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.

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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

[kahalaman]

Imus fails to bring either intelligence or humor to his show. Just don't get his popularity. Maybe being provocative with racist remarks keeps public attention on him. There are thousands of talented people that could replace this stale old dinosaur.

[jackieblu23]

I don't get either, has been, wanna be cowboy. I think a lot of media is in need of changing of the guard - so to speak. A lot of these are so out of touch!

[MacTheBlogger]

You don't need to understand his popularity. You don't need to like him, or to listen to his show.

Until Political Correctness has the authority to put people in jail for what they say (and I won't be surprised when this happens - ask Brigitte Bardot, convicted in France for "provoking discrimination and racial hatred" for something she WROTE), we are all free to like or dislike what someone says.

"Freedom of Speech", my ass.

[thisoldbroad]

Apparently it does, since I didn't know he was back on the air until this latest little dust-up.

What an ignorant remark - yet again. Hard to dismiss this comment as an error in judgement when he seems to be a serial racist.

Shame on whatever network put him back on the air.

[drec1500Madrid]

Years ago I may have listened to this kind of talk and nodded my head in agreement but not anymore. These past 8 years of Bush and this election cycle in particular have really made me painfully aware of the insidious nature of racism in this country. One of the most important things I've learned is that there is so much to do in this country of a serious nature and all this bozo can do is point out things like this...as if its the cause of our collective woe. We don't have time to waste listening to guys like Imus...who bring zero solutions to the table and are here only to divide and divert attention. I say let him stay on the air and let public simply turn away from him. The moment he has no ratings he is doomed.

We lose George Carlin and Tim Russert yet this guy will seemingly lives forever...­go figure.

[jackieblu23]

Carlin, was great, sad to see him go. Russert too!

[Roxanna]

I agree drec1500Madrid

Guys like this are simply making money off of other people's stupidity.

The best anyone can do is to turn off listening to them... They do not perpetuate any real truths or solutions they merely make money off of others limited thinking.

[midtown]

Tim Russert and George Carlin were great friends of Imus.

[Flick08]

Dear Drec, we should all be as introspective. It's important to keep challenging ourselves and try to take a periodic look at our thoughts and really critique why we believe what we believe.

[KYJurisDoctor]

It is HARD to figure out whether the man is a Racist or just INFATUATED with a person's skin color!

[VivaZapata]

he's both, and it's not that hard to figure out.

[jackieblu23]

Racist's and bigot's are not born that way , they are taught !

[stringer]

Just admit it. The guy's clearly lost his marbles and is a racist.

I know it's not en vogue to call anyone a racist, because too many people have been painted with this brush but if anyone deserves it, it's Imus.

Whatever. At what point does a series of constantly reoccuring events become a pattern? Because I would say now.

[jackieblu23]

I was about to say the same thing. He seems obsessed, or preoccupied with race. How could he have not learned ? Maybe that big hat is causing head trauma.

[salidon]

I don't know, Imus. Me thinks you need to step down. Like the rest of the old guard of media kings.

[realityczech4u]

Take a look at the pic accompanying this article. Do you see the Marlboro Man or a character who belongs on Brokeback Mountain? THAT is the key to what has this clown so angry all the time. Come on out, Donnie boy. You're not fooling anyone but yourself. A sweeter looking cowboy never donned a Stetson.

[dallashailee]

LOL! I can't quit you. LMAO

[SwingVoter]

I defended Imus the last time, but this is heavy metals to the ears. No excuse!

[USMAMule]

Sincerely, congrats on picking it up. I remember arguing with his defenders after the last instance. Sooooooo many of them said some variation of "hey, he made a mistake. He apologized. Get over it." They refused to acknowledge that this is a pattern, far from an isolated instance with Imus. I guess their is no denying it now.

[midtown]

It was OBVIOUS Imus was saying that this football player was arrested six times because he's black.

[ricchase]

Maybe the people that feel offended by Imus' remark(s) would feel a little less isolated if they were to listen to some of the live shows of Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Red Foxx or Richard Pryor. I mean, white people have endured, and laughed off, much, much worse from black performers. Why is it when the verbiage is directed at white people, it becomes acceptable, even marketable?

Don't misunderstand me, I, as a white person am NOT offended. Frankly, besides being funny, we deserve the comments. It just rolls off.

[HatingTheGame]

You know I agree with you.

When I see white people involved in Wall Street corruption and scandals, or white Senators caught with a wide stance in the men's room, or white politicians lying to us getting us into wars and killing millions of people, or white people involved in the subprime mess making millions lose their life savings, or white people lynching black folk, or white people doing all sorts of stuff, I'm not offended. I see that as part of the white character -- deviousness, hatred, greed, corruption, hypocrisy, racism, I think, that's alright. That's just how white folk are. Its in their character. Its what makes them white, and its what white folk do.

Yes, white people have endured so much from a handful of black comedians making fun at white folk while they sit there drinking their cocktails laughing at themselves. Oh, the suffering. Of course, don't let a pastor, or a talk show host, or a politician say anything like that, that would be wrong (and they will pay dearly for it). But comedians are ok. But oh how we suffer.

I know the souls of white folk. Its as dark as their skin is white. I know that we live in a white supremacist society, where 70% of my fellow citizens will stand up for me. Because they are all the same way.

Just let it roll off. No big deal. Black folk just gotta ease up. That's just how we are.

Really.

[ricchase]

"or white politicians lying to us getting us into wars and killing millions of people,"

I believe the "white politician" that lied to get us into that war was a Colin Powell and his pal Condi Rice. I believe the biggest jokester to head the Housing, Urban Development agency and who just resigned under an investigative cloud was Alfonse Jackson. Don't forget that freezer full of cold cash in Louisiana, that was William Jefferson. When it comes to evil, it knows no color. But it gets spread around. Don't be so self righteous.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Let's see...a powerful majority oppressed a minority for hundreds of years...pr­etty easy for that majority to laugh off insults from the minority.

[Flick08]

I think the problem is that Imus presents his show as a news type show. That carries a different level of responsibi­lity/accou­ntability than a comedian has to display.

[dallashailee]

You can do the research on this, but Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle have mostly white fans and audiences. There's this white comedian, I can't think of his name, but I've heard him a couple of times. Most of his stand up is about blacks...b­ut he does it to prodominently black audiences.­..so its ok. If he performed the same routine at a honkey tonk....it would be totally different. I don't think Imus has many black listeners who are "in on the joke".

[booksnmore4you]

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." - Jesus Christ.

[jabailo]

Talk about racist: What about this article on Slate that defines "Afronautics" ... the penchant for Black Musicians to write about outer space!

http://www.slate.com/id/2193871

Read it if you can...I found it abhorrent!

[protagonia]

America has coddled to her moronic 33% for too long.

We have a cancer of the intellect and Imus is one of the tumors.

How old is this turd? You'd think he was 7 years old from the giant hat he wears in every photo. Hate to tell you, but he's NOT a real cowboy.

His fans are too stupid to be embarrassed by him.

[ricchase]

Nothing said or nothing written, here or anywhere can alter the fact that what Imus said is in fact what most honest people would admit to considering as their perspective. What are people SUPPOSED to feel? Whether or not the facts bear out the perception, all anyone has to do to adapt to this initial response is watch television news, cop shows or read a newspaper. Either there is a concerted effort to portray African Americans as crime prone and violent, or Imus should have simply kept his mouth shut. Either way, things seem to be what they are. Whose fault is that?

[situationcritical]

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.

++++++++++­++++++++++

Not in a gay nightclub. Never happens.

Straight nightclubs are just dangerous period - and I'm not referring to the high rough trade factor.

[jackieblu23]

Never say never, I watched a trial not long ago on MSNBC - about a gay (white) guy that shot and killed another gay (white) guy. It wasn't a crime of passion either. Guns & booze usually don't mix well !

[sleestack]

There are very few racists in the world. Thats why we are all so aghast when someone like Imus says stuff like nappy headed ho. We found one! A racist over here! Yeah, most people are fighting to move out of the suburbs and into the inner cities to live among African Americans.

[strifeknot]

Wow. I hope you don't have kids. Or nephews and nieces. Or are ever near kids.

[qdog112]

SATIRE.