Imus: The Return

Our position as one of the more visible media watchdogs affords us the opportunity to relay important information and opinions, often purported seemingly as facts, to our readers and followers who desire an interpretation of important events without the taint provided by the mainstream media.

We advocate for news, not taint. And, we feel most can justifiable join us in this endeavor.

Most will recall the not so distantly removed racial diatribe enacted by Don Imus and his klansmen. Imus and his henchmen conducted a verbal lynching of the Negro females of the Rutgers women's basketball team. Not only stealing the shine of their Final Four appearance, but improbably detracting from the general quality of their futures. By openly belittling their race - and degrading their hair - Imus enacted a modern day version of the old Southern tradition of slave rape. The psychological damage of Imus verbally forcing his will upon the young Negresses is incalculable. We won't know for years the true damage that the penetration of his words has caused.

Now, months later, Imus is back on the airwaves.

To his credit, he introduced his new side kick, a brilliantly talented and hysterically comic Negro woman. He also acquainted us with his new sports commenter. A knowledgeable and well spoken Negro man. Certainly, we are proud to see these Negroes in the media gain employment based solely on their merits. Imus and producers actively giving positions to the best possible applicants and the applicants that best gel with his comedy and commentary stylings certainly gives full credence to the notion that this new Imus Show is a rebirth in both ideology and outlook. It isn't simply just a rehashing of the old Imus Show in black face.

Certainly, we could never be accused of judging others. That simply isn't our vocation. But we find it interesting that the Imus Show will be aired on TV on something called 'RFD' (we think), which apparently is a special network set up for 'rural' America. And, we must say, it's about time the needs of 'rural' America are being addressed. For ages we have heard the 'rural' segment of America clamoring for more Negro side kicks and sports commenters.

Just as Negro America is in debt to Imus for showing us that it is possible to rehabilitate the 'taint', 'rural' America is now in debt to Imus for bring them -what for many- is their first 'interaction' with Negroes.

We applaud Imus for building bridges in this country between 'rural' America and Negro America.

Nothing but good can come of Imus' newest endeavor which is focused on proactive undertakings, and not simple reactive preventive measures.

And, in thanking Imus, we ALL must admit to a debt of gratitude to the Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton was criticized for his views on this and demanding Imus be fired. But, now we see what the Rev really had in mind.

Sometimes, you must clear a field to plant a new crop.

And manure is the best of fertilizers.

Rutgers Player Suing Imus

Kia Vaughn, the center on the Rutgers women's' basketball team, is suing Don Imus (and the broadcasters) for his derogatory remarks about the Lady Knights.

Vaughn was humiliated, embarrassed and publicly mocked for the comments, the lawsuit claims.

No dollar amount was specified in the suit. And rest assured, despite the announcement of Imus' $20M settlement with CBS earlier in the day, this is about respect.

Vaughn, who was a center, had spoken out about Imus on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in April. She said that the comments overshadowed her team's amazing season, one the coach has called the most rewarding of her career. "Our moment was stolen from us," Vaughn said then. "Instead of us coming here to enjoy what we accomplished and how far we came, we had to sit back and look at media asking questions about what he said."

And certainly, one would expect that in the world of high profile college sports, nothing would ever overshadow the game. Nothing would detract from the moment for the players.

We can look to men's sports as the precedent. The players always come first. Their experience and the chance to bask in the moment always are the paramount focus building up to any big game. And after big games, they are exclusively allowed the chance to enjoy the moment without any intrusion from the media.

It's only fair for a female team to expect the same treatment. Particularly when the culprit --the moment stealing thief-- is a half-baked, semi-coherent shock jock.

And then, the media scrutiny.

It seems only fair that Imus pay. And pay dearly for what he put these women through and for damaging their reputation.

Calling them "ho's" insinuated that they were prostitutes. And it forced the women to hold press conferences and appear on talk shows to explain. To explain that; no, no they aren't prostitutes. Despite the lewd off handed attempt to be funny by the ancient shock jock, they were wonderful student athletes. Examples for young women everywhere to follow.

The women even had to endure article after article and column after column written in support of their character and demonizing the man that attempted to sully their good name.

We can only imagine the pain these women experienced as they were burdened with the equivalent of a "scarlet letter" hung 'round their collective neck. Imagining that every male eye that gazed upon them was considering, "wonder how much those Rutgers women that I think are prostitutes because Imus called them ho's charge for an around the world?"

We shudder at the thought.

We shudder at the life altering after effects. Clearly, all these girls want is to return to the anonymity they enjoyed before Imus verbally savaged them.

But they can't.

Litigation requires them to file papers. And filing papers means the media will report it.

The damaging cycle created by Imus continues.

"This is about Kia Vaughn's good name," Ancowitz said. "She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player -- a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4."

And clearly, the main step in the healing process is having her lawyer hold a press conference to alert the world to the law suit.

Let the healing begin.

Brian Leonard: Who Knew?

Coming off their most successful football season, a few Rutgers football players are on the NFL draft radar. Including FB Brian Leonard.

Leonard was moved to fullback last season, after starting at running back for a few years.

Apparently, Leonard has been working very hard to drop weight and increase his speed. His hope: to be the first white running back drafted in the first round since Penn St.'s John Capelletti in 1974.

Has it been that long?

Think about it:

It has been 20 years since a white running back had 1000 yard season.
It has been 44 years since a white running back led the league in rushing.

Of the backs to have gained over 10,000 yards in their careers, only John Riggins is white.

Most people, us included, didn't realize these staggering numbers. And of course, when white folks look at these numbers, the first thought is: why is there no public outcry?

Fair question.

There has been much talk and complaint in the past over the dearth of Negro QB's. The fight was to overcome the stereotype of the Negro not possessing the intellectual capacity to be the on field general. The fight was for opportunity.

All that seems to have been laid to rest by the success of Negro QB's recently in the NFL and by the ever increasing number of young Negroes taking snaps in the college ranks.

Isn't the scarce number of white RB's a similar issue to the previous lack of Negro QB's? A specific position on the field that is pretty much represented by one race.

Sure, to the untrained and unthoughtful eye.

The rest of us understand, that for a long period of time, there were no Negro QB's. And for a long period of time there weren't many Negro running backs. The position was virtually all white.

Gradually, as time went on, the Negro proved to be a more qualified fit for the demands of the position of running back; vision, quickness, speed, durability, stength, power, explosiveness. All traditional athletic attributes common to the Negro. And lacking in most white athletes.

Similarly, as time has gone on, the Negro is gradually assuming control of the QB position. Quick decision making, running ability, superior arm strength and unmatched determination have become the requisites to excel. Again, the position has gradually shifted to being tailor made for the Negro.

So, clearly, this isn't a case of the white athlete being deprived the chance to excel at running back. Which is in direct contrast to the Negro at QB.

This is clearly a case of the white athlete being protected for a long period of time by not allowing the competition from Negroes. And gradually, the Negro took over the running back position.

And we are seeing the same thing at QB.

Clearly, the extinction of the white running back is a sign of evolution in the NFL. Natural selection.

The absence of Negro QB's in the NFL was completely unnatural, and completely manufactured.

In comparing the two, it becomes clear. If you are someone who appreciates the positive evolution of the game and understands that weakness selects itself out of the league; well, then you should anxiously be awaiting the extinction of the white QB.

It is inevitable.

C. Vivian Stringer: The Autobiography

Some folks gave Rutgers' basketball coach Vivian Stringer some heat and criticised her for "grandstanding", recruiting and taking a "holier than thou" posture during the news conference addressing Imus' comments.

Well, apparently the country became enthralled and infatuated with the coach. And a book deal is now on the table.

"It's about an incredible woman with an extraordinary life story," said Tina Constable, executive vice president for publicity at Crown, who declined to say how much the company will pay Stringer. "She's a pioneer, a legend, an icon and a role model."

And for some reason, it took a disasterous comment by a shock-jock for us to realize this.