ESPN fires employee for offensive Lin headline

Last Updated 12:27 p.m. ET

NEW YORK - ESPN says it fired an employee responsible for a headline with a racial slur referring to Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

In an online statement Sunday, ESPN said it is aware of three "offensive and inappropriate" comments on ESPN outlets.

It apologized Saturday for the headline "Chink in the Armor" on Friday night on its mobile website that could be seen on phones and tablet computers after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to the New Orleans Hornets

Lin is the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent and captivated sports fans with his dominance on the court.

ESPN said in its statement Saturday it removed the headline 35 minutes after it was posted. The cable network says it is "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."

The story was first reported by Outsports.com.

ESPN said it has since learned of a similar reference Friday on ESPN Radio New York.

It suspended for 30 days an ESPNEWS anchor, but said the radio commentator is not an ESPN employee.