlock would have reacted to a similar tweet about a black man having a large dick.

Different connotations sadly. I think a better comparison would have been a tweet about "Some honey's getting an EBT Feast TONIGHT!"

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Different connotations sadly. I think a better comparison would have been a tweet about "Some honey's getting an EBT Feast TONIGHT!"

Yeah, that's true.

The point being, for a man who writes about race relations constantly, it's shocking that he would troll in offensive stereotypes on twitter.

[page 2 protege]

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/g2gn26

The kid who wrote the headline listed a personal statement. Tone is pretty self-serving, but in the aftermath, I can hardly blame him for trying his best to clear his name knowing that his job interviews going forward will head straight to this topic.

[mrsbeasley]

How is that stupid or offensive? It's a fortune cookie and the sign is saying Lin is the Knick's good fortune. I am having trouble finding the outrage.

Not being Asian I can't speak to it being offensive personally but people were offended apparently and I think for entities like MSG it's best to try and not do things that you can sense will set people off (although, as you noted, it isn't something most of us would look at and think was offensive). Having written that, MSG is getting blamed for something they didn't create which makes no sense to me. I'm sure it isn't the first time an offensive or possibly offensive sign was shown on a sports broadcast.

[johnmd20]

Not being Asian I can't speak to it being offensive personally but people were offended apparently and I think for entities like MSG it's best to try and not do things that you can sense will set people off (although, as you noted, it isn't something most of us would look at and think was offensive). Having written that, MSG is getting blamed for something they didn't create which makes no sense to me. I'm sure it isn't the first time an offensive or possibly offensive sign was shown on a sports broadcast.

People were offended by a picture of a fortune cooking saying, "The Knicks Good Fortune." I feel that is hypersensitive, but I'm not Asian, so obviously I don't know.

[Toe Nash]

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/g2gn26

The kid who wrote the headline listed a personal statement. Tone is pretty self-serving, but in the aftermath, I can hardly blame him for trying his best to clear his name knowing that his job interviews going forward will head straight to this topic.

Weird apology.
1. Like people saying "I have a gay / black / whatever" friend after using a slur, the "look at all this great stuff I did" paragraph is self-serving and seems like he's drawing us away from the subject. And pointing out how many non-racist headlines he's written is similarly worthless.
2. He doesn't answer the question "What were you thinking when you wrote that?" which is pretty much what everyone wants to know. If he honestly didn't make the connection that chink was a slur, that's better than thinking it was a joke or clever pun. He says he had a "lapse in judgment" but doesn't make it clear what that lapse was.

Edit: I don't really think he deserves anything more than what's already happened. Just a strange read.

Edited by Toe Nash, 22 February 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[Tartan]

At the end of the day though, it just feels like this is another example of an over sensitive society, looking to find nits to pick.

This implies that finding the headline offensive is a stretch. It's not. Picking nits is what someone does when they have to construe offense where there's none to be taken. That's not the case at all here.

[weeba]

Callahan sticks up for him, which I don't think is someone you want on your side.

https://twitter.com/#!/HeyCallahan/status/172409725441421312

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Gerry KKKallahan is the least self-aware person on the planet.

[weeba]

BSMW picks up on this too:
WEEI Has Zero Credibility on Jeremy Lin/ESPN Issue


http://www.bostonspo...y-linespn-issue

[Freddy Linn]

Craig James in a Republican debate to run for Senator from Texas:

JAMES: I think right now in this country, our moral fiber is sliding down a slope that is going to be hard to stop if we don't stand up with leaders who don't go ride in gay parades. I can assure you I will never ride in a gay parade. And I hear what you're saying, Tom, but leaders – our kids out there people need to see examples.

MODERATOR: Do you think people choose to be gay?

JAMES: I think it's a choice, I do.

MODERATOR: It's not in the genes?

JAMES: I think that you have to make that choice. But in that case right there, they are going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions. We should not give benefits to those civil unions.
...

I think it's a choice. I do. I think—you have to make that choice. Absolutely. I'm gonna finish this up now. Same-sex marriage, if someone chooses to do that, that's them. And the Lord—God's going to judge each one of us in this room for our actions. But in that case right there, they're going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions. We should not give benefits to those civil unions.

SI's Richard Deitch asked ESPN about the comments, and tweeted this response:

Responded an ESPN spokesperson:"You are asking a hypothetical since we don’t intend to bring Craig [James] back." So it's on the record.

Edited by Freddy Linn, 24 February 2012 - 04:32 PM.

[fairlee76]

Callahan sticks up for him, which I don't think is someone you want on your side.

https://twitter.com/#!/HeyCallahan/status/172409725441421312

I give Federico points for citing the (perhaps made up) homeless friend he helped at some point in time and giving props to God at the end of his letter. And, yeah, not sure a reference from Boston's favorite white supremacist is going to help him get another job.

[SuperManny]

I don't think this deserves it's own thread but is similar to the ESPN discussion.

Ben and Jerry's replaces fortune cookies in 'Lin-Sanity' flavor after controversy

Ben & Jerry's will take fortune cookies out of its new Jeremy Lin-inspired ice cream flavor after hearing complaints that the ingredient was racist.

Is this really racist?

Edited by SuperManny, 26 February 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[dirtynine]

Good lord. We have to teach tolerance of other cultures, but also of bad humor.

PCU was so prescient on this. "We're not gonna protest!"

[The Napkin]

So did they do it again? Ward is, of course, Korean...

[Toe Nash]

I didn't know the word Happy was a racial slur.

That's a big stretch.

[jercra]

I didn't know the word Happy was a racial slur.

That's a big stretch.

"Happy Ending" is a euphemism associated with massage parlors typically run Asians.

[Shelterdog]

So did they do it again? Ward is, of course, Korean...

They've got plausible deniability on this one.

[Toe Nash]

"Happy Ending" is a euphemism associated with massage parlors typically run Asians.

I know. I was making a funny. I guess since I have to explain it, the difference is that the Lin headline ACTUALLY CONTAINED A RACIAL SLUR.

Edited by Toe Nash, 01 March 2012 - 12:59 PM.