Wilbon on Imus
Most people don't like it when two worlds collide, but I do: you get to see how they appraoch a similar issue. The Imus/Rutgers story has merged the political and sports worlds (temporarily) and so the best of both fields get to visit on another's home turf.
Michael Wilbon (from the sports world, naturally) chimes in on Imus:
Like I said, sometimes it's good when worlds collide. BTW, MSNBC and CBS have suspended Imus (which takes him off the TV and airwaves) for two weeks, but this punishment is dubious because in two weeks the "Sweeps" Period begins. Also, some major advertisers have also jumped ship.
Michael Wilbon (from the sports world, naturally) chimes in on Imus:
Already a little squeamish about appearing on the show, Ripken's decision to tell Imus no became an easy one after the latest spewing. "It was set up by the publisher, but I said no because I don't want anybody to perceive that I condone those comments because I don't," Ripken said in a telephone conversation yesterday. "And if you go on that show, that's exactly what the perception would be..."
...Imus, not surprisingly, is trying to frame the discussion in a way that paints him as a good guy who did a stupid thing, which might be okay if he wasn't such a serial offender. Yes, Imus routinely has riveting political discussions, as recently as last fall when he engaged Harold Ford, then running for the U.S. Senate, in conversations about running for office as a young black man in the South, in this case Tennessee. When Imus says he's not unfamiliar with black people, he's telling the truth. He's not some idiot segregationist who seals himself off from black people, which is what
makes these episodes even more disgusting.
If you believe the bosses at Viacom and NBC Universal have any guts, and I'm not sure I do, then you might believe the suspension represents a warning of zero tolerance from here on in and that Imus is one more incident from being dumped. And while I'm not agitating for Imus to be fired, I'd certainly raise a toast if it happens. Until then, what Imus has prompted is a necessary national conversation. The meeting with the Rutgers women is necessary -- so is the vigil to stand over him and remind him that even if he doesn't get it, many of us do.
Like I said, sometimes it's good when worlds collide. BTW, MSNBC and CBS have suspended Imus (which takes him off the TV and airwaves) for two weeks, but this punishment is dubious because in two weeks the "Sweeps" Period begins. Also, some major advertisers have also jumped ship.
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