At Benefit, Imus and Son Flip Reporters the Bird
Don Imus refused to speak to the press at Christie’s auction house in Rockefeller Plaza last night, where a fund-raiser for the children’s charity S.K.I.P. was being held, but the jock-who-shocked-too-much was happy to show his eight-year-old red-headed son, Wyatt, how to flip the bird.
But before extending his exemplary middle finger before the young boy’s amused face, Mr. Imus was wandering around the art-filled galleries wearing his signature lonesome cowboy outfit: brown ten-gallon, mammoth belt buckle, holey jeans and weathered boots. A few feet behind his family, a bodyguard stood vigil over their every move.
Mr. Imus, 67, whose radio program on WFAN was infamously cancelled last spring after he employed highly insensitive language to describe some of the players on the Rutgers women’s basketball team, is expected to again return to the airwaves (he was fired from radio once before, in 1977). This, he didn’t want to discuss, but his wife Deirdre was willing to tell the Daily Transom about her love for fine art.
“Oh, god yes! I love the Impressionistic period, the Western art—you know, Frederic Remington, Charlie Russell—and then, again, I like artists like Mark Rothko, things like that too.”
So is Ms. Imus excited about her husband’s possible return to radio?
“You’d have to ask him about that. I don’t want to comment on that.”
Where's the picture? I love this guy!
You got it right - his comments were INSENSITIVE! He was telling a joke and he never deserved to be fired.
Imus fans are counting down the days until he returns - 40 days and counting down.
Who can blame them if they were being bothered at a charity event?! I don't see a picture though so how do we know this is true and not yet another attempt by Media Matters and others to smear his reputation. Well, his fans have had enough and aren't buying it.
hH is a racist, he's said worse. He's scum. He can go back to radio, but people have the right to boycott him, too. That's America. He's a rich idiot.
He may be a racist, he may be insensitive, he may be a rich idiot. We have freedom of speech in this country. If you don't like his show don't listen to it. I personally have much better things to do with my time than waste it on his show.
I don't think that firing him was the solution. If you want to boycott his show you have the right to, but so does he have the right to voice his opinions no matter how moronic and racist they may be.
For a moment there I thought that Upper East Side Mom was writing about Al Sharpton. When will the white liberal media grow a spine and go after the real racists.
Bernie, Charles; we love you guys! What a void Morning TV is! Cup of Joe? What a joke. I'll buy a new radio just to find you on a new station!
December; what a month, my birthday, Christmas and the return of God's other son!
He's a dick. No debate about it
Anyone certainly has the choice to not listen to his show if they don't like Imus. At the same time, his sponsors had the right to not support his show, and his employers had the right to can him. He made a dumb comment, and he lost his job for it. Move on.
Are you talking about Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson...or both?!
Most of the reporters need a finger in their face as well as up their ---. Al and Jesse are twice as racist as the I man. News people are afraid to say anything contradictory about these jack asses. Blacks can bitch about white people all day with no repercussions, but let a white say anything about a black and hear comes Al. What a joke.
Imus is a low-life. Always has been. Not funny. Says stupid things. Appeals to those who have a stupid side. His remark was racist. It was one of many, many racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, anti-Hispanic, anti-Arab, anti-woman things this guy has said. He should have been fired a long time ago. He was given about a dozen previous passes. Imus and his time has passed. Boring, predictable, dumb and confused. He knows very little about a whole lot. What a loser.
I predict he'll resume his old ways almost immediately if someone is dumb enough to bring him back to radio. The "I-Man"? Please. What a waste.
Funny how none of the commenters here (so far) seem to have a problem with Imus teaching his 8 year old how to give the finger.
The man's all class, ain't he?
I think Hillary Clinton and her money machine had almost everything to do with Imus being fired. He flat-out stated that he would never have her on his show. In fact, he said as much the day before the firestorm began. What a coincidence.
One more entry for the good things happening in December. I IS ALSO THE MONTH THAT I WILL CELEBRATE MY 67th BIRTHDAY.
Imus, this is one brother from another mother who honestly appreciates you, Charles and Bernie. Let all of the others continue to bitch and moan. AND - If you want a black, colored, Negro, African American sidekick to enhance your broadcast, call on me.
I have radio and other broadcast experience. Admittedly, it has been a few years since I have sat behind a mike or controlled a POD. But at age 67 I am still a fast learned.
what a dirty azz old hick, gross. his breed (ignorant, racist, poseurs) are dying out (thank phuckin' god).
i'll throw a party when that weatherbeaten old klansman dies...probably sometime in the next few months. he makes me ashamed to be a white male.
phuck him and his stupid azz trophy wife (diggin for gold is a TOUGH way to make that money...she earned every cent having to sleep next to that!)
I know I plan to listen when he returns and support his sponsors and charities generously. Thank you, Citidel and welcome back, Mr. Imus!
Eight-year-old son??? He should be cackling.........up yours, grandpa. What a carnival in cowboy boots.........sheesh, retire, already.
snore.............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I hope he calls you, Brother!
Are you claiming Imus never called a college student "nappy headed whore"?
Media Matters, by the way, substantiates all its reports letting the public record speak for itself.
Imus is a class act! "Act" is what he does when on the air, comedy, satire -- ever heard of it? Seems to me many of you posting would benefit from a bit of levity -- Good Lord, what are you so afraid of?
Imus had many powerful guests and many powerful enemies who didn't want him on the air. Use your brains, if you have them, and think about it -- did he do or say something so horribly awful to never be allowed to work again? If you were listening to his show (or if you ever had), you would know he is no racist or sexist. He is intelligent, funny, generous, and he made a joke. He apologized and was forgiven.
Sounds to me that most of you are either (1) Hillary/MediaMatters supporters who are watching for anything "Imus" so you can write stupid hateful things, or (2) showing that you who didn't have the benefit of an education and are exhibiting your seemingly proud ignorance.
Finally, to Mr. Foxley, do you have a photograph to prove your assertion that Mr. Imus was "stretching" one of his fingers? I didn't think so, or you would have published it. Imus has more class in his finger (choose one) than you showed in your hate-filled article. Lighten up, people, take a walk or something -- you're gonna have a stroke!
Methinks Mr. Foxley protesteth too much -- possibly jealous or envious? Too, too catty. Your slip is almost showing.
Welcome back Mr. Imus -- you look wonderful to me!!!
YES, the I-douche had LOTS OF POWERFUL ENEMIES! ...like?
HIMSELF!
Who exactly is the "powerful enemy" of this boring, ugly, racist, stupid man who appealed exclusively to other boring, ugly, racist, stupid people?
This is the funniest thread I've ever seen! I knew there waz sum ignant peeple out there, but y'all are AMAZING!
Thanks for renewing my faith in the IGNORANCE of humanity. We are truly phucked! :-)
Where do I sign up to get his show? I will be sad if he changes one bit. This story gives me hope!
Imus never called "a" college student nappy headed whore -- that is correct, he did not.
I was listening that morning, were you? He was discussing the differences in appearance between the two basketball teams (Rutgers and Tennessee, who won the National Championship, by the way). In a conversation with another person, he said that the Tennessee players were cute -- they were mostly black and they were cute -- their team is known for strict guidelines. And that the Rutgers team was "some rough looking girls" (which they were, not that there is anything wrong with that), and the NH Ho remark followed. It was meant as a joke, bad maybe, but comedy, People!
Listen to anyone on any talk show and you'll hear them refer to each other at ho or bitch or worse. It has become part of the landscape, and I don't think Mr. Imus started that ball rolling.
And Media Matter substantiates all of it's reports? (you left off the apostrophe, Einstein) -- Glad to hear it, because when everything they did to "get" Imus is made public, things will be so accessible for the "public record" you seem so proud of. Mr. Imus seems to have some "things" to substantiate himeself. We're ready if you are.
I'll be listening to Imus, supporting his return, and glad to support his charities and sponsors. What have you done for children's charities lately? That's what I thought.
Shame of you for your hatefulness. And Welcome back to Mr. Imus. You have been sorely missed.
Right on, Roger Arctor! Hillary is bashed for everything wrong with America. Now she is blamed for having Imus fired! What a crock! The Clinton years were great. They keep trying to say that Bill having sex (or, not sex) in the white house, is worse than 685,000 Iraqis dying, or our own, 3,700 men, dead! I watched Imus the day he called the college girls, "hos". It was so lame, I couldn't believe he said it! That was it for my Imus viewing. The basketball player's should be proud to attend college like all young people should do. Hopefully, the college kids, shouldn't have to worry that some idiot like Imus, will speak about them in such a horrible way!
sorry, bob arctor, not roger!
God! I hate when I typo in a comment--Kevetching over their morning coffee!
If true, great values guy.
If not, media bullshit as usual.
Imus portrays a wanna be, accepted by other coffee and sleep deprived jocks. Riding the ridge; pony, guy friend and gun. That's not weapon, but this is my weapon, this is my gun.
Dearest Mr. BobBarf I-wanna-be-an-actor, if-someone-would-only-hire-me:
Powerful enemies, yes, and you know who they are. Of course you are an Imus enemy, but I dare say you're not powerful. That's a shame, really, because you are so eager to tell everyone (is it just Americans, or do you try to tell the entire world their business?) how ph___ed we are. Classy.
And to think, the whole world is ph___ed because Imus said three words on a radio show and you weren't even listening, were you. Really, sounds to me that you think IMUS is the powerful one, and yes, I agree that he most certainly is. Why else would you be having the vapors about his return? What are you so afraid of? Who are you afraid for? Why can't you spell? Forgive me, that was just awful, I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.
It is possible (anything is possible, right?) that you are right in describing those who listen to and enjoy Imus boring, racist, stupid, (takes one to know one), but don't ever call me ugly or my tall, handsome husband will kick your tiny, little behind to the curb, girlfriend.
Now go find a stage somewhere and "emote" -- you are a one-note song, and I find you and your rehearsed songincredibly boring.
Toodles.
I know I will be listening when he comes back. And if you think that racists have gone away then you have failed to Jesse and Al working their hateful magic. Can anyone say Duke Lacrosse players.
You I am beginning to think more and more this country is just loaded with whiny little wimps who can't take a joke.
At the time of his firing, Imus's ratings were half of what they were at his peak years ago. Most of the pols he's backed strongly have lost (Kerry, Lazio, Kinky Friedman, McCain in 2000, Bradley), and he supported Lieberman out of friendship in spite of his supposed dislike of the war. He leaned so much on his writers and performers in overblown, decades-old radio sketches that his contribution to the comedy of the show was nil. He famously bombed as guest speaker at the Washington Correspondent's Dinner years ago. Off the air, he was legendary for alienating and insulting co-workers at every level around him. The Rutgers comments were just an excuse to finally fire him. He's rambling and semi-articulate now--just try to follow his questioning in any interview. I have no doubt that he will forget himself and slip up again. The hype around his return is corporate-generated. WABC (Disney) just wants him on for a short ratings bump and for the fact that he HATES Hillary, mainly because the Clintons never deigned to kiss his butt when Hill ran for the senate in NY. He'll be gone by 2009.