NFL - Sports Rumors

Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:20 am EDT

Football talk turns to race on Don Imus' show

By Joe Zedalis

The radio host Don Imus, fired by CBS last year for referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos," waded into racially treacherous waters again on his new radio program Monday morning, in a brief exchange about a suspended professional football player, Adam Jones according to the New York Times.

When told by the program's sportscaster, Warner Wolf, that Mr. Jones no longer wished to be called by his nickname, Pacman, so that people might forget his record of multiple arrests, Mr. Imus asked, "What color is he?"

"He's African-American," Mr. Wolf responded.

"Well, there you go," Mr. Imus said. "Now we know."

Mr. Imus's comment was soon picked up on several Web sites, including Politico.com and Deadspin.com, a sports site, as well as the America Online home page.

Asked in an e-mail message what he had intended by his remark, Mr. Imus wrote, "I meant he was being picked on because he's black." He added that the veteran black comedian and activist Dick Gregory would be a guest on his show on Tuesday, to discuss the death of George Carlin.

"We'll see what he thinks," Mr. Imus wrote. "I mean ... come on!"

Source: New York TimesNew Window

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124 Comments

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  1. The Football God
    1. Posted by The Football God Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    Did anyone ask if Imus was freestylin'? If he was, then all must be forgiven. And Imus, please apologize publicly like Sharpton and Jackson did for Duke. Well, he university, not David. I also think it's great all of Imus' guest carry a color adjective, or is just for the ones of color. I never know how to phrase that.
  2. Keith P
    2. Posted by Keith P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    First who listens to Don Imus anymore?
    It was a simple comment if he had not the first mistake nobody would have hear this- Listen to Stern- his commnets are 10 times worst on any given day
  3. galacticmaze
    3. Posted by galacticmaze Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    White people are not allowed to talk race, if you do, your a racist.
    Black history month, where is white history month? Wanting it makes whites a racist, why are blacks not considered racist?
    BET, what about White ET? Same as above, white would be racist, but not the black.
    Anyone seeing the double standard here? It is okay to be a racist, as long as your not a WHITE racist.
  4. hcdouglass
    4. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    I'm sick of the stupidity of some peoples comments and the sensitivity of some people to them. Who cares what Imus thinks?
  5. L.
    5. Posted by L. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

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    honestly, it wasn't offensive. the old man was just making stupid insinuations.
  6. buttery boo
    6. Posted by buttery boo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Regardless of whether or not what he said was racist, I love how he immediately pulled the "I have a black friend card."
  7. blue by u
    7. Posted by blue by u Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    Another article reported that when Pacman was asked to comment one of the things he said was that he would "pray for Imus".Just when we lose George Carlin another great comedian comes along named Pacman.
  8. Big Mac
    8. Posted by Big Mac Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Can't we all just get along?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?
  9. Big Mac
    9. Posted by Big Mac Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Don't we all shoot guns off in crowded nightclubs? I guess there is nothing wrong with that Huh?
  10. Diamond Dave
    10. Posted by Diamond Dave Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    Umm... What was so racist about that remark? Sounds to me like he was trying to prove a point of blacks getting hassled by the cops more. Why is everything racist? Ice was found on Mars... I bet black people will scream about that because the ice was white.
  11. Big Mac
    11. Posted by Big Mac Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    What color is he?" "Well, there you go,"
  12. bluvision7
    12. Posted by bluvision7 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    As an African American, I'll give Imus the benefit of the doubt..He knows he is on thin ice for the Rutgers women's basketball players comments he made...I think he really meant that because Jones is black, he is under the eye of the law as most black men are who were troublemakers in the past.
    I don't think he'd want to screw up a multi-million dollar gig again like that...But next time, Mr. Imus, say what you mean and mean what you say...Be clear and direct...The "media hounds" are always sniffing for a story.
    Adam Jones (formerly known as "Pacman") made mistakes, as we all have...But he can turn it around if he is willing to (but he can only do it through the Lord and being around positive people whom the Lord can use to offer him guidance and friendly advice).
  13. BIGAD
    13. Posted by BIGAD Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    What's so unforunate about some of your remarks, obviously, you just don't get it!! What most of you fail to realize that "black folks" have been the target of racial profiling. Most "white men" are "pedophiles" but "black folks" don't consider all "white men" to be that, but when a "black man" get in trouble most "white people" group the whole race which isn't fair.
  14. grampus
    14. Posted by grampus Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:35 pm EDT

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    Most "white men" are pedophiles? ARE YOU INSANE??? That remark is worse than anything Don Imus ever said! Your sir, are ignorant, I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE!
  15. A Yahoo! User
    15. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:25 am EDT

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    We need to understand that people like Imus or Bigad are out there. Who cares what they think? It does matter what color is PacMan or any person that gets in any trouble with the law. The fact is that we have good whites, black, latino or asian and we have bad white, black, latino or asian. That said Imus comments were plain stupid and we can live without Imus or with Imus on the radio. If you don't like is stupid comments turn it off.
  16. I Hate You All
    16. Posted by I Hate You All Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    I think what BIGAD meant is a majority of pedophiles are white males, not that most white males are pedophiles. Just yet another example of someone misinterpreting something.
    As for what Imus said, it was clearly sarcasm. It would have down right foolish for him to say something like that with 2 African-Americans on the air with him.
  17. Kid nature
    17. Posted by Kid nature Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    can't we all just get along- Rodney
  18. A Yahoo! User
    18. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:57 am EDT

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    Answer to comments by Hi There I'm a Racist - I do not think Imus was being racist maybe stupid but not racist. People are so sensitive that you have to watch every word you say when you are in the public eye. Don't forget that People like so call Rev Al Sharpton makes money out of Imus mistakes. Don't get me wrong you do need Al and others but COME ON. RELAX PEOPLE.
  19. jayt
    19. Posted by jayt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Maybe Imus is related to David Duke..........
  20. rr1
    20. Posted by rr1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    26 What are you afraid of?
  21. "J"
    21. Posted by "J" Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    All of you talking about the "race card" let's not forget that this was done on a show that not many African-Americans listent to. It's being reported by white reporters, commented on by white analyst, played on networks owned by white guys, yet somehow its pulling the "race card." Just stop reporting on it and broadcasting all over the world and we wouldn't even know about it. I love how it's put out and promoted by people who aren't black and no black person has commented on it in the media but somehow it's our fault everyone is discussing it. We don't care about Imus, why waste time analyzing his comments. He could flat out say I hate black people and this section would still be full of people defending him, so who cares. Life goes on, we don't have to love each other
  22. FairlyHonestBob
    22. Posted by FairlyHonestBob Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    It's no country for old comedians.
  23. take it out daddy it hurts!
    23. Posted by take it out daddy it hurts! Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    comment 26 has effectively demonstrated the double standard.
    any black person could get on here and say messed up stuff about white people and we'd have to sit back and take it cuz they are "just jokes". but god forbid someone says something messed up about black people!
    not saying i endorse or defend 26's views, just saying he effectively demonstrates the double standard
  24. jd 1
    24. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    There is no such thing a racism, just ignorance, which we are all guilty of. Just look at some of thes posts.
  25. jayt
    25. Posted by jayt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Maybe Obama can figure it out.....I think he is black,no white,black,white,black,white etc.

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