New York ( CNN ) -- Former ESPN writer Anthony Federico apologized Monday for writing an offensive headline about basketball sensation Jeremy Lin , calling it `` an honest mistake . '' The controversial headline read `` Chink in the Armor : Jeremy Lin 's 9 Turnovers Cost Knicks in Streak-stopping Loss to Hornets . '' The phrase -- Chink in the Armor -- contains a word that has two meanings ; one is an ethnic slur . `` I 'd love to tell Jeremy what happened and explain that this was an honest mistake , '' Federico told the New York Daily News in an interview published Monday . ESPN fired Federico and suspended Max Bretos , an anchor who used the same phrase , the sports network said Sunday . Federico told the paper , `` ESPN did what they had to do . '' The ESPN headline Saturday morning was up for 35 minutes before being removed , but the damage was done . ESPN apologized Saturday stating , `` We again apologize , especially to Mr. Lin . His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community , including the Asian-American employees at ESPN . '' Federico offered a similar apology in the interview with the Daily News . `` I 'm so sorry that I offended people . I 'm so sorry if I offended Jeremy , '' he said . Lin , 23 , came off the bench earlier this month to guide the New York Knicks to win after improbable win . The unlikely star of Taiwanese descent quickly turned into a global brand and `` Linsanity '' became the phrase of the times . Lin addressed the controversy during a news conference Sunday following the Knicks ' 104-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks , the defending national champions . He said he did not think the headline was intentional . `` I do n't think it was on purpose , '' Lin said . `` At the same time , they 've apologized . I do n't care anymore . '' In reflecting on his time at ESPN , Federico told the New York Daily News , `` I had a career that I was proud of . ''
Former the New York Daily News employee Jeremy Lin tells ESPN , ` Turnovers Cost Knicks so sorry '' He wrote a headline that included the phrase `` Chink in the Armor '' Basketball sensation Anthony Federico did not think the slur was on purpose and does not care anymore . Federico tells the paper he is proud of his career at ESPN .