Money knocks woman off the high road

It may not all be about money, but a woman whose basketball team was dissed by J. Donald Imus has made a mistake that will allow the right-wing yakkers to say it is.

She's knocked herself off the high road.

Center Kia Vaughn filed a lawsuit in the Bronx, saying Imus' rant on radio and television last April caused her damage that has yet to be quantified. Although no dollar amount was included in the suit, you can bet that her lawyer, Richard Ancowitz, will put a number on it at some point before the suit is over.

"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." The quote is from the Associated Press.

Vaughn was on the Oprah Winfrey show in April talking about how Imus opened his mouth.

Along with Imus, Vaughn is suing CBS, CBS Radio and Barnyard McJerk, the guy who started the racial slur to which Imus signed on.

Look, there was no excuse for what Imus said and the women on the team had taken the high road, meeting with Imus and, one would think, trying to get on with their lives. Vaughn says what Imus said makes that impossible.

So now, she and her lawyer want to be paid for that. The university had no comment, which was smart.

I can imagine how angry the young woman must be. The Cinderella season for Rutgers ended one game before a national championship win. Then this idiot pours salt on the wounds.

But sorry, money won't help anyone except the lawyers. I hope the other players continue to take the high road and keep away from putting a price on their humiliation. There may be compensation for doing the right thing, but it doesn't always have to come with a dollar sign.

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I guess the truth hurts.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, in an ad, says President Bush is out of touch with ordinary people. Bush only feels for those who are engaged in big business and is out of touch with the lives of ordinary Americans.

I would go one step farther. It's inherited.

I remember when Daddy Bush was president and he went into a supermarket as part of an event. He man didn't know what a cash register was. He wanted to buy an item at the market, as part of a photo op, and didn't know how. He had never purchase an item of food to feed himself or his family.

The apple does not fall far from the tree, or in this case, the gold tower.

Until next time...