1. While I do not condone what was said about the womens basketball team, it should have never led to IMUS getting fired. The same type of language is all over the radio today, its just "beeped" out! The only difference is IMUS' comments were not- he should have been hit with a fine, and Sharpton needs to find another job. Stop sticking your two cents into everything because no one cares!!!

lulufroggie75 at 9:50AM on May 14th 2007

2. I really didn't listen to the IMUS show, but Reverend Sharpton doesn't isn't even play fair, nor does he run his life by the same rules he judges others by...shouldn't he loose his radio job for what he has been saying about others? Louis J. Baio, Sr., Tampa, FL

Louis at 10:08AM on May 14th 2007

3. I think it was appropriate for Mr. Imus and company to be suspended over the comments. I do not agree that his being fired was warrented. With the recent firings of other shock jocks for their remarks, we are as a people, as a country are sliding down a slippery slope into the death of Freedom of Speech. People will say that the public airwaves are no place for such commentary. If that is the case, then it should theoretically be applied to the press, when a writer makes a comment that upsets someone, shouldn't the writer for a publication be fired, then, the bloggers who write insensitive material, they should be taken off the internet, and then pretty soon, you have people getting hurt for saying something possibly offensive within ear shot of someone else.

We are headed towards that. Political correctness is, and always has been, a means of controlling people's speech and thought. Then all of our basic freedoms that our country was founded upon goes to hell.

And yes, this may sound alarmist, but it's already happening. They censor Wile E. Coyote cartoons and the Road Runner for violence on some channels.

Soon, radio will no longer be a forum for discussion. Then print and other media will be scared to discuss controversial topics and we will have the repression from both Right Wing and Left Wing and that is coming folks.

It's alright to say hey he's wrong for saying that. And I as a consumer, will not listen to that station, or program again, and when enough people stop, the ratings will drop and the personality will be fired, in the correct manner, not delivery an audience. That's is the right way.

I have no problem with Rev. Sharpton speaking his mind. It is his right. But, in the manner with which he did it, I respectfully disagree with his tactics and with the media companies for cowering over it.

When people protested the Vietnam War, the media was alright and when the government tried to censor the media, there was a public backlash.

Where is the public uproar now? Mr. Imus did make a mistake, he apologized. The FCC didn't even have a chance to weigh in as to whether or not he should removed from the public airwaves. They fined Howard Stern but never did they censure or censor him. Howard got off easy for saying worse things than Mr. Imus ever did.

Jeff James at 10:20AM on May 14th 2007

4. I've listened to Imus and find his tone and hyperbole to be sarcastic and condescending. Also, it's disingenuous to say that the N word, from a whitey mouth, is the same as that said form a blackman's mouth. Maybe in some future time but not today. Getting rid of Imus is no loss. Society is better served.

Jerome at 10:24AM on May 14th 2007

5. IN SOME WAYS, IMUS WAS A JERK WITH HIS RIDICULE OF NOT ONLY RUTGER'S BBALL TEAM, BUT ALSO RIDICULING THE SPORTS GUY AND EVEN HIS WIFE. BUT IN OTHER WAYS, IMUS WAS A SAINT HELPING MAIMED VETS AND THE FAMILIES OF VETS AND HELPING KIDS WITH CANCER AND TRYING TO MAKE THIS A BETTER COUNTRY WITH INTERVIEWS OF POLITICIANS AND NEWS MEDIA. AND THE COMEDY WAS WHAT I WAITED FOR EACH MORNING.

WR at 10:30AM on May 14th 2007

6. Don Imus was crucified for the sins of ALL of us, INCLUDING "Reverend" (and I use that term loosely) Al Sharpton.

dottie at 10:35AM on May 14th 2007

7. The "Reverend???" Al Sharpton is a real piece of work. He jumps on any band wagon that he thinks will stir up racial tension.

I was listening to an interview with him on the radio, concerning the current candidates for President.

He said, and I quote: "That Mormon will be defeated by those who REALLY BELIEVE IN GOD." When another radio host questioned him about that statement, he answer was: "Oh, I wasn't talking about Mormons."

I'm not a Mormon, but to hear a person who is "supposedly" a man of the cloth say something like that, and then in the next breath deny it, removes any credibility that he could ever hope to have. (He has none at all.)

All he wants to do is stir up more crap between whites and blacks, and it is very clear to anyone who sees through his antics that, that is his sole purpose in life.

I think that most clear thinking black people already has him pegged for what he really is, and what his objectivity is.

Clyde at 10:56AM on May 14th 2007

8. Sharpton's attitude is typical of today's liberal,"Do As I Say, Not As I Do" creed. Sharpton regularly denies to others that which he demands for himself. Evidently it is o.k. to be a bigot, just as long as you aren't a white male.

carlton wilson at 11:25AM on May 14th 2007

9. Carlton- todays liberal?? LOL.. I think it's your 'holier than thou' Conservatives who preach the do as i say not as I do... Must I really bring up the many examples of hypocrisy???

TC at 11:34AM on May 14th 2007

10. What bothers bme most about this and other incidents are the people who rally around the idea of "free speech." Just because Imus was fired doesn't mean that his rights of free speech were violated. He was fired for business and economic reasons--his bosses didn't want to lose the advertising dollars.

He and others like him are still free to say anything they want, short of starting a riot. That is what free speech means. Our right of free speech doesn't guarantee a person a pulpit from which to preach or that they won't lose their job - it only means that they won't be imprisoned for their words. Say whatever you like, but there are still consequences.

Bas at 11:38AM on May 14th 2007

11. al sharpton will likely wrought in hell. cause he certanly won't get to heaven.

SICK OF YOU at 11:48AM on May 14th 2007

12. It's ridiculous, If reverend Al Sharpton came out on the radio and cave a racially disparaging remark about a white girls team for instance. Someone saying "Cracker bitches" excuse the language I'm sure each and everyone of you would be calling for him to be lynched. I'm tired of all the double speak by Fox news which is nothing but a puppet of the republican, white, racially motivated fan base that it caters too.

flexxx14 at 11:49AM on May 14th 2007

13. Imus was fired for economic reasons more than being just an azz. Rev (yea right) Sharpton and his cronies need to clean up their act and the acts of the boyz in the hoods and the H word girlz out there that hate every day just like Imus. Its a crude disrespectful world out there people and respect will start at home, from your own back yard. Its all of us that are to blame, letting our kids watch, listen, and behave any way they want. We have all be desensatized and become rude people. Lets start at home, every home, every race and creed and color, and treat people the way you want to be treated. Get some respect for others back.

SHAME ON US ALL at 12:01PM on May 14th 2007

14. It is unfortunate that someone has to go "too far" for us to tell if free speech still exists, but that may just be part of the price of this freedom. If I don't want to hear Howard Stern, I don't have to listen to him, but its reassuring to know that I can.
Al Sharpton has freedom of speech, and I hope he learns to share that freedom. There is no debate if only one can speak his/her mind, and no way of telling what's right from what's popular when only the popular can speak. We can't even tell what's popular when people won't stand up to those with preceived power. Heros stand up to bullies.

Imus criticized the sportsmanship of the Rutgers volley ball team. If it deserved to be criticized, they were going to have their feelings hurt; if they didn't deserve to be criticized, he still had the right to state his opinion. The network caved to a bully.

Richard Winslow at 12:15PM on May 14th 2007

15. Sad, pathetic loud mouthed people: Sharpton, Jackson and Imus all. BUT - I do believe as an American we should have the freedom to listen - or not- to whomever or whatever we want. The firings were a knee jerk reaction by sponsors to reaction from Jerks like Sharpton and Jackson who are mostly a disgrace to the usually distingushed title of "Reverend". Imus was actually using a term that is heard in rap music. I personally find calling any woman a 'Ho' very offensive, in music or discussion, but in America, people have the freedom to sing or talk as they choose, and I get the freedom to choose not to listen to them. 'Nappy Headed' - listen to the rap music - it's in there with the word 'Ho'.

Rev. S. Smith at 12:21PM on May 14th 2007