What's that about old dogs and new tricks? Don Imus invoked a hoary proxy for race to stereotype a black athlete, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones (h/t Dr. Boyce Watkins).
Here’s the transcript of the exchange between Imus and Warner Wolf (h/t AOL Sports)
Wolf: "Defensive back Adam 'Pacman' Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here's a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club."
Imus: "Well, stuff happens. You're in a night club, for God's sake. What do you think's gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking and doing drugs, there are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead."
Wolf: "He's also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005."
Imus: "What color is he?"
Wolf: "He's African-American."
Imus: "Well, there you go. Now we know."
Imus says his racially charged words were misunderstood. Sure they were.
Meanwhile, Jones says he "will pray for him."
