Angry N.J. rallies in defense of its wounded heroes

As the national firestorm raged on over a radio host's racially charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, New Jersey yesterday rushed to the defense of its wounded heroes.

Much of the state - including Gov. Corzine - rallied around the players, consoling them and voicing the rage and hurt that school officials say team members have felt since Don Imus called them "nappy-headed hos."

Corzine, who traveled to North Carolina and Cleveland to watch the women play their way to last week's final, met privately with the team yesterday afternoon on the main Rutgers campus in New Brunswick.

"He's been wanting to meet with the women for the last few days," Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said. "Obviously, they're feeling pretty discouraged and upset, and he wanted to talk to them."

In a statement released shortly after his visit, Corzine said the team "embodies all that is great about New Jersey: intelligence, toughness, tenacity, leadership, and, most of all, class."

"The Lady Knights also showed the power of athletics in unifying a community, be it Rutgers University or the entire state of New Jersey," Corzine said. "That's why it's so disheartening that Don Imus would take this occasion to utter these disgusting and divisive comments. I strongly condemn his words. There is absolutely no excuse for his conduct."

The radio host, who has apologized on the air for the remarks he made last week after watching the Scarlet Knights lose the woman's championship game to Tennessee, has offered to apologize in person.

Rutgers president Richard L. McCormick said he had no plans to meet with Imus. Yesterday, several players and their relatives declined to comment, but the team is expected to hold a news conference today.

"They are hurt and angry and anguished," McCormick said. "You could see it in their eyes and in their voices. They had an extraordinary run, a run that captured the attention of the nation. Then, less than a day later comes Imus' awful words, which not only took the joy out of all they achieved but were anguishing."

Rutgers director of athletics Robert E. Mulcahy III called Imus' comments "vile, despicable and racist."

"We share [the team's] anger and indignation and want to express fully our pride in them," Mulcahy said in a statement. "They did absolutely nothing to deserve this treatment. I don't want anything to tarnish the magnitude of the team's accomplishments this year."

Mulcahy said he had told the players of Imus' offer to meet them face to face "and asked them to let me know how they wished to respond if at all."

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union) said an apology from Imus "is a good start, but it's not enough."

Lesniak announced last week the formation of the Coalition Against Bigotry and Hate after NJ 101.5's "The Jersey Guys" assailed his Polish heritage on the air.

Lesniak said Imus needed to prove his regret.

"He needs to meet with the girls and coaches personally and he should offer to work on a community service project of their choosing to show he's really sincere in his apology and his regrets," Lesniak said. "He needs to demonstrate by physical presence and time commitment that he has atoned for his remarks."