Imus faces new questions over on-air race remarks
Published - Jun 24 2008 04:59AM EDT | AP
By SAMANTHA GROSS - Associated Press Writer
Don Imus is finding himself in a familiar position on his morning radio broadcast: facing questions over what he meant by on-air remarks about race.
Months after a career resurrection and a pledge to mend the wounds caused by his remark about a women's basketball team, Imus again drew criticism for racial comments made on his broadcast.
During a conversation Monday about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, Imus asked, "What color is he?"
Told by sports announcer Warner Wolf that Jones, who used to be nicknamed Pacman, is "African-American," Imus responded: "There you go. Now we know."
Later Monday, Imus responded to criticism of his comments, saying he had been misunderstood.
"I meant that he was being picked on because he's black," Imus said in a statement released by his spokesman.
The on-air exchange came six months after Imus' return to work on a new show on WABC-AM following his firing from MSNBC and CBS Radio for making a racially and sexually charged comment about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. When he returned to work, Imus gave a lengthy on-air apology and pledged to use his new show to foster an open dialogue on race relations.
WABC and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. Vice President Phil Boyce said Imus would explain his latest comments on his Tuesday morning show and said it was unlikely the broadcasters would take disciplinary action against him.
Jones told The Dallas Morning News in Tuesday editions that he was upset by Imus' comments and plans to pray for the controversial radio personality.
"I'm truly upset about the comments," Jones said. "Obviously Mr. Imus has problems with African-Americans. I'm upset, and I
hope the station he works for handles it accordingly. I will pray for him."
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Now I would have said Pack Man would make Obama a good VP...
