As Rutgers celebrated the Scarlet Knights women's basketball team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA championship in Cleveland, the moment was tarnished by the racially and sexually insensitive remarks of radio personality Don Imus and his colleagues.
“Mr. Imus' shocking comments last week were despicable and deeply hurtful to our students, our coach, and their families. They were also offensive to every member of the Rutgers community, as well as to people across the nation,” said President Richard L. McCormick, in a statement to the university community. “Racism and sexism have no place in our society and are completely at odds with our values as a university that celebrates diversity and civility.”
Imus has apologized for referring to members of the team as ''nappy-headed hos'' on his April 4 show, carried on the MSNBC cable news channel and CBS Radio. MSNBC cancelled the show's simulcast following widespread condemnation of his remarks and calls to boycott broadcasters and advertisers, Advertisers such as Staples, Inc., Procter & Gamble, and American Express pledged to withdraw their sponsorship from the show.
At an emotionally charged news conference, women’s basketball head coach C. Vivian Stringer called Imus' comments "deplorable, despicable, abominable and unconscionable." She said her team of high achievers on and off the court deserved better. “To serve as a joke of Mr. Imus’ in such an insensitive manner creates a wedge and makes light of the efforts of these classy individuals, both as women and as women of color. It is unfortunate Mr. Imus sought to tarnish Rutgers' spirit and success,” Stringer said.
McCormick met with Stringer and team members, and has reached out to the team member’s parents.
Imus' public apologies did little to satisfy the Scarlet Knights, but they insisted they would reserve judgment, including on whether Imus should be fired, until they meet him in person. Imus offered to sit and talk with the team.
Team Captain Essence Carson announced that the players had agreed to take up Imus' offer to talk and will do so soon at an undisclosed time and place. Several players said the controversy had taken away from their enjoyment of a surprise run to the NCAA final, where they lost to Tennessee April 3. Since Imus’ remarks, they have been bombarded by requests for comment from dozens of media outlets.
“On collegiate athletics’ grandest stage, under the brightest lights, with the focal point being nothing other than the trophy that symbolizes the hard work and the perseverance of a team so deserving,” Carson said, “the curtains will close on an act that deserved nothing short of an encore.”