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Creativity is a funny thing. Except when it isn’t. It can be difficult to describe the creative process and more challenging to do so than for some folks to actually (pardon the split infinitive) be creative.
Which brings us to ESPN and Jeremy Lin. And a headline that ran on ESPN’s mobile Web site for phones and tablet computers: “Chink in the Armor.” A reference that some person or persons might have thought was clever after the New York Knicks guard had nine turnovers Friday in losing to the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Square Garden.
Model Kate Upton or Knicks guard Jeremy Lin? No contest.
One slight problem. Racial slurs — “Chink” being one — are not particularly creative. Especially for a serious entity such as ESPN. Lin is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent (he is of Taiwanese descent, in case that matters in this matter).
In a statment issued Saturday, ESPN said it removed the headline 35 minutes after its posting and is “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.”
Maybe someone at ESPN thought there was humor in the play on words. Humor, like creativity, can be a funny thing. Except when it is not.
On Sunday, ESPN issued the following statement:
At ESPN we are aware of three offensive and inappropriate comments made on ESPN outlets during our coverage of Jeremy Lin.
Saturday we apologized for two references. We have since learned of a similar reference Friday on ESPN Radio New York. The incidents were separate and different. We have engaged in a thorough review of all three and have taken the following action:
* The ESPN employee responsible for our Mobile headline has been dismissed.
* The ESPNEWS anchor has been suspended for 30 days.
* The radio commentator is not an ESPN employee.
We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin. His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees at ESPN. Through self-examination, improved editorial practices and controls, and response to constructive criticism, we will be better in the future.
Speaking of humor, the folks at “Saturday Night Live” have a little — OK, a lot — more leeway when it comes to sensitive subjects.
About the only benefit of the Chicago Bulls playing the New York Nets in an afternoon affair was being able to watch “SNL” and its opening intro (as opposed to a non-opening intro???) on Lin (which addresses the always hilarious topic of racial stereotyping):
Speaking of SNL, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Kate Upton appeared in one of the skits. Which will serve as justification for running an SI swimsuit video at the end of today’s effort. As if justification for doing something like that ever really is needed around here.
Speaking of effort, the Bulls didn’t have much in their 97-85 loss to the Nets that ended New Jersey’s eight-game losing streak. The most excited the crowd seemed to be occurred when Nets forward Kris Humphries (he of the famous/infamous wedding and short-lived happily-ever-after marriage to Kim Kardashian) scored. Then the fans would boo. Humphries gave them ample opportunity with 24 points.
Some video from the Bulls-Nets afternoon:
A little swimsuit video from Sports Illustrated? Why not. Here’s one featuring model Bar Refaeli and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul:
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