Don Imus and the Media Frenzy

Amen to your words, amen to that video, and amen to Jason Whitlock, with balls of certified steel, for being unafraid to challenge his own community and the cartoon figureheads that represent it.

"Are they connected to this story, really?" =0P

Posted by JK at 04/14/07 21:42:34

Ron, you are SO off-base on this, it is not funny. If you were standing in front of me at this very second, I would slap the taste out of your mouth.

Bad enough you're giving props to an ignorant fucking waste of oxygen like Jason Whitlock, but you're saying it's okay for a moron like Don Imus to make racist and sexist comments about these women simply because he doesn't know them? And these women are supposed to just sit back and take it because they've "probably heard it before"?! It's poor logic at best; at worst it's complete bullshit. I've been called a LOT of names in my day; doesn't mean they didn't hurt each and every time. Does that make it okay for someone else to call me that same name? FUCK NO!

Let's put this in terms maybe you can identify with:

Imagine you've written one of the best stories imaginable. Your name is being spoken in all the big literary joints. There's talk of a possible Pulitzer for you. Then, just as you're riding that high, Larry King comes out with, "Not bad for some fat-ass trailer-trash redneck, huh?"

It might not be the comment itself that bothers you, but here's a big-name somebody with a lot of pull in a lot of places. If HE thinks you're nothing but trailer-trash, what must everyone else think?

Imus has spent enough years behind that mic to know what is and is not acceptable in this day and age. The fact that he thought that comment was funny is enough to justify showing him the door. Personally, I'd say it's long overdue.

As for C. Vivian Stringer, she is one of the classiest women's coaches out there. To accuse her of "wanting her 15 minutes of fame" is a cheap shot and completely uncalled for. She is defending her girls and she has every right to do so. What kind of message do you think that would have sent to them had she NOT said anything?

To say I am disappointed in this post is an understatement. To say I am pissed as hell is an even BIGGER one.

Posted by Jade at 04/15/07 02:26:18

Ron, that was an excellent post and I agree 100 percent! Abso-fuckin-lutely!If I recall, this is 2007, not 1960 -> Don Imus simply made a lame jester (very fitting for todays' Hip Hop Craze)that was unfortunately labeled as some terrible stab at humanity & racial slur.
This country is loosing its fucking backbone and one can barely do anything (action or words), without violating someone's rights. We have too many laws that pamper and/or cater to the sue-happy people, lazy-asses & drama queens - that constantly bring up minority issues.
The day the government & media quits coddling to these titty-babies, media whores, weak minded 'attention grabbers' - the better off this country will be.
This type of shit applies to daily living, as well. You can have someone at work (during this time Era) that doesn't even do their damn job, but if they get threatened about getting fired, they'll throw that 'racist shit' in your face - if they happen to be a minority. I've seen this happen many times. The Race War is over! Hell, we are all mixing together anyway (border check please...),plus, nobody (with a few exeptions) gives a shit about this ancient issue.
This whole conflict about Imus, is just another fine example of how pathetic & candy-ass this country is becoming. I guess, to make what Imus said more politically correct, he should have played a 'ghetto rap lyric' prior to making that comment...and then follow through with a big laugh. This is totally ignorant! If people want to go back to the 50's & 60's, then why not drop all your high-tech gadgets off at the local dumpster, while you're at.
It is 2007... Bi-atch!

Posted by O.D. at 04/15/07 05:33:43

I didn't say it was okay for Imus to say those things, I said they shouldn't give a fuck what he says. I guarantee you, until their coach started coaching them up on how they were supposed to be so fucking offended, every one of those girls said, "Don who? Shit, I don't know him, I don't give a fuck what he says."

All CVS had to say about this whole situation was, "I'm not going to dignify the comments Don Imus made with a response, so let's talk about how my team just got to the national finals," and she'd be all right in my book. I agree that by parading around in front of the cameras like this, she's drawing attention away from the achievements of her team.

All this whole mess is going to do is make Don Imus's next contract to do a radio gig that much larger, because now a significantly portion of the country knows/was reminded he's still alive.

Posted by Ron at 04/15/07 12:26:49

Explain to me what rock you crawled out from under, O.D., because that so-called "lame jester" is EXACTLY the kind of crap that was used in the 1950's and 60's to try to put minorities AND women "in their place" psychologically, if not physically. Maybe in your world, it's better to tear someone else down than to build yourself up, but I'd like to think somewhere on this god-forsaken planet, we've evolved beyond trying to pass off degrading commentary as humor. Bigotry on any level in any direction is wrong, and the more people speak out when it happens, perhaps other people will think first before they open their mouths and reveal their ignorance.

Ron, Vivian Stringer is NOT "parading around in front of the cameras". I bet if you asked her, the last thing she wanted to do is talk about a jerk like Don Imus. However, the situation could not simply be passed off with a "no comment"--that would imply that what he said was not hurtful, and that is not the truth.
This is how Debra Dickerson explained it in this week's Time magazine (which I recommend you read):
"Imus targeted the greatest vulnerability of black women--our non-European looks--with the express purpose of reminding us that we are not, and can never be, beautiful. Feminine. We had to be put back in our place, demoted to sex objects, but we couldn't even do that properly with all those braids and broad noses. So we had to be made into men. Criminals and freaks of nature."

Just because you can't feel the slap doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Posted by Jade at 04/15/07 13:24:25

I crawled under the same rock that has weighted down humanity,...Jade. Although, I see the positive in your comments (prior & current), you shouldn't forget your own admiration for anti-bigotry - by being so damn 'one-tracked' in thoughts. Obviously, you are at a loss for the term 'jester'...when it is used purely. I don't recall entertaining jokes (jesters You said (Jade) : Maybe in your world, it's better to tear someone else down than to build yourself up, but I'd like to think somewhere on this god-forsaken planet, we've evolved beyond trying to pass off degrading commentary as humor.
I never promoted the tearing down of the individuals and I believe it is better to build them up. But, I'm also a realist and I know for a fact, how pampered & weak these "you have violated my rights" statements are - commonly abused ('abused' - being keyword). True; Imus shouldn't have said it...but, his petty comments didn't hurt anything physically. People often get astray, when putting weight on words as opposed to actions. Something tells me that their life will go on and these women will be able to sleep just as easy - with or without those comments coming into existence. But, after all the drama cause by the 'racist warriors', it might help stir the pot to something a bit more.
I never said I was pro-slander and I'm not a racist. Maybe, you might want to try enhancing your interpretation efforts...up just a notch. But, none the less, I agree with some of the points you have made throughout this post - you might need to open your circle of thoughts, in the same process. You know, you sound like you would be a good debater; I'd enjoy arguing with you anyday.......

Posted by O.D. at 04/15/07 17:56:32

A joke is funny when both parties think it is funny, O.D.. In this case, even if Imus never intended to hurt or offend, his piss-poor choice of words did just that.

No, I am sure these women won't lose sleep over his comments, but when one has been the butt of that kind of "joke" long enough, after a while you have to say "enough". I don't know how old you are, but I am 44 years old. I was growing up in the thick of the women's and civil rights movements, and I got to hear a lot of those so-called "jokes". These are the kind of "jokes" high school girls tell those who they wish to humiliate; the flat-out insult punctuated with, "Oh, I was just kidding! Can't you take a JOKE?!"

Like I said, it's only funny when both parties think it's funny.

Yes, there are many people who cry "rights violations" for no damn reason other than they expect everything to be handed to them, and there are lots of people who take political correctness to moronic levels, but you shouldn't lump everyone who complains about the current state of affairs into that group. Sometimes noise must be made in order to effect change where change is needed. The status quo is not always the right path to follow.

Imus and his ilk are dinosaurs, the last remnants of an age where it was acceptable to make racially charged statements and pass them off as "jokes". The funny thing is that had Imus remained the aging shock jock that he was, no one would ever have made a fuss. What did Imus in was that he had started to move up the ladder from being an East Coast radio name to being seen and heard nationally on television via MSNBC simulcasts. He was also bringing in some of the nation's biggest political names to appear on his show, which meant that his show was going to get even more scrutiny than ever before. He could get away with referring to Gwen Ifill as a "cleaning lady" locally without backlash, but no way in hell would something like that play on a national level, and he should have realized that. Unfortunately for dinosaurs like him, they never seem to see the developing tar pit until it's too late. He played right into the hands of hypocritical bottom-feeders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who were more than happy to milk the situation for all they could. Their cause for complaint was legit, but their motives for complaining were not.

If anyone is entirely blameless and entirely deserving of sympathy in this situation, it is indeed the ladies of Rutgers. They have been insulted by a fool, and used by even bigger fools. For their sake and their sake alone, I'd like to see this issue fade into the sunset as soon as possible.

As for Imus, the only thing I will say in his favor is that the way in which he was fired was heavy-handed and poorly executed. If Imus deserved to be fired at any time in his career, it was back when he insulted Gwen Ifill. You can't allow someone to make racially charged comments one day, then pretend to be horrified when he does it again. On the merits of this incident (and only this incident), a suspension was in order at the very least; firing should have been decided upon pending the result of his meeting with the Rutgers team. Also, at the time he was fired, Imus was in the middle of hosting a charity radiothon, doing something POSITIVE for the community. He should have been allowed to finish that before being relieved of his duties. Again, unfortunately for him, ad sponsors aren't willing to wait and see how something will play out in the long run. They ran for the hills, and CBS Radio and MSNBC decided to cut and run as well.

That all being said, I won't lose any sleep over whatever time holds for Imus. When it all boils down to it, he made his bed, he'll just have to lie in it.

Finally, I'd be happy to debate with you at any time, O.D., although I'm sure Ron and Rich would rather not see it here necessarily. Be forewarned, though, I'm a competitive wench, and often like to make sure I get the last word in. ;)

Posted by Jade at 04/16/07 01:44:39

Excellent ending to this post, Jade. [ignore this comment...you are officially the victor of the final word] I rarely post comments on this site, since the only person I know at "Sports Bastards" is Rich. I will take your last comment into consideration. I never would have thought - a site ending with the word 'Bastards' would not like debates. Oh, well. I shall transport for a while...
Anyway, I'm only 28 and I went merely by assumption from collective info (about that time Era) through the 'time tables of history'. If it was a subject about something philosophical, scientific or more 'mentality bound', I'd speak in a different manner. But, at any rate, I enjoyed the text exchange. Yet, I still disagree about your "joke" definition. Who says the other person has to laugh, for the humor to actually exist? You can't please everybody at the same time, and that goes for a lot of things. What is good for someone else, may be bad for another. What is profanity to some, may be poetry to others.
Ha-ha! Competitive wench, you say? Guess what? I believe you. Lastly, I like your relentless opinonated style. Good Job...Jade! I holla......

Posted by O.D. at 04/16/07 14:48:58

She also throws imaginary snowballs over the Internet with alarming accuracy. So watch your face--and the back of your head--my fellow initialan.

Posted by JK at 04/16/07 15:04:50

*pelts JK with snowballs*

That's cause you're such an easy target, JK. :D

Posted by Jade at 04/17/07 00:11:52