Imus' Adam "Pacman" Jones Comment: Asks Of Suspended, Crime-Ridden Athlete, "What Color Is He?"

Update with Imus response below

A little over a year after being fired for making what were perceived as racist and sexist comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team, Don Imus is courting controversy again over a potentially racist remark made about an athlete.

When sports host Warner Wolf explained that Adam "Pacman" Jones — who was suspended in 2007 following a Last Vegas nightclub shooting incident — had been arrested six times, Imus asked, "What color is he?"

A slightly confused Wolf responded, "He's African American."

Imus then said, "Well, there you go. Now we know."

Listen (via Politico):

Imus returned to the airwaves in December after eight months off the air.

Story continues below

Update: Imus has defended his comments in an email exchange with the New York Times' Jacques Steinberg:

Asked in an e-mail message what he was trying to convey, Mr. Imus wrote: "I meant he was being picked on because he's black.'' He added that Dick Gregory, a veteran comedian and activist who is black, would be a guest on his show on Tuesday, to discuss the death of George Carlin. "We'll see what he thinks,'' Mr. Imus wrote. "I mean...come on!''

Full transcript, via AOL sports, below:

Wolf: "Defensive back Adam 'Pacman' Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here's a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club."

Imus: "Well, stuff happens. You're in a night club, for God's sake. What do you think's gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking and doing drugs, there are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead."

Wolf: "He's also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005."

Imus: "What color is he?"

Wolf: "He's African-American."

Imus: "Well, there you go. Now we know."

Comments

[iktomi]

Asians are partial to rice . If I make that statement am I stereotyping? Am I racist? No, I'm not. A large percentage of Asians eat and enjoy rice. So happens I do too.
I'm Irish, raised on a Indian Reservation. We both had at one time a reputation of hitting the beverages hard. Fact is, we did. This stereotype didn't materialize out of thin air. It was based on fact. It was our burden to remedy it. I think we have made some progress.
Crime rates among African-Americans is exceptionally high. Fingers can be pointed all day long but the fact stands. Is this stereotyping?
I dont care for Imus. I just don't like the guy. But don't bust the guy for pointing out a flaw that we all know exists. There is a well grounded reputation that has to be repaired from within and repairs aren't made by ignoring them or blaming others.

Stereotyping and racial unrest are generally kept alive by the ones screaming the loudest at the injustice of them. The screams are always the same..........Its not our fault, its yours.

Hiding behind "Politically Correct" dosent solve problems

[hoodrat]

From one rice eater to another - truth never hurts the seeker, and pass the soy sauce : )

[Trueheart]

Are you advocating personal responsibility?

[MzTexas]

Did you LISTEN to this comment IN CONTEXT? Probably not, based on all of the misstatements here regarding other statements taken out of context during the recent primaries.

Imus was not making a racial slur, he was making a statement on the arrest of an African-American SIMPLY because he is an African-American. It happens every day of the week . . . things that white Americans would NOT be arrested for doing, African-Americans ARE arrested for doing. Obama has even commented on the fact that in some areas, he would be stopped by the police . . . not because he'd done anything wrong, but because of his skin color.

The media has been WAITING for Imus to say something that they could turn into another witch hunt. The two African-American cast members of the Imus program understood what he was talking about and were not offended.

[dallashailee]

I have heard it. I think you haven't. He made the statements you are refering to later when he was trying to explain and defend himself...not when he made the comment.

[ibivi]

I never understood why they were so quick to bring Imus back. He's a racist old coot and shouldn't be on the air.

[ZimboChick]

just like TMZ stated ...open mouth...insert foot...again. I know they pay him to be 'controversial' as he stated but does he really enjoy this kind of exposure but then again its very hard to break a habit....

[zacher2005]

god forbid someone in America uses free speach, and the liberal thought police don't like it.

[eggman]

Thanks for speaking out against people speaking out against people speaking out.

[midtown]

Don Imus is not a racist. This is a BS charge.

[Superbus]

Nobody watches his show anymore, so who really cares? He actually has less viewers than MSNBC in prime time.

[Nonamnesiac]

Since Imus has come back, he has conducted some of the deepest and most intelligent discussions on race in our society. His discussions are even more significant because his audience includes many Whites with racist inclinations. His "nappy headed hos" comments were despicable and he got what he deserved then. Had he said that about one of my daughters I would have gone to the show and smacked the crap out of him after smacking around the true racist on his show, McGurk. I might even have done it at his ranch.

He's used racist and sexist commentary in the past. The only reason he was fired last time was because of his loud, steady attack on the Iraq war. He was very convincing to the Reagan Democrats and Dixiecrat morons who listen to him and the administration wanted him off the air, so they gave him enough rope and he hung himself. Then he whines because Harold Ford won't defend him. He didn't deserve to be defended over the "nappy headed ho" comment.

It's just a sanctimonious lynch party going after him this time. He learned and muted his attacks on the war, although he has not changed on it. He supports McCain even though McCain voted against MLK Day as a national holiday and McCain is warmongerer-in-chief. But he is really attempting to have the race discussion with those who really need to hear it most. He should be given the benefit of the doubt here.

[ipv4]

What are you smoking.. this man has a long history of being known as being a racist. Many people that have worked alongside him during his long career have heard him use racial epithets towards african americans. You sir/mrs need to get a clue.

[vocalist]

Imus this morning ..."what color is Packman "...answer ".black"...
He was making a statement that "there you go " meaning Blacks are harrassed by police for no reasons...
So please drop this..
No need to beat up Don Imus to make a headline.

Where was this outrage when worse and direct statements were made about Hillary Clinton by the highly paid so called journalists and news paper columnists? And still at it...

Imus is a shock jock and lives on satire..

Hillary Clinton was running for the highest office of the country with the support of eighteen million citizens !

This is called double stanard in abundance...

[mscreant]

Racism cannot be "cured"...it always pokes it's vile head out eventually.

[957]

Oh oh someone find and dust off Al Sharpton, because we can't have someone utilizing his right to free speech in america, and we the media who eats their own brought this to our attention or we never would have known about it because I bet not one you you commenter's even watch Imus, but your righteous indignation is tweaked whenever the media pushes your buttons. Its a non issue folks why don't you or the meda come down on Limbaugh who is ten times worse?

[ggmome]

Imus is the classic example of those taught from birth the reason to hate. These are the ones who find no fault in their hatred of anyone not of their pigmentation. They are taught by people who love them from the cradle to the rocking chair. It is inbred in them, and they truly are not aware that it exists in them. Hence the entire mountainous region of the east coast is now, and ever shall be as they are.. They will never be anything but what they are. Only if they broaden their horizons, and venture out into the world will they, or do they become aware that it is not about them only.

As for Imus, if you had a face like that would you be pleasant? .

[qdog112]

It's been said - he has a face made for radio.

[JoanieNC]

Obama refers to hisself as "Black" this past week-end. Your savior can say anything, but this we have freedom of speech. Get over it, and drop it. You wingers can get away with it. Imus does not owe anyone an apology-hey Al-where is your apology to us taxpayers in NC for the Duke rape case-that you were down here ASAP-passing judgement on innocent people. Two way street-you can go up, and you can go down.

[jackieblu23]

The media's polling during this election is getting old too. They brake us all down in to these little groups. I think what will define this election the most will be age. There will be so many more young voters this election - I don't think the media / polls even have a clue. Younger voter's ( I have a 20 & 29 year old) don't have as many hang ups. People like Imus are going to be obsolete - soon, he can sit around the home talking about the old days, with McCain!

[Flagal]

"Why's everybody always pickin on me"?

[MacTheBlogger]

"I disagree with what you have to say but will fight to the death to protect your right to say it."

Unless it may "offend" someone, evidently.

[uheardme]

It's hilarious that the white people who think we are "too PC" as a country can get all a twitter over Rev. Wright, Mike Pfleger, and Louis Farrakhan. Typical white people.

[kas70]

For real.

[ROBOT8]

IMUS LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S GRANDMOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Clairvaux]

Do grannies wear cowboy hats?