Wow! I'm Glad He Got Their Permission,...

Now, do Jesse and Al have to sign off on the deal, too?

Rutgers Women's Basketball Team OK With Imus' Return to Radio

Don Imus can do whatever he likes, including return to the radio airwaves.

That’s the feeling of the Rutgers women’s basketball players, whom Imus branded with a racial comment last winter.

The team and their coach, C. Vivian Stringer, received a standing ovation Monday night at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City from Billie Jean’s Women’s Sports Foundation. They also were presented with the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for getting through the Imus episode with grace and dignity.

But when I asked player Essence Carson, who speaks for the team, if she minded Imus’ return, the tall beauty responded with aplomb.

"We never asked for his resignation in the first place," she said. "He can do whatever he wants to."

Would she consider being a guest on Imus’ new show, set for Citadel Broadcasting’s WABC in New York? Carson, no fool, just shook her head. She had more important things to think about.

Later I asked Stringer the same questions, but the famed coach just sort of whisked the air with her hand. A man she identified as director of sports for Rutgers said, "It’s all in the past."

So that’s it: Imus can return without fear of reprisal from the Rutgers women. But maybe their lack of protest just shows how classy they are. They certainly all looked good last night as ESPN produced the three-hour show at the Waldorf. Now if only the sports net would broadcast the show on its network or on Lifetime.