Don Imus's comments

[notredomer23]

Is he being racist or was he just joking. I think he was doing both, but more racist than joking. Did he deserve the suspension? Should he be forgiven


the rutgers womens team is about to have a news conferance and discuss the comments.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Is he being racist or was he just joking. I think he was doing both, but more racist than joking. Did he deserve the suspension? Should he be forgiven

the rutgers womens team is about to have a news conferance and discuss the comments.

He's a dumbass...

I don't know if he should be fired. Worse has been said by others. But I think he sucks and is a retarded shock jock...so I don't care enough to have an opinion.

 

[celtic745]

I really don't care. I don't listen to the guy anyway. But I do kind of hate how Rutgers is making a big deal out of this. I'm watching the interview right now, and the President was saying how he callled every player's parent or w/e...why? I mean, i guess theres nothing wrong with it, but it seems a little silly to call the parents. They were just words. Hurtful, sure, but just words. It's not like the guy is going to come out and attack the whole team.
I mean, who the hell cares what Don Imus has to say. He's an idiot anyway.
Whether or not it was like meant as a racist thing or as a joking thing, I don't know. I'd also have to say a little bit of both. But if Imus came up to me and made fun or me or whatever, sure it would hurt, but, I wouldn't go crazy about it, because i really don't care what someone like that has to say
I probably strayed from the topic a little. I don't think there's anything wrong with him getting suspended. Meanwhile, the Rutgers coach is STILL talking at the News Conference.

 

[notredomer23]

good post celtic reps for it

 

[Akron Irish]

I'm with celtic on this. They are really taking advantage on the situation. If I hear anything else about how great Rutgers education program is and how they are the 8th oldest institution I'm going to scream. Yes, Imus is a moron. His show sucks, cancel it or whatever. But please don't get into how racist the world still is. Yes, there are plenty of folks that are racist/sexist out there. But I believe the large majority of people aren't.

Am I the only person in the world that thinks BET (Black Entertainment Television) may be racist? If it was WET, Al Sharpton would be all over the place going off. How about the scholarships to african-americans only? The NAACP? The NFL's policy on interviewing a african-american head coach before hiring! I think that teams should be required to consider a caucasion defensive back before signing a player.

If we're going to ignore race as a society, we need to do it both ways. Isn't that what equality is all about?

 

[leppycole]

Yeah well said by all - Imus who? The only reason I know this guy is because of all the media this has drawn. First of all, he is a moron and Sharpton/Jackson are parasites. Everytime some over the hill idiot offends blacks, Sharpton shows up with donation invoices ("if you donate, I'll set things straight"!)- I am so tired of hearing Sharpton and Jackson proclaiming that they want equality for African Americans - who are they kidding? Without morons like Imus and Kramer, these two would have to join the workforce. The worst thing possible for either of these two is equality. You would not know it, but really - look at our society today - outside of some of the "old" ways of thinking in the south (which will die off soon) is racism really a factor in America? Who even cares what color someone is today? I have white friends, black friends, mexican friends, european and asian friends from multiple cultures (all early 30's)- race is not even a concern to any of them. I know that I am not the minority who fall in this category so it kills me that these 60 year old farts are still touting a race war in America - and it is both sides who are guilty. I hope my kids will never have to watch the lead story in America being a "big problem that a washed up old DJ said the word Nappy and everybody gets offended".

I know, I know - I will go take my pill now

leppy

 

[Freeman Ara]

Now here is the ironic part of this whole thing...Sharpton and Jackson have both been guilty of the same thing in the past. Both have a made derogatory remarks towards other ethnic groups, so why are these two qualified to be the ring leaders of this whole circus?(This was brought up on Hannity&Colmes last night) Look I think we have gotten to a point in this country where political correctness has gotten way out of hand. Imus was trying to be funny, he chose the wrong time and place to make an obscure reference to a Spike Lee movie.I have never seen School Daze as a would imagine most of his listeners probably haven't. But look I listen to Richard Pryor(sp?),probably the greatest comedian ever, and he makes fun of every race, group, ethnicity out there. Why am I not offended?A) Because its funny B)I paid money to buy his CD. C) I don't take myself so seriously that I get offended by things like that. Imus chose a bad forum to well, quite frankly, do his job. Being funny and shocking to is what he is paid for, to get ratings. If we could all lower are sensitivity levels just a tad, and learn to laugh at ourselves more these things wouldn't blow up into huge media circus' like they always seem to do. Imus is probably a bigot, let him be a bigot if he continues to make comments like these then he'll lose his listeners and get fired anyway, this should not be a national news story.

 

[Akron Irish]

Now here is the ironic part of this whole thing...Sharpton and Jackson have both been guilty of the same thing in the past. Both have a made derogatory remarks towards other ethnic groups, so why are these two qualified to be the ring leaders of this whole circus?(This was brought up on Hannity&Colmes last night) Look I think we have gotten to a point in this country where political correctness has gotten way out of hand. Imus was trying to be funny, he chose the wrong time and place to make an obscure reference to a Spike Lee movie.I have never seen School Daze as a would imagine most of his listeners probably haven't. But look I listen to Richard Pryor(sp?),probably the greatest comedian ever, and he makes fun of every race, group, ethnicity out there. Why am I not offended?A) Because its funny B)I paid money to buy his CD. C) I don't take myself so seriously that I get offended by things like that. Imus chose a bad forum to well, quite frankly, do his job. Being funny and shocking to is what he is paid for, to get ratings. If we could all lower are sensitivity levels just a tad, and learn to laugh at ourselves more these things wouldn't blow up into huge media circus' like they always seem to do. Imus is probably a bigot, let him be a bigot if he continues to make comments like these then he'll lose his listeners and get fired anyway, this should not be a national news story.

nice point. reps

 

[tgolden]

I'm sure he was trying to be funny, but it was still racist. He should definitely be suspended. I don't listen to the guy, but he does work for some pretty major media outlets, so they need to take care of the issue. I agree that it is being a little overblown though. but I don't agree with Akron Irish. There were over 200 years of white affirmative action in this country, this is necessary to make up a little bit of ground.

and I may be the only one, but I also found his comments to be very sexist. But I know most of the people who post here wouldn't really care about that.

I know page 2 is usually garbage, but I think this is a pretty good summation of this idea:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070410

 

[Vince Young]

I'm hearing a lot of people today argue that, "Why should Imus get in trouble for saying the same thing that rappers say all the time?!? It's wrong for Imus to say it, it should be wrong for the rappers too."

Well, that also works in reverse: if it's wrong for rappers, it should be wrong for Imus too.

Making an argument like that is like arguing, "Well OJ committed murder and didn't get punished! Why are you punishing me for murdering someone?"

If I were running a radio station that had Imus, I'd drop him like a hot potato. Of course, I wouldn't have had Imus on in the first place, mainly because he's a ratings vampire even when he ISN'T making racially insensitive jokes, but that's irrelevant.

 

[Akron Irish]

I'm sure he was trying to be funny, but it was still racist. He should definitely be suspended. I don't listen to the guy, but he does work for some pretty major media outlets, so they need to take care of the issue. I agree that it is being a little overblown though. but I don't agree with Akron Irish. There were over 200 years of white affirmative action in this country, this is necessary to make up a little bit of ground.

and I may be the only one, but I also found his comments to be very sexist. But I know most of the people who post here wouldn't really care about that.

I know page 2 is usually garbage, but I think this is a pretty good summation of this idea:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070410

I'll admit, blacks had it very rough and I feel bad for what they endured. But that doesn't mean there should be reverse discrimination today. That won't make up for the past. All it does is plainly lay out the racial lines. When you fill out a college application, there should not be an ethnicity question. It should be based on the merits of the individual. Not who there parents are or what they went through in the past. Anything else is not equality.
Do you think Jews should get to punish Germans for what the Nazis did?

 

[goldenlid]

The coach is saying that it is an issue of how men look at women, and how we need to stop looking at women and using degrading terms.

 

[tgolden]

unfortunately, society as a whole has to help disadvantaged groups that have been historically discriminated against to give equality of opportunity. if there was never any discrimination against blacks, then this wouldnt be an issue. but sadly, there was (and still is), so this kind of action is necessary to give those who start out in a disadvantaged position a chance to catch up.

there are tons of types of affirmative action going on today. ND's legacy policy is one. UM gives extra points to people from the upper Pen as well as people who are first generation going to college (regardless of race), and a whole bunch of other things that I can't remember right now. sometimes women are admitted at higher rates into engineering programs and other programs that are traditionally male dominated, even with slightly lower credentials. Dubya got into Yale for one reason and one reason only. Universities try to get a mix of diversity which includes members of various religions, ethnicities and geographic backgrounds. All of that could be considered affirmative action.

And actually, it does help make up for the past by giving today's minorities opportunities. Lack of opportunities can become a cycle, affirmative action helps people break out of that cycle. that doesn't mean that someone who is not qualified should be admitted somewhere, but if two people are qualified, one is black and one is white, the school is trying to get more minorities, and the white guy scored 20 points higher on his SAT, I think it's good for the university/program as a whole to admit the minority.

but how this discussion got to affirmative action, i don't even know. this doesn't really seem relavent to the racist, sexist comments of Imus.

 

[tgolden]

The coach is saying that it is an issue of how men look at women, and how we need to stop looking at women and using degrading terms.

exactly, the term "hoes" is as offensive as any of his other comments. this is about far more than just race.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

So, if women call themselves hoes and bitches its ok. If blacks call themselves the N word its ok. Dontcha think, somewhere along the line, people that hear that are going to adopt it also??? If you don't want it directed at you from others, then don't perpetuate it!

Imus and others who use that kind of language (outside of IE) lack class anyway. Whether it be white or black.

 

[Freeman Ara]

Ok well I was on the ESPN boards and their talking about this topic too and a guy posted a link to the transcript of what was said. After reading it, I look at what Imus said in a different light. I think he was using the nappy headed ho part to describe the Rutgers girls as ugly and more brutish then the UT girls. Its still racist and sexist but if read in context it comes off as him trying to be funny yet not outright call the RU girls ugly and manish. Here's the link:
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowl...pyheaded_hos_msnbc_distances_itself_56457.asp

P.S. Not defending the guy at all just passing on a different take, maybe.

 

[tgolden]

So, if women call themselves hoes and bitches its ok. If blacks call themselves the N word its ok. Dontcha think, somewhere along the line, people that hear that are going to adopt it also??? If you don't want it directed at you from others, then don't perpetuate it!

Imus and others who use that kind of language (outside of IE) lack class anyway. Whether it be white or black.

Oh, do you spend time with the Rutgers team and know that they call each other hoes and bitches? That's really interesting to know.

If you call yourself stupid and an idiot, that's ok. It probably isn't ok if some stranger walks up to you and calls you an idiot to your face.

If you want to use that language yourself, I can't really stop you, but it has no place on pretty mainstream airwaves. older white men absolutely should not call young black women "nappy headed hoes." if Imus wants to do that, then he has to know there will be consequences.

and sure, he was trying to be funny, but that doesn't mean that it actually was funny or appropriate. i think even if he had just said "rutgers is an ugly team with rough players and the Vols are all beautiful and lady-like" that would have been wrong too.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I think you way missed my point. I think Imus should apologize to the Rutgers girls. They are NOT public figures, and do not deserve the attempt at 'humor' at their expense.

My point was of a larger one. I don't think calling ANYONE hoes or the N word is appropriate. It shows a serious lack of respect.

 

[Akron Irish]

unfortunately, society as a whole has to help disadvantaged groups that have been historically discriminated against to give equality of opportunity. if there was never any discrimination against blacks, then this wouldnt be an issue. but sadly, there was (and still is), so this kind of action is necessary to give those who start out in a disadvantaged position a chance to catch up.

there are tons of types of affirmative action going on today. ND's legacy policy is one. UM gives extra points to people from the upper Pen as well as people who are first generation going to college (regardless of race), and a whole bunch of other things that I can't remember right now. sometimes women are admitted at higher rates into engineering programs and other programs that are traditionally male dominated, even with slightly lower credentials. Dubya got into Yale for one reason and one reason only. Universities try to get a mix of diversity which includes members of various religions, ethnicities and geographic backgrounds. All of that could be considered affirmative action.

And actually, it does help make up for the past by giving today's minorities opportunities. Lack of opportunities can become a cycle, affirmative action helps people break out of that cycle. that doesn't mean that someone who is not qualified should be admitted somewhere, but if two people are qualified, one is black and one is white, the school is trying to get more minorities, and the white guy scored 20 points higher on his SAT, I think it's good for the university/program as a whole to admit the minority.

but how this discussion got to affirmative action, i don't even know. this doesn't really seem relavent to the racist, sexist comments of Imus.

I think too many people have been brainwashed by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Martin Luther King wanted equality. He wanted a fair chance, not affirmative action. If you tell a kid, he didn't get into a university, no not because of his grades or test scores, in fact you scored better than the other students were admitting, but its because you're not a minority, than that is reverse discrimination. (Sorry for the run-on). That is still a problem.

 

[onenybrother]

I really don't care. I don't listen to the guy anyway. But I do kind of hate how Rutgers is making a big deal out of this. I'm watching the interview right now, and the President was saying how he callled every player's parent or w/e...why? I mean, i guess theres nothing wrong with it, but it seems a little silly to call the parents. They were just words. Hurtful, sure, but just words. It's not like the guy is going to come out and attack the whole team.
I mean, who the hell cares what Don Imus has to say. He's an idiot anyway.
Whether or not it was like meant as a racist thing or as a joking thing, I don't know. I'd also have to say a little bit of both. But if Imus came up to me and made fun or me or whatever, sure it would hurt, but, I wouldn't go crazy about it, because i really don't care what someone like that has to say
I probably strayed from the topic a little. I don't think there's anything wrong with him getting suspended. Meanwhile, the Rutgers coach is STILL talking at the News Conference.

So Rutger's is making a big deal about this? Are you kidding me? The ( Nationial Association of Black Journalist) , Meet the Press, Sharpton and every other major newspaper you can think of ran with this story. The Rutger's women was basking in the accomplishment they made this season. Not Don Imus or the perception he had of them. Now I'm one black man who feel's that saying the n-word, is just as offensive coming from a black man, just as it is from a white. So Imus remark's was repulsive. The only thing I'm shocked is that Imus rather go out like a weasel. Instead of resigning like a man.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I think what celtic is saying is that people should not care what dumbasses say. I totally ignore what Rosie says, as she has no cred with me at all. Imus is the same way. I think that Rutgers DOES have the right to feel offended, and they should respond however they see fit.

I would luv to see Imus step down, but the radio station feels like they need him. Like I said before, when you are rich like he is, two week suspension is a long vacation. It seems strange that the suspension would not be immediate, as it would for anyone here getting similar punishment at work.

 

[celtic745]

So Rutger's is making a big deal about this? Are you kidding me? The ( Nationial Association of Black Journalist) , Meet the Press, Sharpton and every other major newspaper you can think of ran with this story. The Rutger's women was basking in the accomplishment they made this season. Not Don Imus or the perception he had of them. Now I'm one black man who feel's that saying the n-word, is just as offensive coming from a black man, just as it is from a white. So Imus remark's was repulsive. The only thing I'm shocked is that Imus rather go out like a weasel. Instead of resigning like a man.

Your right. The other media stations have helped propel the story. Imus should have never ever said what he said. He needs to man up for what he said.
I mean, maybe I really just don't know what its like to have someone be racist against me. But a couple Rutgers players just made some comments about how this took away from their Easter weekend and stuff. I don't know. I still would never get too upset about what the guy said. Hey, he's the one who has his job in jeopardy.

 

[celtic745]

I think what celtic is saying is that people should not care what dumbasses say. I totally ignore what Rosie says, as she has no cred with me at all. Imus is the same way. I think that Rutgers DOES have the right to feel offended, and they should respond however they see fit.

I would luv to see Imus step down, but the radio station feels like they need him. Like I said before, when you are rich like he is, two week suspension is a long vacation. It seems strange that the suspension would not be immediate, as it would for anyone here getting similar punishment at work.

I think you got that about right.

But another thing. I almost don't know why radio stations would still want Imus. He's never going to live this thing down, and I'm sure he's going to loose a ton of listeners.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I would only hope.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I'm hearing a lot of people today argue that, "Why should Imus get in trouble for saying the same thing that rappers say all the time?!? It's wrong for Imus to say it, it should be wrong for the rappers too."

Well, that also works in reverse: if it's wrong for rappers, it should be wrong for Imus too.

Making an argument like that is like arguing, "Well OJ committed murder and didn't get punished! Why are you punishing me for murdering someone?"

If I were running a radio station that had Imus, I'd drop him like a hot potato. Of course, I wouldn't have had Imus on in the first place, mainly because he's a ratings vampire even when he ISN'T making racially insensitive jokes, but that's irrelevant.

Good point. The irony is that MSNBC which broadcasts Imus' show on TV, is owned by Universal which owns the recording companies who sell multi-million dollar selling CDs by 50 Cent & others. They don't mind making millions off the word "Ho" when a rapper uses it, but an old crotchety, irrelevant white guy says it after saying equally offensive things every show for the last 20 yrs & all hell breaks loose. BTW, where does an old white guy like Imus learn the word "Ho"?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I'll admit, blacks had it very rough and I feel bad for what they endured. But that doesn't mean there should be reverse discrimination today. That won't make up for the past. All it does is plainly lay out the racial lines. When you fill out a college application, there should not be an ethnicity question. It should be based on the merits of the individual. Not who there parents are or what they went through in the past. Anything else is not equality.
Do you think Jews should get to punish Germans for what the Nazis did?

I get your point, but there is no such thing as reverse discrimination...it's all discrimination regardless of the perpetrator or the victim. Just because it happens to a white person, shouldn't make it reverse discrimination...it's discrimination, pure & simple.

 

[Akron Irish]

I get your point, but there is no such thing as reverse discrimination...it's all discrimination regardless of the perpetrator or the victim. Just because it happens to a white person, shouldn't make it reverse discrimination...it's discrimination, pure & simple.

Agreed, just using the term to help translate my point

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I used to listen to Imus and he's said much worse. His producer, Bernie, is even more over the top for the sake of comedy (think Archie Bunker) & Imus responds by calling him a racist Nazi. If you listened to him very often & then heard his offensive remarks about the Rutgers girls, you wouldn't have blinked an eye, b/c he talks like this EVERY show. He's a crotchety old man who treats those around him like crap. He owes those girls an apology esp. sincethey're not publicfigures. They need to stand tall on their academic & athletic accomplishments & be role models for young girls who aspire to compete on the D1 NCAA level. what they DON"T need to do is play the "victim" role. I hope they don't.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Excellent points, both of you. Many of the pundits I've heard, are suggesting that Sharpton and Jackson are jumping on board the Imus train because he is an easy target. While I don't necessarily blame them, they also feel that they are missing the boat. Bernie Goldberg, who I think is an excellent commentator, stated that they should be addressing the problems that do matter. Like the rate of HS dropouts, education, lack of males looking/finding jobs, kids out of wedlock, being a good father, and buying into a culture that does not value the above. I think focusing on the dumb, insensitive comments of an idiot is fine and appropriate, but what are they really doing for black Americans?

Are we going to try and solve real problems, or just assign blame and point fingers every so often?

 

[goirish#1]

I'm sure he was trying to be funny, but it was still racist. He should definitely be suspended. I don't listen to the guy, but he does work for some pretty major media outlets, so they need to take care of the issue. I agree that it is being a little overblown though. but I don't agree with Akron Irish. There were over 200 years of white affirmative action in this country, this is necessary to make up a little bit of ground.

and I may be the only one, but I also found his comments to be very sexist. But I know most of the people who post here wouldn't really care about that.

I know page 2 is usually garbage, but I think this is a pretty good summation of this idea:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070410

I agree they were sexist! People should be celebrating these young women's accomplishments. They are not problem students, he doesn't even know them. In order to play a sport in college you have to be very dedicated. Although it was an unfortunate situation, I think the ladies and the university handled it very well. These kids are fulfilling their dreams of basketball, andI'm glad to see he was punnished.