Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > June > 24 > Entry
6/24: Former WSB-TV anchor Warren Savage out of rehab, Imus non-controversy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My colleague Nancy Badertscher reported that former WSB-TV anchor Warren Savage has avoided trial for cocaine possession after completing an 18-month drug treatment program..
Savage, who was an anchor at WSB-TV in Atlanta for more than 10 years, was arrested in Forsyth County in 2006 on cocaine possession charges.
I recall after he quit WSB-TV’s morning anchor job, he met me at the Sun Dial restaurant on top of the Westin Peachtree. He expressed his love for playing in a jazz band but was oddly vague to me about his post-TV intentions. He admitted he was having a hard time getting up that early in the morning. WSB-TV employees would have to give him wake-up calls sometimes because he was getting to work late. At the time, we had no clue of his drug problems.
Soon after he was arrested, I received a call from a guy who had some of his possessions, which had been confiscated from a storage bin. He wanted to get rid of them. I still have some of Warren’s items. Unfortunately, at the time, I had no clue how to get a hold of Warren to give them to him. It’s mostly awards and photographs of him and friends/family but also included some receipts for items he pawned off such as computers and a guitar. So Warren—if you want your personal effects, contact me at rho@ajc.com and I can get them to you.
-There’s been this strange “controversy” over comments Don Imus made when he asked about Pacman Jones’ “color.” In context, Imus (heard now on True Oldies 106.7) sounds like he’s just being sarcastic. Yet somehow, people (including Pacman himself) have complained. Here’s an AP video story about it:
According to AP, he addressed the “outrage” thusly:
“What people should be outraged about is that they arrest blacks for no reason,” Imus said Tuesday. “I mean, there’s no reason to arrest this kid six times. Maybe he did something once, but everyone does something once.”
He called the flurry of criticism surrounding the comments “ridiculous” and said that his program’s cast is now more diverse than ever — and includes a black producer and two black co-hosts, a man and a woman.
“How insane would I have to be? What would I be thinking?” Imus wondered aloud.
So is this much ado about nothing or is it more proof that Imus is a racist?
Comments
By Peteetong
June 24, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
It’s Don Imus, who cares.
By tnecvolfan2001
June 24, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
making racist remarks on morning radio is nothing new. anyone listened to tom joyner lately? nuff said
By Josh
June 24, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
No, that’s not “nuff said.” If you’re going to throw around an accusation like that, tnecvolfan, you need to back it up. One example.
Oh, and how does Imus know Jones didn’t need to be arrested six times? People don’t break the law six times?
By Jay
June 24, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
Listen to the hate and name calling on Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity and then ask yourself why that’s acceptable, and something like this gets two days of press. Limbaugh suggested that a Saudi oil minister had “probably not bathed in a week”. Imus’ remark is offensive and Limbaugh’s is not?!?!? C’mon!
By Jay
June 24, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Listen to the hate and name calling on Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity and then ask yourself why that’s acceptable, and something like this gets two days of press. Limbaugh suggested that a Saudi oil minister had “probably not bathed in a week”. Imus’ remark is offensive and Limbaugh’s is not?!?!? C’mon!
By JB
June 25, 2008 7:18 AM | Link to this
There’s only smoke here, no fire. I believe Imus was guilty of saying something racist and offensive the first time around, last year about the Rutgers team, but not this time. He just should have finished his thought out loud, about Pacman. I’ve listened to Imus since he’s been on locally and he’s guilty of being hard to understand and boring, but that’s about it. I agree, there’s a lot more hate spewage coming out of the mouths of Rush Hambone, Sean the former construction worker, and Bill O’Really, than anything else on the air. Why doesn’t anyone seem concerned about what those mean-spirited boneheads say everyday? Faulty facts, usually just made up, constant spin and denial of reality. Plus they’re bigots to boot.
By The Melo
June 25, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
I listen to Oreily daily on tv,he is hard on liberals but does not express racist views as such.I am a liberal and even tho i dont agree with him mostly,its interesting to hear what the other side is thinking.Shawn is boring on tv but more fun in presentation on radio.However, his show is all about those rednecks and truckers and their racist thinking..but its just informative to know how these other pple think and view blacks……..
By Ray
June 25, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Jay, you are a panty waist, pure and simple. So, saying that some Saudi oil tyrant probably hasn’t bathed in a while, is enough for some to want him off the air? Jay, why didn’t you move to Canada like you said you were in ‘04 when Bush was re-elected. You are not true to your word and are a loser. Listen to your Left Wing Radio and you will hear all the daily hate and offensive language that would get anyone else booted off the air. Too bad no one can find or listen to Air America anymore.
By J. Kind
June 25, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Was so happy to hear that Warren Savage has been released from his 18 month rehab program. We have missed him since he left WSB-TV and wish him well in whatever he chooses to do in the future.
By War Eagle
June 25, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
will you idiot people please grow some thick skin and grow up? what are you doing listening to the program any way? Ever hear what is on v103-black people calling whiteies and honkies-any one complain?NOOOO-jsut the black man exercising his free speech which it appears whites have not any more. Who died and made Mugabe king?
By I
June 25, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Old man Imus needs to work on his delivery.
By Southern Born
June 25, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Man, when I saw Imus’ picture on the home page I thought it was Worf from “Star Trek.”