No more double standards
Cody Ewers
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Opinion
On Oct. 11, the NFL's Player Executive Director DeMaurice Smith helped solidify a movement opposing a bid to purchase the St. Louis Rams that would've given syndicated conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh a minority stake in the team.
Soon after the incident, Limbaugh's associates dropped him from the deal due to a smear campaign from the media and pressure from the players' union - ridiculous.
Limbaugh's troubles with the NFL go all the way back to a comment he made in 2003 while announcing for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."
"Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go," said Limbaugh of Philadelphia Eagle's new black quarterback Donavan McNabb. "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."
This comment among others, including a comparison of NFL games as modern skirmishes between the Bloods and the Cryps, came back to bite Limbaugh as he once again sought involvement in the sport.
Bold statements for a nationally televised game in which the overwhelming majority of the competitors are black, I know; but when did money become synonymous with a person's social views?
Even if Limbaugh succeeded with this deal and began trying to bully those around him into drafting only white players, or making St. Louis running back Steven Jackson (black) shine Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo's shoes during half time, it wouldn't matter.
Yes, the man is influential - no question - but there's also no question that he knows good business.
According to Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias," Limbaugh is worth roughly $33 million a year, excluding money he receives from speaking engagements, stock market and other venues. Now that's some jack.
You know what else is jack? Thinking for a minute that a man who would invest Lord knows how much of that into a deal that NFL league sources told ESPN was roughly $700-750 million, just to be a "divisive racist" is just plain dumb. Especially when he is the world's most associated conservative, and as everybody knows, all conservatives care about is making money.
And make no mistake, not drafting black athletes, treating them poorly or talking negatively about them is bad business. Hell, it's hard to say anything at all about a black athlete on national television if you're white.
Finally, the involvement of Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton almost tips the scale for me, making this a racist matter against Rush's pasty whiteness; that is, if they weren't already the biggest morons, aside from Hollywood, in the public eye.
Limbaugh has apologized for his controversial comments and was punished accordingly. Just as Philadelphia Eagle's Michael Vick, Cincinnati Bengals' Chris Henry and a host of other, mostly black, NFL players have been given a second chance, so should Limbaugh be allowed back into the sport.
I'm sick of the double standard.
Soon after the incident, Limbaugh's associates dropped him from the deal due to a smear campaign from the media and pressure from the players' union - ridiculous.
Limbaugh's troubles with the NFL go all the way back to a comment he made in 2003 while announcing for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."
"Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go," said Limbaugh of Philadelphia Eagle's new black quarterback Donavan McNabb. "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."
This comment among others, including a comparison of NFL games as modern skirmishes between the Bloods and the Cryps, came back to bite Limbaugh as he once again sought involvement in the sport.
Bold statements for a nationally televised game in which the overwhelming majority of the competitors are black, I know; but when did money become synonymous with a person's social views?
Even if Limbaugh succeeded with this deal and began trying to bully those around him into drafting only white players, or making St. Louis running back Steven Jackson (black) shine Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo's shoes during half time, it wouldn't matter.
Yes, the man is influential - no question - but there's also no question that he knows good business.
According to Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias," Limbaugh is worth roughly $33 million a year, excluding money he receives from speaking engagements, stock market and other venues. Now that's some jack.
You know what else is jack? Thinking for a minute that a man who would invest Lord knows how much of that into a deal that NFL league sources told ESPN was roughly $700-750 million, just to be a "divisive racist" is just plain dumb. Especially when he is the world's most associated conservative, and as everybody knows, all conservatives care about is making money.
And make no mistake, not drafting black athletes, treating them poorly or talking negatively about them is bad business. Hell, it's hard to say anything at all about a black athlete on national television if you're white.
Finally, the involvement of Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton almost tips the scale for me, making this a racist matter against Rush's pasty whiteness; that is, if they weren't already the biggest morons, aside from Hollywood, in the public eye.
Limbaugh has apologized for his controversial comments and was punished accordingly. Just as Philadelphia Eagle's Michael Vick, Cincinnati Bengals' Chris Henry and a host of other, mostly black, NFL players have been given a second chance, so should Limbaugh be allowed back into the sport.
I'm sick of the double standard.
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