Comeback? Radio Cowboy Imus May Return

Aug. 13, 2007 — -- Four months after Don Imus' derogatory comments about the Rutgers' women's basketball team shocked America, ABC News has learned he's on the verge of a comeback deal.

Imus' attorney confirmed that he is being courted by major media outlets as reports of a possible return to CBS, the company that fired him, swirl.

Imus' close friend Kinky Friedman said the shock jock's comeback could come as early as January.

"He's told me that he's definitely coming back," Friedman said. "He's very much like Jesus. He's coming back and boy is he PO'd."

Imus could possibly be headed to Sirius — the satellite radio network's CEO, Mel Karmazin, a former boss of Imus, recently told the Fox News Channel he'd hire him.

"The fact that he had been fired wouldn't stop me from having Don work for me again," he said. "He makes you a lot of money."

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the fight against Imus, said he'll be watching him like a hawk.

"He could become the poster boy of redemption and of turning around from this error of degradation," Sharpton said. "We've never said he should never work again, but we would certainly monitor under what circumstance and safeguards they would have."

Corporate America will also be tuning in, as jittery advertisers quickly dropped Imus during the uproar. However, Vanity Fair columnist Michael Wolff said it's likely advertisers will not object because the controversy has died down.

But those deeply offended by Imus' now-infamous comments are demanding a change if the radio jockey returns to the airwaves.

"He's certainly going to have to convince us that there's somebody else sitting in the chair," Sharpton said. "If I'm not holding with bated breath, you can't blame me."

Friedman said he doesn't believe Imus would take a job that would censor him heavily.

"I don't think Imus will go on a show where he can't say what he wants," Friedman said. "He will ride and shoot straight and tell the truth wherever he winds up."