Damaged Player Can Only Be Repaired With Ca$h
Along with the headline that Don Imus had settled his contract with CBS and would most likely return to the air 
in January working for ABC was a story about a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Rutgers basketball player Kia Vaughn who claims that Imus' comments "damaged her reputation." Oh, really?
Her attorney, Richard Ankowitz told the AP that Vaughn "would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player -- a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth." Oh really?
Here's the best part. The lawsuit claims that Imus' comments, made the morning of April 4th where he reffered to the Rutgers basketball team as "nappy headed hos" were done in the context of a news or sports report, thus rendering them credible. "The ... false, defamatory, sexually denigrating and slanderous statements and comments against the women athletes of said basketball team were heard, believed and understood by millions of listeners ... as factual pronouncements concerning the character, chastity and reputation of the plaintiff,"
So, according to the lawyers for Kia Vaughn, after Imus made his pronouncement, the entire country shook their heads approvingly and believed that Kia Vaughn was a "nappy headed ho." Oh, really?
You remember Vaughn. She was the most outspoken player when the team appeared on "Oprah."
I, for one, would be interested in knowing who is bankrolling this lawsuit. This is clearly not a case of Kia Vaughn waking up one day and saying "I'm damaged, I think I'll sue." This is the case of some attorney who probably is doing it pro bono for a percentage, smiling and dialing and finding one player with the guts to put their name on the lawsuit. It's not about "the character, chastity and reputation of the plaintiff," it's about the bank account of the plaintiff and her attorney. And if someone were to dig deep enough, they would probably find that her attorney is fronting either some women's organization or some other group with ties to either Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey or some other left wing organization. The suit is not attempt to right a wrong, it is merely an attempt to use our lax civil court system to extract a large chunk of change from a large, corporate entity. Kia Vaughn is no more damaged from this than I am.
I have never condoned what Imus said, but imagine if Imus were not a sixty something white male conservative radio personality. What if he were a twenty or thirty something black club comedian? Then we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Kia Vaughn is a soild basketball player and WNBA prospect. If she continues on her current path and stays healthy, she should wind up playing in the WNBA. Alas, the WNBA is not the NBA, thus Vaughn's earning power is a lot lower. So a nice structured settlement with CBS and Don Imus might help that future along a little bit.
Lightning Round
in January working for ABC was a story about a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Rutgers basketball player Kia Vaughn who claims that Imus' comments "damaged her reputation." Oh, really?Her attorney, Richard Ankowitz told the AP that Vaughn "would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player -- a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth." Oh really?
Here's the best part. The lawsuit claims that Imus' comments, made the morning of April 4th where he reffered to the Rutgers basketball team as "nappy headed hos" were done in the context of a news or sports report, thus rendering them credible. "The ... false, defamatory, sexually denigrating and slanderous statements and comments against the women athletes of said basketball team were heard, believed and understood by millions of listeners ... as factual pronouncements concerning the character, chastity and reputation of the plaintiff,"
So, according to the lawyers for Kia Vaughn, after Imus made his pronouncement, the entire country shook their heads approvingly and believed that Kia Vaughn was a "nappy headed ho." Oh, really?
You remember Vaughn. She was the most outspoken player when the team appeared on "Oprah."
I, for one, would be interested in knowing who is bankrolling this lawsuit. This is clearly not a case of Kia Vaughn waking up one day and saying "I'm damaged, I think I'll sue." This is the case of some attorney who probably is doing it pro bono for a percentage, smiling and dialing and finding one player with the guts to put their name on the lawsuit. It's not about "the character, chastity and reputation of the plaintiff," it's about the bank account of the plaintiff and her attorney. And if someone were to dig deep enough, they would probably find that her attorney is fronting either some women's organization or some other group with ties to either Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey or some other left wing organization. The suit is not attempt to right a wrong, it is merely an attempt to use our lax civil court system to extract a large chunk of change from a large, corporate entity. Kia Vaughn is no more damaged from this than I am.
I have never condoned what Imus said, but imagine if Imus were not a sixty something white male conservative radio personality. What if he were a twenty or thirty something black club comedian? Then we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Kia Vaughn is a soild basketball player and WNBA prospect. If she continues on her current path and stays healthy, she should wind up playing in the WNBA. Alas, the WNBA is not the NBA, thus Vaughn's earning power is a lot lower. So a nice structured settlement with CBS and Don Imus might help that future along a little bit.
Lightning Round
- Jon Garland makes Jack Cust look like Baroid Bonds and the Sox can't beat a team that has Alan Embree as the closer. Enough said. Mark Buehrle hurls tonight.
- The Cubs and Brewers lose and the Cardinals win. Don't look now kids, but the genius has has team to within 4½ games of first.
- Yankees hall of famer Phil Rizzuto died yesterdayand outside of New York, it's hard to gage the impact. He is to New York what Bob Ueker is to Milwaukee or what Harry Caray was to Chicago. A great player, a terrific executer of the bunt and beloved by a second and third generation of Yankee fans for his TV work, Rizzuto will be sorely missed by New Yorkers.
- Jose Offerman turns into Juan Marichal. Now he's in jail.
- Joe Gibbs 2008 team of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Bush may be better than Rick Hendrick's team of Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson and Junior. Hendrick's is however more profitable sponsorwise.
- Bobby Cox is now the most ejected manager ever. But if you read carefullly, you'll understand he did it to save Chipper Jones from getting run. Chipper delivered later in the game to give the Braves the win. Bobby Cox is not a hot head as much as he is a mad genius.
- I used to respect Drew Carey, but now. . .
- Today's list: Favorite movie taglines.
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