Look, for this story to be released it would have had to have been written, proof-read, sub-edited and published. Are you seriously suggesting that all the people in that workflow saw something racist and thought, 'screw it, let's try and get ourselves into trouble'.

You strike me as someone who is only happy when they have something to complain about, or some cause to trumpet to be honest. Stop looking for things to be wrong all the time.

Even if it was not mean to be racist (it probably was), it takes a complete idiot to let that headline fly into the American press. Stupidity is why they were fired, the racism was just the catalyst.

I highly doubt that ESPN.com gets this treatment 100% of the time.

If common sense was even a consideration in this situation then people wouldn't be trying to pass it off as racist in the first place.

And I meant that "black balled, woman gets bent over at work" makes no sense as a sentence, not that you can't use that idiom anywhere.

--- Post Update ---

I've only worked for Sky Sports in the UK, and while their staff were often allowed to sub-edit their own articles the final push to publication was always done by someone else. For larger stories the full workflow was always in place.

--- Post Update ---

If established idioms that have no racist undertone can't be used by a free press then the American public needs to be heavily medicated.

This wasn't a large story though, this was a small piece on Jeremy Lin's lack of defensive ability. They have been talking about Jeremy Lin non-stop for the past 2.5 weeks this article wasn't anything special.

Listen, while the original undertone has no racial connotations whatsoever, the application of the idiom in this context does.

I still doubt any professional organisation would have a content management system that allows reporters to push live directly. Someone must have OK'd this article.

it was up for all of 30 minutes before it was taken down, at 3am saturday morning in an off section of espn. I am sure millions were offended in that time which totally deserves that this writer never find work in his specialty again at the ripe old age of 28.

The only person hurt by this is the writer. The rest feign hurts to perpetuate their needed crutches.

That is the industry for you.

Am I the only one who laughed at the title because it is racist?

It was hilarious, but still racist and still deserving the punishments that were met because of it.

Im my opinion this boils down to the very people who are supposed to be against racism relying on it for their very existence. They see racism in everything, because the alternative means they can no longer shill for donations to buy their rainbow foundation limo's. This was not racist. The funny thing is, when it comes to racism... few if any are as racist as the orientals.

See what I did there? Not racist. Not at all. It mean's of the east, and nothing more.

Would this have been the title if Lin didn't play for the Knicks? Probably not. The writer went out of the way to make a pun. Whether he thought it was racist or not doesn't matter. The title of the story isn't even that great. What does "chink in the armor" even mean in a basketball context? You wouldn't see that title if it was Lebron having a 10 point game and 15 turnovers.

very daily show of them

Exactly.

ESPN headlines are always filled with puns. For example, right now the headline is "Net loss for Knicks" This guy knew exactly what he was doing.

Also, I'm sick of the ****ing hype about Jeremy Lin. He gets paid millions to run up and down a court like an idiot and throw a ball in a hoop. His salary is ~700k.

Regardless, the same argument can be made for actors, artists and musicians. Millions of people enjoy watching these players perform at the pinnacle of human ability. You may not like it, but it is ridiculous to be condescending simply because you do not enjoy a particular form of entertainment.

Yea yao is asian. Just not asian american. Lin was born here in the usa. Big diff. One could run for president. And one will never be able to run for president even if he pass the usa citizenship.

Amazing...the guy is pretty foolish for doing something that he knew would most likely get him fired. However...Americas "racial" insecurity is shameless and preposterous. Almost anything can be taken and twisted to offend someone somewhere. In this case, the person knew what he was saying, stupid, but I cant help ask myself if its actually racist at all. I seriously doubt the guy has anything against Oriental people, does anyone honestly believe that? I know there are certifiable racists living in this world of ours, but how many have any of you actually met? I went through grade school, junior high and high school in West Texas, which some would assume is "backwoods," etc, but I knew of mabye two or three "discriminators," and they werent racists, they just hated homosexuals due to religious beliefs, but not even they would actually hurt someone. Then I went in the Navy, being exposed to a very wide array of races, relgions, demographics etc for years and not once met a true racist. Sure, Ive heard race slandering, race jokes etc. But nothing that I would actually deem racist, demeaning or ever seen someone get hurt over race.

So once again, why are we so jumpy when it comes to certain words? And why do people "jump on the bandwagon" to support actions against these people? Is it because everyone is a coward and is terrified of being called a racist? Pretty sure I hit the nail on the head TBH.

Welcome to zero tolerance policy. no ifs, ands, or buts and no buts about it.

Unless it was fox news.

As per normal, a HUGE over-reaction to a play on words.
When I first read it, I had just taken it, as it would be used anywhere else, as a description of a weaknes, or hole, in a defense and it took a minute or two to remember one of it's other meanings as a slang term, even after reading it was about Lin.
As I've repeatedly said, words only have as much power as we give them and only allowing certain groups to use those words is RACISM! For example, the word "******" is acceptable for some to use but not others. I don't know if it's still used, but the word "honky" was another and, in the same vein, I've known asian friends to use the "chink" word as a casual term between themselves.
Either these words are not for anyone to use, which is stupid in my opinion, or they're like using any other term to describe a class of people.
As an example, there's the "motherf***er" word which can be a term of affection or a term of abuse, depending how it's delivered and the circumstances.
As a Scot, I've heard a number of words and terms that I could take offence at but I do what any sensible person would do, I consider the way it's said and the context before making a suitable reaction - whether that's laughter, returned abusive banter or violence!
Heck, one can convey pure contempt for someone using quite common everyday words and terms with suitable inflection and emphasis in the way it's expressed.

As an example of the lunacy, I wouldn't be surprised if, instead of looking at the context, one of the MODs decides to give an infringment for the use of a couple of those words.
[edit] no need - the "N" word was censored...

Do you really need me to explain to you when it is sociably acceptable to use a racial slur and when it isn't?

Yes, I want you to tell me EXACTLY why only some groups of people are 'allowed' to use certain words and others aren't - your explanation will, I am 100% confident, use race to justify who can use the words!

Hit the nail on the head there. These organisations have to justify their existence somehow.

--- Post Update ---

Ah! So actually, it's puns that are bad now? [rofl]http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../rolleyes1.gif

Honestly, this whole debacle makes me want to go out and throw up.