Football coach Joe Paterno's on-field prowess is only slightly more legendary

than his sharp tongue. This is one crowd favorite: "If I ever need a brain

transplant, I want one from a sports writer because I'll know it's never been

used."Mike Bianchi, "Panthers Gm Proves Paterno Barb Wrong," Orlando

Sentinel, January 31, 2004, accessed May 31, 2011.

Most people find this to be pretty funny. And though it rubs some sports

writers the wrong way, no one is going to file a lawsuit or claim

antidiscriminatory protection is needed to protect the offended. On the other

hand, JoePaas he's called around Pennsylvaniahimself suffered taunting as a

younger man. People called him a "wop," a slur attacking someone's Italian

heritage (like the more common "guido" or calling a Chinese person a "Chink").

1. From an ethical viewpoint, and within a discussion of discrimination,

why does the brain transplant zinger get a green light while the wop

slur seems objectionable?