Yes, clearly there were people taping the show and waiting to nail Imus. Also, I have no reason not to think that Imus was just trying to be cool and non-insulting when he used the hip-hop term, "ho".
That said, I do think that it's a good thing when a bunch of college girls come out and say that it is an insult to be referenced by the slang term, "ho".
The RU roster includes girls from Newark, Paterson, Camden and Montvale NJ plus girls from the Bronx, Brooklyn, E. Chicago, Cinncinnati and Ogden Utah. As I understand it, they worked hard and beat some pretty good teams to get to the finals. Good for them that they don't like the term that some other kids use.
I totally agree, no doubt these kids are to be commended it’s just that I don’t think Imus was being personal in his comments,really doesn’t excuse them but once again the timing on this is ever so important. 6:08AM is a whole different world from 8:08,this fact alone should not be ignored.
Under the circumstances, they had no choice but to denounce the use of the term. I suspect that they hear it all the time around the dorm and probably play lots of rap music.
I watched the entire tournament, as I do every year. Rutgers was the surprise team coming from a four seed to make the finals. No team lower than a four seed has ever won the Women's title. Rutgers also upset Connecticut in the Big East tournament, so it has been a banner year for them. Rutgers plays a very tough, hard nosed defensive game holding their opponents to very low totals, among the lowest in the nation. They don't score much, so they rely on their intimidating defense to win. In that context, I can understand some of Imus's remarks.
Vivian Stringer, the Rutger's coach, has taken three different schools to the Final Four, including Rutgers twice. She has had a tough personal life losing her husband suddenly to a heart attack and having a disabled child who is wheelchair bound. I was rooting for her to win her first title. Instead, Pat Summit got her 7th.
Correction: lower than a three [vice four] seed has won the title.