Let me say this, right off the top: Don Imus is an arrogant jerk.

But, what he's going through right now ought to scare everybody in the TV and radio business.

Did he go "over the line" with his "nappy headed ho's" comments? Obviously. Look at the reaction. But where, exactly, is that line?

Nobody knows anymore.

The big chill that settled in on my industry after Janet Jackson whipped out that nasty nipple is only getting colder.

And trust me, I am not making the "Hey, what about the right to free speech?" argument. The Constitution gives you the right to say whatever you want standing on a soap-box in Times Square. It has no opinion, however, on what the bosses at a corporate giant like General Electric have to say when you piss off people who might start a sponsor boycott.

The problem today is that there is no clear "line" anymore. Racial humor on "The Family Guy" is far more cutting and direct than what Imus said about a tough looking group of women's basketball players.

So why is it OK there, and not when voiced by a live host on a radio show?

Nobody knows; and if you ask, you'll get a million different answers.

How come Don Imus is being pressured to resign, when Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have been pardoned by the PC police for past racial utterances and incidents of arguably far greater offense?

How come after years and years of blasting public figures with sometimes brutally nasty names -- many with racial undertones -- this is the one that might be his fatal mistake?

I always like to try to play "find the line" in these cases of "announcers who get in trouble for saying something." Here, play with me...

Would Imus be in trouble if he just said: "That's a rough looking bunch of gals. Look at all the tattoos."

Would Imus be in trouble if he just said: "That's some nappy-headed sisters, there."

Would Imus be in trouble if he just said: "That's some ugly looking sisters, there."

Would Imus be in trouble if he just said: "Those girls are the meanest and ugliest group I've seen on a basketball court since the New York Knicks!"

Answer: Who the hell knows on any of those?

Would Imus be in trouble if he said what he did about a group of girls on MTV's "The Real World," and not toward women's college basketball players?

Would Imus be in trouble if not for YouTube and viral videos that echo around the world and make noise like a BB in an empty coffee can?

Again, who knows? Me and my broadcasting brothers and sisters are increasingly on pins and needles about everything these days. You can't even begin to list the things you can and can't say.

A prime example of this came recently when Billy Packer accused Charlie Rose of habitually "fagging out" on potential side work for Packer at basketball game. A delayed response ensued, but when the sports media echo chamber stated getting really loud on the story, it just sort of fizzled.

It was like every news outlet was covering Packer's slip as a possible precursor to the end of his career. The media seemed incredulous that he used a legitimate phrase, even though in a tortured context it has a politically incorrect meaning.

The ESPN report on "SportsCenter" was comical. A somber Steve Levy read the "offense" (using the phrase "fag out"), and indicated that Packer was not remorseful and would use it again in the same manner if called for. Levy then added that CBS thought the choice of words was "unfortunate," but that they planned no action.

Thud.

Now, back to more baseball highlights.

Wow. That sure was a story that went nowhere and had absolutely no consequence. Good work, ESPN. Like a dog running off the porch at breakneck speed, chasing after a stick the owner only pretended to throw. It was hilarious, but also sad.

Whatever happens to Don Imus going forward is no concern of mine; he's hardly in the prime of his career. And like I said, he's a total jerk. You should see the list of items he DEMANDS in order to make a live appearance at one of his radio show's affiliate stations. It's insane. Buckwheat pillows. Special orthopedic chairs. Specific colored hiliters and on and on. There were also specific instructions not to talk to Imus off the air, or ride the same elevator. Whatever.

(And no, the buckwheat pillow was a real request, not another racist jab. Thank you.)

But I can be sure that NBC and CBS Radio will regret someday how easily they let the "Al and Jesse Show" yank them into action.

This won't be the last time something "marginal" is said on a radio or TV show, and if race is involved, the usual suspects will show up with their 50 rent-a-protestors and a list of demands.

Calling a group of mostly black female college students "nappy headed ho's" isn't right. But, the industry that makes millions saying that and worse -- the hip-hop industry -- probably isn't worried about Sharpton showing up at the next big concert by one of the genre's stars.