Don Imus Misses Again: The Pacman Jones Controversy

You’d think after the whole Rutgers University Women’s Basketball

“nappy headed ho’s” controversy of last year that shock jock Don Imus
would keep his big mouth shut about issues of race with regard to
sports. (And “issues of race” is a polite way of saying, “spouting
racist rhetoric.”) Imus is in hot water again for making a remark about
football player Adam “Pacman” Jones, after sports anchor Warner Wolf
noted how many times the Dallas Cowboys cornerback has been arrested
since being drafted in 2005. (The number has been six.) Imus asked what
color Jones was. Wolf said, “He’s African-American” and Imus responded,
“Well, there you go. Now we know.” Imus claims he was saying that Jones
is being targeted because he’s black, not implying that because Jones
was African-American it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to
be arrested.

The News places the controversy on the front page, but the coverage is in the Rush and Molloy gossip column. The Post
doesn’t have Imus on page one, but covers the story at the bottom of
page 3. I have mixed feelings about publicizing the remark. On one
hand, it’s good to point out that the DJ is still spouting these
ridiculous, offensive statements. On the other, giving Imus more
attention is just going to encourage him, and much like in Raiders of the Lost Ark,
it will all be best if we just looked away. Ignoring him gives him no
power. Perhaps like the last time, this could lead to Imus getting
canned.

Still, the issue of race in America is so heated, and having a real
debate could be productive. It’s just not going to come from a
tossed-off, offensive remark from a second-rate shock jock.

Al Sharpton condemned the remark, saying it was “disturbing, because it plays into stereotypes.” The Post even went as far as to try to get comment from the Rutgers athletic department. They had no comment.

– By Heather Muse

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