The comment board on this Imus story is so hot that I deceided to bring it back to the top of CO-ED so more people could join in. Rory (the author of the story) will check it on the hour and will respond to any comments you leave him.
- Steve G, Editor CO-ED Magazine Online
At one point this year, Don Imus was the most discussed man in America. Did he cross the line? Was he exercising his right to free speech? It was an issue about morals, race, censorship, and surprisingly, women’s basketball. Everyone had an opinion. Then Seung-Hui Cho shot up Virginia Tech, Paris Hilton went to jail, the Sopranos ended, and all of a sudden Don Imus was not only off the air, but he was forgotten from the collective American memory.That all changed on June 29th, when Mike Francesca hinted on his ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’ radio show that Don Imus will return to the air sooner than people expect. The New York Post jumped on the story a few days later, and than yesterday, www.drudgereport.com reported from anonymous sources that Imus would be back on the air in early 2008, just in time for the primaries for next years presidential election. It has been speculated since almost the day he left the airwaves that because of the big numbers he can draw, one day Imus would be back on the air.Well according to a source at WFAN NY it now appears that the first week of January is the expected re-arrival of the morning radio shock jock.
While he caught the most criticism for the infamous nappy headed hos comment of this year, Don Imus has been spewing controversial statements and pissing people off long before this April. Here are a few quick examples:
On his show, Imus referred to black sports columnist Bill Rhoden as “A New York Times quota hire”
Imus referred to PBS anchor Gwen Ifill (then with the New York Times) as a “cleaning lady‿
Imus has an ongoing feud with Howard Stern. Stern accuses of Imus of stealing his radio tactics, in which Imus responds, “I’m Howard Stern with a vocabulary. I’m the man he wishes he could be.”
In an interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes, Imus admitted that his producer and fellow on air host was hired to perform “nig**er jokes.”
He has frequently referred to Arabs as “ragheads.”
Imus called publishers Simon & Schuster “thieving Jews.” He also described personality Howard Kurtz as “that boner-nosed . . . beanie-wearing little Jew boy”.
Imus will be on a short leash, but has no history of holding his tongue. The official Coed prediction is that he will be back on the air before the Super Bowl, and off the air before the Pro Bowl.
20 Comments
I’ll bet the author of this article has never even listened to Don Imus’ show.
Imus has never been forgotten by his millions of fans and one thing I admire most about him: his generosity to charity. Imus is the best in his field, but he has a heart of gold to boot.
I am counting the days until his return. He’ll be back on the air and he will NOT be off the air until he retires.
Imus is not a racist, he is a satirist. Example; the Gwen Ifill quote was lifted from a parody commenting on the racial attitude of the Reagan White House. Years later a Newsday reporter used the quote out of context to accuse Gwen Ifill of being an “Uncle Tom”.
To paraphrase George Carlin - Its not the words its the people who use them, words are innocent people are guilty. Imus is not a racist, his comment “Nappy Headed Ho” refers to the style of basketball RU plays, not the color of skin or promiscuity of the players. Imus is a student of pop culture and understands the nuisances of pop language the context and usage was correct, the reaction was over the top.
This had nothing to do with racism and everything to do with clearing a path for Hillary Clinton to the White House, as we later learned.
The Gwen Ifill comment was done in third person satire in which Imus makes fun of people who are so stupid to call someone such a name. He was actually showing the stupidity of a class of people who still use such terms. If you have actually heard the tape rather than bought into what Mr. Sharpton told you, then you might be more knowledgeable about this issue.
Writer of the article here. I am actually a big Don Imus fan, and will be covering his comeback closer and closer as the big return comes. Though you and I, Miss Kathy, may not have forgotten him, Imus’s big controversy, and Imus on the whole has disappeared from the public mindset.
The reason i brought up the Ifill example, is because that very easily could have been blown out of proportion… much like the RU basketball comment.
Though the article may not have read the way i intended, the fact still remains that Imus will be on a very short leash when he gets back on the air, and I stand by my original point. Imus has a way of speaking that makes his fans laugh, but when read in a transcript can be exploited by watchdog groups. I don’t anticiapte him holding back on his normal routine, and therefore I do not see him lasting too long. He will be an easy, and the Jesse Jacksons/Al Sharptons will just be waiting to attack.
Trust me, Don Imus was NOT forgotten by millions of Americans. We have been counting the days he has been gone and look forward to the countdown of his return. The “offending” comments were meant as satire. But, the whole thing was a witch hunt from the beginning. I guess there is one person who doesn’t appreciate Don Imus’ satire and that would be “SATAN”. And we all know who that is. I miss hearing about the world and the news. I trusted his take on things and I got it. There is no one who can take his place.
Rory, Thanks for your response. Unlike many writers you are at least able to respond to criticism.
It’s going to take a lot more Paris, Virginia Tech, Sopranos ending, etc. to take Imus out of the public’s mind. We missed him the minute he went off the air and we miss him now. Why keep repeating what people said he said. The text of his contract is out in the internets somewhere. Find it and read it before commenting. If people don’t like what they hear on the radio or see on tv, change the dial.
Ummm… Ms. Eden, did you even read what the author of the article said, both in the article and in his response. He is talking about the public memory in general, when was the last time Imus was discussed, or the nappy headed ho debate was had? It’s been months. Much like you tell people who don’t like Imus to turn the dial, why dont you close the window when someone writes an article about Imus that isn’t a glowing review.
pacers777, she has the RIGHT to let the author of this article how she feels! …And by the way, folks are still talking about Imus’ comment like it happened YESTERDAY! Julian Bond of the NAACP bragged on yesterday how they had “sent a cowboy back to his ranch.” Well, THAT cowboy has entertained and helped MANY sick children of ALL races out at that ranch!
Don Imus has not been forgotten! Everyday I read blogs from people who miss him as much as I do. As for his leaving again,unless it is his choice to do so, I believe his fans will be the ones raising hell instead of the fake Rev.s Now we know how easy it is to make the suits tremble.
Rory, come on over to supportimus.org and imustruth.com to meet MANY more Imus fans!!!!! Spread the word!!!!
I forgot about him after he was played by someone in Howards Stern Private Parts movie.
Don Imus is very charitable… I mean, look what he did for Rutgers Woman’s Basketball. They now exist. You can actually call him God, for the fact that he created life. He created something that no one ever knew existed. Well, God is a strong word, how about Don Imus was an executive producer for ‘Planet Earth.’ He helped bring light to something in nature that very little people have witnessed, let alone filmed. And for that I, Rutgers, and basically all of the state of New Jersey, thank you Don Imus.
Come back I-Man. I have no reason to get up every day; I am anxiously awaiting your return. Joe Scarborough is a nice guy, but Morning Joe is a lame excuse to replace you. Because of you, I watched MSNBC a lot. Now I am a total Fox News fan. If one is not a racist, 5 min with the “Rev Al” (and I use the term loosely)will turn you into one. Bet “Al” never thought about the law of unintended consequences. Wonder how many listeners Fox got when Imus went away. Mr Imus, I will get FM or Sirrus if you will come back to one of them. Of course, I would rather see you on TV. Walt Studdard
I cannot wait till Imus is back on the air. i hope it’s simulcast somewhere. We watched every minute on msnbc. Please hurry. Mornings are not the same but we will listen ANY time. Impatiently waiting in Tennessee.
Marilyn Newman
Nashville, TN
GO IMUS. WE ALL WAIT FOR YOUR RETURN.
Can’t wait to see an Umus come back!! No I haven’t forgotten hi, I am missig him thugh.
THE I MAN IS BACK IT about time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. RAY SPROUSE.
THE I MAN IS BACK IT ABOUT TIME .
The glorious news has finally been made official! Our I Man is coming home! I can’t wait - haven’t watched a morning show since he left. Nothing on to watch. No biting satire, no Rob bits, no Charles trying to remain the voice of reason. It’s been boring as hell!
Now the great news that he will return on December 3rd, to radio. No simulcast yet. Guess I’ll have to break down and buy an IPod to get the podcast.
But I’m betting he’ll be on a tv simulcast very soon! I deleted MSNBC from my set after they fired Imus. Anyone know if they are still on the air? He was about all they had.
Now if we can just get Hillary to stop playing puppet master to the black journalists for her own benefit and let Sharpton know that until he fully explains the Brawley fiasco he has no credibility at all, the world will be on its way to being a better place.
Confidential to HRC, We know you are behind the association of black journalists going after this in the first place. I don’t think you are electable. Too many people see you for what you really are. You’ll win the Democratic spot but there will be such an uprising to keep you out of the white house that another Republican will beat you badly, The problems our party will have, once again, can be laid at the feet of a Clinton.
Come on home, Don! The doors are open and your friends are waiting! We need your voice, asking the hard questions in this election year!
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] Dan Patrick! Where Are They Now? Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage Sexy Katharine McPhee Photos Dan Imus to return in Jan 08 Steve Irwin Attack Video JJ Abrams Top Secret “Cloverfield 1-18-08″ Trailer 2007 [...]
Post a Comment