Stringer: "A Catalyst for Change"

What a breakthrough!

Progress was made at the New Jersey Summit.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer said Friday the team had accepted radio host Don Imus' apology. She said he deserves a chance to move on but hopes the furor his racist and sexist insult caused will be a catalyst for change.

"We, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knight basketball team, accept — accept — Mr. Imus' apology, and we are in the process of forgiving," Stringer read from a team statement a day after the women met personally with Imus and his wife.

"We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget," she said.

The team accepts Imus' apology!

YIPPEE!

Will Sharpton follow suit?

It's doubtful. He'd be out of a job. Refusing to accept apologies is what he does.

..."These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture," Stringer said. "It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change. Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place."

It would be nice if something good came of this.

It would be nice if our society became less ugly. There are so many cruel people. It's disheartening.

I wonder what cultural "ills" Coach Stringer has in mind, specifically?

The hate speech in rap music?

Would it be a good thing if we, as a society, cracked down on the sort of speech rap artists use? Perhaps the Dem Congress can introduce some legislation.

How about racist, sexist, obscene remarks made by comedians?

Should they be silenced?

Personally, I don't listen to racist, sexist music. I don't laugh at racist, sexist comedians.

I also don't like "art" that insults my religious beliefs, such as Andres Serrano's Piss Christ.

Is Stringer referring to offensive art when she speaks of Imus' comments being "indicative of greater ills in our culture"?

What sort of cultural change is Stringer seeking?

What are the new rules?

Who decides?

The values of a society and the rules that govern their expression are far more complicated than rules of a basketball game and abiding by them on a court.

It's often said that sports are analogous to life.

I think that analogy goes only so far.