Governor Corzine's statement on the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team

TRENTON, April 9, 2007.- Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement after meeting with members of the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team:

"The Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball 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.

"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, and he is right to apologize. Only the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team, however, can decide whether or not to accept his apology.

"What we must do now is address this situation as a community. We must start a dialogue that not only helps to heal the wounds that this type of hateful language renews, but also brings us to a better place as a society.

"The Rutgers women's basketball team has been a great inspiration to all of us in New Jersey. These young women are some of the best our state has to offer, and they set an example for girls all across New Jersey. If Mr. Imus really wants to grow and learn from this, he should watch how these young ladies carry themselves. He might just learn from their example.

"When I joined those welcoming the team home last Thursday at the RAC, I said they were champions; over the past few days they've shown exactly why they're champions."