Well, someone’s getting fired. Last night ESPN published a racist headline about the New York Knicks’ new star Jeremy Lin. The mobile sports site used the headline “Chink in the Armor” last night referring to the Knicks loss against the Hornets.
The Long Island Press reports that the headline went up on ESPN’s mobile site at around 2 a.m. this morning and remained on the site for about 40 minutes until angry readers complained.
ESPN issued an apology this morning, saying:
“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.”
Surprisingly, the late night “Chink in the Armor” headline isn’t the first time that the phrase has been used recently on ESPN. On Wednesday night, an ESPN anchor used the same phrase when asking how Lin could improve his game.
Here’s the video of the comment.
ESPN issued an apology after the remark was made, saying:
“Wednesday night on ESPNEWS, an anchor used an inappropriate word in asking a question about Jeremy Lin. ESPN apologizes for the incident, and is taking steps to avoid this in the future.”
Do you think ESPN is just making careless mistakes? Do you think the phrase “Chink in the armor” was humorous or racist?
Racist remarks definitely means someone is threatened by Lins talent.
who the hell is the author of that?
Any chance ESPN could get away with the headline "Sniggers all round" with the photo of the winning team of the NBA finals?
It's an old saying, not everything needs to be construed as racism. Get over yourselves people. I'm sick of Americas entitlement to feel offended at everything. A Chink in the Armour can be used to describ anyone else except Chinese people?? It not like the headline read "the Chink stinks"
I don't think it was intended to be racist. Maybe the writer should have thought it out a bit more. But i don't think the intention was racist, i just think it was a writer using a common phrase that is not racist but since J. Lin happens to be asian and we live in an over sensitive world where people look for any reason to be offended and make a big deal out of nothing
Sometimes I wish there was a racially offensive term for white people.
"Chink in the armor" was not used because he's asian, you must be joking. I'm not that "sensitive", but to put it in to terms you may relate to it is like saying the "n****r has problems with his game. I never use the "n" word either, maybe because I'm sensitive. By the way, the fortune cookie headline even shows more ignorance. Asians don't give each other fortune cookies, it's an american thing. MEDIA please learn some culture before you comment. You just look like idiots.
Yup the phrase has been around for a long time but I'm sure there are other phrases to describe weakness. Sure it may not have been used in a racist way but the word "chink" is more associated with a derogatory way of describing people from China (and spmetimes orientals in general). So using the phrase "chink in the armor" in this case wasn't very apt of whichever editor it was.
TL;DR version: Editor could've used a different phrase to avoid all this uproar especially since this is the second time it has happened.
There probably is if you look hard enough but I, personally, won't stoop to that level of needing to be racist to white people or otherwise.
I think people are offended because of the inner turmoil the word stirs in individuals who have historically been oppressed with such words… some of the turmoil evoked is feelings of dehumanization, self hate and mental images of racist propaganda. All of this inculcated into 99.9% of Asian Americans today in America since probably around kindergarten. So this author saying this isn't really conscious of the psychological struggle an Asian American person endures.
There's that saying 'how could you understand the pain, if you never had to stand under the rain'.
Here is the bottom line. I'm white, and have black friends that are very close. I don't ever use the "N" word, because I will never know what it is like, to be black and hear a white person use that word.
Likewise, ESPN may have meant no harm, and may have just been throwing out a word that they feel people need to "relax" over because there was no malice behind it… but the people who work for ESPN who used that word, will never know what it is like to be Asian, and here someone else say what they said.
Honestly, it makes me sick and I hope everyone involved is fired; they are supposed to be professionals. There's plenty of qualified people who would love to have their job.
To people saying "it's a common saying" not intended to be racist… It's all about context. How many other saying could they have used…hundreds. Would it be racist to mention the popular saying "monkey see, monkey do" in reference to the weakness of a black athlete? Of course, because of inference of context. You guys should take an English composition class, then maybe you'll understand the many subtleties of the English language. Whichever Copywriter wrote this article should be fired for either: malice, ignorance, or being a bad writer. If Steve Nash lit up the arena, would it be appropriate to say the atmosphere was like a "honkey tonk bar"? Thinly veiled racism always allows for the racist to claim ignorance.
Thank you and Mizzou Dan! I wasn't even offended by the Jason Whitlock comment, but the teasing and fights I got into from being called a chink and chink eye is not a happy childhood memory. It's the worst thing you can call an Asian.
Thank you, people of non-Asian descent for telling me what is and is not racist and offensive to Asians. How would I know how to feel otherwise? * sarcasm ends * I think most of us are aware that the expression "a chink in the armor" void of context does not refer to Chinese people; but if you know anybody who has ever worked as an editor or writer who comes up with headlines, you would know they obsess over getting the perfect headline – and if it has a pun, even better. It's one thing to find humor in racism to expose it; but this is something entirely different – ESPN is not Chris Rock.
Yeah… People don't care and don't seem to get it no matter how you try and explain it. There's something about making fun of Asians that seems completely acceptable and non-threatening to society at large…http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/jason-whitlock-apologizes-unfunny-jeremy-lin-twitter-145934497.html
does it make me a bad person if this guy's tweet made me giggle a little bit?
Ryan Poblete haha I'm not an Asian male, so I'm not about to tell you how to feel about it
but you're obv a confident guy to be able to laugh at it, so * high five *
That's funny. From the lyrics of "Jin" how 'bout I put an eggroll and dumplings in your mouth.
Chink- Noun. A narrow opening or crack, typically one that admits light. 2. a high-pitched ringing sound. 3. a crack, cleft, or fissure: a chink in a wall. 4. a narrow opening: a chink between two buildings.
Armor- Noun. Protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action.
The general public needs education and Johnson and Johnson lotion for sensitive skin.
Honkey, blue eyed devil, cracker, redneck.
since there are very few asians in NH, why dont you go to Chinatown in NY call people chink and explain the definition;-)
Philip Lin I never called anyone a "Chink". Nor do I use derogatory terms when speaking about people.
I am not sure what you're trying to say in context to my comment.
By the way Im half white, but how about this headline next time a white guy has a bad game in basketball. "White trash" should be thrown in garbage. Along with his time.
Just the Johnson and Johnson comment, meaning that asians are being too sensitive. It's the worst thing you could call an asian.
whether the racial slur was intentional or not, the writer is a moron and should be fired. can you imagine what would have happened if the N word was in a headline? why would you employ someone so stupid?
Philip Lin I was referring to everyone over reacting. Not just Asians.
Why was Jason Whitlock looking at JLin's penis anyway?
Philip Lin, that is racist. The phrase "chink in the armor" is not.
Jason that phrase I posted is exactly how racist "chink in the armor" is to asians, whether they meant it or not. Very strange they used chink, though isnt it? if not on purpose subliminal?
Dont just look at my post, but seriously if someone accidentaly slipped in the "n" word this nation would be in an uproar. Unfortunately as a white person there is not much you could relate too in this situation. Please just understand it was a horrible headline and how it got posted is ignorance.
Really INQUISTR? — This is absurd. So many in the media want to create news.
To those who were offended, did any of you actually listen to the clip? "Chink in the Armor" does not refer to a racial slur, so stop pretending that it does.
Mizzou, how about judging what was said in the context in which it was said? If you listen to the clip, it is obviously not that overused word, "racist", or even "prejudiced". "Chink in the armor" is a phrase that has nothing to do with an ethnic slur.
Talk about judging someone by the color of their skin. The person is white, so it seems that by definition, they are probably "insensitive", and obviously had a "racist" intent.
INQUISTR, you should be ashamed of yourself. ESPN should sue you.
Matthew Rand
Moron, CONTEXT is everything. Stop making excuses for a "professional" with disastrous judgment. That dude should be wise in staying away from NYC for a while.
Bull crap…
If you're non-Black and say the N-word to a group of black guys, and then say you didn't mean anything malicious or racist with that statement. Lets see what happens to you.
Lindsey is it because the assumed writer is not Asian, that "a chink in the armor" is automatically racist? I just want you to think about it for a minute. You already acknowledged the fact that "chink in the armor" does not refer to Chinese people, so because there is now a Chinese-American on the team, the use of the phrase automatically becomes racist?
What is offensive to me is that the assumption is that the person must have been trying to make some sort of pun because Jeremy Lin is on the team. It is the assumption of hidden racism, trying to come out in any way it can.
There was a time when it was considered moral not to judge ill of others, and in cases where there is doubt, to judge favorably until more evidence disproved it. That's how people used to behave before we as a country decided to worship race and not God.
Just type in the word "Chink" into Google and this will be your first result…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chink
"Chink (also chinki, chinky, chinkie) is an English slang term referring mainly to a person of Chinese ethnicity but sometimes generalized to refer to any person of East Asian descent. Contemporary usage of the word as an ethnic slur has sparked controversies in the media for many years and many people consider the term an insult." ~ excerpt.
Regardless of the word "Chink"'s other meaning (crack/gap/narrow opening/fissure)… The word "Chink" DOES HAVE another meaning and that should have been taken into consideration especially with regards to Jeremy Lin or any Asian person for that matter when being the subject of the article the headline represents.
It most certainly is not. "Chink in the armor" has nothing to do with an ethnic slur against Chinese people. Look it up in an idiomatic dictionary if you need to. So, no, it is not like saying the "n****r has problems with his game." But I will give you an example of what it is really like:
It is like what happens every once in a while with the term "niggardly". The term "niggardly" means in a miserly or stingy fashion, and has no connection to the word n****r, but because blacks get offended by the word, people have to be careful to avoid the word. People have had to step down from public office because of it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/jan99/district27.htm
edwin6690 — Are you saying that an idiomatic phrase like "chink in the armor" can't be used if Asians are around? That attitude seems more insulting to Asians than anything I heard in the clip. At least I assume that Asians, especially those raised in the United States would be able to discern between an ethnic slur and a common expression.
Hey Matthew, whether you think this is racist or not isn't even the point anymore. The point is many people were offended by it because it felt very racist to them.
When somebody tells you that they are cold, do you tell them, "Hey it's 68 °F, and that's the universal scientific standard for room temperature! The fact that you are cold means that you hate jesus!"?
Instead of shaming people into feeling less offended, maybe you should take this as a learning experience and realize that not everybody on the planet can be as enlightened as you are.
Matt, I hear you and I do think that people should be more relaxed when it comes to things like this, but let's be honest… if we're going to be relaxed about THIS… then we can be relaxed about all of it. Remember when Fuzzy Zoeller said Tiger Woods should be eating watermelon and having fried chicken when he first joined the PGA tour? I mean, way out of line.
Now this incident with Lin is, I will agree, on a lesser intention of being crude that the one with Tiger. But the point is, can you really say there's a line, where being a little bit racist is okay, but too racist is not okay? No! It's ALL not okay. You'd never tell your kid that it's okay to go to school and get in a little bit of a fight, but being in big fight is bad.
You know, I went to jr. high with almost 50/50 white black and then me. I was never called chink by any of my black friends or others, but only whites. So funny, that white people keep defending the comment. I know as smart chinese we are supposed to be the bigger person and just understand stupidity, but Say chink of armor where i am from in N. California and see what happens to you.
As a person of Asian descent, I can only say that I personally found the comment extremely offensive and was shocked to see that a national site like ESPN would post such a thing – if even for only 35 minutes. I understand websites need headlines to draw traffic but there are limits to what should be posted and this time that limit was clearly crossed. The word chink is a derogatory slur and the fact that it was used in a headline and paired with a picture of an Asian is despicable. I hope whoever was responsible will be fired.
Ryan, when someone tells me that they are cold and then say I should be fired for making them cold, I will tell them that it is 68 degrees F, and that's the universal scientific standard for room temperature. In other words, I shouldn't be fired for making the room a reasonable temperature.
Likewise, when someone tells me that they were offended because I used the phrase "chink in the armor", and I should be fired for making such a racist comment, I'll tell them that "chink in the armor" is an phrase having nothing to do with an ethnic slur.
People can feel what they want to feel, but when those feelings turn into real consequences for others, like getting fired, then I think facts matter more than feelings.
Hey Matt what do you think of that white trash player should play garbage time. It just means that there is paper in the trash and he should get less minutes
ur an effin idiot, racist as hell, and dont deserve to talk
ur an effin idiot, racist as hell, and dont deserve to talk
Matthew Rand After having reviewed a lot of these comments, I see that you are a racist and a troll. This is offensive, and you refusing to see what's right in front of you is weird and creepy. Get a life and quit beating this dead horse. You're wrong, 68 ° is freezing, and if enough people complained you should get fired because you are unwilling to change when the whole world is telling you that you need to!
Please comment. What if a headline said white trash player needs to play garbage time. Would anyone be offended? Just using the words "white" and "trash" look them up in the dictionary there is nothing offensive and garbage time just means less minutes.
Mizzou Dan, my point is that using a phrase "chink in the armor" is not inherently racist, and doesn't become racist, simply because Jeremy Lin is around.
It would be different if someone said, "So, Jeremy, do you think you are the CHINK in the armor of the Knicks?" But it wasn't like that, it was that someone merely used the phrase "chink in the armor" about a team Jeremy Lin is on.
It's not about tolerating this little bit of racism versus a lot of racism, it is being able to discern if racism is at play and not to have as an axiom that whites are inherently racist.
What's next? Will I be called a racist if I say that Jeremy Lin ran on the court like a "bull in a china shop"? Where will the line be drawn?
Your analogy is false. The phrase "white trash player" is inherently derogatory, while "chink in the armor" is a phrase that has nothing to do with an ethnic slur; it is not inherently derogatory, even if I called Jeremy a chink in the armor of the Knicks. If I called Jeremy a CHINK in the armor of the Knicks, that would be different.
What is offensive is assuming that "chink in the armor" becomes an ethnic slur merely by the presence of an Asian. What is also offensive is the assumption you'd like me to make that Asians can't discern between using "chink" as an ethnic slur, and a phrase, "chink in the armor", which has no racial connotations.
slcpca, now the original headline has been taken down, so I can't see what it said. But judging from the ESPN comment that used "chink in the armor", it was obvious that the comment wasn't referring to Lin himself but rather his skill set.
So no, saying that Lin may have a chink in his armor is not the same as saying that white trash player should get garbage time.
So does it make me racist when i put the words ignorant, which is what it is to put an asian and chink in the same sentence, white which is a color and trash which is stuff you throw away. make me racist. you ignorant white trash!
In response to Matt Rand. You know the swastika had good meaning in ancient times, but things changed when the Nazi's used it for German supremacy, so keep using the word niggardly. Way to keep your mind open and change with the times. I guess you can't unlearn racism. Sad.
The author and editor must go immediately. Our country should not allow this kind of behavior. ESPN is encouraging jealousy and racialism. Does ESPN have a moral obligation and standard?
Seriously, go get kicked in the stomach when the odds are 7 to 1, while being called a chink. Then have the word chink, which is only used as a racist slur being used in a sentence with an asian and not be offended. By the way i have not heard the term chink in the armor since the middle ages. It is not a regularly used term, but somehow randomly it was used with JLIn. Chance of racism 99.99…..% chance of it being random 1 in a million.
All that needs to be said is that next time it's better to choose a phrase that won't spark the whole racism debate.
gasp! huge nono
major bad judgement. silly people.
Chink is on the same level as negroid or even caucasian. Furthermore, Jeremy Lin is not from China but rather Taiwan. With all the political tensions throughout history until now between Taiwan and China, it's a no brainer how politically incorrect it is.
chink with a capital"C" is the slang racist. the headline uses a small "c" and is the narrow opening: a small narrow crack or slit.
"Sunlight was coming in through a chink in the curtains."
Racism in NBA towards the Chinese has been present since the Yao Ming era. Even Shaquille O'Neal said bad things against Yao Ming.
Matthew Rand I think you missed the point I was trying to make that "chink in the armor" can refer to multiple things – that most of know that it refers to weaknesses in what seems to be an impenetrable force, AND it happens to also include a term that references a person's race/ethnicity in a derogatory manner – a double entendre, if you will. And maybe i'm giving the author of that headline (and certain people who don't see it either) too much credit of being "witty" enough to know that. But either way, I think disciplinary action is completely appropriate b/c this person was hired to draw readers, not create a PR nightmare.
I bet nobody can offend me, I just wont let them. so now what?
hm did not see your original reply b/c it doesn't show up on the original site, but my stance has not changed. There are dozens of ways to say "Lin might not be the phenomenon we thought he was" without using one that includes a term that's also a racial slur, and this writer chose that one (already bad judgment). In light of ESPN's own internal investigation resulting in the firing and suspension of several of its employees over the incident, I don't find the outcome inconsistent with this stance (although it might have just been a way to end the bad PR). I'm comfortable letting ESPNs judgment stand. Now, let's move on – live and learn.
I agree with Mr. Rand about "chink in the armor" not being used in a racist context. It's not racist to say chink in the armor when talking about weaknesses. On the other hand, to post it as a headline with a picture of Lin does seem racist to me. I don't believe the anchor would outright say it on national TV if he had thought it was an offensive phrase.
saltine, casper, gringo, caucasian….wait..if i'm caucasian, should I be offended by these chink in the armor comments too?
nobody got fired they were repramanded lol all i can say is go LIN LIN LIN!!!! hes got them talkin hes doin something right!!
and im pretty sure the knicks are liking him …..
argh! i forgot! no feeding the trolls!
CHINK
1 [chingk] Show IPA.
noun
1.a crack, cleft, or fissure: a chink in a wall.
2.a narrow opening: a chink between two buildings.
verb (used with object).
3.to fill up chinks in.
Educate yourselves you f***ing dumbasses.
A joke is a joke. It doesn't say, kill the chink!
I should say a pun is a pun
Offensive does not equal racist but racist ALWAYS equals offensive
Easy for you to say, you idiot. You're not Asian, you do understand what goes through our minds when it is said. Of all the referencing that he could of used to say that Lin had a bad game, it just so happen he used the word "chink" in it. We all know exactly what he is referencing and why he used it. effin idiot.
Was it Politically Correct NO!!! But seriously it could have been a mistake and ESPN did the right thing! But some people need to get over it cause it was not that serious! He didn't call the boy a chink and sure as hell didn't try making a joke on TV, one guy suspended, one guy fired, I just don't see the reasoning behind other than trying to avoid Lawsuits for people who got texted this…. But yes Politically it was wrong to say on TV
Mizzou Dan The tiger thing is way different… that was stereotypical non sense that should never be sputtered but Chink in the armor is a term that has been around since the Dark Ages, But ESPN still did the right business and ethical move
ESPN absolutely did the right thing… but still the term is not racist thank you for being the only one person to point that fact out
slcpca I dunno about all that… I have never found the term bothersome myself, but that is perhaps because I am not of the proper era that would have me subjected to the hostility that spawned the term.
One cannot be "racist" just because they happen to be unaware of how it might feel to be affected by something like that. The nature of being racist is a prejudicial choice to base some assumption, usually an unpleasant assumption, on the sole fact of their heritage. My mother is being racist when she foolishly stated that she would never hire a Samoan person again because the guy that she chose to do her sprinkler installation on the cheap happened to be a lazy yutz and didn't do a good job or even complete it and he happened to be Samoan. This is totally unfair, and if she were being un-stupid herself, she should have seen the signs that were all indicating that he was not trustworthy even before she hired him when not one but SEVERAL people had come looking for him complaining that he had not finished work on THEIR properties!! But instead of blaming her own cheapness and unwillingness to pay for a licensed contractor she chooses to blame the fact that he was Samoan and now no future skilled Samoan person will have the benefit of her hiring even if he offers the best work at the best price. THAT is racist. And stupid.
Even flat out calling someone a "Chink" to be purposefully insulting isn't necessarily being "racist". It IS being RUDE and using a racial slur to accomplish the job of being nasty.
There is virtue in being slow to give AND to TAKE offense. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to be a regular fair-mainded and kind hearted caucasion person who is always at risk of being summarily accused of being racist over every little possible injury someone who isn't white takes. I imagine I would have a nervous breakdown from walking on eggshells all the time.
I think anybody can take offense to just about anything. Whenever we do, it is not the things people say or do that make us angry or hurt our feelings, but it is our own assumptions about what may have motivated those actions against us. If one is to take offense at an innocuos grouping of words because one of them may have at one time been truly motivated by malice, it is in fact the person taking offense who is actually exhibiting the racist behavior, not the person who was simply ignorant of or unprepared for the possible hurtful interpretation of what they said if they didn't actually intend to create that reaction.
In some ways, as frustrating as I found it to be of mixed genetic heritage while growing up in a society that is so attached to labelling things, I suppose I am fortunate that I was spared the luxury of being able to identify with one particular group. It did not allow me the convenient ease of defining myself that way, nor did I have the ability to hide my own issues behind such polarized thinking. I always hated being asked the question of "what I was" because I had no way of answering that to my satisfaction that was also something that could be grasped by those who had asked. I don't even know what mix of mutt I am in total, but even the two major contributions don't really apply to the cultural norms that would be associated with them in my case. I end up saying that I am Chinese and Black in genetic descent (primarily) although I look hispanic and culturally probably white. (My white boyfriend actually showed me the true genius of Tupac, where I had previously dismissed most rap as stupid and couldn't understand the slang without his translation anyway and I was 26 before some kind woman helped me with my hair issues by introducing me to hot irons and leave in conditioners, and the only Chinese I spoke was food that I liked and a few choice phrases like "hurry up" "get out of the way" and "aaiii-yaaaaah!")
If we are going to make it without blowing each other off the face of the planet, we'd better learn to be a little less judgemental of each other as different people regardless of whatever subdivision of that we are currently finding the most in common with as a group by race or religion or region. Remember that stupidity in its purest form is far more prevalent than true malice, and it is probably more accurate to assign blame to the former if there is not a reasonable indication that the latter is really behind some injury we wish to attribute to it.
Think for a moment what the person might feel like who lost their job over this if they weren't even aware of the fact that the word "chink" was even used in a racist way. I know that I have heard the word used far more frequently in the literal meaning. And it actually would seem sort of lame to call someone that, in my opinion, even if I were trying to be nasty that isn't the first thing that would come to mind by a long shot. I think its even less common to hear asians being referred to as "chinks" as it is to hear people talk about "crackers". I think "ricer" is the new variant of asian slight, and that not so much a slight for that matter.
I think maybe some of the folks that are getting really bent about it need to compare it against what real hate feels like and maybe they would not be quite so indignant about this.
Ooops, sorry, that was actually in reply to
Mizzou Dan
and a little bit to Darryl Miles, too. Because it isn't really racist that it came in conjunction with the picture of Lin, its just a little awkward, and only if you are familiar with the racial slur and make that association, which not everyone will. I certainly wouldn't have noticed were not for the media fallout on this, actually. If no one had pointed it out, I would likely have taken it at face value without even noticing the irony of their being an Asian person pictured there. I find it sadly hilarious only because of the resultant brouhaha. Its like a Jerry Seinfeld episode come to life… If not for the fact that clearly there are some feelings that are clearly being hurt over it, and the real pain that it is causing those on both ends of this story it would be just as funny as a sitcom without being so sad at the same time.
Yeah, I seen that Friday. That just wasn't right.
I always thought the saying was Clink in the armor and he seemed to have misspoke, but he chose the wrong time to do it.
So if the anchor had said If you had to describe a chink in the armor about LeBron James' game? Would there be an issue? Because after watching this video there is OBVIOUSLY no malicious intent and as stated before this is just a common expression. You can make any statement racist if you want it to be.
people who are not minorities will never understand how it feels to be called an ethnic slur.
i'd be utterly offended of I was on the news and they referred to me as a "spic on the windshield" or something.
so rather than saying "that's not offensive!"
how about you try to use reason and understanding and put yourself in their position,
with a little bit of tolerance the entire world could be a much more loving place.
@garbear108
It's okay. I'm pretty sure that everybody is a minority at this point. Also, you're a mexican in Pueblo
#notaminority
true,
but editors take great seriousness in deciding a headline.
what makes something offensive is the intent behind it,
so there's no way this is something that slipped over their head.
people can make mexican jokes around me all day and i'll find it hilarious,
but once someone makes a racial comment in a serious tone,
it creates a whole different perspective.
i'm over it,
just found out miley cyrus got a new tattoo.
#horny
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2103574/Miley-Cyrus-tattoo-Coupled-star-gets-love-dies-inked-bicep.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
The phrase "chink in the armor" is a colloquialism but it's also pretty antiquated. I think the last time I heard it was in a European history taught by an elderly professor in the context of battle strategy. In the case of ESPN, the racist intent is obvious to anyone who is not a moron. They just thought they were being clever but were really…morons.
ESPN – Every Stupid Pr*ck Network. BOO-YAH!!
slcpca, the swastika gets used now for other things other than to express Nazi supremacy, so I don't go crazy and hyperventilate everytime I see a swastika. Likewise, if you know that "niggardly" has no connection to "n****r", then there should be no problem to use it. But if you don't know, and you are offended by it, why should I change because of your own prejudice that I must be being "racist".
I think people getting upset about this is just not knowing what the word chink means when put in front of armor also racial slur are no more offensive that being called fat dumb ugly fag
it's "speck on the windsheild"
You are making the same mistake i did… no one is really talking about the anchor… they ar talking about that it was a headline, with Jeremy Lin's picture in the headline photo, and the title of that headline said "Chink in the Armor" it was clearly racist
I dunno about all that, I do know that the guy who said Chink in the armor should not have been suspended… but the fact is that ESPN headline a photo of an in game scene with Jeremy Lin in it, Captioned "Chink in the Armor"… Editor fired… fore sure, person who came up with it… for sure… but the guy who said it on live TV, not so sure about that.
Imagine being Chinese a follower of ESPN, and then with your Smart Phone opening your ESPN app because you get a Pushed Message from the app saying "Chink in the Armor"… I mean I gotta say I'd be offended
Benjamin Mendoza III, I know that I am expecting too much, that is, for people to read and give others the benefit of the doubt before passing judgement, but we don't live in that time period.
The headline would be the most problematic because Lin is under a headline that says "Chink in the Armor". By itself, it could be taken to mean a racist slur or that one is calling Lin a weakness on the Knicks team, but the subtext below the tagline make it clear what the "chink" is. It says: "Jeremy Lin's 9 turnovers cost Knicks in Streak-snapping loss to Hornets". It's the loss that is being called the "chink". The Knicks were on a winning streak, and then suddenly, there is a loss — A "chink in the armor" of the Knicks.
It was a bad term to use only because "chink in the armor" causes people to hyperventilate and cry racism, when an Asian is involved. But was it racist, as the INQUISITR contends? Considering that there is an alternative, logical explanation of what that "chink" is, I don't believe so.
Being fired or suspended from a job is a very serious matter, and if you are planning to cause someone to get fired, you better make sure you know what you are talking about. It should be based on facts, not feelings.
Interestingly enough, Jason Whitlock makes an offensive, unambiguous tweet about Lin's p***s size, he makes an apology, and the public response is pretty mild. ESPN uses a term not inherently racial, makes an apology, and people want heads to roll.
slcpca, you are just stating things that are false. Falsehood #1). "chink" is only used as a racist slur being used in a sentence with asian. Really? Let's suppose two Chinese Americans Mr. Lee and Mr. Fong are Renaissance enthuiasts, they both dress as knights, and Mr. Lee notices that Mr. Fong's armor is not quite right. So Mr. Lee says, "Mr. Fong, you have a chink in your armor." Should Mr. Fong now be offended at Mr. Lee's comment? Maybe Mr. Lee was really making some sort of racist joke, a play on words. After all, he could be really calling Mr. Fong a chink. I guess Mr. Lee is some sort of racist against Asians because he used the word "chink". Time for "sensitivity training".
Ah the double standard. Jason Whitlock can tweet a racially offensive tweet, apologize, and then nothing, but let ESPN do something not inherently racially offensive, and then there are calls for firings and suspensions.
Like we were talking about earlier JD, slurs are only what you make of em. Its always funny that there has never been a slur that actually is offensive to "caucasions".. Cracker,Honky,redneck,whiteboy & my favorite,",Haole" which is what I was called as a kid in Hawaii. Call me any of those & I'm laughing out loud. If people quit making a big deal out of slurs, guess what,,, They won't be big deals!! Is it ignorant to make some of these statements? Sure & its for effect mostly. Is it just as ignorant to overreact to them? In my opinion,, Absolutely!!
Actually I have heard the phrased used on occasion especially within the world of sports. As for whether or not there was racist intent. I don't think so. Apparently one of the guys who used it has an Asian wife and said that wasn't his intent. Editorial should have spotted it and changed it though.
The anchor that got suspended is married to an Asian. The other two unnamed employees were fired. ESPN themselves admitted to having to issue 3 separate apologies. Are they complete morons?
Writer was fired and the anchor was suspended 30 days. Hard to believe this was accidental. I'm totally inspired by Lin but there is alot of public venom against this nice guy.
Richard, here is another one… idiots. http://gothamist.com/2012/02/26/ben_jerrys_apologizes_for_lin-sanit.php
The fake apology trend continues….We apologize for your over-sensitivity and misinterpretation of things where is no stereotyping. We took out fortune cookies and replaced them waffle cookies because of complaints of it being soggy. Why did we use fortune cookies in the first place? We are not sure but it sure wasn't because Lin was Asian. There is no connection! – Ben and Jerry
I just wish people would own up to their own racism. Everyone is a little racist sometimes.