Had Don Imus known that calling the players on the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" last spring would be such a shot in the arm for his career, he might have done it years ago.

As of Tuesday, Imus reportedly is pocketing some serious bank from the out-of-court settlement of his $120 million breach-of-contract lawsuit. Imus sued his former employer, CBS Radio, for breach of contract for firing him because of the Rutgers comment April 4. Imus apologized, but after considering only a suspension, CBS fired him.

The incident sparked a national discussion about whether the insult-and-vulgarity-filled radio talk show genre had finally crossed a line.

Apparently, no.

Imus' fans pointed out that he'd said far worse on the air before without such a response - and so had others, including black rappers. Why, they asked, is is OK for musician Nelly to release songs and videos that degrade women, but it's wrong for a 67-year-old white dude who looks like cartoon villain Skeletor in cowboy hat?

It isn't. In fact, students of primarily black Spelman College shocked Nelly in 2004, when they refused to participate in what he'd hoped would be a bone marrow drive, instead railing against him for his explicit, controversial song and video, "Tip Drill."

As with Imus, it wasn't a fatal PR mistake. Nelly's wealth is estimated today at about $60 million, again proving it pays to be unabashedly provocative, most of the time.

A possible exception is former "Seinfeld" cast member Michael Richards. Ever since he called hecklers at his stand-up show the "n" word, all we hear about him is that he's apologizing yet again. He hasn't recovered, however, from his stumble along that perilous, thin line of comedic insult.

Imus appears to be standing up again after his verbal prat fall.The talk is that he's being courted by other networks, and that he will soon be back on the air.

The person least likely to win is insulted Rutgers basketball player Kia Vaughan. The same day that Imus settled with CBS, Vaughan filed a lawsuit in New York state Supreme Court, alleging that Imus and his co-host Bernard McGuirk are guilty of slandering her and defaming her character. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Vaughan is bucking First Amendment protections and the added "Catch 22" that faces public figures: They must meet a higher test to prove slander or libel. We'd be surprised if Vaughan receives anything in court. The insult to her probably falls under that broad umbrella of "fair comment." Of course, Vaughn can hope that Imus is tired enough of the issue to reach a big out-of-court settlement with her, too.