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Imus in hot water

Yancy Street Gang Apr 07 2007 10:25 AM

I hadn't heard about this until I read Filip Bondy's column in The Daily News this morning: ="Filip Bondy"] Imus spews hate, should be fired BY FILIP BONDY DAILY NEWS SPORTS COLUMNIST Posted Saturday, April 7th 2007, 4:00 AM Of all the very dumb and nasty things screamed on sports TV and radio these last few years, by everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Sid Rosenberg, what Don Imus said on Wednesday about the Rutgers women's basketball team was the very worst, the most hateful of all. What he said was terrible not only because of its content, which was despicable in its own right. It was even worse because of its target, a group of 19- to 21-year-old, largely African-American women from a nearby state university who had just accomplished something wonderful and unexpected by reaching the Final Four. What do you tell these women now, who did absolutely nothing to deserve such shameful scorn, to face such horrendous racist remarks? And though this never will happen in a million years, Imus should be fired for it today - actually, yesterday - just as the National Association of Black Journalists demands. He should be axed for one of the most despicable comments ever uttered on the air. If Limbaugh can be dumped by ESPN for an ill-informed opinion about Donovan McNabb, if Rosenberg can be dropped by WFAN for his vile comments about Kylie Minogue's battle with breast cancer, then Imus deserves the same treatment, despite his status. Of course, there are enormous profits to consider, and so the cowards at MSNBC and WFAN are simply standing back, distancing themselves from Imus, reminding viewers and listeners that the man speaks only for himself - even though he does it on their time and networks. The fact that he was even on the air yesterday, two days after his comments, was in itself a disgrace. Here's the deal, or what the deal ought to be: You don't get to say these things, even if you finally decide to change your mind and apologize, nearly 24 hours later. You just don't call young college women "nappy-headed hos." If you do, you should lose your microphone, whether or not you are the bread and butter and honey and cash cow of the local sports station. You can talk about Imus just being Imus, about how he's doing a shtick and should never be taken seriously. But even if you grant him the Charles Barkley exception, even if you want to say, "That's just Imus," you just can't with this one. That's how bad it was. Rutgers officials called his comments "unconscionable," and that is exactly the right word for them. Here's how it went again, this mean discussion among four white men. Imus started it: "That's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos," he said. Bernard McGuirk, his producer: "Some hardcore hos." Imus: That's some nappy-headed hos there. I'm gonna tell you that now, man, that's some - woo. And the girls from Tennessee, they all look cute, you know, so, like - kinda like - I don't know. McGuirk: A Spike Lee thing. Imus: Yeah. McGuirk: The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes - that movie that he had. Imus: Yeah, it was a tough - Charles McCord, a co-host: Do The Right Thing. McGuirk: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Imus: I don't know if I'd have wanted to beat Rutgers or not, but they did, right? Rosenberg (a guest commentator): It was a tough watch. The more I look at Rutgers, they look exactly like the Toronto Raptors. Imus: Well, I guess, yeah. Anybody who listens to the Imus show regularly knows how this usually works. It is McGuirk who is supposed to utter the basest kind of racist innuendo. Then Imus goes tut-tut, wink-wink, and McGuirk is left out there as the chastened hatchet man. This time, Imus foolishly diverged from the script. He brought up the subject himself, then confirmed McGuirk's crudest remarks. It is impossible to imagine WFAN discovering a conscience on this matter. Here is the only reasonable hope. Those politicians who go on Imus' show, those who pander to him during his "serious" segments, need to turn down the guest appearances. Maybe they will, at least until he launders himself. Those politicians he considers friends have been using Imus, every bit as much as he has used them. Today, he is useless to them. He is worse than useless. He is McGuirk. ="Associated Press"] Imus Apology By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - Radio host Don Imus apologized Friday for calling the Rutgers University women's basketball team ``nappy headed hos'' on his nationally syndicated program. The National Association of Black Journalists demanded his immediate firing after the man known as ``Imus in the Morning'' put his foot deep in his mouth Wednesday. Imus questioned the players' looks, describing them as tattooed ``rough girls.'' His producer compared the team - which has eight black members - to the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Near the start of Friday's show, Imus said he wanted to ``apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team.'' ``It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry.'' Gregory Lee, an NABJ officer and senior assistant sports editor at The Boston Globe, said the mea culpa did little to atone for the comments. ``You can apologize, but what does that mean when you have a history of making disparaging remarks about people?'' Lee asked about the acid-tongued Imus. ``This kind of behavior must be punished. I hope the company and sponsors he has take some sort of action ... to educate him.'' NABJ President Bryan Monroe asked Thursday if Imus had ``lost his mind'' and called for the veteran radio host's dismissal. Imus was speaking with producer Bernard McGurk when the NCAA title game between Rutgers and Tennessee came up. ``That's some rough girls from Rutgers,'' Imus said. ``Man, they got tattoos ...'' ``Some hardcore hos,'' said McGurk. ``That's some nappy headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that,'' Imus said. Imus, a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame and one of the nation's best-known radio voices, is renowned for his caustic style and politically incorrect verbal broadsides. His show is syndicated to millions of listeners at more than 70 stations around the country. WFAN-AM, the home of Imus' show, declined comment. At MSNBC, where the radio program is simulcast on television, officials offered Imus no support. ``'Imus in the Morning' is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN Radio,'' said a statement from the network. ``As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC. We regret that his remarks were aired on MSNBC and apologize for these offensive comments.'' In a joint statement, NCAA President Myles Brand and Rutgers President Richard McCormick condemned Imus' slur. ``The NCAA and Rutgers University are offended by the insults on MSNBC's Don Imus program toward the 10 young women on the Rutgers basketball team,'' their statement read. ``It is unconscionable that anyone would use the airways to utter such disregard for the dignity of human beings who have accomplished much and deserve great credit.'' Notice how the apology is from "we" and "us" and not from "I" or "me." Pretty lame. Imus should at least be able to say, "I was wrong." No "I" from the I-Man on this one.

Kid Carsey Apr 07 2007 10:33 AM

I listen to the show a lot, wake up to it on the clock radio at 5:30 most mornings. I think he's cooked and went too far this time. They get away with a lot because they also attract some seriously heavy hitters (in po- liticians, authors, media types) who come on and let their hair down a little and I think most of those types will have to distance themselves from the show unless something happens to make it "ok" to do an Imus appearance and be all buddy buddy with a jock who has shown himself to be a bigot and dumb enough to display it over the airwaves.

Nymr83 Apr 07 2007 01:58 PM

what did Limbaugh say to get the axe from ESPN? somehow i don't remember it being half as offensive as this.

metirish Apr 07 2007 02:34 PM

Nymr83 wrote: what did Limbaugh say to get the axe from ESPN? somehow i don't remember it being half as offensive as this. Something about Donavan McNabb IIRC.

metsmarathon Apr 07 2007 02:54 PM

something to the effect of mcnabb being overrated as a result of his pigmentation

Frayed Knot Apr 07 2007 03:04 PM

What Limbaugh actually said wasn't really offensive at all - at least not to McNabb. The ESPN crew was talking about the Eagles and Limbaugh opined that he didn't view McNabb as highly as most others, that it was the Eagle defense that was most responsible for the team's success over the recent years, yadda, yadda. When pressed as to why most did seem to view McNabb as a top QB, he then added that he thought McMahon's rep was due to the media's reluctance to knock a black QB. The remainder of the panel said nothing in response and the whole thing seemed to end right there. The contoversy grew - as it usually does - when comments starting coming in from outside and the way the whole thing got spun was that Limbaugh was dusting off the old story about blacks being unqualified to play the QB position. It was only at that point where some within the show went to ESPN brass to complain, saying they didn't do so immediately because they viewed Limbaugh as the network's prize hire rather than just another jock voice and were therefore less willing to speak out against him. It's funny in that I never watch those Sunday morning football pre-game marathons but happened to be tuned in at that moment. That exchange was probably the only 30 seconds in the history of ESPN's pre-game extravaganza I've ever watched. Anyway, there are no real parallels to this Imus situation. Limbaugh was merely a hired gun for that show who certainly had his share of detractors to begin with; from the football purists who objected to an outsider intruding on their turf, to those who hate his presence anywhere due to his views on his regular job. So, as big a name as he was, he was still easily dispensible. What Imus and crew said the other day is obviously a lot worse but he's also the flag-carrier for a show that has lasted more than 30 years at this point and isn't going to be fired no matter how much columnists like Bondy or ESPN (they're running with this as well) or Mushnick (I'm sure he'll get around to it) complain.

Edgy DC Apr 07 2007 03:48 PM

They got the movie wrong. They were referring to School Daze, not Do the Right Thing. People should have caught this. They should be fired for not catching it.

Nymr83 Apr 07 2007 03:58 PM

firing Bondy would be a step in the right direction anyway. He is the biggest yankee-hack ever.

Kid Carsey Apr 07 2007 04:29 PM

By cooked, I don't really mean fired, but it's going to take a long time (unless something else happens) for presidential candidates, people looking to sell books, high-profile columnists, and music types, etc. to appear on the show and everything get back to normal. His interviews and guests are what val- idate a show that if it didn't have that would be four-and-a-half hours of making fun of stuff - which I most times find funny (they should bring back Cardinal O'Connor, but I digress) - but most people will grow tire of without the mental bubble gum to chew on. We'll see ... Monday should be interesting. He should bring on Rev. Al who is pretty pissed off. That would be great radio.

Edgy DC Apr 07 2007 05:00 PM

I never found him funny when he was a new York phenomenon. Now he's more of a brand than anything else. Seeing him on TV is sad, 'cause it shows how unengaged his face is while he concentrates on delivering the voice.

Kid Carsey Apr 07 2007 05:37 PM

He's not particularly funny by himself, mostly the sidekicks provide the production's humor. He's a pretty dislikeable personality for a lot of reasons which I won't go into, but I find the show entertaining. He does good inter- views with important people who usually show a lighter side of themselves than you will find on, for example, the Sun morn bbbyyy shows. Sometimes I even don't change channels during a country song, don't tell anyone. I don't have any nif's who like the show and I doubt most in the pool are re- gular listeners either.

Nymr83 Apr 07 2007 06:25 PM

i dont listen, i'd rather listen to curtis & cooby in the morning, or the idiots on z100. war of the roses is funny too i forget which station does that. i'm not even offended by imus, i just dont find his gags all that funny

Frayed Knot Apr 07 2007 06:30 PM

]By cooked, I don't really mean fired, but it's going to take a long time ... for presidential candidates, people looking to sell books, high-profile columnists, and music types, etc. to appear on the show and everything get back to normal. I don't think it'll take a day. There might one or two guests who'll decide they won't come on anymore but I'd be surprised if any of the "regulars" stay away and the variety he gets is large enough to where the few who decide to take a stand won't make a dent. This isn't his first plunge into hot water and I highly doubt it'll be his last.

iramets Apr 07 2007 09:21 PM

You know Imus must be pretty bad if I spend my mornings waiting for him to be over so I can hear the voices of Joe Beningo and Evan Roberts for some intelligent observations.

Nymr83 Apr 08 2007 10:08 AM

I've changed my mind. Keep Imus on. forever. Id it keeps Al Sharpton pissed off its well worth it.

Kid Carsey Apr 08 2007 10:16 AM

I confess, ny, I thought the same thing yesterday.

soupcan Apr 08 2007 11:21 AM

Howard Stern says crap like that everyday. Why no tumult?

Yancy Street Gang Apr 08 2007 11:47 AM

Because nobody over the age of twelve listens to Howard Stern.

Nymr83 Apr 08 2007 12:32 PM

avoiding insulting athletes (i don't know if stearn has or hasnt since i dont listen) keeps the 3-4 dozen sportswriters in new york from seeing you as fodder for the column they have to write.

soupcan Apr 08 2007 08:34 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Because nobody over the age of twelve listens to Howard Stern. Hey...

Frayed Knot Apr 08 2007 09:50 PM

soupcan wrote: Howard Stern says crap like that everyday. Why no tumult? Part of it is that Imus regularly has politicians and media bigwigs on and, for those outraged by this latest "skit", one way to get at him is to attempt to go after those who frequent his show. No one, on the other hand, is going to try to shame Stern's guests into boycotting him even if it were somehow possible to shame lesbian porn actresses and 3rd rate comics. The other part is that now the sports media is in on this. Bondy - who regularly extols the virtues of the 'Bleacher Creatures' felons - gets to score points by standing up not just for athletes but for local, female, amateur ones. And espn jumped in because it involves college hoopsters who provide about 897 hours per week of programming for them during the winter. You could probably insult hockey players and not hear a peep out of them because, well because they don't broadcast hockey anymore.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 09 2007 10:43 AM

I listened to Imus regularly until about two years ago. My car radio was locked on WFAN and I'd listen to Imus in the morning and Fatso and Froot Loops on the drive home. But then my commute got longer and the thought of listening to either show, particularly Mike and the Mad Dog, for a more extended stretch caused me to pick another station. When I did listen, though, I enjoyed his chats with politicians and authors of interesting books. But I hated his pre-recorded comedy bits. Those stupid routines where Larry Kenney (I think) would do monologues as Jack Nicholson or Walter Cronkite or Richard Nixon were awful. They were all alike, and not at all funny. I don't miss those at all. I don't think that this recent incident will cause Imus' downfall, but the potential does exist. Sometimes things snowball. And it's going to be the goal of a bunch of people (not only Al Sharpton) to try to make this thing snowball. If they succeed, the pressure on WFAN and MSNBC might lead to something happening. I wouldn't bet on it though. He may lose a few guests. He may lose a few affiliates. And he's added a paragraph to his obituary that I'm sure he'd prefer wasn't there.

Nymr83 Apr 09 2007 01:14 PM

i think that paragraph already existed, though he may have changed which particular insult will be used as an example of the larger body of work.

Willets Point Apr 09 2007 01:43 PM

I used to listen to Imus in the Morning on WNBC when I was a kid. Back then the recorded bits were what made the show: Moby Worm, Skip & Muffy the Peppy Preppies, Tres Huevos, and Rev. Billy Sol Hargus among others. Imus, Charles McCord, Roz Frank and others generally had wacky, silly conversations as opposed to the angry, political discussions the show has in more recent years. Imus going into recovery for alcoholism seem to bring about the change. What was obviously good for him seemed to be bad for the show imho, because like George Carlin I think Imus does whimsy better than politics. On the other hand, he rose to national prominence after the change so what do I know? I've never known him to be racist so these comments are surprising, but since I'm already not listening to Imus, it's not going to change much for me.

Nymr83 Apr 09 2007 02:52 PM

anyone remember his "masturbata" song to the tune of "macarena" when Clinton was involved in the whole Lewinsky thing?

metirish Apr 09 2007 08:03 PM

] NBC News suspended the radio host Don Imus tonight for two weeks after the outcry over his racially disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, calling his comments “racist and abhorrent.” Only a short time after NBC announced the suspension, CBS Radio, which is Mr. Imus’s chief employer, followed suit, saying it too would take Mr. Imus off the air for two weeks. The suspensions will take effect starting on Monday. But NBC, which simulcasts Mr. Imus’s program on its cable news network MSNBC, also served notice that it will not tolerate another insensitive remark from the host. It said that Mr. Imus had promised to change the tenor of the program, and that he agreed the suspension was an appropriate action. “Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word,” NBC said in an official statement.

Centerfield Apr 10 2007 11:38 AM

I don't mean to sound as if I am condoning his comments in any way, but having read them, I don't see how they are any more offensive than some of the other stuff that gets said on these "morning shows". If suspensions are being doled out for being racist and insensitive, we might be forced to deal with silence on the radio in the morning...or God forbid, music. I suppose at some point, morning shock jocks who said controversial things were entertaining and considered "cutting edge". But as far as I'm concerned, I think the whole act is tired...and now the only way to get any noteriety is to be more offensive than the next guy. I don't mind seeing Imus suspended for a few weeks. I never thought he was entertaining in the few times I've listened to him. I wouldn't lose any sleep if he got canned altogether. But if you really want to get my attention, do away with these morning shows entirely. Either play music, or hire someone who is actually funny.

metirish Apr 10 2007 11:43 AM

Imus on with Sharpton was a laugh,you could tell he was clearly getting annoyed with having to defend himself..at one point saying to Al.." I can't win with you people"...to which Al retorted" what do you mean you people".....

Willets Point Apr 10 2007 11:47 AM

Centerfield wrote: If suspensions are being doled out for being racist and insensitive, we might be forced to deal with silence on the radio in the morning...or God forbid, music. I remember when Imus (and Stern) actually played music. Made for a better balance to the show since these days shock jocks just have to shoot their mouths off to fill time.

Nymr83 Apr 10 2007 01:42 PM

metirish wrote: Imus on with Sharpton was a laugh,you could tell he was clearly getting annoyed with having to defend himself..at one point saying to Al.." I can't win with you people"...to which Al retorted" what do you mean you people"..... to which I, if I were Imus, would have responded "people like you who take every opportunity to incite violence, condemn police for doing their jobs, and and not say a peep when something bad happens to anyone who isn't black" Sharpton, in all seriousness, is a bigger racist than Imus will ever be.

metirish Apr 10 2007 02:12 PM

Imus did ask Sharpton where is the outrage when rappers say their crap in songs.

Centerfield Apr 10 2007 02:38 PM

Nymr83 wrote: Sharpton, in all seriousness, is a bigger racist than Imus will ever be. Amen to that. If I were Imus, I would have answered Al's questions with something along the lines of: "No Al, if I did hate blacks, I would give a speech with inflammatory, thinly-veiled racism encouraging people to riot and take violence upon a group of people because of the actions of one individual. I would then encourage people to boycott businesses owned by blacks, also due to the actions of one individual. I would do that because that is the type of thing you do when you are a racist." But then again, that's probably why Al doesn't invite me to go on his show.

Nymr83 Apr 10 2007 02:45 PM

metirish wrote: Imus did ask Sharpton where is the outrage when rappers say their crap in songs. what did sharpton say? my guess would be he didnt answer the question and proceeded to beat on imus?

Yancy Street Gang Apr 10 2007 02:49 PM

I'm also curious to know how Imus answered Sharpton's retort about "you people."

Centerfield Apr 10 2007 02:51 PM

He said he meant Sharpton and the caller by "you people". He then said that the implication that he meant it in a racist way was unfair. I think when race is involved, it's a good idea to avoid that phrase altogether. "You guys" is a much better choice.

Nymr83 Apr 10 2007 02:55 PM

"you idiots" would have been appropriate too in this case.

metirish Apr 10 2007 03:03 PM

His actual words were - "I can't get anyplace with you people," like CF said it's better not to say such things like that,OK,the Rutgers basketball team agreed to meet Imus and talk about what happened,Cal Riken canceled a scheduled appearance for Tuesday,here's his rep..... ] "He didn't want anyone getting the message that he agreed in any way, shape or form with the comments," said John Maroon, Ripken's publicist. "It was the right thing to do."

Johnny Dickshot Apr 10 2007 03:37 PM

Not that Imus' comment was at all funny or appropriate, but all this scrubbing clean afterward is even harder to listen to.

TheOldMole Apr 10 2007 05:37 PM

Many black leaders have, in fact, spoken out against rappers using that kind of language. Did anyone hear the speech by the Rutgers coach? I was much impressed.

Nymr83 Apr 10 2007 05:55 PM

TheOldMole wrote: Many black leaders have, in fact, spoken out against rappers using that kind of language. sure they have, but i can almost gaurantee that Al Sharpton was not one of them. Because Al Sharpton LIKES violence against police officers and women (as long as they're not black women) being rapped about.

cooby Apr 10 2007 09:34 PM

You know, a lot is being made about the racial aspect of his comments, but I doubt that these young ladies appreciate being called "hoes" either.

Willets Point Apr 10 2007 09:56 PM

That's what I was thinking. Teenage/early 20's women who are proficient at basketball shouldn't be compared with prostitutes.

soupcan Apr 10 2007 11:24 PM

Or garden tools.

Nymr83 Apr 11 2007 01:28 AM

but al sharpton doesn't care that WOMEN were offended, he only cares that BLACKS were offended.

cooby Apr 11 2007 06:14 AM

soupcan wrote: Or garden tools. Oh ho ho, soupcan!

metsmarathon Apr 11 2007 12:38 PM

y'know, one thing i keep on hearing is that it's ok for blacks to say "nigger" because when they do it, they are taking away the power of the word so that it can no longer hurt them. if that is the case, then when a white person says "nigger" should not the word be less powerful? should not the reaction be "you're a fool if you think that word can hurt me"? instead, by reacting with hurt and outrage to hateful words, they return to those words what power they have tried to erase. i would also suggest that instead of trying to chase imus out of the radio and force his viewpoint, if he is indeed a racist, to hide and likely fester, use him as a medium for teaching a lesson of acceptance and increased tolerance to those who would think the same ill thoughts of blacks. should not the goal be that people learn that there is no basis for their racial prejudices and dislikes, instead of forcing people to hide their biases until they undoubtedly explode?

Vic Sage Apr 11 2007 01:08 PM

i listen to Imus every morning, and i have since he started on FAN. I find his show amusing, in a sophomoric way, and i enjoy the way he blends in good interviews with journalists, historians, politicians and other personalities. I've even started liking some of the country music, too, but don't tell KC. my impressions, from this perspective, are: - he has said (or has allowed to be said) many jokes and gags on his show of a similar level of objectionability (or worse) for years, as have many other shock jocks, rappers, comedians, etc. Why this event triggered such a firestorm is an open question, dealing more with the agendas of others than with the comments themselves. - unlike others, like Jesse Jackson who called NY "Hymietown", or Al Sharpton, who has made a career of his racism, or Limbaugh, who seriously questioned the ability of black men to be quarterbacks, Imus' comments were part of a comedy routine and NOT meant to be taken seriously. The hypocrisy of those calling for his head is nauseating. - since the "scandal" broke, his show has become an unendurable litany of "mea culpa", with guys like Mike Barnacle and Jeff Greenfield coming on to say what a great opportunity Imus now has to become "a better person". - this is the one and only time i may agree with Howard Stern. He said something like "stop apologizing. Tell them it was just a joke, so get the fuck over it", or words to that effect. - i heard a Rutgers basketball player and a preacher talk about what an ordeal this has been, what a scar it has caused, for these young women, but if people weren't so anxious to run with this for their own political agendas, the comment would have gone uncommented on, and would have affected them hardly at all. Its the circus being made around it that has dragged them, against their wills, into the public spotlight, victimizing them more than any joke on a morning show ever could have. - Anybody who listens to Imus' show with any regularity can attest to his commitment to public health issues (from SIDS, to kids with cancer, to autism, to health care of soldiers), and that this guy has put his money (and his show) where his mouth is, and has helped alot of people. For him to be dragged down by this is so disproportionate as to do real damage to his efforts in those areas. - He should start his show with a cut from a gangsta rapper every morning, along with a replay of Jackson and Sharpton's "greatest hits", before continuing to satirize EVERYBODY EQUALLY. And any politician who refuses to support his right to say whatever the fukk he wants by refusing to be on his show anymore should be put on his "list", and he should remind his viewers who they are on a daily basis. - I loved how, the other day, in the middle of one of his hourly apologies, he mentioned how he had received messages of support from his attorneys (Michael Lynne and the other guy, DeBois), and how he takes responsibility for the statments, and will accept his punishment, but if anybody thinks they're going to fire him over this, they've got a lawsuit on their hands. It was the only moment of backbone i've seen from him in this whole sordid affair. we live in a society where people look for reasons to be offended, a society of victims. Instead of crying for his head, the Rutgers women should meet with him (which they've agreed to do), tell him directly how they feel about his unfunny joke, how little he means to their lives, and how they'll move on now, continuing to ignore him and his show, as they had up til now. And Imus should give them the comedic context for his comments, reaffirm his commitment to civil rights in all its permutations, and let them know that he INTENDS to offend everybody equally. And he should promise them he'll work on being funnier.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 11 2007 01:17 PM

Vic Sage wrote: I heard a Rutgers basketball player and a preacher talk about what an ordeal this has been, what a scar it has caused, for these young women, but if people weren't so anxious to run with this for their own political agendas, the comment would have gone uncommented on, and would have affected them hardly at all. Its the circus being made around it that has dragged them, against their wills, into the public spotlight, victimizing them more than any joke on a morning show ever could have. I was thinking much the same thing. It's another example of Al Sharpton seizing an event and blowing it up so that he can once again put himself under the spotlight. Imus shouldn't have said what he said about those girls though. They're just a bunch of kids who had just had an exciting athletic run. They do deserve a sincere apology from Imus. I think the show, which I listened to for years but abandoned two years ago, would be improved if he took the microphone away from much of the crew. Let him just banter with Charles and interview the guests. The interviews are the show's strength. Guys like Bernie and Sid and Larry Kenney and his interminable bits are better off gone.

TheOldMole Apr 11 2007 02:02 PM

Does this bother anyone? From the NY Times: ]The Rutgers University basketball players, fresh from a Rocky-like rise to the N.C.A.A. women’s championship game, held a news conference to explain that the slur-heard-round-the-world robbed them of their “moment.” Why is "moment" in quotes. It feels belittling to me -- it's not really a moment, but these girls think it is.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 11 2007 02:30 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 11 2007 02:38 PM

My wife, who's on the mailing list, just received this e-mail from Sen. Clinton (D-NY). Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote: Dear Mrs. Yancy, When our children are young, we teach them to dream big and reach for the stars, and that if they work hard enough they can accomplish anything. This year the Rutgers women's basketball team defied the odds and lived up to their dreams, providing inspiration to every little boy and girl beginning to pick up a ball or open a book. These remarkable young women reached the pinnacle of success and won the hearts of basketball fans everywhere with their grace, skill, and poise. They are role models deserving our praise -- and our support. Don Imus's comments about them were nothing more than small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism. They showed a disregard for basic decency and were disrespectful and degrading to African Americans and women everywhere. Please join me in sending the young women of Rutgers a message of respect and support. Show them that we are proud to stand with them and for them. http://www.hillaryclinton.com/respect Sincerely, Hillary Rodham Clinton

metsmarathon Apr 11 2007 02:37 PM

ugh.

metirish Apr 11 2007 02:42 PM

Well it's official now,they have become a political basketball...it would not surprise me to see Clinton and Obama visit Rutgers.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 11 2007 02:45 PM

Everybody pile on! This really doesn't warrant a newsletter from the candidate. She's spotlight grabbing just like Al Sharpton is, only not so overtly. (After all, this message was only sent to people who signed up as a supporter of hers. It may, however, see some kind of wider distribution in the next day or two.) McCain and Giuliani have said that they'll continue to appear on Imus' show. Has Obama weighed in yet? I'm sure many ears are eager to hear what he has to say. I'm just waiting for Joe Biden to mention how "clean" the Rutgers team is.

Centerfield Apr 11 2007 03:11 PM

The thing that made me want to vomit the most was the the outcry from HOT 97's DJ "Miss Jones". Jones was responsible for the "Tsunami Song" which used racial slurs against Asians while mocking victims of the tsunami. She has also encouraged violence against the Asian American community. Jones, of course, thinks Imus should be fired.

sharpie Apr 11 2007 04:08 PM

For years Imus has been ragging on Hillary ("she's the spawn of Satan" etc). He gets into hot water he should expect some payback. That's what politics is all about. Imus has sucked up to McCain for years, no wonder he backs him. Same thing.

metsmarathon Apr 11 2007 07:20 PM

="Hillary Rodham Clinton"]providing inspiration to every little boy and girl beginning to pick up a ball or open a book. huh?!

Kid Carsey Apr 11 2007 07:36 PM

VS: >>>I've even started liking some of the country music, too, but don't tell KC.<<< Nah, me too.

Rockin' Doc Apr 11 2007 08:12 PM

Imus was wrong to say the things he did about the ladies of the Rutgers basketball team, but his comments would have quickly faded into obscurity if not for the medias constant coverage. Most Americans would have been unaware of his comments if not for the media constantly rebroadcasting and rehashing the ramifications of his remarks. The constant coverage his given invaluable publicity to his radio broadcast. I suspect that most of his loyal listeners will continue to tune in when he returns to the airwaves and there will likely be quite a number of new listeners that just want to see what all the fuss is about. MSNBC has said they will no longer simulcast his program and he will lose several potential guests and advertisers for the future. However, if the listeners remain with him, the corporate advertisers will come back once the public fervor dies down.

MFS62 Apr 12 2007 07:49 AM

So, Imus lost his large corporate sponsors, and the network pulled the plug on his show. I look in my crystal ball and see the next step: A reporter asks the CEO of one of the companies that pulled their ads whether they will use any, or all, of the Rutgers players as their spokesperson(s) in future ads. The CEO says they won't. The reporter asks why. The CEO replies "Wrong demographics for our target audience. They're nappy-headed hos" Later

metirish Apr 12 2007 09:16 AM

Shaun Powell from Newsday nails it. ] It's more than just Imus April 12, 2007 In retrospect, outraged people shouldn't have united and screamed "blank you" to Don Imus the last few days. No, instead, we should've stuck out our hand and said, "Thank you." We should feel indebted to a shriveled, unfunny, insensitive frog for being so ignorant that he actually did us all a favor. He woke society the hell up. He grabbed it by the throat, shook hard and ordered us to take a long, critical look at ourselves and the mess we've made and ignored for much too long. He made us examine the culture and the characters we've created for ourselves, our impressionable young people and our future. Had Imus not called a bunch of proud and innocent young women "nappy-headed hos," would we be as ashamed of what we see as we are today? Or, to quote Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer: "Have we really lost our moral fiber?" And our minds as well? I'm not sure if the last few days will serve as a watershed moment for this MTV, middle-finger, screw-you generation. Probably not, according to my hunch. A short time from now, the hysteria will turn to vapor, folks will settle back into their routines, somebody will pump up the volume on the latest poison produced by hip-hop while Al Sharpton and the other racial ambulance chasers will find other guilt-ridden white folks to shake for fame and cash. In five minutes, the entire episode of Imus and his strange idea of humor will be older than his hairstyle. Lessons learned will be lessons forgotten. I wish I were wrong about that last part. But I doubt it, because any minute now, black people will resume calling themselves bitches and hos and the N-word and in the ultimate sign of hypocrisy, neither Rutgers nor anyone else will call a news conference about that. Because when we really get to the root of the problem, this isn't about Imus. This is about a culture we -- meaning black folks -- created and condoned and packaged for white power brokers to sell and shock jocks like Imus to exploit. Can we talk? Tell me: Where did an old white guy like Imus learn the word "ho"? Was that always part of his vocabulary? Or did he borrow it from Jay-Z and Dave Chappelle and Snoop Dogg? What really disappointed me about that exhausting Rutgers news conference, which was slyly used as a recruiting pitch by Stringer, was the absence of the truth and the lack of backbone and courage. Black women had the perfect opportunity to lash out at their most dangerous oppressors -- black men -- and yet they kept the focus on a white guy. It was a tremendous letdown for me, personally and professionally. I wanted Stringer, and especially her players, many of whom listen to rap and hip-hop, to take Nelly to task. Or BET. Or MTV. Or the gangsta culture that is suffocating our kids. They had the ear and eye of the nation trained upon them, and yet these women didn't get to the point and the root of the matter. They danced around it, and I guess I should've known better, because black people still refuse to lash out against those black people who are doing harm to us all. Honestly, I wasn't holding my breath for Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, a pair of phony and self-appointed leaders, because they have their agendas and financial stakes. I was hoping 10 young women, who have nothing on the line, who are members of a young culture, would train their attention to within the race, name names and say enough is enough. But they didn't, and I was crushed. You should walk around the playground and the elementary and high schools today and listen to how young black people speak to each other, treat each other and tease each other. You'd be ashamed. Next, sample some of their CDs and look at the video games they're playing. And while you're at it, blame yourself for funding this garbage, for allowing your kids to support these companies and for not taking a stand against it or the so-called artists making it happen. Black folks, for whatever reason, can be their own worst enemy. The last several days, the media had us believe it was Don Imus. But deep down, we know better. [url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-sppow125168074apr12,0,5647722.column?coll=ny-top-headlines]Shaun Powell[/url]

Frayed Knot Apr 12 2007 10:22 AM

I'm stunned at how this issue snowballed: from being the lead story on all three network newscasts; to almost constant coverage on the cable news channels; to being a topic on sports shows due to its connection w/basketball; etc., this thing took on a life that even the highly anticipated Anna Nicole news and the dismissal of the Duke lacrosse/rape case could only partially dent. That said, like Vic, I'm a fairly regular listener and I agree with most of what he said (Limbaugh never actually questioned whether blacks could be good quarterbacks, but that's a minor point). I think part of the reason why it grew the way it did has to do with the fact that the Rutgers girls weren't the type of intentional public figures who thrust themselves into the limelight like most of the politicians & media types who usually are on the receiving end of such rough humor. But, even there, there's been an over-the-top rush to canonize the team; I've heard their run to the recent title game as "heroic" as if there was something about that particular group that put their season above and beyond that of what several teams accomplish every year. By the time I heard one of the news channels announcing that Whoopie Goldberg was coming up next with her views on the subject, I realized that the overkill was complete.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 12 2007 10:26 AM

Yancy Street Gang on April 9 wrote: I don't think that this recent incident will cause Imus' downfall, but the potential does exist. Sometimes things snowball. And it's going to be the goal of a bunch of people (not only Al Sharpton) to try to make this thing snowball. If they succeed, the pressure on WFAN and MSNBC might lead to something happening. I wouldn't bet on it though. He may lose a few guests. He may lose a few affiliates. And he's added a paragraph to his obituary that I'm sure he'd prefer wasn't there. Well, it's now more than just a paragraph.

Edgy DC Apr 12 2007 10:29 AM

I'm doubting it's complete, now that Senator Clinton is seemingly adding supporting the Scarlet Knights to her platform.

Willets Point Apr 12 2007 11:30 AM

metirish wrote: Shaun Powell from Newsday nails it. I think Mike Hayes says it well too.

Frayed Knot Apr 12 2007 04:44 PM

CBS radio/WFAN cans Imus effective immediately!

Edgy DC Apr 12 2007 04:47 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 13 2007 12:07 AM

Bam! Funny and strange how these things go. I highly doubt it was the most offensive thing --- not that such a thing can be measured objectively very well --- he ever said on the air.

sharpie Apr 12 2007 04:49 PM

Can't say I'll miss his show. I would never listen if it weren't on FAN. I just hope that something better is in it's place. Is it just me or has there been a real spate of celebrities saying incredibly stupid things lately: Imus, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Tim Hardaway. Yes, if we go back in the not-so-recent past we get Al Campanis, Jimmy the Greek, John Rocker, etc but it does seem like this is a wave of idiotic remarks.

Edgy DC Apr 12 2007 04:50 PM

I fired him 25-30 years ago.

Kid Carsey Apr 12 2007 04:53 PM

Watch they get a huge satellite contract.

metsmarathon Apr 12 2007 04:55 PM

and so a ridiculous, frightening and disgusting precedent is set. don't even try to make fun of blacks, or al sharpton will take your job away while pretending to help his community.

soupcan Apr 12 2007 04:58 PM

sharpie wrote: Can't say I'll miss his show. I would never listen if it weren't on FAN. I just hope that something better is in it's place. Is it just me or has there been a real spate of celebrities saying incredibly stupid things lately: Imus, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Tim Hardaway. Yes, if we go back in the not-so-recent past we get Al Campanis, Jimmy the Greek, John Rocker, etc but it does seem like this is a wave of idiotic remarks. Did you not hear about Michael Ray Richardson about 10 days ago or so? On edit: Heres the story: Before Tuesday's game against the Yakima Sun Kings, Richardson made anti-Semitic comments to two reporters in his office when discussing the contract general manager Jim Coyne had offered him Monday to coach his team in the CBA and USBL. "I've got big-time lawyers," Richardson said, according to the Times Union. "I've got big-time Jew lawyers." When told by the reporters that the comment could be offensive to people because it plays to the stereotype that Jews are crafty and shrewd, he responded with, "Are you kidding me? They are. They've got the best security system in the world. Have you ever been to an airport in Tel Aviv? They're real crafty. Listen, they are hated all over the world, so they've got to be crafty." And he continued, "They got a lot of power in this world, you know what I mean?" he said. "Which I think is great. I don't think there's nothing wrong with it. If you look in most professional sports, they're run by Jewish people. If you look at a lot of most successful corporations and stuff, more businesses, they're run by Jewish. It's not a knock, but they are some crafty people."

ABG Apr 12 2007 05:04 PM

Another station/XM/Sirius will pony up. No question, just a matter of time.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 12 2007 05:07 PM

I'm surprised. I thought it might snowball, but I didn't really think it would grow to this level so quickly. Imus never even started his suspension. The show had its flaws, to be sure, but it also had its merits. Since I had stopped listening two years ago I can't say that I'll miss it. So I won't.

GYC Apr 12 2007 05:47 PM

I think it's completely ridiculous. It was blown WAY out of proportion by the likes of ... people... like Al Sharpton, who just took this mess and made it into publicity stunt for himself. First of all, nobody asked him to intervene, and there was no place for. Obviously, CBS Radio and MSNBC weren't going to let Imus get off punishment-free. However, Sharpton had the audacity to say he wasn't going to go on Imus' show anymore, yet the next day, invites Imus onto HIS show. I can maybe see that as plausible, but Sharpton doesn't even have a New York / New Jersey affiliate while Imus is broadcast nationwide. Sharpton was completely irrelevant to this entire thing. I can see him speaking out on it on his radio show and bringing in Imus then, but nobody here can here him. Rutgers is irrelevant to him. And like Jesse brought up, when will Sharpton apologize to the Duke Lacrosse players? As far as what Imus actually said, it was a completely asinine thing to say, and blatantly racist. Whether or not joking around, race is waaaay too touchy of a subject to cross the line on it. And, it's a bit hypocritical, in a way. He fired Sid Rosenberg from his show after some of Sid's comments that crossed the line (the whole Venus and Serena Williams thing, as well as comments about Palestinians, and then the comments about Kylie Minogue and her breast cancer). Imus rightfully deserved a two week suspension from CBS and MSNBC, and probably a some fines as well, but honestly, getting fired by MSNBC and CBS was way too much. It's the clowns like Al Sharpton who do that by causing so much media attention in order to self-promote. If he didn't stick his nose into other people's business, CNN, FOX, etc. wouldn't have even cared after the first day or two following the comments. It's a shame to see Imus go, though. I'm sure he will catch on with satellite radio or something, but still, he is an important part of New York radio, and more importantly (to me) WFAN. Without him, WFAN doesn't succeed, who knows if all-sports talk radio ever catches on. I think CBS and MSNBC are making a huge mistake here by getting rid of him over something that's so blown out of proportion, but I guess they have their reasons / don't have any loyalty to someone who has helped them so much. I personally didn't care for his show as it just bored me. I tried listening to it when I was a major WFAN junkie, and I can honestly say I only enjoyed it once (when he brought in Martina McBride to perform some of her songs from the "Timeless" album). Still being a WFAN-addict, it's sad to see him leave.

sharpie Apr 12 2007 06:06 PM

Soupcan: I missed that story. Wasn't covered in Vienna.

Kid Carsey Apr 12 2007 06:08 PM

I called a sister a nappy ho yesterday at work, she laughed an back-handed my upper arm. I love it when black women blush.

Nymr83 Apr 12 2007 06:13 PM

this is a load of bullshit, al sharpton should get canned. and as long as we're regulating the airwaves any song that mentions violence should be gone too.

Frayed Knot Apr 12 2007 06:58 PM

Not real classy of them to dump him right in the middle of a two-day telethon that Imus practically invented either. I have no idea what WFAN will do now. The station can survive without him now in a way that they definitely could NOT have years ago when all-sports was a novelty idea and they were still finding their way. But morning drive-time is still the most important time slot of the day (hauls in upwards of 80% of the revenues in some stations) and you just can't replace a show like his with some guy off the street. Like him or not, he made a shit-load of money for them. Will they become a true 24-hour/day sports station? ... I dunno, I have a hard time seeing them move M&MD to that time slot yet putting someone else there would be, in effect, passing them over. ]al sharpton should get canned From what?

Nymr83 Apr 12 2007 07:27 PM

anything and everything he does. yeah tough call with M&MD, i think the best thing to do would be to ask them what they want. they might not want to be on in the morning as they'd get more frequently interrupted by traffic/weather than in the afternoon (or at least thats my perception of it) and their guests (players, managers) probably don't want to come on at 7AM. If my work hours were 7:10PM until whenever the game ends i wouldnt be awake very often for morning commute time.

Kid Carsey Apr 12 2007 07:36 PM

The Richard Neer / Steve Somers show, with them here and you there every morning from 5:30 to ten when Joe Badabingbaddaboom comes on to take you the rest of the way to Fatso and Fruitloops © at one. © Imus Productions, LLC

Johnny Dickshot Apr 12 2007 07:42 PM

Howard Stern hired by WFAN!

Yancy Street Gang Apr 12 2007 08:40 PM

Huh?

seawolf17 Apr 12 2007 09:44 PM

Fired. Stunning. I listened, occasionally; I liked his guests. I'd flip back and forth between Imus and Mike & Mike whenever M&M were talking about something stupid (read: anything not baseball). I agree with the general sentiment; it's a shit move by CBS.

Elster88 Apr 12 2007 09:55 PM

Jackson to appear on SNY tonight, which will be by far the lowest point in SNY's short history.

Johnny Dickshot Apr 13 2007 09:40 AM

I was kidding re: Stern. I hadn't gotten in any April Fool jokes this year. Imagining Stern returning to free airwaves is even more difficult today that it was before this scandal, so this outcome is a shame from that perspective. I think its more evidence that the 20th century and its various things (free radio, Yankee championships, humor, common sense) is dead.

Edgy DC Apr 13 2007 10:24 AM

"I believe all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the statements that were made on our air," said Leslie Moonves, CBS president and chief executive officer, in a statement announcing the decision. Who does he think he's kidding?

seawolf17 Apr 13 2007 10:53 AM

"Well, we weren't really revulsed at first," Moonves added. "In fact, we kinda chuckled at the comment. We only stopped laughing yesterday. What really revulsed us, to the point of inventing words, was the millions of advertising dollars we lost."

Kid Carsey Apr 13 2007 10:55 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html

Kid Carsey Apr 13 2007 11:02 AM

Hit submit too quick. I saw this guy yesterday on one of the ESPNEWS late afternoon shows and like his take. I went to the paper this morning hoping to find that he put some of it in print.

Willets Point Apr 13 2007 11:16 AM

Patiently waiting by the phone...

Centerfield Apr 13 2007 11:45 AM

That's very funny Willets. I think firing Imus is crap. But if you are going to fire him, clean out all the DJ's who spout racism...regardless of the color of their skin. I trust that now the Reverend Sharpton will turn his attention to those in the hip-hop scene who use the term that got Imus canned.

Elster88 Apr 13 2007 12:50 PM

I first heard about [url=http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html]Jason Whitlock's article[/url] on Opie & Anthony. Then saw the link on the Sports Guy's site. SG also has the link for [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001891.html]Michael Wilbon[/url]. I have always had zero interest and knowledge of Imus' past. Wilbon paints the picture of quite the little racist. Can a person be a racist and still be a good person if he does good things?

Elster88 Apr 13 2007 12:52 PM

Centerfield wrote: That's very funny Willets. I think firing Imus is crap. But if you are going to fire him, clean out all the DJ's who spout racism...regardless of the color of their skin. I trust that now the Reverend Sharpton will turn his attention to those in the hip-hop scene who use the term that got Imus canned. Nice. This is how I feel.

Elster88 Apr 13 2007 12:53 PM

OTOH if all of their sponsors are pulling the plug, why not drop his show? The man's not going to suffer financially. It sucks that his charity may suffer without the exposure, but I don't know what else CBS/MSNBC or whoever should do. Just fire him after the radiothon?

Kid Carsey Apr 13 2007 01:01 PM

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself.

Willets Point Apr 13 2007 01:06 PM

Wait a minute, he mocked Gwen Ifill?!?!

Frayed Knot Apr 13 2007 01:41 PM

Jason Whitlock (who is black for those who have never seen him) has been a lonely voice in the wilderness about issues like black-on-black violence and the corrosive effect of the hip-hop culture for quite a while now. So his piece, unlike the one by Wilbon or the rumblings of most of the talking heads on the cable channels over the last few days, isn't just jumping on this topic because it's suddenly the flavor du jour. Summary of the "opinion makers" over last few days: 'I never listen to Imus but here's what he's all about ... '

holychicken Apr 13 2007 02:52 PM

Let's not us falsly blame hip-hop for this. There is plenty of hip-hop that isn't the trash that you guys are refering to. Just to throw out some political correctness here.

Edgy DC Apr 13 2007 03:02 PM

I never listen to hip-hop but here's what it's all about...

Rotblatt Apr 13 2007 03:30 PM

I saw Whitlock on CNN last night, and he was very articulate. ahem. Anyway, he echoed a lot of what he said in his column, and while I think he did a great job of exposing the hypocrisy behind firing Imus, I just can't get bring myself to blame "gansta culture" for black problems--or at least, not for the words they choose to use. If you want to criticize successful black rappers for not giving back to their community or not using the spotlight to bring attention to the problems facing their community, I'm on board, but to criticize them because they say nigger and talk about dealing drugs? I mean, to me, the problem of the gansta culture is that it's all about the individual and not about the community--"I don't give a shit, I just want to get paid"--when they could use their status for the public good. And sure, some of that could come in the form of trying to be model citizens who don't drink, curse or do drugs, but to me, the better example to set is of an avid financial supporter of their own community. I think there are infinitely better things to get upset about than any of the above, though . . .

Kid Carsey Apr 13 2007 03:43 PM

I was chewing on this with some black women today and one said something that I thought was simplistically true and made us laugh. The conversation turned to the "if it's ok for a rapper to say nigger ho on the radio how come a white comic can't" and she quipped that, "well the nigger ho that some hip- hop guy is rappin' about probably is really a nigger ho while those nappy hos that Imus was making fun of were college student athletes. Maybe ya hadda be there. I think the subject has pretty much milked itself out (chocolate milk if you prefer)

metirish Apr 13 2007 03:58 PM

Some of this stuff you can't make up,true story.... ] Racial slur on sofa label stuns family JIM WILKES/TORONTO STAR Mother had to explain to daughter, 7 origin of 'totally unacceptable' word on wrapping of furniture built overseas Apr 06, 2007 04:30 AM Jim Wilkes Staff Reporter When the new chocolate-coloured sofa set was delivered to her Brampton home, Doris Moore was stunned to see packing labels describing the shade as "Nigger-brown." She and husband Douglas purchased a sofa, loveseat and chair in dark brown leather last week from Vanaik Furniture and Mattress store on Dundas St. E. Moore, 30, who describes herself as an African-American born and raised in New York, said it was her 7-year-old daughter who pointed out the label just after delivery men from the Mississauga furniture store left. "She's very curious and she started reading the labels," Moore explained. "She said, `Mommy, what is nig ... ger brown?' I went over and just couldn't believe my eyes." She said yesterday each piece had a similar label affixed to the woven protective covering wrapped around the furniture. "In this day and age, that's totally unacceptable," Moore said. Douglas explained the origins of the word to daughter Olivia, telling how it was a bad name that blacks were called during the days of slavery in the United States. "It was tough, because she really didn't understand," Moore said. "She'd never heard that word before and didn't really understand the concept of it." Moore, who has a younger son and daughter, said she's heard the word used many times, although it has never been directed in anger at her. "But it's a very, very bad word that makes you feel degraded, like you're a nobody," she said. Moore said she called the furniture store the following day and three other times since, and feels discouraged that no one has returned her calls. When interviewed yesterday by the Star, Romesh Kumar, Vanaik's assistant manager, passed the buck to his supplier, Cosmos Furniture in Scarborough. "Why should I take the blame?" he said. "I'm a trader, I don't manufacture. I sell from 20 companies, maybe 50 companies. How can I take care of all of them?" He said that he would check similar stock and make sure other labels were removed. "That's terrible, that's a racial ... something?" Kumar said. "This is entirely wrong, but it's not my fault. It's my job to sell good product to people." He said the best he could do is to give Moore the telephone number of his supplier, so she could take it up with him. The owner of Cosmos Furniture, Paul Kumar, no relation to Romesh, said he was upset to learn packing labels on products he sold carried a racial epithet. "I import my products from overseas," he said. "I've never noticed anything like that. This is something new to me." He passed the blame to a Chinese company, but apologized for the labels. He said he would contact the furniture maker in Guangzhou and demand they remove all similar labels. Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home. "Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said. http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

Edgy DC Apr 13 2007 04:12 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 13 2007 04:16 PM

I'm going to say hateful culture has consequences and should be criticized and tuned out. And holy shit, I just said it.

Johnny Dickshot Apr 13 2007 04:15 PM

My prediction is America doesn't learn a thing.

metsmarathon Apr 13 2007 04:21 PM

hey, don't go out on a limb there!

metirish Apr 13 2007 04:26 PM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: My prediction is America doesn't learn a thing. I do find it funny that some are writing and saying that this could have a great impact and that this could all be for the greater good....shit next week this is old news and the media will be back to reporting on how many pills Anna Nicole Smith had in her system when she died.

iramets Apr 13 2007 11:15 PM

Why do Imus listeners get a pass? If he wasn't saying dumb, offensive shit, then someone else would get the gig. Do you think he's the last shock jock to appeal to casual racism? There's a market out there for brainless radio, and he's just supplying what this nation of mindless yahoos is clamoring for.

Frayed Knot Apr 14 2007 06:28 AM

btw, WFAN will be going to 'Mike & the Mad Dog in the morning' AND in the afternoon ... at least on a temporary basis. For the next two weeks they'll work Imus's 6-10AM shift plus a slightly shortened version of their reg time slot, going from 2-6 while Roberts & Badabingo get extended by an hour.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 14 2007 08:59 AM

This is kind of like "too much of a good thing" except that it's too much of a bad thing.

metsmarathon Apr 14 2007 10:03 AM

could you imagine the comic gold, though, if m&md picked up the baton on having political discussions and interviews? i mean, i'd tune in for that in a heartbeat!

Frayed Knot Apr 14 2007 10:19 AM

Well this is only for 2 weeks until the station figures out a longer term plan so whatever comic relief and/or hair pulling that results will be minimal. On the other hand, while the thought of Russo discussing politics & sociology is just too much to even contemplate, at least Francesa is an expert on all subjects everywhere ... just ask him if you don't believe me.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 14 2007 11:07 AM

I noticed that WFAN's web site removed Imus from its list of personalities, but kept Charles, Bernie, and Lou. I wonder if they'll be in the studio with Mike and Chris in the mornings. I'd guess not, but who knows?

Nymr83 Apr 14 2007 02:05 PM

that would be really hypocritical on WFAN's part, those guys are the same as Imus.

Kid Carsey Apr 14 2007 02:08 PM

No they're not, they're three other personalities entirely.

metirish Apr 14 2007 02:13 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I noticed that WFAN's web site removed Imus from its list of personalities, but kept Charles, Bernie, and Lou. I wonder if they'll be in the studio with Mike and Chris in the mornings. I'd guess not, but who knows? I listened to M&MD talk about that yesterday,they did mention that a lot of the Imus crew will be on hand ,Chris Carlin was mentioned and I believe some of the guys mentioned above.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 14 2007 02:14 PM

If Imus is fired, then Bernie should be fired.

metirish Apr 14 2007 02:35 PM

Bernie was definitly not mentioned.

Frayed Knot Apr 14 2007 03:17 PM

M&MD mentioned that Charles will be around to do the regular morning news guy stuff while they're on for the next two weeks. I assume that means this shows that Charles's contract was with CBS/FAN as opposed to being someone who was sub-hired by Imus although I believe he did have some financial incentive in the show so I'm not sure how that all will work out. Of course Imus was recently re-signed to a new (5 year?) contract so I guess Charles was also. He's in his early-mid 60s and could retire if he wanted to depending on where this all winds up. Lou was just the engineer so FAN can keep him on in some capacity and Carlin just a regular sports geek who will work mornings for now and can eventually be slotted anywhere. Bernie is the interesting question. He can certainly continue as a regular (more silent) producer for whoever FAN wants to stick him with - although they might decide that he was too closely tied with the main culprit and cut him loose.

iramets Apr 14 2007 04:57 PM

Mike was carrying on in full-on terarjerking style yesterday about the families whose breadwinners would be put out of work since Imus's crew is fired. Just about break your hard heart, it would. Of course, there would be families benefitting from this break in the WFAN lineup, but Mike seems not to understand the nature of zero-sum economics.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 14 2007 05:29 PM

So Imus' crew was fired? Or is Francesa jumping to an ill-informed conclusion? (Not that he'd ever do THAT!)

Nymr83 Apr 14 2007 10:12 PM

Sharpton tonight in response to threats said "we're gonna increase the risk" etc etc and go after the thugs in the music industry. i'll believe it when i see it.

SteveJRogers Apr 14 2007 11:34 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: So Imus' crew was fired? Or is Francesa jumping to an ill-informed conclusion? (Not that he'd ever do THAT!) I think it meant Imus' crew that were not WFAN employees (Rob Bartlett, Larry Kenney) and I think Bernard like McCord came in at the same time Imus did, Lou Rifino I believe was a holdover from WFAN's 1050 days. Did not hear it, but it was probably more speculation than conclusion

Yancy Street Gang Apr 16 2007 10:19 AM

Curiosity got the better of me, and against my better judgement I listened to Mike and the Mad Dog for about twenty minutes during my drive to work this morning. Charles McChord was doing the news and bantering a little with Mike and Chris. (I guess he was a WFAN employee and since he did nothing to justify firing him, he's still the morning news guy on the station.) Mike then started ranting about Newsweek's coverage of Imus' firing. And then he started saying that Imus was the ONLY person who linked the government's response to Hurricane Katrina to racial issues. Imus was the ONLY guy who said that things would have been different if the people in New Orleans had been poor and white instead of poor and black. Yeah, I'm sure that thought never occurred to Spike Lee, among others. The short time I spent with Mike and Chris (and Charles) this morning reinforced how there are thousands of better ways to pass time than listening to that idiotic show.

metirish Apr 16 2007 10:21 AM

Francesa is such a know all,read yesterday that the Imus charity will suffer because of this,not being able to raise money and all that,experts in that feild think it will have to close.

Centerfield Apr 16 2007 01:31 PM

Word has it that last week Power 105.1 DJ Ed Lover ran a segment called "Are You Smarter Than An Asian?" The segment involved a person imitating an "Asian", named Mr. Hung Lo, who spoke with a stereotypical Chinese accent. Callers competed with Mr. Lo by being asked questions such as "How does an Asian pronounce 'fried rice'?" You can read about it here: http://www.angryasianman.com/2007/04/power-1051s-are-you-smarter-than-asian.html I trust Al Sharpton will now put his efforts into making sure Ed Lover is fired from the station.

Edgy DC Apr 16 2007 01:45 PM

Write him sincerely and see what happens.

cooby Apr 16 2007 06:11 PM

I hope Imus takes some of his newfound free time and goes and has his eyebrows done

Yancy Street Gang Apr 16 2007 07:06 PM

Do you know a good eyebrow guy that you can recommend?

cooby Apr 16 2007 07:25 PM

or even

metirish Apr 17 2007 10:02 AM

I guess Imus is last weeks news already...

metirish Apr 19 2007 12:51 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 19 2007 12:56 PM

Ever here the Omar routine that was part of the Imus show? ] Imus' gags about Minaya were offensive April 13, 2007 New York Around two months ago, I had my own Imus moment of revulsion. I was in Tampa, Fla., covering the Yankees in spring training, and on this one early morning, clicking on the TV with half-closed eyes, I accidentally caught Imus' radio show simulcast on MSNBC. Mind you, I've never been an Imus fan. In fact, quite the opposite: I've loathed the guy to no end for years. Not only didn't I think he was the least bit funny, but I always wondered how he got away with all the nasty, hurtful, bigoted stuff he said on a nearly daily basis. I was ready to turn the channel — that is, until I heard that Omar Minaya was going to be a guest. Oh, great, I thought, that might be interesting. Except it ended up that it wasn't the actual Omar Minaya about to be interviewed but one of Imus' regulars, comedian Rob Bartlett, pretending to be Minaya, offering nothing but an awful caricature that wore both a Mets cap and a dumb look, spoke with the thickest of Spanish accents, and said a string of stupid things. I watched open-mouthed. I was absolutely appalled — how insensitive! And I felt so bad for Minaya, who's such an articulate, professional and classy man, someone who has fought ugly stereotypes his entire career to make baseball history as the sport's first Hispanic general manager. I figured that Minaya must be outraged as well, though I never read or heard anything from him saying so and I wasn't in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to ever approach him about it. How could Minaya not scream and yell about this, if not threaten to sue if it didn't cease and desist? It turned out that this Minaya bit developed into a running gag on Imus, the same way Imus had guys do way-over-the-top mock impersonations of former President Clinton and the Rev. Jerry Falwell and New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. Yesterday, just hours before Imus got his second plug pulled in as many days, this time from CBS, yanking his filthy, out-of-control mouth off the air totally, I ran into Minaya as he was heading to the Mets' clubhouse and finally asked him privately what I'd been dying to ask him all this time. Did he even know about his portrayal on the Imus show? "Of course," he said. "I didn't see it on TV, but I heard it a few times on the radio." And? What did he think? Was he offended? "At first," he said, "I have to admit that I didn't know what to make of it. But then, as time went on and I heard it a couple more times, I thought it was funny and got a kick out of it. "I mean, hey, it is what it is." He paused and smiled with his typical grace before adding: "Listen, I know that it's morning radio, and those shows are very edgy trying to be funny. And I'm a public figure. I have to have a sense of humor about such things." This is the kind of man that Minaya is. He could've buried Imus, especially now. Could've said that he himself was the subject of a bad ethnic joke and that the source of it, thankfully, got what he deserved in the end. But instead of condemning Imus or what Imus said about the Rutgers women's basketball team, Minaya said this: "He's apologized, and that's a start." Minaya is nicer than I am: I'm hoping it's the end. [url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/SPORTS/704130365]Peter Geffner[/url]

Yancy Street Gang Apr 19 2007 12:53 PM

Who wrote that?

Centerfield Apr 19 2007 12:58 PM

I don't think Omar Minaya is articulate.

Frayed Knot Apr 19 2007 03:40 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 19 2007 03:48 PM

="Centerfield"]I don't think Omar Minaya is articulate. No, but one way to degrade your target (Imus in this case) is to build up whoever their target was. I mean, I don't think the Rutgers team deserved the slur they got but jeez ... by the time it was all over that group was the most promsing group of scholar-athletes ever produced by this country. Cures for cancer, AIDS, and the key to world peace are apparently just around the corner as long as these girls aren't too scarred by that 3-word insult. I heard several "Omar" appearances (there were more than one) and generally thought they were hilarious. The voice was stereotyped NY-hispanic (as were the times when Att Gen Alberto Gonzalez "visited") but it was never really a barb at Omar. He and the other "guest" characters who delivered essays and other screeds (and occasionally sang) on the show were merely vehicles to deliver the jokes and/or satirical rants. btw, The real Omar also made several appearances on the show, as did the real and lampooned version of Andy Rooney. And yet both continued to accept invitations to the show while outsiders who purport to speak for them are the ones getting their panties in a knot.

Nymr83 Apr 19 2007 03:44 PM

]It turned out that this Minaya bit developed into a running gag on Imus, the same way Imus had guys do way-over-the-top mock impersonations of former President Clinton and the Rev. Jerry Falwell and New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. I think politicians are always a legitimate target for satire/ridicule/mocking

Edgy DC Apr 19 2007 03:57 PM

Being legitmate doesn't make it funny or useful. Most isn't.

iramets Apr 19 2007 07:40 PM

Comedy is hard. Dying's easy.

metirish Apr 21 2007 10:08 AM

The coach of the Rutgers womens basketball team has a book coming out later in the year... "It's about an incredible woman with an extraordinary life story," said Tina Constable, executive vice president for publicity at Crown, who declined to say how much the company will pay Stringer. "She's a pioneer, a legend, an icon and a role model." I guess she can thank Imus for the deal

Frayed Knot Apr 21 2007 04:02 PM

"It's about an incredible woman with an extraordinary life story ... She's a pioneer, a legend, an icon and a role model" I could throw in another comment about building up the "victims" in this whole episode to nearly the point of sainthood but I've already gone down that road. Suffice to say she couldn't have snagged a book deal with a handgun if not for the recent publicity. btw, Friday's papers finally confirmed that Imus sidekick Bernard McGuirk has been fired - although they took great pains not to use those specific words.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 21 2007 04:38 PM

It certainly made sense to fire Bernie. He said "ho" before Imus did. I guess now he's searching the want ads and Craig's List for somebody looking to hire a "bald headed stooge."

metirish Apr 21 2007 10:55 PM

Here is an interesting possibility. ] Whitlock sounds like right guy April 22, 2007 It was a letdown hearing Jason Whitlock say Friday that he is passing (for now) on a chance to take over the WFAN morning slot from Don Imus. "I might be interested after thinking about it, I might not," the provocative columnist for AOL Sports and The Kansas City Star said, citing concerns about moving to New York and living the morning radio lifestyle. No, I wasn't let down only because I had nominated Whitlock a week earlier and was looking forward to gloating. It was because Whitlock really would be a fascinating choice. His weird, testy chat with Chris Russo and Mike Francesa Friday was a glimpse at the possibilities. So was his biting, unsparing humor in a subsequent interview with SportsWatch. Of Francesa suggesting on the air that he was auditioning, Whitlock said: "No, if I wanted to audition I'd take [operations director] Mark Chernoff up on his offer to come in and do two or three days of the show. I don't have to audition for 10 minutes with two idiots." On Russo and Francesa hosting a grueling 5˝-hour show every afternoon: "No wonder they have no sense of humor!" Sigh. "Whitlock in the Morning" would be great theater. Maybe he will change his mind, or someone can change it for him. (He said NBC News executive Phil Griffin spoke to him about the notion of a simulcast on MSNBC, Imus' old home.) Even if he does, though, he is only one of a number of candidates Chernoff is interviewing. The station boss isn't saying much about his strategy, but Whitlock offered insight into it based on his chat with Chernoff. For one thing, even considering Whitlock is a sign the station is open to broadening its demographic appeal. He turns 40 Friday and is one of the nation's most visible black sports journalists. Whitlock said Chernoff told him he prefers a tandem to a lone star. ("I'm a solo act," Whitlock said.) He also told Whitlock he wants a show that covers news, culture and other topics in addition to sports, a seemingly perfect fit for him. Chernoff did not dispute Whitlock's account but said it is too soon to assume anything about the shape a new show might take. "I don't want to pin myself down," he said.