Arena ESPN Discussion Thread

I'd honestly never heard the word used as a slur before. Perhaps that's connected to living in the southeast, where we have a lower percentage of Asian-Americans than other area of the country, but still. On the other hand, I've heard the phrase "chink in the armor" (used without any racial intent) hundreds of times at least, probably thousands.

Also, I was checking results on google, comparing how common the terms were, and the full phrase seems to be much more common online than the slur, best I can tell.

Should it have been used? No. But seriously, the reaction to this has been overblown for what was pretty clearly an honest mistake.

 

Of course it is. Doesn't make it remotely acceptable.

As a professional journalist and/or editor, it is the ESPN employee's job to know the implications of the things they write and/or approve.

 

Which is why I said it shouldn't have been used. But its also very easy to see how it could be used without any racial intent whatsoever - I've seen more than a few comments around from people who, like me, weren't even aware that there was another meaning to the word, and wouldn't have except for all the publicity this has gotten.

Heck, I've used the phrase more than a few times myself, and could have easily used it in a situation like this (except for the not working for ESPN part) without even being aware of the racial implications.

Correct the headline, apologize for the oversight, sure. But firing him was a bit much. Had it actually called him the slur, instead of using a common phrase that makes perfect sense in the situation, that would be grounds for firing. But that really does not appear to be the case.

 

My first thought was wtf are they doing. It seemed to me that somebody wasn't doing his/her job.

 

The problem is "Chink in the Armor" is perfectly acceptable. When not referring to an Asian person. As it was used because of the popularity of an Asian American, the editor was in fact, pretty much, calling Lin the racial slur.

Imagine an African American were a kicker in the NFL and missed a game tying kick. My grandfather, God rest his soul, might have found it appropriate to remark that he "<racial slur" toed" it. What would be the reaction to that as an ESPN.com mobile headline?

 

Had it been used because he was Asian American, I would agree. But not just because of the rising popularity of a player who happens to be Asian American.

This isn't a case of "he's Asian American, let me use this phrase", but "he's gotten really popular and I wonder what his weakness is, so let me use a common idiom to refer to that" and then later "oops, there's a second meaning there connected to his being Asian American that I missed". The former is worth firing a guy for; the latter? Not so much.

 

From my vantage point, I don't see them using the phrase "a chink in the armor" if there's not Jeremy Lin (or another Asian American involved). They picked "a chink in the armor" because of the Asian American connection. They wouldn't use that to describe Lebron James, or Kentucky's only loss of the season, or Danica Patrick wiping out. They frequently go for puns on their headlines, and this one bit them in the ass.

 

If this was the case (which I absolutely do not buy) then the journalist and the editor are both incompetent. This term is not rare at all at has cropped up several times before.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chink#United_States

 

So how postal is Skip Bayless going to be tomorrow on First Take now that Tebow has been replaced by Lord Manning?


*mutters explitives over OPPM*

 

Awww.... They reunited Woody Page and Skip Bayless during First Take for some of the Tebow/Manning talk.

 

Example of ESPN not-stupidity

...and the outtakes are even better

 

I just typed "the outtakes are even better" as my response.

......

Oh boy.

 

But it's true.

 

This is SportsCenter have always been good. That one's up there with the epic ones of the past.

My Highlight is "Mom, when's dinner?"

 

"Bull****, we're goin' to the mall!"

 

Darrel Rovell's really been showing up on my ESPN Stupidity radar recently. I still think how he got duped with the NBA lock out escort service business is hilarious.

 

What, whatting a what?

 

Best part was that a teenager came up with the idea.

 

Yeah, that was pretty awesome.

 

Since I've started traveling more for work I've found myself disappointed that most of the time, hotels don't have NFL network. Just ESPN. *shudders*

 

We just switched cable services in my household and our current subscription plan does not carry NFL Network either.

 

And I just moved and acquired NFL Network

 

Where's a 'dislike' button when you need one?

 

Not ESPN, but still: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-giants-fans-twitter-rally-20121022,0,3920696.story

How the **** is the worthy of an article? Wow, fans supporting their team via social media... HOW MIND BLOWING.