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Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer, right, and Matee Ajavon celebrate after beating LSU in the Final Four.

updated 11:51 p.m. ET April 6, 2007

NEW YORK - Radio host Don Imus apologized Friday for calling the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy headed hos” on his nationally syndicated program.

The National Association of Black Journalists demanded his immediate firing after the man known as “Imus in the Morning” put his foot deep in his mouth Wednesday. Imus questioned the players’ looks, describing them as tattooed “rough girls.” His producer compared the team — which has eight black members — to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

Near the start of Friday’s show, Imus said he wanted to “apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning referring to the Rutgers women’s basketball team.”

“It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry.”

Gregory Lee, an NABJ officer and senior assistant sports editor at The Boston Globe, said the mea culpa did little to atone for the comments.

“You can apologize, but what does that mean when you have a history of making disparaging remarks about people?” Lee asked about the acid-tongued Imus. “This kind of behavior must be punished. I hope the company and sponsors he has take some sort of action ... to educate him.”

NABJ President Bryan Monroe asked Thursday if Imus had “lost his mind” and called for the veteran radio host’s dismissal.

Imus was speaking with producer Bernard McGurk when the NCAA title game between Rutgers and Tennessee came up.

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Rutgers team members, from left to right, Katie Adams, Dee Dee Jernigan, Rashidat Junaid and Brittany Ray watch late in the game as their team loses to Tennessee in the NCAA title game Tuesday.

“Some hardcore hos,” said McGurk.

“That’s some nappy headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that,” Imus said.

Imus, a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame and one of the nation’s best-known radio voices, is renowned for his caustic style and politically incorrect verbal broadsides. His show is syndicated to millions of listeners at more than 70 stations around the country.

WFAN-AM, the home of Imus’ show, criticized his remarks as “inappropriate.”

“We are disappointed by Imus’ actions earlier this week which we find completely inappropriate. We fully agree that a sincere apology was called for and will continue to monitor the program’s content going forward,” the radio station said in a statement Friday.

At MSNBC, where the radio program is simulcast on television, officials offered Imus no support.

“’Imus in the Morning’ is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN Radio,” said a statement from the network. “As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC. We regret that his remarks were aired on MSNBC and apologize for these offensive comments.”

Jim Rogash / Getty Images The Week in Sports Pictures The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

“The NCAA and Rutgers University are offended by the insults on MSNBC’s Don Imus program toward the 10 young women on the Rutgers basketball team,” their statement read. “It is unconscionable that anyone would use the airways to utter such disregard for the dignity of human beings who have accomplished much and deserve great credit.”

Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said in a statement, "I am deeply saddened and angered by Mr. Imus' statements regarding the members of the Rutgers women's basketball team. These talented, articulate young women put forth a great deal of hard work and effort this past season to reach the nation's grandest stage — the NCAA title game.

Throughout the year, these gifted young ladies set an example for the nation that through hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything if you believe. Without a doubt, this past season was my most rewarding in 36 years of coaching. This young team fought through immeasurable odds to reach the highest pinnacle and play for the school's first national championship in a major sport.

To serve as a joke of Mr. Imus in such an insensitive manner creates a wedge and makes light of the efforts of these classy individuals, both as women and as women of color.  It is unfortunate Mr. Imus sought to tarnish Rutgers' spirit and success. Should we not, as adults, send a message of encouragement to young people to aspire to the highest levels as my team did this season?"

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