ESPN Fires Employee Over Lin Reference

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-19/espn-apologizes-fires-employee-over-reference-to-jeremy-lin-of-knicks.html

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s ESPN apologized for inappropriate references to New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, and said it fired an employee responsible for sending one such headline on its ESPN.com mobile site.

A headline appeared early yesterday morning following the Knicks’ 89-85 loss to the New Orleans Hornets using a common phrase that could be construed as a racial slur, ESPN said. ESPN said the headline was removed 35 minutes after it was posted.

The sports channel also said an anchor for ESPNNews has been suspended for 30 days after using an inappropriate word in asking a question about Lin. A similar reference was made Feb. 17 by a radio commentator on ESPN Radio New York, the network said.