Jeremy Lin headline writer: "I'm so sorry"

A 28-year-old ex-ESPN editor apologized for the controversial headline he had written over the weekend about New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

Anthony Federico told the tabloid that the headline, which contains a word that could be used as a slur against people of Chinese descent, wasn't intended to offend the rising point guard born in California to Taiwanese parents.

"This had nothing to do with me being cute or punny," Federico, who was fired Sunday, told the News.

"I'm so sorry that I offended people. I'm so sorry if I offended Jeremy."

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Federico told the tabloid that he's used the phrase "at least 100 times" in other headlines, but he understood that "ESPN did what they had to do."

ESPN also placed an ESPNEWS anchor who used the same phrase on suspension for 30 days.

After Sunday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, Lin said he's moved on.

"I don't think it was on purpose or whatever, but (at) the same time they have apologized. And so from my end I don't care anymore," Lin told reporters, according to The Associated Press. "Have to learn to forgive, and I don't even think that was intentional. Or, hopefully not."

Read the full Daily News story here