Rutgers Women's Team Responds, Agrees to Meet Don Imus

Rutgers University called a press conference today to respond to radio host Don Imus calling them "nappy-headed hos," and the team announced that it will have a private meeting with Imus to discuss the players' reaction to his comments.

I thought Rutgers athletic director Robert E. Mulcahy III made a very good point at the outset:

"The real story is not the despicable and degrading comment...the real story is about the 2006-07 Rutgers women's basketball team, their incredible accomplishments."

We've talked a lot about Imus at FanHouse, but I'm sorry to say we haven't talked enough about this Rutgers women's team, which went on an incredible run in the NCAA tournament. Gwen Ifill, another African-American woman who has been the butt of Imus's mean-spirited jokes, got that exactly right in her New York Times op-ed today.

If I have an objection to the Rutgers press conference, it's that the players themselves didn't have enough of a say. Over the first half hour of the press conference, we heard only from the athletic director, the school president and the basketball coach. Heather Zurich, the first student-athlete to speak, didn't get the microphone until 11:42 a.m. (Zurich, incidentally, is white.)

As for Imus, what will happen to him after he serves his two-week suspension? The show's advertisers will decide that. If companies continue to pay big money to radio stations and MSNBC to advertise on Imus's show, he'll stay on the air. If not, he won't. If you have strong feelings about Imus, his advertisers are the people you should talk to.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

4-10-2007 @ 1:57PM

MS said...

The real story here is what constitutes beauty in American Society. IMUS's comments referred to the women's hair texture, their body types, and darker skin complexion to say that these "african" beauty features are unattractive. He did the same thing to Venus and Sarina.

These women are beautiful and talented --- Afro- centric an Features and all.

There are many young girls all over the country that are struggling with the media's unrealistic portrayal of female beauty. It fosters self hatred and distracts from the real accomplishments and contributions that women can make to our society.

We need to stop fostering self hatred in American women.

4-10-2007 @ 12:22PM

acsportsbooks.com said...

When will this story die? Who cares?

4-10-2007 @ 12:27PM

T. Fenderson said...

This was a very good display of high character and intelligence of the Rutgers Basketball team.

4-10-2007 @ 12:35PM

mcspartan5 said...

The Rutgers A.D. had it right: focus on the b-ball teams accomplishments in the NCAA tourney. It was quite a feat. The team should be congratulated. The unfortunate comment by Imus shouldn't cloud this.

4-10-2007 @ 12:36PM

dana8840 said...

Who really cares? There are more important things going on in the USA besides this crazy thing. Listen to the rapp music. Thats all they talk about they say the n word about each other. So let it go!

4-10-2007 @ 12:45PM

Bob Smith said...

I think Imus should go, however I am also choking my chicken right now.

4-10-2007 @ 1:16PM

dave said...

imus's remarks were very rediculous and insensitive, which we all agree on. As far as being racist ,well if I remember correctly, Tennessee has many black players on its team also.
The big problem is while seeking to be humorous, he made comments that were hurtful to young ladies who could be very good young ladies. Unless someone knows what a person is, then he or anyone else should not pass judgement on another.

4-10-2007 @ 1:24PM

SAKS said...

This incident is so unfortunate because after the two weeks suspension, Imus will go back to his insensitive and misguided comments. His apology is not genuine because he has also made racist remarks about other female black athletes. He said Venus and Serena belong in National Geographic - essentially, they are animals. It is very sad when companies like NBC and CBS feel that the appropriate punishment for Imus is a two week suspension! I wonder what the punishment would have been had it been an anti-semitic comment by a white or worse yet, a black person. This is plain wrong and big companies like CBS and NBC need to take a firm stand against racism and sexism in this country. Fire Imus!

4-10-2007 @ 2:30PM

Adam Corela said...

I know this is a serious matter because what he said was pretty bad, but if you listen to any of those hip hop radio stations in the morning, they make the same comments about white atheletes and people, yet we see no media attention on them.

4-11-2007 @ 10:41AM

wagonjak said...

.When will this story die? Who cares?
Posted at 12:22PM on Apr 10th 2007 by acsportsbooks.com

Who Cares? Apparently everyone except a brain-dead sports lizard like yourself...acssportsbooks. What drove you to make a stupid statement like that? Grow up and join the rest of us in the real world.

4-10-2007 @ 2:35PM

nappy said...

this guy is soooooo iiirelevant to radio or TV!!!!he needs the attention boost which he gopt for now soon he will be dormant again.. never got him neverwill... How could you take a DRUNK COKE SNIFFING ANCIENT LOOKING ONE LIVER SOON YOUNG WIFE WILL TAKE ALL RANCH IN ARIZONA SERIOUSLY COM ON FOLKS TUNE HIM OUT AND THE SPONSERS OF THE RADIO AND tv SHOWS OUT HE IS A NOBODY!!!!!!

4-11-2007 @ 1:08AM

liza said...

I am so sick of the comparisons btw hip-hop djs, rappers etc. Please. When you turn on msnbc and see 50 Cent cozying up to John McCain, or having his butt kissed by some other person of influence, like Russert or any of these other closet jerks then and only then will these ridiculous comparisons make any sense.

4-10-2007 @ 3:30PM

dianne said...

I have never heard any radio station consisting of rap artists every make such a disparging remark. If they did some white person or group should make a stand about it. Also, the fact still remains it was appalding what Don Imus said and you should feel the same way, seeing you state it wrong to speak of whites in the same manner and not try and sugar coat it.

4-10-2007 @ 5:57PM

KSL said...

I am feeling pride and sadness on reading the comments being made by all. We can get it right when it come to cats and dogs (whatever breeds, colors, shapes, etc.) they are cats and dogs! However, we continue to stumble about the equality of humans (gender & culture)???

WOW! We are the brightest and the stupidest on the planet.........

4-10-2007 @ 4:03PM

Simon Walker said...

Don Imus' remarks are simply offensive. They are not offensive because they are racist, although they are that too. They are offensive because they gratuitously demean other humans who in fact he depends on for the popularity of his show. Without the Rutgers basketball team or some similar substitute for derision Imus would have no show. Derision is his greatest talent. Somehow we have developed markets for comedy that are simply showcases for putdowns. To the extent that is true we are a pathetic society. And that is what is so offensive given the great cultural resources we have to work with.
S. Walker

4-13-2007 @ 12:27PM

sob said...

SAKS said, "I wonder what the punishment would have been had it been an anti-semitic comment by a white or worse yet, a black person".
When Jesse Jackson referred to New York, as "hymie town", it didn't cause much outrage outside of the Jewish communities and there was no punishment for his comments.

4-16-2007 @ 3:40PM

paul said...

i wonder how many of those rutgers women basketball players own or listen to ghostface killah albums?
whatever.

4-10-2007 @ 4:41PM

Beat Visitor said...

It's definitely time for us to start focussing on the direct victims of this attack, and not their soon-to-be-ex-shockjock attacker.

Read these remarks from Heather Zurich: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/media/10cnd-rptext.html
And Essence Carson: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/media/10cnd-rctext.html

The difference between the poise of these well-spoken students and the slime of Mr. Imus could not be greater.

Go Knights!!

http://www.beatvisitor.com

4-10-2007 @ 4:45PM

Bobbie Harth said...

Emmitt Tillman was beat and killed for speaking to a white woman by citizens. As for Don Imus a representative of the public to make a public comment degrading the character of citizens don't deserve to represent any one at any time. The sick part about it is. This is how he feels in his heart. Therefore, he is corrupting the minds of the public. So, the responsibility lies on his superiors because they are responsible for what goes into the public. A two week suspension is not acceptible. He is a sick man. Being a professional announcer representing the public he has no respect for the public, himyself, the company he represents and definantly none the Rugters Girls Basketball team. So, he should be a man and step down for being sick. Immediately.

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