A CHINK IN THE ARMOR: WHAT IT REALLY MEANS
“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.”
“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.”
On Wednesday, the ESPN anchor had said the following:
He’s handled everything very well, as you said, unflappable, but if there is a chink in the armor, where can Lin improve his game?
Saying it on-air is one thing. But for anyone of us who diligently follows the media online, in the craze of screenshot, shared, and reposted images like memes and viral images, the offensive headline made it worse for ESPN as the title underneath the image of Jeremy Lin playing went viral itself.
The term “chink in the armor” has been used over 3,000 times on ESPN (courtesy of contributor Greg McNeal of Forbes.com). However, not to give the writer/editor the benefit of the doubt, but let’s step back for a moment and actually think about what the phrase means.
“A chink in someone’s armor” as defined by Webster Dictionary, means a weak point in someone’s character, arguments, or ideas, making them vulnerable to attack or criticism. What the anchor and writer/editor probably intended was to try and find out what Jeremy Lin’s weakness just might be - whether he was at all vulnerable or capable enough to lose.
But clearly the anchor and writer did not take into consideration the flip side of the term “Chink”. The phrase “chink in the armor” may have been used over 3,000 times on ESPN, but most likely perhaps not within the context of discussing the weakness of an Asian American athlete.
This is where they should have stepped back and taken caution in using the phrase. Was the use of the phrase more to create sensationalism than serious reporting? Or were the anchor and writer so completely unaware of the kind of response they would get for using “chink in the armor” within the context of an Asian American athlete? “Let’s also not forget ESPN has a bit of a record with inappropriate comments: “Trail of Tears,” “He’s out having a Taco” and “White boy wasted.” It’s a huge lesson for ESPN, and as one who appreciates serious journalism and values sensitive language, I hope ESPN takes that into account and doesn’t make that mistake again.
**Update Sunday, February 19, 3:30 PM**
ESPN has fired the headline writer responsible for publishing the “Chink in the Armor” headline. Max Bretos, the anchor on ESPN who used the same phrase on-air, has been suspended for 30 days. Additionally, a radio commentator was caught using the phrase on air on ESPN Radio; however, the commentator was not an ESPN employee.
ESPN further went on to apologize to Lin and to the Asian American community:
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.
