As we all know by now, Don Imus-radio jockey-called the women’s basketball team from Rutgers “nappy-headed ho’s” on his program last Wed, shortly after the team lost the national title game.  There were some other below the belt shots taken on his program about the team, but that is not the purpose of this article.

Imus and his co-hosts were wrong.  The name calling was racially charged and sexist.  Imus has apologized and I have no issue with his suspension. 

But this morning, as I watched C. Vivian Stringer (the coach) and her team give their press conference; I was sickened by their reaction.  It started out ok, but slowly and almost predictably turned from disgust over a verbal insult to a lecture on inequality and how hard it is for people of color to make it in this racist world.  Really Viv?  Anyone else notice that 8 of the 10 players on her team are African-American?  Imus didn’t say that blacks shouldn’t be allowed to be on the court or in college.  He didn’t say that blacks shouldn’t be allowed to drink from the same fountains or sit at the same lunch counters as whites.  He called them a name. Period.  And it was despicable. But it was not a call to action, and Stringers comments were over the line also.

Stringer also talked about the courage, strength and intelligence of her team.  Then one of her players spoke and said that she was “scarred for life.” One said that Imus' words took away their accomplishment.  WHAT?  My God, if that is all it is gonna take girls, you are in for a lifetime of pain and paranoia.  
 

This is what should have happened.  The team and their coach should have issued a statement saying that Imus is an ass and they don’t really give a crap about his opinion. (Although in a more politically correct tone). They are the second best women’s basketball team in the nation, college attendees with 3.0 grade averages and whatever Imus thinks is immaterial to their accomplishments or plans for life.
 

I have no time for racially charged talk.  I have expressed my disapproval to others on this site when I see the terms wetback, chinks, etc.  I have been taken to task—“they are just words.”  Yes, but they are hurtful words and don’t do anything useful.  I feel the same way about this situation.  I deplore Imus’ rant. 
 

But, the reaction of some of the media and in particular Coach Vivian Stringer took a verbal insult to another  level.  And Coach Stringer made her beloved players victims instead of strong leaders.

Racism does exist in this country.  People are denied various services or opportunity based on their color.  The Rutgers team and their coach are being played, and it is occuring in the court of the media.  Unfortunately, after their reaction to this episode, their legacy will not be a second place finish in the WNCAA tourney, or the first Rutgers athletic team (men or womens) to play for a national championship since the late 1940's.  Sadly, they have forever cemented their legacy as the "poor gals who were called 'nappy headed ho's.' "  And they can thank Al Sharpton and their well-meaning but misguided coach for that.

I debated about the category in which to place this article.  Sports or Entertainment?  Women?  I am placing it in politics because Stringer, Sharpton and some in the media forced its placement here.