Watch CBS News

Whitlock Apologizes For Racial Tweet

(WSCR) Shortly after Jeremy Lin's 38-point performance Friday night against the Lakers, one columnist sent out a tweet poking fun at the Chinese-American ball player.

FOX Sports columnist Jason Whitlock tweeted, "Some lucky lady in NYC is going to feel a couple of inches of pain tonight."

After a storm of criticism, Whitlock released a statement apologizing for the tweet. Here's an excerpt:

I then gave in to another part of my personality — my immature, sophomoric, comedic nature. It's been with me since birth, a gift from my mother and honed as a child listening to my godmother's Richard Pryor albums. I still want to be a standup comedian.

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.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.