ESPN editor apologizes, claims Jeremy Lin headline was honest mistake

The fired ESPN editor who wrote an offensive headline about Jeremy Lin that appeared on the company’s mobile website late Friday/early Saturday has apologized and claims there was no racial intent.

“This had nothing to do with me being cute or punny,” Anthony Federico told the New York Daily News.

“I’m so sorry that I offended people. I’m so sorry if I offended Jeremy.”

Federico tells the paper he’s used that headline many times before and he didn’t think anything of it.

“My faith is my life,” he said. “I’d love to tell Jeremy what happened and explain that this was an honest mistake.”

It’s nice that Federico apologized and somewhat comforting that he says he made an honest mistake. I wouldn’t expect otherwise; would anyone who hopes to land another job admit to being a racist? Of course not.

I still believe ESPN did the right thing by firing him and don’t feel badly he lost his job. Whether it was an honest mistake or not, you can’t have someone in such an important position acting that carelessly.

H/T Deadspin