Stronger than ever, Imus makes return

One of the Rutgers girls
basketball team members has sued the shock jock.

By PAT MILTON

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NEW YORK — A radio comeback for Don Imus seemed unthinkable at the height of the uproar caused by his sexist and racist comments on-air about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

The veteran talk show host was skewered by politicians and advocacy groups and flayed in the media for referring to the players as “nappy-headed hos” on his nationally syndicated CBS Radio program. He became the target of protests led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and was eventually fired.

But industry experts say broadcast executives can have a very short memory if it means boosting ratings — which Imus can still deliver.

“We are in a society where celebrity is the most important part of fame. Whether it’s for good or for bad — that doesn’t seem to translate in corporate America’s unending quest for ratings,” said Michael Harrison, founder of the trade publication Talkers magazine. “He’s more valuable now than before the controversy. ... He’s in a position to sort of reinvent himself — to make himself more pertinent and even more interesting.”

Freedom to change

Imus reached a settlement Tuesday with CBS Radio that pre-empts his threatened $120 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, the company and Imus’ attorney said in a statement Tuesday.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Just before his dismissal, Imus had signed a five-year, $40 million contract with CBS.

The announcement essentially makes Imus a free agent, and broadcast industry experts say he will be back on the air soon enough.

“I’ve been comparing this to a divorce, now both parties are able to move on,” said Tom Taylor of radio-info.com, a soundboard for news and information about the radio industry.

And, it’s possible he will be a different broadcaster now.

“He’s been on the air for decades and he’s always been outrageous, and has sort of made fun of groups of people and individuals, but it’s possible he’s going to be a little wiser, maybe think twice before speaking,” Taylor said.

Damaging remarks

Sharpton issued a statement Tuesday saying the settlement is a “a legal matter between a former employer and employee.”

But he added that it is “also a testimony to the movement of people that raised their voices to fire Imus that CBS would rather pay him off than keep him on. ... To the rumors that Imus may resurface, wherever he resurfaces we at National Action Network and other groups will be watching and monitoring him.”

Other critics weren’t so forgiving.

Rutgers player Kia Vaughn filed suit against Imus, CBS and others on Tuesday for an undisclosed sum — claiming the offensive comments had damaged her reputation. A spokeswoman for CBS Radio declined to comment, and a lawyer for Imus did not return a call about the suit.

Vaughn’s attorney, Richard Ancowitz, said, “The full effect of the damage remains to be seen.”

“This is about Kia Vaughn’s good name,” Ancowitz said. “She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player — a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth.”

Rutgers spokeswoman Stacey Brann said basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer was on vacation and not available to comment.

Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason and New Jersey radio personality Craig Carton were named Tuesday to take over Imus’ former morning time slot on WFAN, the CBS-owned New York radio station that was Imus’ flagship.