• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Racist, or just a joke?

Should ESPN have fired the writer?


  • Total voters
    35
I dunno, the NBA seems more like entertainment than sport, almost like wrestling.
Those guys break the traveling rule in nearly every game.

That's fair, but it's also a tough violation to call given the quickness and athleticism of the players these days. I am partial to the NBA over college ball because NBA players are obviously more skilled, there are more amazing plays involved, and the general parity of the league is closer than college b-ball, but I can understand why other folks like college ball better.

I do agree though, however, that travelling non-calls are really annoying. Guys like LeBron (takes a million steps when going to the basket) and Kobe (lifts pivot foot before releasing the ball when he drives off of the triple-threat position) get away with it all the time.
 
Last edited:
That's fair, but it's also a tough violation to call given the quickness and athleticism of the players these days. I am partial to the NBA over college ball because NBA players are obviously more skilled, there are more amazing plays involved, and the general parity of the league is closer than college b-ball, but I can understand why other folks like college ball better.

I do agree though, however, that travelling non-calls are really annoying. Guys like LeBron (takes a million steps when going to the basket) and Kobe (lifts pivot foot before releasing the ball when he drives off of the triple-threat position) get away with it all the time.

Kinda ruins the whole game for me.
When I played community ball, traveling was nearly always caught.
 
Kinda ruins the whole game for me.
When I played community ball, traveling was nearly always caught.

I think coaches these days need to do a better job of teaching kids fundamentals. For a guy like LeBron, sometimes he doesn't even know it when he's travelling.
 
I think coaches these days need to do a better job of teaching kids fundamentals. For a guy like LeBron, sometimes he doesn't even know it when he's travelling.

I think that's because it's generally tolerated so much, that he's incorporated it into his play style.
 
I would never be hired at ESPN for all the things I say to SB about Lin then. For example, I heard him speak for the first time today and I do not believe he is Asian because he says english like we do and no Engrish.
 
I would never be hired at ESPN for all the things I say to SB about Lin then. For example, I heard him speak for the first time today and I do not believe he is Asian because he says english like we do and no Engrish.

Unless you've had extensive journalism and sportswriting experience you wouldn't be hired there regardless.
 
Unless you've had extensive journalism and sportswriting experience you wouldn't be hired there regardless.

Psh. You forget I am a Boston sports fan. I know all there is to know about sports because we are obnoxious like that.
 
:shrug: I thought it was both racist and tasteless. If the story covered the feats of a black athlete, and said "XX spearchucks opposition's niggardly performance" I'd say the same thing. Someone obviously thought calling an Asian a "chink" was cute. I, however, did not.
 
Last edited:
Looks like it is split 50/50. I think it was racist and so did ESPN. I think they made the right choice w/ the firing. People need to get used to the fact that rasicm will not be tolerated in our society.
 
Looks like it is split 50/50. I think it was racist and so did ESPN. I think they made the right choice w/ the firing. People need to get used to the fact that rasicm will not be tolerated in our society.

Yes, they do. I am surprised, though, that the copy editor let it pass. He/she bears responsibility as well. That's his/her whole job.
 
If lin isn't worried about it, why is anyone else?
 
If lin isn't worried about it, why is anyone else?

I hate it when people are offended for someone else, especially when they couldn't care less.
 
If lin isn't worried about it, why is anyone else?

Well because a large number of Chinese people have been called Chinks in the past in an offensive manner, and even though it was not used in a mean spirited fashion, a large number of people may have found it offensive. Which is ESPNs right to air. But ESPN also has to worry about ratings and a potential consumer backlash. Overall the use of the word Chink does not just effect Lin, which is why it matters
 
I hate it when people are offended for someone else, especially when they couldn't care less.

You should be offended. Who cares what Lin said? His opinion about what some one wrote about him doesn't matter.
 
All I can say is I see headlines all the time were people see more into it than is really there. Anybody ever seen Leno's Funny Advertisements? People send in ads and wedding listings with funny names or titles. I just don't see it as racist. More of a funny mistake.
 
Speaking as a Taiwanese-American, I did find the headline to be racially insensitive but I also laughed.

Let's face it though, whoever did it and his copy editor deserve whatever they got. That was just stupid. I also don't believe it was unintentional or a coincidence - the most plausible explanation in my opinion is a joke gone wrong.
 
You should be offended. Who cares what Lin said? His opinion about what some one wrote about him doesn't matter.

I'm not offended because I don't think it was racist on purpose. Maybe accidently racist but that is a common saying.
 
Well of course he did accept the apology. Lin is keeping it classy. I hardly doubt he would come out and say "I wanna kick that ESPN guys racist ass! ".. lol.

Lin wouldn't say it anyways. He is Asian, he would be all ninja like.
 
No. Simply telling him not to do it again may have worked better, especially considering that the only purpose of firing him should be to reduce recidivism and deter other people from doing it (in this case, a warning could have worked more efficiently).

Edit: He probably didn't mean to do it anyway. Basically, firing him was done out of emotional panic and irrationality.
 
Last edited:
I voted "no". Some seem to read way to much into things (based on what the OP provided). This is an example of "correctness" going to far.

Maybe the reporter should have written " A hole was found in the armor" (sarcastic).

Some are way to sensitive now days.
 
No. Simply telling him not to do it again may have worked better, especially considering that the only purpose of firing him should be to reduce recidivism and deter other people from doing it (in this case, a warning could have worked more efficiently).

But then would it not open others to be able to slip in some so called fun racist humor now and again? As a company ESPN has to take a strong stand and in this case they did the right thing. That saying stand for something or fall for anything comes to mind. If you let one racist comment like this goes with just a warning and to not do it again? You set a bad example and risk the chance of folks thinking that they can "get away with it" at least once.

They did the right thing and have no doubt they did it to cover their own ass over outrage. But at least they did do the right thing.
 
Back
Top Bottom