Fired ESPN Headline Writer Speaks Out About Awful Jeremy Lin Pun

Fired ESPN Headline Writer Speaks Out

Posted February 22, 2012 2:24pm by Slade Sohmer

Tags: Anthony Federico, Chink in the Armor, ESPN, Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks, Racial Slurs, Recommended

The man behind the infamous “Chink in the Armor” headline used Twitter on Wednesday to issue a public apology to Jeremy Lin and explain how his late-night work was “a lapse in judgment and not a racist pun.”

The now-unemployed Anthony Federico said he is “truly sorry” for this headline that appeared on ESPN Mobile’s page after the Knicks’ first loss of the Jeremy Lin Era in New York last Friday night.

Here’s a relevant portion of Federico’s apology and explanation:

They would see that on the day of the incident I got a call from a friend – who happens to be homeless – and rushed to his aid. He was collapsed on the side of the road due to exposure and hunger. They would see how I picked him up and got him a hotel room and fed him. They would see I used my vacation time last year to volunteer in the orphanages of Haiti. They would see how I ‘adopted’ an elderly Alzheimer’s patient and visited him every week for a year. They would see that every winter I organize a coat drive for those less fortunate in New Haven. They would see how I raised $10,000 for a friend in need when his kids were born four months premature. They would see how I have worked in soup kitchens and convalescent homes since I was a kid. They would see my actions speak louder than my words. They would see that these acts were not done for my glory, but for God’s. They would see that each day I live and will continue to live a life of joy and service.
It never has been or will be my intention to hurt anyone.

I wrote thousands and thousands and thousands of headlines in my five years at ESPN. There never was a problem with any of them and I was consistently praised as an employee – both personally and professionally. Two weeks prior to the incident I had my first column published on espnW.com. My career was taking off. Why would I throw that all away with a racist pun? This was an honest mistake.

Federico, who comes off well here, also wrote he is “actually a Knicks fan and an ardent supporter of Jeremy Lin. Not surprisingly, he has handled the entire situation with grace and class.”

Taken in full, Federico’s is a moving and genuine apology. It would have been interesting to hear more about his thought process that night and exactly how he made a lapse in judgment this large without recognition of the racial connotation, but a genuine apology has become so rare it’s most welcome here.

What do you think? Does his apology change your opinions on this story? Weigh in below.

PREVIOUS LINSANITY:

• ESPN Fires Employee, Suspends Another After Jeremy Lin Racial Slurs
• Racists Flock to Facebook to Celebrate ‘Jeremy Rin’
• Even Dr. Ruth Is Feeling the Linsanity
• Mimic Headband Photos From Jeremy Lin’s ‘Chinkballa88′ Xanga Page in 2004
• Watch the Most Linteresting Man in the World Hit Game-Winning 3
• How Long ’Til Jason Whitlock Gets Fired Over This?

MOST RECENT BY Slade Sohmer:

Posted February 22, 2012 2:24pm

Gary
Still think it was intentional. But the apology was def genuine.
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Cpsglenn
There is no way that remark was intentional, I heard the actual voice clip of him. For someone to actually think that he was making a racist remark would have to be an idiot. Even Jeremy Lin himself said he did not believe the statement was a racist one. That phrase is used a lot with in the Christian community. It is written that way in the bible for Christs sake.
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Linck
I love the apology. It must have gone like this:
Federico: “Ok, time to think of a headline about this asian guy, Jeremy Lin. Hmm, how about Chink in the Armor? I mean the Knicks just lost.”
Boss: “You’re fired.”
Federico: “Oh SHIT! I’m sorry I’m sorry. I forgot chink was a racist slur. I’m a writer, so I sometimes forget the meaning of words. Really sorry.”

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