I can’t muster up much energy to write about Imus’ firing. I’m not a listener, so I can’t characterize his show and “what he meant” or offer any other context-creating remark. I feel bad that this whole event has helped Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson consolidate their roles as Kings of All Black People In America, since they’re a couple of charlatans.
I do marvel over the fact that, while he got fired for making a dumb comment about female athletes, his comment had nothing to do with the most prevalent stereotype about female athletes.
I think the seeming capricious quality this had — certainly the National Geographic comment about the Williams sisters was equally revolting and fire-able — is the most interesting thing about it. We had a story in comics develop similarly this week. A webcartoonist was ripped off by an apparel maker. As with Imus putting racial insensitivity comments on his show, this is something that happens a lot. But this one caught on with people and has led to an apology and pledge of profits diverted to the wronged artist.
The only thing I can think why this is happening is because web-based advocacy of this type — and there was a huge on-line component to the Imus thing — has reached a saturation point it provides too many fronts for easy dismissal/spin.
From what I gather, the technique for Imus was that OTHER guys would make the insanely offensive comments and he’d laugh and say, “You scamp!” or something similar. The National Geographic line was from his sports announcer, Sid Rosenberg, not Imus. So he had “plausible deniability” or somesuch. This was seen as some sorta Rubicon because he actually made the comment himself.
Not that I think that other method exonerates him. The only time Rosenberg ever really got into trouble was when he went on a coke-and-gambling binge and stopped showing up for work (he had a mid-day show on FAN). He got fired, but it looks like they eventually brought him back.
I’d love to see how the crisis management gurus are interpreting the new case studies of Imus, Michael Richards, and Mel Gibson. Outside of the tactic of that South Park episode where Stan’s dad is on Wheel of Fortune (live), gets the clue “People Who Annoy You,” and guesses the letters N_GGERS…
interesting that the Rev. Jackson’s description of NYC as “Hymietown” didn’t get him into this sort of mess! what’s going on here?