Canned.
MSNBC pulls 'Imus in the Morning'POSTED: 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2007
Story Highlights NEW: MSNBC will no longer simulcast the "Imus in the Morning"
CBS Corp. director has called for Don Imus' firing
More advertisers pull sponsorship from Imus' show
Women's basketball team will meet with Imus
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- MSNBC has canceled its "Imus in the Morning" simulcast, the network announced Wednesday.
The decision comes following remarks deemed racist and sexist that radio talk-show host Don Imus made last week about the Rutgers women's basketball team that prompted a number of advertisers to drop the program.
The NBC News statement said:
"This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process, which initially included the announcement of a suspension. It also takes into account many conversations with our own employees. What matters to us most is that the men and women of NBC Universal have confidence in the values we have set for this company. This is the only decision that makes that possible. Once again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our viewers. We deeply regret the pain this incident has caused."
Earlier Wednesday, a member of CBS Corp.'s board of directors said Imus should be fired.
"As an African-American, I believe that Imus has crossed the line, a very bright line that divides our country," said Bruce Gordon, a CBS director and former president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
"His remarks are so significant that I believe that the right outcome is for him to be terminated." (Gallery: Other controversial comments aired on Imus show)
But Gordon said he feels that the two-week suspension CBS Radio levied against Imus is the "right step" for now. (Your e-mails on Imus)
"It affords management the opportunity to do due diligence and evaluate what this means to the company, the brand and what it stands for," he said, speaking as a board member. "Once due diligence is completed, it is my belief that the facts should determine that he should be terminated."
Gordon's statements come as more big sponsors withdrew their ads from the airing of "Imus in the Morning" on MSNBC. The television cable channel also suspended Imus for two weeks after he referred to the Rutgers players as "nappy-headed hos."
General Motors Corp. and Sprint Nextel both announced Wednesday they were suspending their advertising.
Procter and Gamble Co., Staples Inc. and Bigelow Tea Co. also have removed their ads from the program.
Rutgers players speak out
Imus "has stolen a moment of pure grace from us," the captain of the Rutgers women's basketball team said Tuesday, responding to the uproar over the radio host's comments.
Essence Carson and other players spoke out at a news conference in their first public statements since Imus' inflammatory remarks last week.
"I would like to express our team's great hurt, anger and disgust toward the words of Mr. Don Imus," Carson said. "We are highly angered at his remarks but deeply saddened with the racial characterization they entailed." (Watch as Carson says the issue is "about more than a game of basketball" )
Imus made the comments on his show April 4 after the underdog team lost the NCAA women's title to the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers. He apologized on Friday and Monday before his suspension.
Other players echoed Carson's reaction, saying Imus' insulting words and the resulting controversy overshadowed their achievements. (Players talk of hurt, seeking understanding)
"Our moment was taken away -- our moment to celebrate our success, our moment to realize how far we had come, both on and off the court, as young women," said sophomore forward Heather Zurich. "We were stripped of this moment by degrading comments made by Mr. Imus last Wednesday. What hurts the most about this situation is that Mr. Imus knows not one of us personally."
On Wednesday morning, Stacy Brann, Rutgers team spokeswoman, said the players will meet with Imus this week. The day and location are still to be determined, she said.
"We just hope to come to some type of understanding of what the remarks really entailed, his reasons why they were said," Carson said.
"And we'd just like to express our great hurt, the sadness that he has brought to us."
Several players said they would welcome the chance for a face-to-face meeting with Imus.
"I would like to speak to him personally and ... ask him, after you've met me personally, do you still feel in this category that I'm still a 'ho' as a woman and as a black, African-American woman at that?" said Kia Vaughn, a sophomore center.
"I achieve a lot, and unless they have given this name of 'ho' a new definition, then that is not what I am."
Carson said, "We haven't personally received an apology. And personally, if someone were to apologize to me, I would feel better if I heard from them themselves. Reading it in a newspaper or watching on television or hearing it on radio doesn't serve any justice to what he said."
Coach C. Vivian Stringer praised the accomplishments and character of the team members, five of whom are freshmen. (Coach builds winners, despite adversity)
"Before you are valedictorians of their class, future doctors, musical prodigies, and yes, even Girl Scouts," she said. "They are young ladies of class, distinction, they are articulate, they are brilliant, they are gifted. They are God's representatives in every sense of the word." Stringer described the team's hard work to bounce back from defeats early in the season. (Read Stringer's complete comments)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/11/imus.rutgers/index.html
