OK, that’s pretty classy. Yet I yearn for the day when the subjects of such inane racial remarks respond simply with something like:
“Well of course we’re all struggling with this, struggling very hard to figure out who this little man is, and why anybody should care what he says or thinks. We seem to be in agreement that he is beneath noticing, but as a general comment, our critics are always invited to meet us on the court to demonstrate what they’re made of. We extend this same invitation to Don Imus provided that he is able to pass a physical examination showing that he would not be grievously injured while in the process of being humiliated.”
Okay, the bluntness would have been nice, but I think it goes without saying that one of the best college teams in the country (or any player on it) could beat a senior citizen in basketball. That might have been an appropriate answer if the dopes were criticizing them as basketball players - but they weren’t. They were insulting them as people. The players’ response is fine with me, although “we don’t care what these people say” would have been just as good.
It would have been a theatrical taunt, not a realistic suggestion. It would signify “we’re not concerned about the words of someone who isn’t even close to being in our league.”
I understand what they meant, even if that point wasn’t well-stated. The spotlight was taken away from their accomplishment and it became “All About Imus” instead. There’s no denying the sports story paled in comparison to the controversy.
When was the spotlight ever on their “accomplishment?” Prior to this comment virtually no one knew that Rutgers ever even got their ass handed to them by Tennessee.
I don’t follow sports, womens or otherwise, but my understanding is that they came back from a shitty position to play the final game. That is an accomplishment, even though they lost. Is that incorrect?
Speaking as a professional broadcaster, Imus got off pretty lightly with a two-week suspension. That a broadcaster of his stature would say what he said into an open microphone is almost beyond my comprehension. Good God, I think even Howard Stern was offended by that!
I agree. Unfortunately the mindset behind this has created a windmill that needs slaying. It is now possible to crush the souls of our youth with the utterance of a single word. Had Imus said the word we-dare-not-speak he may have killed the entire basketball team.
I wish MSNBC or whomever would do us all a favor and take him out to pasture. If anyone is being punished over this shit, it’s us. This is just protracted agony. More important things need to be discussed.
