The news that Jeremy Lin says he gets some of his inspiration from Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow should also help him with this entire Jason Whitlock fiasco. The former KC Star reporter sent an racially offensive tweet earlier this week after Jeremy Lin’s incredible performance and Knicks win against the Los Angeles Lakers that read, “Some lucky lady in NYC is gonna feel a couple inches of pain tonight.”
Tebow certainly has his share of detractors, so perhaps Lin can look to Tebow’s response to his own critics (or those who mock him). To his credit, Whitlock did offer an apology. The last part read:
“The couple-inches-of-pain tweet overshadowed my sincere celebration of Lin’s performance and the irony that the stereotype applies to pot-bellied, overweight male sports writers, too. As the Asian American Journalist Association pointed out, I debased a feel-good sports moment. For that, I’m truly sorry.”
Whitlock has made a career out of calling out the racism in sports executives and structures for some time, so it’s quite interesting to see the tables turned on him. Being a talking head or sensationalist is one thing. Being what you say you hate is another. So even though he tries to insult himself while apologizing, it all feels a bit trite.