Thoughts on Imus

Okay, so I wrote most of this over the weekend, and it took me a while to go back and finish. But finally, the Don Imus controversy has died down. Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to make it disappear.
Even though Imus apologized more than once, CBS received enough pressure from advertisers to fire him. And after spending several years as a broadcaster, I, just like every other broadcaster in America, have a few thoughts on the situation.
Naturally you have to feel sorry for the Rutger's players. They had a successful season, finishing second, and yet they're receiving more publicity for this incident then they've probably received the entire season. The media is whipping themselves into a frenzy (as is always the case) to get these girls on the air, but where was the media when the actual season was in progress?
However, you also have to have some pity for the team from Tennessee. I realize the remarks weren't made toward them, but this controversy will over-shadow the accomplishment of their season. Tennessee played a tough game against Rutger's to win the national championship and yet the season is ruined by the remarks of a cranky, old radio personality. In most instances, ask people who Rutger's played in the game, and they probably couldn't tell you. And to be honest, I was one of them. In fact, until this scandal broke, I couldn't have even named the two teams that made the final game.
Another of the big concerns is whether Imus is a racist or not. I've never listened to Imus before and can't make that call. Has he been known to make comments similar to this... I don't know. One stupid comment doesn't make you a racist. If there's a visible pattern of his behavior, then I would lean in that direction. The truer statement might be that he's an insensitive idiot. He was trying to be outrageous (like Michael Richards) and said something in poor taste. Unfortunately in our society, shock value sells and the stakes keep getting higher. However, the statements can also be construed as sexist, which doesn't seem to be getting an equal amount of play.
Of course, many people began turning to the rap industry for their portrayal of women in their lyrics and claim a double standard. Maybe, but rap lyrics generally shy away from naming particular women as ho's. Imus referred to a group of women that could be identified and got busted. That doesn't make rap lyrics better, but it's harder to demand an apology. I'm willing to bet if someone used a similar phrase to describe someone like Beyonce, then you'd see an uproar.
Freedom of speech has also been mentioned in some arguments and that Imus has the right to make that statement. However, the fact is that the government can't limit free speech and this was a case where commerce dictated the situation. Sure, the government does control the airwaves, but CBS made the call. Listeners threatened the livelihood of CBS, the advertisers responded and CBS took the obvious fiscal path. And freedom of speech is a double-edged sword; it includes speech you don't want to hear and yet you'll also be held accountable for your statements.
But now the controversy has taken a backseat and hopefully we will soon return to the important things in life, like the father of Anna Nicole's baby.

When punk and Kelly Clarkson collide...

A couple weeks ago, I happened to catch a blurb on the CNN ticker about Mike Watt playing on the next Kelly Clarkson album. Ask most people about Clarkson, and I'm sure they'll mention "American Idol." Ask them about Mike Watt, and they'll probably say "who?" I give Clarkson's producer some credit for going outside the mainstream to find musicians, and given that Clarkson has received some praise from such musicians as Dave Grohl, this adds some street cred to the album. Which brings me back to the question, who is Mike Watt?
Mike is currently working with Iggy Pop and the Stooges on their new album. But more importantly, Watt was the bass player for one of the best American punk bands of the 80s, the Minutemen. The Minutemen consisted of three guys from San Pedro (Watt, D. Boon, George Hurley) who played hardcore with touches of folk and jazz. Politics were often the theme as the songs generally clocked in under two minutes. However, the band holds a place in my heart because it was the first punk show I ever attended. I was a junior at EIU and was just starting to get into the world of punk. I was familiar with the Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys and Ramones, but was now discovering such bands as Black Flag, Husker Du and the Minutemen. Several of my friends were into politics and naturally, they gravitated toward this form of musical expression.
Since I was the only one with a car, I got to drive the 45 miles to Champaign for the show. Now I had been to many concerts in the past, but they were held in stadiums and amphitheaters, where the band was seemingly miles away. But this show was different. The stage was inches away, bodies were slamming to the beat and there was an air of choas. And while the music provided a rush of adrenaline, my personal highlight was meeting the band after the show. Again, it was different from the stadium experience when the band disappears behind the stage. When the Minutemen set came to an end, the band hopped off stage and milled with the crowd. My friends and I stopped D. Boon for a few moments to chat politics and the situation in Nicaragua. It was brief, but cool experience.
Unfortunately, the Minutemen saga came to a tragic end. The band seemed to be on the brink of greener pastures. But a few weeks after the release of "3-Way Tie for Last" later that year (1985), D. Boon was thrown from a van in a traffic accident and died. Watt and Hurley retired the Minutemen name, got a new guitarist (Ed Crawford) and continued under the name Firehose (not the lame 90s band, Firehouse). Firehose shared some of the musical qualities of the Minutemen, but seemed to lack some of the edge. Oddly enough, I got to interview Crawford a few years later while I was attending school at SIU.
If you're truly interested in the Minutemen, I recommend starting with "Double Nickels on the Dime". After listening to that, you'll understand my amazement of Watt working with Clarkson. But even old punks need a paycheck and it's better than hearing "This Ain't No Picnic" in a car ad.