Rutgers Team Accepts Imus' Apology

Players Hope Incident Will Be "Catalyst For Change" For "Greater Ills In Our Culture"

(CBS/AP)  The Rutgers women's basketball team accepted radio host Don Imus' apology Friday for insulting them on the air, saying that he deserves a chance to move on, but that they hope the furor his word caused will be a catalyst for change.

"We, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knight basketball team, accept — accept — Mr. Imus' apology, and we are in the process of forgiving," coach C. Vivian Stringer read from a team statement a day after the team met personally with Imus and his wife.

"We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget," the statement read.

"These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture. It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change. Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place."

Imus' wife, Deirdre, and long-time Imus sidekick Charles McCord subbed for the fired radio talk show host Friday.

"This remains very much 'Imus In The Morning and 'DI' — it's just not Donald Imus, it's the much better-looking of the Imus duo. It is Deirdre Coleman Imus," McCord said on the air Friday morning.

They took over his radio fundraiser Friday after CBS fired the host for racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

The fundraising drive netted more than $3 million in pledges and left one charity director in tears, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

"To punish him, you're punishing a thousand kids that he has aided every single day," said Lynn Hoffman of the Tomorrow's Children's Fund.

Deirdre Imus described her husband's brief meeting with the Rutgers team the night before and praised the women as "beautiful and courageous."

"They gave us the opportunity to listen to what they had to say and why they're hurting and how awful this is," the author said as she co-hosted the fundraiser for children's charities.

"He feels awful," she said. "He asked them, 'I want to know the pain I caused, and I want to know how to fix this and change this.'"

"I have to say that these women are unbelievably courageous and beautiful women," she said.

In a strange twist, the man who had suggested the New Jersey governor's mansion as a location for the meeting, Gov. Jon Corzine, was not there. He is in the hospital after a serious car accident on his way back to the mansion.

The two-day radio fundraiser had been scheduled long before Don Imus' on-air description of team members as "nappy-headed hos" set off a national debate about taste and tolerance.

On Wednesday, a week after the remark and after advertisers began pulling their support, MSNBC said it would no longer televise the show. CBS fired Imus Thursday from the radio show that he has hosted for nearly 30 years.

The team's goal was never to get Imus fired, Stringer said. "It's sad for anyone to lose their job," she said.

Deirdre Imus' radio hosting career may be short-lived: Westwood One, which syndicates the "Imus in the Morning" program, notified its affiliates that Boston radio talk show host Mike Barnicle, a frequent guest on "Imus," would take over the timeslot for the next two weeks. His one-hour show normally follows Imus on his home station of WTKK-FM.

Currently a contributor to the Boston Herald, Barnicle is not without controversy himself: He resigned from the Boston Globe in 1998 following questions about the sources of at least two of his columns for that paper.

[mg32944]

Well, all is right with the world, Imus has been fired for saying something stupid. I'm sure Leslie and the boys are happy to have this problem off their plates. But wait, I'm a stockholder, who is going to repalce this money pit that CBS has been milking for so long?? Maybe Jesse or Al have a show you can put on that will generate the same prifit. No?? Well then why cowtow to these hypocrites? Where is their outrage at black rap artisits who call women *** and hos and who advocate killing the police? Where is their agreement or disagreement with Bill Cosby about the blacks failure to take advantage of the education sysytem. What an incredible sham this whole episode is. A great example of a media frenzy pushed on to the public by 24 hour radio and TV shows. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me"? These women have been "scarred for like"?? Please. If they are the erudite and sophisticated women that are portrayed in the media this insult should be like water off a ducks back. Imus was stupid and insensitive, which by the way has been his act for 30 years, let's move on. Let me know when Imus is signed by XM or Sirius, I would like to hear his unabridged feelings on the matter.

[incog-nito]

Freedom of speech:

Imus has the right to say tasteless things on the air and earn millions for that.

Sharpton and Jackson have the right to grandstand and demand his dismissal.

Advertisers have the right to pull their ads due to the controversy.

CBS and MSNBC have right to fire Imus for fear of losing revenues.

End of story.

[jeffyt1]

The Rev. Al Sharpton has never apologized about the Tawana Brawley affair. He has never apologized about the truly inflamatory things he said during the Duke Lacrosse atheletes.

I'm going to take the Rev. Sharpton at his word. In looking at his words, it is clearly time for Al Sharpton to go, as well.

Jeff

[ronaldstark]

Lets see if Jesse Jackson will go after all the HIPHOP stations next to get a lot of the HIGHLY SEXUAL music off the air as well. I doubt it. *** hypocrites and double standards. You should hear some of this music for yourself. Little kids listen to HipHop on radio much more than they listen to IMUS. 7/8 year olds singing magic stick and My Humps. WAKE UP! Since STERN jumped ship...HipHop has got to be the most sexist content on terrestial radio. People are too afraid to stand up to it.

I DO believe IMUS should have went out like a man and resigned a few days ago.

[ronaldstark]

Jackson called the firing %u201Ca victory for public decency. No one should use the public airwaves to transmit racial or sexual degradation."

lets see him go after the sexual degradation displayed in hundreds of hip-hop tunes played everyday on the radio. F- Jesse Jackson

[rhs648]

Beware of the speech and thought police. First we have to be politically correct. Then, we enact laws and prosecute people to make certain that they are politically correct. Who fired Jesse Jackson when he used the word "hymies" and who fired Al Sharpton when he falsely accused a New York prosecuter prosecuter of raping a black girl. These mem make their money shaking down large corporations for money by alleging racism and discrimination. If anything, they are probably guilty of racketeering. Imus could have been reprimanded, disciplined, or suspended. Instead, he loses his livelihood. The corporate sponsors must be terrified of the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world.

[bigdadpatrio]

To Whom It May Concern,
Although I personally feel that Imus' comments were repugnant, I also feel that he had the right to say what he said. It's called free speech. Your firing of him is also repugnant to me and a large social group I am a part of. We collectively plan on boycotting NBC and any of it's projects and programs. We also plan on boycotting any advertiser who "pulled" out due to the hypoctitical pressure put on by the Rverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. It is obvious your company forgets the racial comments and actions Mr. Jackson has perpetrated over the years and also those by Mr. Sharpton (surely you haven't forgotten Tawana Brawley). The fact that you would bow down to pressures from these hypocrites who have repeatedly belittled white people and the white race in general over the years is appalling.

Racism in ANY form is unacceptable, but a double standard is even more unacceptable.

NBC and CBS have made, in our opinion, a grave mistake and we hope that the boycotts we propose and support will have a great effect on both of your companies and your advertisers, as we are sick of the double standards and political correctness your companies practice.

[rhs648]

With corrections:

Beware of the speech and thought police. First we have to be politically correct. Then, we enact laws and prosecute people to make certain that they are politically correct. Who fired Jesse Jackson when he used the word "hymies" and who fired Al Sharpton when he falsely accused a New York prosecuter of raping a black girl. These men make their money shaking down large corporations by alleging racism and discrimination. If anything, they are probably guilty of racketeering. Imus could have been reprimanded, disciplined, or suspended. Instead, he loses his livelihood. The corporate sponsors must be terrified of the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world.

[soteria4you]

Imus gone, CBS in the tank. It's all about bad journalism, the kind that plays to the heart and feelings instead of truth. Imus at least can admit that he blew it. Where is Sharpton, Jackson et al, when it comes to the *** that they have thrown around for years? How many unsubstantiated slurs have they thrown around without accountability?

CBS, you have no credibility. Play to you miniature audience. Good bye.

[one_american]

CBS is dead, by its own hands.

[carreojc]

Why am I not surprised you canceled Imus! I was no fan of his (nor do I condone his remarks) but the man made an off-hand comment for which he apologized over and over! What's more, it was no more or less charged than 1,000 other statements he's made over the years.

Fortunately, I guess, since I don't watch a single CBS News program (or entertainment show, for that matter), I don't need to boycott your network! I just wanted to register my disgust for allowing a different kind of racism to perpetuate. I'll bet you haven't asked Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton for an apology for their part in the lynching of those three boys in North Carolina!

As a mixed-race woman, I cannot believe you don't see the hypocrisy in what happened here.

[one_american]

CBS IS BURNING DOWN!!!!

[duffyn]

I love CBS. They did the right thing. Now, I just hope no one else hires this turkey. America is going thru some strange value systems when people listen to imus, stern, limbaugh... Yuck!!!!

[liberaltexan]

too bad the outrage industry can't get outraged about the price of frikkin' gas or why companies like citigroup and circuit city are laying off workers by the tens of thousands.

where's the outrage on the war and all this corruption?

oh, i forgot, it doesn't play well to all the morons on the far right and the far left. rove must LOVE the distraction this gives the white house leading up to the attorney general hearings.

good job imus, sharpton and jackson. do us a favor...get P.O.'d about REAL problems!

[tommyboy1761]

All white people will now boycot cbs and nbc.

[ikenneth]

Jeez, somebody cut this guy a break! I'm not an Imus fan nor do I listen to him but I think people has branded him a "racist" in which he's not! Besides, his comment was more sexist than racist. No, it's still not right- but this guy is already at the lowest of the lowest and everyone just wants a piece of it. ...Fired by MSNBC, pulled by advertisers and now this; WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?! People should get over it and move on with their lives.

[wistfuls]

Mr. Jackson says, "...A victory for public decency. NO ONE SHOULD USE THE PUBLIC AIRWAVES to transmit racial or sexual degradation", and Al Sharpton says "...But we cannot afford a precedent established that the airways can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism"

Excuse me, but what the heck are all those rap singers, comedians, and some TV hosts doing??? I am far more offended by the really offensive, disgusting language in the rap music, music video's, and so called "off colored" comedians! If IMUS has to go, then so should all those other offensive people. If Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton want to clean up the airways, why aren't they after them too???

Are they, (and NBC) not being perhaps a little bit sanctimonious in this case?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Jackson called the firing "a victory for public decency. No one should use the public airwaves to transmit racial or sexual degradation."

Said Sharpton: "He says he wants to be forgiven. I hope he continues in that process. But we cannot afford a precedent established that the airways can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism."

[torinin2]

If derogatory comments from one race are acceptable, but not from another, is that not racism? Why can a hip hop 'artist' say the very same words with no repercussion? I call it RACISM!!

We do not have to agree with the content. We can CHOOSE to listen or not. Regardless of my beliefs on what he said, I will defend his RIGHT to say it!!!

We have to STOP this America! When are we going to put up our hands as a nation and say ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Stop acting so infantile and learn to let things go!

THEY ARE JUST WORDS!
Nothing more.
Nothing less.

[yephora]

CBS must now change its call letters to PCBS: Politically Correct BS.

[tucson23]

Um, first of all, rappers may say the same things as Imus did, but they're black and they're saying them about black people. There's a difference between degrading your own and degrading others because they're different from you.

Second, the right to free speech is a protection against government actions. Private organizations have the right to limit speech whenever they can and want to. Your employer can fire you for saying the wrong thing. Your Boy Scout troop can fire you for saying that being gay is okay (as long as they're not receiving federal funding). Your homeowner's association can ban you from flying a flag. CBS can fire people for making sponsors uncomfortable.

If you think that CBS executives fired Imus because they think he was morally wrong, you just don't know how corporations work. I can garantee you that the discussions on this topic at CBS concerned ONLY the effect that keeping him, or firing him, would have on the bottom line. Sponsors don't want their products associated with controversy, and that sealed the fate of Imus.

And to you who lamented that he lost his livlihood: He's a very rich man several years past retirement age. I think his mansion and golf will sooth his pain.

[jameslava]

This just in: Sharpton made up the phrase "nappy-headed ho." In 1927, he referred to his mother as one when she made him eat his collard greens.

[jameslava]

This just in: Sharpton made up the phrase "nappy-headed ho." In 1927, he referred to his mother as one when she made him eat his collard greens.

[tiredofthis5]

I rarely listen to Imus, any programing on CBS,and very little on NBC. And I absolutely never watch basketball. So why does this incident bother me? Because of the unsavory standard it sets, allowing individuals with their own personal/political agendas to walk on my highly respected rights as an American.

Imus' biggest crime has been stupidity not racism. Public figures simply DO NOT make denigrating remarks about any of the following: ethnic or religious group, women, children, cats, dogs, sports heros, or vegetarians.

Daily berating our president, however, is perfectly fine and highly favored, thank you. (Rosie, Joy, are you listening??)

The women athletes and their coach complained about Imus. Sponsors complained about Imus. Co-workers complained about him, as did just about anyone nailed to the floor by media hounds seeking comments to keep this fire burning. That's the American way--letting the market decide the outcome.

He was suspended and left to roast on the media's bonfire. To fire him in addition can only be likened to killing a flea with a sledgehammer. The punishment does not fit the crime, and it sets a sorry precident. Better that public opinion had been allowed to do it's work unfettered by this circus.

And now that Imus has been made the goat, we have a grand future to look forward to. Just wait a few days and we'll soon see who Sharpton and Jackson have second on their hit list.

CBS and NBC, you handed them the game ball. Thanks a bunch.

[yephora]

Wake me up when Sharpton-Jackson are leading a boycott of Interscope/BadBoy Records. Until then, the stench of their hypocrisy is exceeded only by the cowardice of CBS.

[jameslava]

What was the first published usage of nappy-headed? Can anyone remember one before Stevie Wonder's?

[incog-nito]

Whatever you may think of Don Imus' firing, there's one thing we can all agree on: Xpozrap is a complete wacko.

[xpozrap]

%u201CLookin back on when I was a little nappy headed boy, when my only worry was for Christmas what would be my toy.%u201D Stevie Wonder


cricket


cricket



cricket....

Helloooo? Mr. Sharpton?????

[xpozrap]

Lyrics:

And my jam knock in the Mitsubishi
Girls pee pee when they see me, Nava-hoes creep me in they tee pee
As I lay down laws like I lay carpet
Stop it - if you think your gonna make a profit


TRANSLATION:

I enjoy playing my music loudly on my car stereo. Apparently, women enjoy this also because they become sexually aroused when they see me driving. Oddly enough, when I visit the Native American reservations, some of the more sexually promiscuous Indian women attempt to seduce me in their homes. Their intent is to divest me of my earnings. Such actions are unacceptable.

[l8c6]

tucson23, I used to buy into it being different but I don't think it is. I think calling your bruthas ****** and your sistas hoes is a problem from within. An acknowledgment that a rock is in the eye of the one claiming victimization is in order. The behavior here is that of a crack hoe in denial blaming others. I see it all the time working on a psych unit. Drug addicts coming into the hospital and getting nasty with everyone blaming society and the people they came to for help failing to take a look at themselves and work on change. I don't watch Imus, not interested, but these screaming rants from the black community are racist in the sense they stem from a double standard. The black community would benefit looking at itself and its value system. I see a fair amount of shallow materialism and entitlement.

[grammawhamma]

I see this page is hopping with comments. You should all go read the comments posted by trueprogress in the article about the woman who dismembered her girlfriend. I would love to see what you have to say about that!!

[michellem99-2009]

I am an older blind person who is white. It is sad that there is hate in the world.I never listened to Don Imus on TV. I did not like his format. My foster Mum taught us hateful words years ago. Those words are are not said. There are good people. Mr. Imus should have known better and now he is out of work. I don't care for shock jocks as they are called. I am 52 and times are different and I wish the best to the youngs ladies who had to hear trash aimed at them. I would like to see the hate words ban from usage.

[rcverde]

CBS & NBC and who ever else who has fired Don Imus should take a good look at their own morals and values. To bow down to "Kill all the White people" Al Sharpton, and "If you don't take action, we'll sue" and "NYC is Hymee town", Jesse Jackson, is a travesty!! If you really want to kiss your *** goodbye, keep pushing the silent majority closer to the edge of total revolt and revolution! Imus appologized for his stupidity. Has Al or Jesse appologized for the "Duke Boys", or for the "Tawnya" lie? Al Sharpton has inspired several riots with misinformation that has cost the lives of innocent people and the tax payers of America several million dollars. Imus raised 1.3+ milloin dollars today alone for charity. Keep it up and the true nature of American justice will fall heavily upon all the wrong doers. It's time to choose whether or not the Constitution of the United States means anything or not!

[skipcoleman6]

Imus got screwed. What he did was wrong but Rev. Al was head hunting. Isn't he suppose to teach us about forgiving people for there wrong doings? Would he have went to this much trouble if a black DJ said something against whites? I don't think so.

[bradb1964]

Dear Mr Moonves:

"There has been much discussion of the effect language used on the programming at CBS has on our young people trying to make their way in this society that you weigh down with your idiocy.
That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision not to view CBS programming in the future, and to refrain from spending any of our hard earned money on the products that choose to advertise on your network.

[cat1dog5075]

Al , Jesse and Ray are just like Imus - PUBLIC FIGURES -

Al Sharpton can say ANYTHING he wants - He is not a racist

Ray is the mayor of New Orleans and can say he wants it to be a "A Chocolate city"? - He is not a racist

Jesse can put down the jews and call New York "himmie town" - He is not a racist

Imus the shock jock says something stupid and the same guys tell him - He is a racist

[bradb1964]

Mr Moonves:

"CBS has flourished in a culture that permits a certain level of objectionable expression that hurts and demeans a wide range of people," In taking CBS off the air, I believe we take an important and necessary step not just in solving a unique problem, but in changing that culture, which extends far beyond the walls of our country."

Idiot.

[rollingrk33]

jackson and sharpton are the racist here and they just put another notch on the belt for putting away the white man again. take BET off the air and you would here them say it is racial reasoning, but that is the most racist channell on tv......... CBS need to grow some balls and stand up for Imus, give him his job back...

[bradb1964]

"It's not about taking Imus down," Sharpton said. "It's about lifting decency up."

I wonder what Martin Luther King would think about where we are as a society today.

Didn't he want us to rise above?

[mortyscabin]

Dear CBS,

If you wish to denigrate racism, then don't carry the horse hockey of Sharpton and Jackson. These are the REAL racists.

When did Sharpton apologize for the Tawana Brawly affair? Never. And Jackson, when did he apologize for the "Jaime Town" comments?

Imus made a mistake. No doubt about it. But his punishment in the mailstream press and by the networks which carry him has been overdone to the point of distraction.

CBS, NBC and Imus sponsors did wrong. There is no mitzfa in this scenario.

Dr. James S. Mortellaro, Jr.

[elsiemoo]

I DO NOT think Imus should have been fired! Yes, what he said was wrong, but no worse than those judging him have said about others! (Jackson, Sharpton, etc.!) The man apologized; accept it and stop with all the hypocrisy!!!!!!! He is a shock jock, for Pete's sake ... but he has a good heart and has proven it many times!

[katiekam]

It's long past time that the networks clean up what they air. I'm not a prude, but enough's enough. There's no reason for anyone to use this language ... especially not on the air or in film! Good for you CBS ... please make this only the beginning!

[linfinster]

I'm glad Imus is gone. I think it's disgusting, the things that are allowed to be said on the radio, TV, Music etc. While I do think Sharpton and all those who prostitute themselves and exploit the back race had made some good points -and why are they NOT as equally outraged by the RAP *** that's out there, I'll never know! Those Rutger girls and coach, family members as far as I could see, carried themselves is a very honorable and dignified way. I am greatful that the ultimate result is the removal of trash thinking that man spews daily. I don't listen to him, and from what I've read, I guess he's done more for good causes than I ever will and he's seemed to react, SO FAR pretty dignified too. kudos for that.
Now if this can be an example of how we can get racists out of mainstream society and that goes for us in our personal lives too. I had a very good conversation with 4 or 5 people at a gas staion who were defending Imus. They didn't get it until I said what I said and at least thre walked away agreeing with me in the end.
IMHO

[joejimbob1]

What he said was way wrong. If I had said that at my job, I too would be fired. Too bad this gives big mouth Sharpton air time. Hey, Al, go defend O.J. Better yet, Al, how about you go after all those music "artists", and remember CBS and media in general make a whole lot of money by promoting this hatred. It does suck, though, the double standard. Why be an american when I am too white for America?

[notamerica]

Dear CBS,

I would like to criticize you for terminating the employment of the radio personality, Don Imus. Unbelievable! Your response to his "words" (JUST WORDS)was unacceptable, and pathetic. Your "politically correct" actions make me hate the, larger, group of people Imus was referring to. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, huh? They (the slave ancestor blacks) whine & "you" collapse under the pressure. How sad! Where is your backbone? You should be ashamed. The guy said nothing wrong. A remark, like that, directed at Asians, would be shrugged-off like it was a compliment. Why? Because the Asians are too busy working; and educating themselves; and taking care of their families, to worry about trivialities like those expressed by Don Imus recently. Wow, but firing him did prevent another LA-style riot, I'm sure! Good job!

[bradb1964]

CBS has a track record of racist and sexist employees.

In 1988 Jimmy (the Greek) Snyder was fired by CBS for saying black athletes were "bred" to be better than whites. In 1996 CBS golf analyst Ben Wright was suspended indefinitely after he was quoted as saying that lesbians had hurt the sport.

Perhaps there should be more fallout at CBS.

[rcverde]

The truth of the matter is that this isn't about Don Imus, this is about all the hypocrocy that has been going on in America since the Clinton years. Are we so stupid to believe that NBC & CBS fired Don Imus for his insensitive remarks about the Rutger's team. If my daughter would have been on that team, I'd want to punch Imus out for disrespecting my daughter! But the real issue here is that the liberal left finally got a chance to take down one of their nay sayers. How many of the outraged masses had ever listened to an Imus radio show? He hates on everybody. To rise up against an individual just because the likes of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson say you should, without having all the facts, is sheer stupidity. Do you have a mind, or are you just another sheep in the herd? Shake yourself America, don't be so blinded by the wrath of Political Correctness that you fail to see the levels of wool that these people are pulling over your eyes. Imus should engage the ACLU to defend his job. The ACLU is there for everyone aren't they. The beauty of this country is that we will take a certain amount of abuse and then put a boot in somebody's ***. You liberals can dance tonight, but keep in mind that us non liberals are watching you all very close, and you have just raised the bar!

[tucson23]

Jesus would agree with you racists...he was always spouting off about how you should fear and hate everyone who is different from you, and you should definitely blame an entire people for the actions of 1/10% of them. He often commented on how it's okay to be a bigot if some of the people you hate are also bigots. Two wrongs most definitely make a right (I think it was in the book of John). Because Al Sharpton blames white people for the trouble that blacks have in life, Don Imus should be allowed to call basketball players names--after all, black female basketball players used to enslave Don Imus, and then spent the next 150 years trying to keep him down politically and economically, so it's only fair. Jesus was all about justifying your own actions based on the actions of others. He was a very wise man.

[missut2]

To CBS and MSNBC...you are so pathetic! Your caving-in to the pressure by so-called "reverends" puts you squarely in bed with Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. Sure do hope they bring along their advertisers, as you are going to need them...especially when your viewers bestow on your little networks the same loyalty you bestowed on Don Imus...NONE. You made a grave error in who you chose to sleep with...you will soon be known as "The Networks of Sharpton-Jackson". Good luck...you will need it. The day will come when you will wish you had stuck by Imus...especially when he will be bigger than anything you will have on your little networks. You are now owned by Al and Jessie!!!!!!!!!

[tucson23]

the liberal left finally got a chance to take down one of their nay sayers.
Posted by rcverde

Again, you're giving corporate managers too much credit. I work closely with management in one of the biggest and most well-known Entertainment corporations in the world, and I can tell you they don't base decisions on politics, morality, right vs. wrong, or liberal vs. coservative. Their only concern is how taking an action, or not taking it, will affect the financial performance of their company. If one of your employees has a big megaphone and is making your sponsors nervous, that person will be fired unless the loss will be greater if he's gone (like, say, Mel Gibson or Michael Jackson). It's a cold calculation, so don't try to read any nafarious political philosphy into it.

[rcverde]

Wow, Tucson23, good point, but who persuaded those advertisers to cut Imus loose?