Racist. Sexist. Despicable. Deplorable. Abominable.
These are only some of the words Rutgers women's basketball head coach C. Vivian Stringer used to describe Don Imus' recent comments about her team in a press conference held in the Louis Brown Athletic Center on Livingston campus yesterday.
Imus will meet the team on an undisclosed date in an undisclosed location to apologize in person.
The radio host's race- and gender-biased remarks, which were simulcast across the country one week ago, placed him under national scrutiny.
Since then, civil rights activists such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton vocally hounded Imus and MSNBC, the network that simulcasts his show. Sharpton called for Imus' resignation, saying he will picket WFAN, the station that broadcasts Imus' show, until the radio host is fired.
Imus has repeatedly apologized, saying he is a good man who made a bad mistake. Regardless, MSNBC and CBS suspended his program for two weeks, effective next Monday.
Stringer was joined by her team, along with University President Richard L. McCormick and Athletic Director Robert E. Mulcahy III, to discuss their stance on Imus' comments.
McCormick spoke in admiration of the basketball team, praising its perseverance both throughout the season and in its current situation.
"The Rutgers community is extraordinarily proud of our women's team," he said. "They overcame great odds through their talent, drive and hard work."
The president decried Imus' remarks as deeply hurtful.
"Mr. Imus' comments were offensive to the Rutgers University community, as well as the entire nation," McCormick said. "In this difficult time, we must make an increased commitment to tolerance, civility and equality."
Stringer agreed, saying the current situation demanded a time for change.
The charismatic coach expressed her disbelief that anyone could make such comments to young women, five of whom are only one year out of high school.
"These are 18- to 20-year-old women. They are not professionals or political figures," Stringer said. "These are young women that little girls look up to."
Stringer told the room what she called the real story, a story about hard work, dedication, class and, ultimately, unprecedented success. She spoke of a team nobody believed in but themselves, and said such an attack by Imus at the moment when they should be celebrating was simply not right.
"Have we lost all moral fiber?" Stringer asked. "Has society decayed to that point?"
Stringer's players spoke of their hurt, as well as the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion this experience entailed.
Sophomore forward Heather Zurich said the radio host's comments stripped the team of its moment of happiness.
"My teammates and family are insulted and angry," Zurich said. "We did nothing to deserve it."
Perhaps the most powerful words came from junior forward and team captain Essence Carson.
"[Imus] has stolen a moment of pure grace from us," she said.
Carson said she and her teammates have been bombarded with phone calls and e-mails ever since the initial incident, and it has placed them in between a rock and a hard place.
Although Imus has apologized on air several times, Carson says none of the players received any personal apology to date.
No one on the team would comment on the status of Imus' job, but Stringer suggested the bottom line of his future rested on one factor - money.
"This isn't about black or white, this is about green," Stringer said.
The Scarlet Knights were not clear on whether they would accept Imus' apology in their upcoming meeting, but seemed prepared to listen to what he had to say.
"We can't let other people steal our joy," Stringer said.
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