I really wanted to avoid the Imus deal today, but I felt compelled to address it after I laughed myself silly reading various accounts and news reports.

I find it amusing that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have seized upon the opportunity to get involved.  Al wants to discuss the matter with the FCC,  despite the fact that Imus committed no FCC violation.  But it sounds good when you read it in the paper, doesn't it?  Read it here, Al: The FCC cannot help you.  Don't waste their time.

Jesse has organized protests in Chicago, which is really silly because Imus works in New York. So, while damage has been done to the reputation of the Rutgers women's basketball team, the two windbags reach out not to the team, but to the media and the headlines that they can grab from this.  I can't imagine how proud the African-American community must be of these two guys.

As far as all of the media types who are ripping Imus, I will guarantee you that at one point or another,  they have made a derogatory comment about women's basketball and about women athletes.  Maybe they have the common sense to keep it amongst the boys, but I guarantee you if you pumped Michael Wibon or Mike Lupica full of sodium pentothol, they would admit to you that they think women's basketball is inferior in every way to the men's game.  So, this is not really about defending the virtue of the players.

The facts in evidence are that Imus said something stupid.  Gee, you think that happens to talk show hosts once in a while?  When you have four hours to fill every morning and you are pressuring yourself to be entertaining, don't you think that you could possibly say something that sounded funny in your head but incredibly stupid, insensitive and borderline racist  when it came out of your mouth?  Unless you've ever done a talk show on a regular basis before, don't answer the question. 

Imus' intent was to be funny, not racist.  He's irreverent, flippant, cynical crudmudgeon, but he is not a hater.
The guy made a mistake, he said something in poor taste, which he has admitted and is taking accountability for Yet Al and Jesse still beat the drums for his dismissal.  Jesse, remember Hymetown?   You got a free pass on that one, didn't you big fellow? 

This is not about Don Imus.  This is about political correctness and opportunism.  It's about Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson finding a way to make headlines.  It's about ESPN trying to put a stake in the heart of a long time competitor.  It's about writers trying to pander to score points with their readers.  And yet nowhere have I read anything from anybody saying maybe Imus just said something stupid, can we all just get over it?  Until now that is.

Being a celebrity brings a great price.  In the words of the prophet Sting, "Every step you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you"  people in the public spotlight are held to a higher standard.  And when these people do something that they regret (just like all of us do for time to time) it becomes a punchline for Jay Leno or blogs like this one.  Imus made a mistake.  He's sorry. Can't we just all move on?

Lightning Round:

• John Danks, we told you not to blink!  Now the White Sox head off to a place where they always have trouble.  At least it should be warmer.
• It has to absolutely suck to be a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization today.  On Saturday night, the Leafs erased a three goal deficit to beat Montreal.  To get into the playoffs, they needed a little help from New Jersey to beat the Islanders.  For the first 55 minutes, this was the most boring hockey game I have seen in ages.  The Devils trailed 2-0 when they finally got on the board.  Then, it got interesting.  They scored the game tying goal with .8 seconds left.  Unfortunately for the Maple Leafs. the Devils lost on the last shot of the shootout and the Islanders, not the Leafs are headed to the playoffs.  Buffalo will soon put the Isles out of their misery.
• In today's too much, too little, too late department, Colorado beats Calgary 6-3.  Had the Avs won Saturday night, they would have been in the playoffs, not the Flames who really staggered down the stretch.  Odds on Avs coach Joel Quinville keeping his job: 40-60.
  
• While I agree that Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh will be entertaining as will Dallas vs. Vancouver, keep your eye on the Rangers vs. Atlanta series if you are looking for an upset.
  
• If the Phillies don't turn it around in the next three weeks, Charlie Manuel will be the first managerial casualty of 2007.
• John Pelphrey will be named head basketball coach at Arkansas, probably because he was willing to do it.  It's amazing how much water that athletic department has taken on between the football program and the basketball program.  Meanwhile, look for Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon to head to College Station.
• Tiger Woods couldn't do it this time.  Zach Johnson (who apparently had a lot of help from God) did.
• Cartoonist Johnny Hart has died.  In dying the ultimate death, the 75 year-old Hart collapsed from a stroke while at his drawing board.  Who doesn't want to go doing the thing you love?  Hart is the creator of BC and the Wizard of Id, which has one of the all-time great cartoon character names in it: Bung.