NEW YORK — A contrite Don Imus described himself Monday as "a good person" who made a bad mistake by making racially charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Speaking on his radio show Monday morning, Imus said he was not trying to downplay what he called "the repulsiveness" of the remarks, in which he referred to the mostly black team as "nappy-headed hos." But he said it was important to understand the context of his comments.

"We were kidding around, but that doesn't change it. That doesn't make it any less repugnant," he said Monday.

"I'm not a bad person. I'm a good person, but I said a bad thing. But these young women deserve to know it was not said with malice," he said.

Imus said he hoped to meet the players and their parents and coaches, and he said he was grateful that he was scheduled to appear later Monday on a radio show hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has called for Imus to be fired over the remarks.

"It's not going to be easy, but I'm not looking for it to be easy," Imus said.

Sharpton has said he wants Imus fired and that he intends to complain to the FCC.