[thepostman]

Imus is some old man thinking he was being cool...we have a bunch of rappers using ho as an everyday word...

but Imus is a smart man, he should have known better....should he have lost his job?? No....but I am sure he will recover just fine when satellite radio comes calling

[kel varson]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but most rap lyrics just use the term "ho" in general terms and not directed at specific people.

IMHO, using it generally and repeatedly is what creates a pop culture where people like Imus think they can throw something like that out there. I think the general and repeated use is far worse than once instance where someone specific is mentioned.

I agree, and both are repulsive, but its easier to attack someone when they single out a person or specific group of people.

[mrmacphisto]

wow CBS way to cave under pressure. Try growing a pair.

Don't expect this to happen anytime soon. CBS has been caving to ethnocentric activists for years.

Anyone remember the amazing show Now And Again (Eric Close, Dennis Haysbert)? This was a show with respectable ratings that was canned after a first season cliffhanger finale in favor of the lower-rated City Of Angels. This was mainly due to pressure from the NAACP for CBS to include shows with more ethnic leads.

[thesportscritic]

imus got exactly what he deserved. he should have watched what he said because there are certain comments that will offend people of a different race. He deserved to be fired. CBS did the right thing.

[El Scorcho]

Our Chancellor and CEO weighs in...

"He said the most demeaning thing possible," Falwell said. "He not only criticized the players' appearance. He criticized their character. He might not like black people, but there is no way he knew what the players' lifestyle was. He just took a malicious sucker punch at the players. He doesn't have the foggiest idea how they live."

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... 5412&path=

[RubberMallet]

great...thanks for the weigh in jerry

[LUconn]

I'd like to assume somebody asked him.

[SuperJon]

What he said was wrong, but he did his job, and didn't deserve to lose it because he offended someone.

I blame ESPN, and I'm serious.

[givemethemic]

I have a real beef with this decision....I am not saying what he said was right but this is going to change things in radio....

[RagingTireFire]

Our Chancellor and CEO weighs in...

"He said the most demeaning thing possible," Falwell said. "He not only criticized the players' appearance. He criticized their character. He might not like black people, but there is no way he knew what the players' lifestyle was. He just took a malicious sucker punch at the players. He doesn't have the foggiest idea how they live."

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... 5412&path=

Ah, sweet, sweet irony.

[Libertine]

I have a real beef with this decision....I am not saying what he said was right but this is going to change things in radio....

I don't really see this changing things that much. It's the "power of the purse" and CBS only booted Imus after the advertisers came to them. At that point, Imus was unprofitable for the network. Now, in my opinion, Imus would have fared a lot better if he hadn't forked over his man-berries on a plate to Medallion Al and Company. He should have apologized to the Rutgers team and no one else, then come out swinging when Sharpton and Jackson started piling on. Unfortunately for him, there was too much blood in the water by the time he started to fight back and he just got all et up.

Can't say I'm sorry to see him off the air, though.

[El Scorcho]

Ah, sweet, sweet irony.

You like to pick fights, don't you?

[jcmanson]

I think he got what he deserved. Yes he's a radio show host, and he is free to say things. But that remark was way over the top.

[RagingTireFire]

Ah, sweet, sweet irony.

You like to pick fights, don't you?

Yes, in fact, I do. But, come on. In light of some of the things Jerry has said about people over the years, it's not just a little disingenuous for him to criticize Imus like this?

[El Scorcho]

Perhaps, but given that he'd held back for so long after being made fun of by Imus' show regularly, I'd say he was probably entitled to say a few words about him. I think anyone that's been the subject of ridicule from Imus probably gets a free pass right now. Especially the ones who have always let it go. He deserves everything that gets unloaded on him right now. He's just reaping what he's sowed.

[olldflame]

I think if anyone is to be blamed but Imus (for his insensitivity and stupidity in first making the comments and then initially dismissing them as being harmless) it is the sponsors. The networks did what they had to do based on the revenue lost.
As much as the sponsers may want to present their decisions to pull advertising from the show as being morally based, we all know that is .

They caved to pressure from Jackson and Sharpton, and they were cowardly and stupid to do so. Both of those guys are all talk, and haven't accomplished anything worthwhile in decades (if ever). Their M.O. is to use a potential boycott by their "constituency" as a threat. Sure african-americans buy the products these companies sell, but the very idea that they make decisions as a group, and will buy or not buy something based on what these 2 losers and the small bands of protestors they are able to put together say, is demeaning to all black people. I would be interested to hear/read the details on any effective boycott of anything led by either Jackson or Sharpton.

I absolutely LOVE what Jason Whitlock is saying about the crying need for new, REAL leadership in the african-american community. He compares the current "leaders" to supreme court justices or college professors with tenure who are there for life, whether they deserve it or not.

I believe that wrong actions deserve consequences, but I think that the focus by some on the particular consequence of FIRING was in this case ill-concieved. I would have been interested in seeing what would evolve if there were a somewhat longer suspension (which could be used to revamp). Then returning to CBC/MSNBC under the tight scrutiny he would have undoubtedly faced, there would be an opportunity to creatively retain elements of humor along with his unique eclectic approach to a myriad of other things, while retaining proper boundaries. I'm afraid now that if/when he makes a "comeback" it will be on XM or in some other format or set of circumstances where he will be able to just go back to what he was doing, or possibly worse. I would be very surprised if he just "fades away" right now, even though he is 66. He had just signed a 5 year contract with CBS and was planning on that money, along with the "bully pulpit" his show provided, to endow his ranch for kids with cancer.

[RagingTireFire]

Perhaps, but given that he'd held back for so long after being made fun of by Imus' show regularly, I'd say he was probably entitled to say a few words about him. I think anyone that's been the subject of ridicule from Imus probably gets a free pass right now. Especially the ones who have always let it go. He deserves everything that gets unloaded on him right now. He's just reaping what he's sowed.

He could still have let it go. Jerry's been the bigger man on that front for a long time. There was no reason for him to stoop to Imus' level now.

[LUconn]

they interviewed the owner of a solon in Roanoke on the news today. Her place was named "NappyHeads". She obviously caters to the black community. I just thought I'd throw that in here.

[Libertine]

they interviewed the owner of a solon in Roanoke on the news today. Her place was named "NappyHeads". She obviously caters to the black community. I just thought I'd throw that in here.

She just lost her MSNBC show, too.

[olldflame]

Perhaps, but given that he'd held back for so long after being made fun of by Imus' show regularly, I'd say he was probably entitled to say a few words about him. I think anyone that's been the subject of ridicule from Imus probably gets a free pass right now. Especially the ones who have always let it go. He deserves everything that gets unloaded on him right now. He's just reaping what he's sowed.

He could still have let it go. Jerry's been the bigger man on that front for a long time. There was no reason for him to stoop to Imus' level now.

Are you honestly saying that Jerry's comments (which by the way were right on point, especially the part about besmirching the CHARACTOR of people you don't even know) were some how the EQUIVELENT of what Imus said? Hardly. I did not even get the impression that this was related in any way to the parody of JF that Rob Bartlett did on the show. He was simply asked for his opinion and he gave it, then mentioned that he had deliberatly refrained from prior criticism so as to not give the perception it was a response to his being made fun of.

I have a real problem with people making ambiguous, generalized statements about something a man of JF's stature supposedly said. I'm not saying it never happened, but if it did and you heard it, I think there is a responsibly to say what, when and where. Otherwise you are just slinging "mud". (you know, the smelly kind) I have known him for 33 years, and I have never heard him say anything which would remotely compare with what Imus said).

[RagingTireFire]

I never said anything about him taking an undeserved shot at Imus and I'm not talking about ambiguous, generalized statements or mudslinging. I'm talking about exactly what Jerry did say in the article. My point was that Imus, as mentioned, has been taking shots at Jerry for years, especially when it was Jerry who said something controversial and, to his credit, Jerry let it go with grace. Now that the situation is reversed and Imus is under fire, Jerry could have remained the bigger man and stayed out of it. Instead, he did exactly what Imus would have done and piled on. Yes, Imus deserved the shot but that doesn't mean that Jerry should have given it.

[olldflame]

Yes, in fact, I do. But, come on. In light of some of the things Jerry has said about people over the years, it's not just a little disingenuous for him to criticize Imus like this?

This is what I was referring to. Is that ambiguous enough for you?

I didn't see Jerry's comments as being a "shot" at at all. He was commenting on what the man SAID, and IMHO it was one of the more accurate assessments I have heard.

[RagingTireFire]

Yes, in fact, I do. But, come on. In light of some of the things Jerry has said about people over the years, it's not just a little disingenuous for him to criticize Imus like this?

This is what I was referring to. Is that ambiguous enough for you?

You know what? I had a response all typed out with the names of specific people and specific comments here but I'm going to eat a little crow here and I'm not going to put it up. When I made my initial post in this thread, I suppose I thought that anyone with a history here on the mountain would know exactly what I was talking about. Apparently, that's not the case and I see now that no good can possibly come from me posting the specifics here. In retrospect, I regret taking the conversation down this road because, logically, this point in the dialogue was always the inevitable outcome.

I like to think of myself as being, at least, a little more circumspect about these things than certain other cowboys on this board (no offense, Brokeback) so, I resign from this debate. If you choose to view this as vindication of your position, Olldflame, that's fine. I'm sure we'll find something else to argue about later.

[RubberMallet]

sissy

[RagingTireFire]

pragmatist