The editor fired by ESPN for using a racially offensive headline for a story about Jeremy Lin contends he wasn't making a racist joke and that the wording was unintentional.
"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's headline appeared on ESPN's mobile website at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday and was removed about a half-hour later.
MORE: �ESPN apologizes for Lin headline
Federico told the Daily News he understood why he was axed, but added he had used the same phrase "at least 100 times" in past headlines. He said he was particularly remorseful because, like Lin, he considers himself an "outspoken Christian."
Federico, 28, had worked at ESPN since 2006. Lin has said he accepts ESPN's apology, and that he doesn't consider the incident intentional.
In addition to dismissing Federico, ESPN also suspended anchor Max Bretos for 30 days, for saying the same offensive phrase on-air last week. Bretos' slip came during an interview with Knicks Hall of Famer Walt Frazier.
Bretos tweeted an apology Saturday, writing that: "My wife is Asian, would never intentionally say anything to disrespect her and that community."
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/u96GUWK_VbU/1
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