MSG radio announcer slurs Jeremy Lin with same term used by ESPN

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NEW YORK — MSG says it has punished a radio announcer who used an offensive term about Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.

The network says the term Spero Dedes “unintentionally and inadvertently” used was “inappropriate and inconsistent with the high regard we have for Jeremy Lin as a member of our MSG family, as well as for the Asian community.”

In a statement, Dedes says he has apologized to Lin and will be more sensitive about his choice of words.

Lin is the first American-born NBA player of Taiwanese or Chinese descent. One ESPN employee was fired and another suspended for using the same term as Dedes, which also can be used as a slur against Chinese people.