Outsports » New York Knicks

ESPN apologizes for ‘chink in the armor’ headline, promises review

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:59:30 +0000

Last night, ESPN’s mobile site used a headline with a racially charged double entendre to describe Jeremy Lin’s game against the Hornets. This morning they have ap0logized and are promising a review of the process that lead to the insensitive headline:

Last night, ESPN.com’s mobile web site posted an offensive headline referencing Jeremy Lin at 2:30 am ET. The headline was removed at 3:05 am ET. We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake.

ESPN.com editor in chief Rob King offered a strong statement on Twitter:

To be sure, the headline is a double entendre. “Chink in the armor” is a perfectly legitimate term to express vulnerability. But when you use the term to refer to someone of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, it takes on a whole new meaning.

Longtime Outsports reader Canmark shared this on our previous story:

As someone who’s been called a chink (many years ago), I’m not getting too excited about this. The phrase “chink in the armor” isn’t in itself offensive. For example, I recently saw this headline: “Santorum’s victory may expose chink in Romney’s armor.” Now, applying the “chink” phrase to someone who is of East Asian descent is questionable, but I’m willing to give the headline writer the benefit of the doubt (I don’t think there was any negative intent).

The phrase was also uttered by a SportsCenter host earlier in the day (below). Saying it off-the-cuff on live TV doesn’t bother me personally, given that it is a legit term; But somebody should have caught it, sitting at a desk carefully considering a headline, before publishing it on the Web.

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ESPN uses racial epithet in headline of Jeremy Lin story

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:57:29 +0000

Update Sunday, 8:30AMPT: ESPN has fired and suspended people responsible for headline, comments.

Update Saturday, 8:20AMPT: ESPN has apologized for the headline.

ESPN has been the biggest champion of New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin’s rise during the team’s seven-game winning streak. But they have potentially undone it all with a horribly racist headline that appeared on tablets, iphones, Androids and other mobile devices following the Knicks’ loss to the Hornets. It may have appeared online as well, but Outsports was only able to see it on ESPN’s mobile sites late Friday night.

Lin had nine turnovers in the game and inspired the headline, “Chink in the Armor” (screen capture after the jump). The term is akin to any other racist epithet you can imagine. Gay athlete Rod Silvestre, who is of Filipino descent and plays in the New York Gay Football League, was understandably outraged by the headline. He posted on Facebook:

Is ESPN serious with their lead story on their web page?

How do you go from celebrating one of the best underdog stories, to now talking about Jeremy Lin for all the wrong reasons. ESPN should be embarrassed.

We want to give ESPN the benefit of the doubt here, but it’s impossible to believe the person who wrote that headline didn’t know exactly what they were writing. Especially since ESPN previously came under fire for using the same headline…to describe a USA basketball game in China.

Update, Feb. 18, 12:10AMPT: ESPN has changed the headline to “All good things….” We have reached out to them for comment.

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NBA players Tweeting “No Homo” term

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:56:42 +0000

I had no idea what the term “pause” meant, other than when I pressed the little button on my ipod. But thanks to a college student who emailed us this week, I now know it means “No Homo.” It doesn’t get me riled up, but it’s still interesting. The student had written us because he’s noticed various NBA players using the term in their Twitter feeds. One of them is New York Knick forward Wilson Chandler (confirmed to be Chandler via the Knicks’ official Twitter feed). And you get the full meaning of the term in context. From Chandler’s Twitter feed:

Watchin South Central classic ish… My Yankees went down (pause) but we’ll bounce right back!

Miami weather is ridiculous… Better enjoy this while I can (pause) about to go to my bro’s crib and chill up for a while

Congrads 2 the Yankees! Another win, pulled out at the end (pause)

Thanks 4 the updates! Man I needed the Dodgers 2 lose, well at least the Yankees doing their thing! I might check them boys out tom, pause!

Another is fellow New York Knick Nate Robinson:

At star dinner, get n my 2scramble eggs grits sausage patties pause and grilled cheese sandwich its crazy word aaappp

Man I’m sit n n my jeep listen n too one of the best R&B songs tyrese(give love a try) classic pause ! Word aapp

Now what am I suppose to do when I want n my world but how can I want u 4 myself when I’m allready someone’s girl(pause)

It’s tough for me to get too excited about this term. “No homo” didn’t upset me, and this colloquial term meaning “No homo”…I’m just not offended or upset about it. To me, the term means, “Hey I’m not gay.” It doesn’t mean, “I hate gays.” Does it? Am I missing something here?

BTW, anyone know what aapp and aaappp mean?

Interestingly, Chandler’s Twitter feed has been taken down. I’m not sure why, but it’s an interesting coincidence that it got taken down after all these “pause” posts.

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LeBron follows in Shaq’s footsteps. Be afraid.

Joe Guckin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:50:39 +0000

Categories: Basketball, Film, NBA, Pop culture

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, New York Knicks, Shaquille O'Neal

Variety reports that Cleveland Cavalier (and probably future New York Knick) LeBron James is taking a shot at movie stardom. The good news: he’s playing himself in “Fantasy Basketball Camp,” a comedy about five guys from different backgrounds who go to Las Vegas to attend the LeBron James Adult Basketball Camp, and manage to pull [...]

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Hot Knick ain’t givin’ no ‘Amore’

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:21:00 +0000

New York Knick’s super-hot Danilo Gallinari, a rookie from Italy, is upset with his new team. Not only is the announcer using an Italian-like accent to say Gallinari’s name during games, but when he scores a goal they play Italianesque songs like “That’s Amore” and “Volare” throughout Madison Square Garden.

I what would happen if John Amaechi was out and still playing. Would the announcer suddenly start yelling “Heeeeeeyyy” and playing “YMCA” when the big man scored? And would gay fans be pissed or excited by it? If that was me, I’d love it. And I wonder what Eddy Curry would think.

Photo via Reebok.

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NBA Player Hit With Gay Sex Harrassment Suit

Kelvin Cabrera — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:25:41 +0000

The New York Post is reporting that New York Knicks center Eddy Curry is being sued by his former chauffer David Kuchinsky for allegedly making harassing statements while nude such as: “Look at me, Dave, look” and “Come and touch it, Dave.” Well, the accusations don’t stop there as Kuchinsky says among other things that Curry called him racist Jewish names, made him clean towels he had ejaculated into, and made him a “house boy.”

Far be it from any person on this blog to make any kind of accusations or allegations about anyone’s sexuality, but some questions abound about the accuser and his own credibility. Not the least of which is David Kuchinsky’s own prior record for burglary and resisting arrest. And before anyone goes flying off the handle, no, I don’t think any of that should add or subtract to the legitimacy of Kuchinsky’s claims. But to say they won’t… well, that’s just living in Isiah Thomas’ Fantasyland where the Knicks are seven-time defending champs.

This is actually just another note in what has turned out to be a monumentally disastrous trade for the Knicks which sent Mike Sweetney, Jermaine Jackson, and Tim Thomas and a 1st round pick (that ended up being #2 overall) after he had been diagnosed with a heart condition and with a history of knee injuries. And then gave him a gigantic contract to top it all off.

Just another black eye for a team that wants to avoid bad PR at any cost.

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