Frivolous Lawsuits Week continues here at AvBro...
Yesterday, we brought you a story of incredible Nigga Nonsense involving a black man suing a florist for more or less helping his wife bust him, exposing an affair. Today, the ladies, never to be outdone, have their moment in the spotlight.
A member of the Rutgers women's basketball team sued Don Imus and CBS on Tuesday, claiming the radio personality's sexist and racist comments about the team damaged her reputation.Hmmm, where do I begin? Part of me says Kia should get a little something for her inconvenience here. After all, let's not forget that the Rutgers ladies lost the national title game to the Tennessee Lady Vols, so having their names dragged through the mud by Imus was the proverbial insult added to injury.
Kia Vaughn filed the lawsuit alleging slander and defamation of character in state Supreme Court in the Bronx the same day Imus settled with CBS Radio in a deal that pre-empts his threatened $120 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS. The settlement allows him to make a comeback bid at a new station.
There is no dollar amount listed in the suit.
"This is about Kia Vaughn's good name," Ancowitz said. "She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player, a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4."
That being said, I can't really understand how this whole fiasco damaged her reputation. Your average cat on the street didn't know Kia Vaughn before Imus, and wouldn't know her afterward had she not filed this B.S. lawsuit in the wake of his settlement with CBS. If she really wanted to "return to her life as a student and respected basketball player", wouldn't she be better off just shutting up and working on Mikan drills, rather than getting her name in the paper yet again? And you have to love the dubious timing of the whole thing, Vaughn just happens to file her lawsuit the same day that Imus' settlement is announced. This hardly sounds like someone who wants to just move on with life.
Homegirl is tryin' to get pizzaid! Those Greenberg and Bederman commercials must work after all.
If I'm trying to understand her rationale here, maybe Vaughn is suing because her rep as a result of this media exposure could adversely effect her future employment prospects. This would be 100% valid and logical. But if Kia really wanted to preserve her reputation, wouldn't it be in her best interest to keep her name out of the papers as much as possible?
Any sane employer will see her resume in the pile, run a Google/Nexis search, and see that she's a former Rutgers player. Since damn near the entire country was sympathetic to her, this could only be a plus. However, now that she's managed to eff' around and throw a questionable lawsuit out there too, I'm guessing that most employers will say "too much baggage". Bad move, Kia. Really bad move. So, as much as it pains me, I have to file this one under Nigga Nonsense.
If Vaughn really wants to restore her rep, she'll get back to those Mikan drills and work on finishing with her left hand. Because once the judge drops this lawsuit like it's hot, the WNBA is about the only place she's gonna be able to work.
Althea Gibson is crying inside.
Rutgers player sues Imus and CBS Radio [AP]
