(no subject)
Don Imus is an asshole. I probably won't say anything new or original that has not already been said in the last three days, but I feel the need to weigh in on this.
I watched that game; in fact, I was cheering for Rutgers. I like and respect Coach Stringer and have ever since she was an Iowa Hawkeye coach. She is by all accounts a good person, a good coach, and, in my opinion, a great example of fairness, compassion, and leadership. I didn't know much about her team this year, I am coming very late to womens' basketball--but I started watching this team in the Elite 8 and was really impressed.
A good friend who's a former girls' coach and a fellow sports fan also was following Rutgers and we wound up watching the final game together. She has said many times that Coach Stringer is a coach she respects and enjoys. Her opinion holds a lot of weight for me and just reconfirms my respect of Coach Stringer and her team.
The team had a tough season; they did not start out looking like they would make the final game of the NCAA tournament. But they did and I believe that's a testament to the team and the coach. For Don Imus to reduce that team and that accomplishment to a joke of ANY sort--much less a joke which many didn't find funny and for which I believe he should be fired--well, that's just stupid. I know he has apologized many times over and I just don't care. He revealed his true stripes as far as I'm concerned and there should be NO PLACE for that. Not on MSNBC, not on WFAN, not even on cable access. Hate and stupidity are dangerous and demeaning.
Coach Stringer works to instill in her team a level of pride and determination. I'm certain that she--and they--work to build each other up. It's hard work and it's worth doing. What Mr. Imus did threatens to tear us all down to his level. Instead, let's follow Rutgers' example and focus on building each other up.
What can you do today that builds up someone else? Or takes a stand against hate and bigotry? I would love to hear about it in the comments section. It doesn't take a lot--just a move in the right direction. I will write to MSNBC as soon as I finish this entry--now tell me about yours.
I watched that game; in fact, I was cheering for Rutgers. I like and respect Coach Stringer and have ever since she was an Iowa Hawkeye coach. She is by all accounts a good person, a good coach, and, in my opinion, a great example of fairness, compassion, and leadership. I didn't know much about her team this year, I am coming very late to womens' basketball--but I started watching this team in the Elite 8 and was really impressed.
A good friend who's a former girls' coach and a fellow sports fan also was following Rutgers and we wound up watching the final game together. She has said many times that Coach Stringer is a coach she respects and enjoys. Her opinion holds a lot of weight for me and just reconfirms my respect of Coach Stringer and her team.
The team had a tough season; they did not start out looking like they would make the final game of the NCAA tournament. But they did and I believe that's a testament to the team and the coach. For Don Imus to reduce that team and that accomplishment to a joke of ANY sort--much less a joke which many didn't find funny and for which I believe he should be fired--well, that's just stupid. I know he has apologized many times over and I just don't care. He revealed his true stripes as far as I'm concerned and there should be NO PLACE for that. Not on MSNBC, not on WFAN, not even on cable access. Hate and stupidity are dangerous and demeaning.
Coach Stringer works to instill in her team a level of pride and determination. I'm certain that she--and they--work to build each other up. It's hard work and it's worth doing. What Mr. Imus did threatens to tear us all down to his level. Instead, let's follow Rutgers' example and focus on building each other up.
What can you do today that builds up someone else? Or takes a stand against hate and bigotry? I would love to hear about it in the comments section. It doesn't take a lot--just a move in the right direction. I will write to MSNBC as soon as I finish this entry--now tell me about yours.