<p>I listened to most of the Rutgers press conference today. We were in the car and it was carried live on WINS 1010 (all news station - kudos to them for carrying it live). I kept turning to WFAN 660, sports talk radio (and home to Imus in the morning) to see if they were covering the press conference, but not a word was spoken until a bit later. </p>
<p>Coach Stringer gave an excellent and impassioned speech (although a bit too long). A couple of the players spoke, very eloquently and briefly. </p>
<p>As the students mentioned several times, they did absolutely nothing to provoke those comments. Coach Stringer pointed out that one year ago 5 of these 10 women were in high school, ie they are Freshmen. Most of the excuses I have heard surrounding Imus’ hideous comments mention others he has slimed and slandered in the past. But these women, even though you may have seen them on TV, are not public figures and are not fair game to say whatever you want to say about them on the public airwaves.</p>
I would concur with this, SS. No reason for everyone to be held to a different standard. Sharpton’s inflammatory rhetoric has done more than its share of damage.</p>
<p>I’ve got to stand with the folks who said that Sharpton was punished for his actions in the Brawley case. As you should remember, Sharpton was sued in the matter, lost his appeals, and quietly paid the substantial financial judgment won by the fellow whose reputation he unjustifiably damaged in the Brawley matter.</p>
<p>He paid big time, in money, time, lost stature, lost forums, moneymaking opportunities, and general public standing (folks still cite what he did - in detail - after 25 years.)</p>
<p>The media certainly have given him a pass. They are the ones who give him (and Jesse) credibility as spokesmen whenever any racially charged issue comes up.</p>
<p>Don Imus made racist remarks about a group of young African-American women athletes concerning their appearance and some people believe that he should be given a “free pass”. He made a mistake and apologized. Let’s move on…</p>
<p>What if he made the same comments about another group of young African-American women who have the same “characteristics”: Young African-American women soldiers who are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq? Nappy hair (wearing a helmet does that), tough demeanors and the odd tattoos. </p>
<p>…“My point is that we probably have the most racially tolerant country in the world. Sure there is racism, sure there are those that will never think that diversity is a good thing, but I also think that Al and Jesse do more harm for race relations than good. They have their agenda and they are sticking to it…”</p>
<p>Where was the tag team of Sharpton and Jackson when Isaiah Washington (Grey’s Anatomy) made a homophobic remark to TR Knight? Is that ok? Where were all the Coalition Push people protesting on that one? </p>
<p>What Imus said was ignorant and he deserves to be suspended.</p>
<p>All I know is I though Don King had the worst hair in public life with Donald Trump runnign a close second until I saw that stuff allegedly growing on Imus’ head. I’ve shot mangy varmints that looked better than that.</p>
<p>" As you note, so exquisitely well, Al Sharpton didn’t get a free pass.
mini is online now"</p>
<p>I don’t know about that mini. 8 pople died at Freddie’s and I didn’t see an incitement to riot or accessory to murder charge. I think what Al did should have sent him to jail and I actually find Al quite charming. He may be the oiliest minister in christendom but he is highly intelligent, amusing, and occassionally very self-deprecating. All in all I’d much rather be marooned on a desert island with him than say Jesse Jackson.</p>
<p>and his agitation organization is holding a conference this week that has John Edwards, Elliot Spitzer, and a host of other short memoried people who ought to have their heads examined for their association with him. </p>
<p>So, it seems that being an outrageous agitator can have its rewards. Its truly an upside down world when we have jokers like this fellow as the mouthpiece through which one apologizes for imprudent speech. [edit: I must admit that I have found Sharpton to be incisive and quite funny from time to time during political debate. ]</p>
<p>I believe that it is more accurate to say that Cal Ripkin decided to cancel his appearance about a week after the original broadcast and two days after Imus’s pubic explanation. No disrespect to Mr. Ripkin, however.</p>
<p>This is not a contest here~it doesn’t matter if Sharpton should get jail time or a Nobel prize. The issue is what Imus said and how best to react today.
According to our local (NJ) paper, Imus’s wife is involved in environmental causes and he calls her “the green ho”. He’s a old man trying to sound young and cool, whose idea of cool is to insult women. No only offensive - pretty pitiful.</p>
<p>Nobody bit on my question about Chris Rock.</p>
<p>I think Imus is about as unfunny as a man can be, I would never listen to his show, and I agree his remark was gross and insensitive to the Nth degree-- but is nobody else troubled by this overall PCness and the racial double standard?</p>
<p>It was a JOKE. A bad, stupid, nasty, misbegotten JOKE. And probably one that black comics would get away with making.</p>
<p>The best way to deal with racist (or bad) comedians is DONT LISTEN TO THEM. The marketplace will take care of the rest.</p>