ESPN fires employee over ‘offensive’ Lin headline

LOS ANGELES – US sports network giant ESPN says it has fired an employee responsible for an ‘offensive’ headline about National Basketball Association star Jeremy Lin.

ESPN said after an internal review the decision was made to sack the person responsible for the anti-Asian slur against Chinese-American Lin who plays for the New York Knicks.

The headline “Chink in the Armor” was included in the online mobile web site story about Lin’s role in the 89-85 loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

“The ESPN employee responsible for our Mobile headline has been dismissed,” ESPN said in a news release on Sunday.

ESPN said it also suspended one of its anchors for 30 days for another ‘offensive’ comment.

“We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin,” ESPN said in a statement. “His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees at ESPN.

“Through self-examination, improved editorial practices and controls, and response to constructive criticism, we will be better in the future.”