Now, I'm going to go ahead and state my opinion, since I'm starting the thread. :D

Personally, I am offended that he called those players "Nappy headed ho's".

A) I don't think any of them had dreads, thus, they can't really be "nappy".

B) Man, they are fuckin' ugly, thus, they can't be employed as prostitutes or "ho's".

All jokes aside, let's look at the issue: Yes, it's a shitty thing to say. It's one of those things where somebody was trying to be funny, but just fucking wasn't. However, let's look at the blatant double standard: Black people call each other "nigga". It's a term of endearment. However, if anyone other than a black person says it, it's slander. Blacks have "BET", or "Black Entertainment Television". OK, great. However, if there was a "White Entertainment Television", it would be racist!

One thing I've learned in my 34 years on this planet is: People will always bitch about what other people have, whether it's one race against another, one religion against another, one sexuality against another, or one sex against another.

So, is the problem Imus, or is the problem society in general?

To me, the pendulum has swung from one extreme to the other: 20 years ago, if you made a sexual joke and someone overheard it, it was kinda "Oh well, too bad." Nowadays, if you make a sexual joke and someone overhears it, you're probably going to lose your job. Where's the middle ground? Where's the, "Hey, can you guys not say that?" followed by, "Gee, I'm sorry, you're right"? Where's the understanding between groups?

Where I grew up in SoCal, there was an all-men's gym. So, what happened? A bunch of women sued to become members, saying it was sexist. There was a women's only gym right down the street. No men sued to join that, and believe me, I'd rather see titties than go to a guys' only gym. What's wrong with people? If I own a business, I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. If it's because I don't want women there, so be it. If I don't want Christians there, so be it. If I don't want gays there, so be it. Go somewhere else. Why sue to get in where you're not wanted, and really, what's the big fucking deal? Would you really want to go spend your money to be around people that think you are scum?

I personally think "BET" is a crock of shit. So, I don't watch it. I don't create "WET" or anything else, I just go about my business. Yet, you have people who seem to go out of their way to get offended on a daily basis. Why? Why bring that type of attitude and that type of crap into your life? Don't like it? Don't watch it. Think Imus is an asshole? Don't listen. Think the Rutgers team is ugly? Don't cheer for them. Personally, I never listened to Imus, and I never knew Rutgers had a women's basketball team, and in about 2 weeks, I will have forgotten all about it.

Then, we have the vultures. You know who they are, the ones who leap into any sort of discriminatory thing with both feet. In this case, we have the big 2, Jesse and Al. Personally, I think the two of them are a discredit to blacks everywhere. I think most black people even think the two of them need to shut the fuck up. Jesse once called Jews "Heimies", and referred to NYC as "Heimie Town". Yet, here he is now, bitching and moaning? Hello, pot, this is the kettle... You know the rest. You know what I hate more than hypocrites? Nothing.

So, my opinion is simple. I think a lot of people need to chill the fuck out. I think most people want to simply live their lives, go about their business, and handle what they need to. I think that we live in a sue-happy world, and that too many people are actually trying to get offended. And, it sucks.

Black people call each other "nigga". It's a term of endearment. However, if anyone other than a black person says it, it's slander.

Mexicans seem to be able to say it...

For the most part, I agree, but I wasn't any more offended by that than the countless other stupid things the man has said. I'm more relieved by the uproar than anything because, the more drama caused, the more this bullshit double standard will come to light (at least to the people who have thusfar been too slow, too bullheaded, or too "politically correct" to notice).
But, I think it'll work out in the end.. there has been tension for centuries, and it has to be let out somehow eventually. Of course I could be totally wrong, and white people possess some mystical power that makes racial slurs only racist and deeply offensive when WE say them, and this problem will never be solved.

If I own a business, I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. If it's because I don't want women there, so be it. If I don't want Christians there, so be it. If I don't want gays there, so be it. Go somewhere else. Why sue to get in where you're not wanted, and really, what's the big fucking deal? Would you really want to go spend your money to be around people that think you are scum?

that is the exact arguement used by racist white southern business owners in the late 60s to defend their "whites only" signs.

the problem is that the effort to get those signs removed from GOVERNMENT businesses slopped over onto PRIVATE businesses.

establishing a precident.

it has evolved to the point where smoking cigaretts is now illegal in private businesses on the off chance that some person might wander in off the street and be offended by the smell.

I think that we live in a sue-happy world, and that too many people are actually trying to get offended. And, it sucks.

it pays too.

nappy means frizzy or kinked, not dreadlocks. Unless the girls use treatment to smooth and straighten their hair, it'd be nappy.

It's only through condescending use that nappy became a pejorative. It's literally true, but often said in a way intended to demean. Sorta like calling a white person "pale face".

I agree with $100. What I am observing is black leaders has the job to fight every put down against their race for Black desire equality. And since I will never understand why they wish to feel inferior when a white man talks down to them, I believe this fight will always continue forever. Its ridicules.

nappy means frizzy or kinked, not dreadlocks. Unless the girls use treatment to smooth and straighten their hair, it'd be nappy.

It's only through condescending use that nappy became a pejorative. It's literally true, but often said in a way intended to demean. Sorta like calling a white person "pale face".

truth.

Blacks have "BET", or "Black Entertainment Television".
No we don't. Whites have BET. BET is not only white owned but all news shows and informative programs have been removed(redardless of black protest) to make room for shows that will "sell to the intended target audience". Even shows that elude to independent thought like "The Boondocks" are not allowed on BET.

However, if there was a "White Entertainment Television", it would be racist!

Its called T.V., thanks for letting us in a little in the 70"s and a little more in the 80's. NBC is W.E.T.(haha wet) for real. All those years of the show FRIENDS and not one Black or "colored" person was ever in the show?!!?

and they're supposed to live in NY??!?!


So, is the problem Imus, or is the problem society in general?
Both, Imus should've know better. I don't want to get into the "great power comes great responisbility schpeal" but come on...and society is also to blame, which brings me to your next point....

Where's the middle ground? Where's the, "Hey, can you guys not say that?" followed by, "Gee, I'm sorry, you're right"? Where's the understanding between groups? True. In fact, its unfortunate that Imus was fired. It is not only unfortunate but unnecessary. With free speech, we do not have the right to NOT be offended.

Yet, you have people who seem to go out of their way to get offended on a daily basis. Why?
Older blacks were alive during that whole segragation thing and are still kind of sensitive to being treated as something less than human...

...go fig, its been a centuries since that happened...oh wait, no it has'nt.