April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Radio host Don Imus was suspended for two weeks because of his racially charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

CBS Radio and cable-television channel MSNBC said ``Imus in the Morning'' will be off the air starting April 16 after Imus described the team, which includes eight black players, as ``nappy-headed hos.''

``I'll serve my suspension with dignity and come back and make this a better place for everyone,'' Imus said on his radio show today.

Imus made the comments about the Rutgers players on April 4, a day after the team lost the NCAA women's championship game. The remarks prompted criticism from civil-rights leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who called for his dismissal. The National Association of Black Journalists also said Imus should be fired. The association said the New York Stock Exchange, CBS's Simon & Schuster Inc. and Bertelsmann AG's Random House Inc. should end their relationships with Imus.

Imus apologized April 6, calling his remarks ``thoughtless and stupid.'' He repeated the apology yesterday on his show as well as on Sharpton's syndicated radio show. Imus today said he plans to apologize personally to the team members.

MSNBC, owned jointly by General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal Inc. and Microsoft Corp., said Imus's future with the company will depend on him changing the tone of the morning show. MSNBC, based in Redmond, Washington, simulcasts the radio show.

His return depends on his ``ability to live up to his word,'' NBC Universal said in a statement yesterday.

`Racist, Abhorrent'

Imus's remarks were ``racist'' and ``abhorrent,'' NBC Universal said. Imus has ``expressed profound regret and embarrassment and has made a commitment to listen to all of those who have raised legitimate expressions of outrage,'' NBC said.

Imus said today he would fight any dismissal.

``I don't deserve to be fired,'' Imus said. ``And I'm not going to be fired without consequences.''

Imus received support from guests and callers on today's show, including television journalist Jeff Greenfield, political commentator Bill Maher and former Carter Administration chief of staff Hamilton Jordan.

The incident brings attention to earlier criticism Imus received for racist remarks directed toward blacks. The Detroit branch of the NAACP said Imus once called television journalist Gwen Ifill ``a cleaning lady'' and New York Times sports columnist William Rhoden ``a quota hire.''

While he has a reputation for cutting humor, Imus has been a frequent host to presidential candidates such as John McCain and other political figures.

New York-based CBS Corp., owner of CBS Radio, and NBC Universal both said they will go ahead with a fundraiser April 12 and 13 that benefits an Imus-sponsored children's charity.

Shares of CBS rose 7 cents to $31.27 at 9:40 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Shares of Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE rose 5 cents to $34.83. Redmond, Washington- based Microsoft lost 1 cent to $28.56 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.

To contact the reporters on this story: Don Jeffrey in New York at djeffrey1@bloomberg.netMichael Janofsky in Los Angeles at mjanofsky@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: April 10, 2007 10:30 EDT