Rush Limbaugh as sports commentator

[Son Goku]

Well besides wondering if Rush Limbaugh is qualified and how knowledgeable he is or is not as a sports commentator, or if he should remain in political shows, I wonder what various football fans think about the following. I know this could turn highly political (and given his history in reporting is very likely to be taken that way); but stepping away from that for a minute, what do some people think about this tid-bit from a sports perspective?

I received the following in an email (having subscribed to the FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) news e-letter:

MEDIA ADVISORY:
Limbaugh's Latest Slur: No Surprise?

October 1, 2003

Conservative radio talkshow host Rush Limbaugh has already started a
controversy at his new perch on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. On the
show's September 28 broadcast, Limbaugh chastised the media for overrating
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. According to Limbaugh,
reporters have been soft on McNabb because they are "very desirous that a
black quarterback do well. There's interest in black quarterbacks and
coaches doing well." Limbaugh added that McNabb, who has been voted by
his fellow players to the Pro Bowl three times, is not "as good as
everyone says he has been."

Today McNabb held a press conference to respond to Limbaugh's charges.
"The people who were watching in the African-American homes, the kids, the
parents.... When they hear something like that, what do they think?" he
asked.

Limbaugh's comments have sparked a controversy in the media, as columnists
and reporters discuss the subject of Limbaugh and racism. ESPN can't
claim to be surprised by the situation. When the network hired Limbaugh,
the talkshow host clearly intended to bring his politics into his sports
commentary: "I am who I am," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(7/15/03). "I think my overall philosophies of life will be a factor."

So is racism a part of Limbaugh's "overall philosophies of life"? The
following op-ed by FAIR's Steve Rendall and FAIR founder Jeff Cohen--
co-authors of The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error-- was
written in 2000, when Limbaugh was being considered as an addition to
ABC's Monday Night Football. Limbaugh was ultimately rejected for the
job.

Although racism is brought up, along with his politics being brought into his sports coverage...seperating these two for a second, what do football fans (if there are any on here) think about the statements from a sports perspective?

 

[Sxotty]

Well I never felt Rush was real qualified as a political commentator but that never stopped him, so I guess he'll do fine as a sports commentator too

comon it was slightly humorous.

 

[epicstruggle]

I dont follow football enough to comment on this particular situation. However, I can see a part of the argument due to AA. Many shows bring it up. I remember the show ER brought up the subject particularly well, when dr. benton and omar epps character discussed whether or not they checked the "box" (black or not). He said he didnt but he felt that he had to work twice as hard to achieve the same amount of success as a white doctor. Look my point is if we just freaking stop worrying about race and make merits the deciding factor than situations like this would not happen.

What got me really rilled up was last years oscar race and all the hoopla that there werent enough black winners. What happened 2 blacks (well 1 black and 1 black/white) happened to win. In my opinion the victory was tainted, since we dont know whether merits or race played a deciding factor.

anyways, this country would run so much better if we forget what race people are and worry about why certain areas arent achieving as much.

later,
epic

 

[Sonic]

Rush Limbaugh is clearly expressing his views and opinions of how the sports community and the media follow it are reacting to a quarterback that happens to be black. I do not disagree with his views that the media desires some sort of black quarterback to be a big success. If you look at McNabb play you will clearly see he has his flaws, which the media rips him apart for. There's also obvious strengths to him also, and the Eagles wouldn't be where they are right now if it weren't for him. Rush Limbaugh also fails to point out how the hometown, city, or whatever takes a big part in the role of a player in a game. And this is Philadelphia we're talking about, they're some of the most passionate fans and supporters of the hometeam. It's a given this will rub off heavily on news reporters in the area and it will have a moderate impact ont he rest of the football community and media.

Rush Limbaugh may be racist, but I don't see his comments as so. He is wrong from a sports standpoint, and it just seems as another successful attempt by him to get in the news himself. Call him selfish and liking the limelight, whether it be bad or good. I'm not here to analyze.

 

[MfA]

He is clearly a troll (sorry for stating the fucking obvious .

 

[ByteMe]

I agree that the people in the USA need to stop even being concerned about race. But this will never happen since when someone says; nigger,spic, honkey, etc., some polticaly correct tight ass gets all upset. I bet I get flamed for it even.

 

[RussSchultz]

As a man lacking color, I object to your use of the word honkey.

 

[Humus]

And I object to spelling honky with an e.

 

[ByteMe]

Damn, I had it spelt correctly at first. Then I see Schultz spell it with an "e" and I went back and edited mine.

"As a man lacking color", shut up you albino aryan brother nazi bastard. Heil Hilter!

 

[Postscript3]

1. Rush was only hire to help a struggling football pre-game show.

2. The ABC/ESPN/Disney execs KNEW what they were getting. A potential firestorm of controversy and "political incorrectness".

3. He delivered on the controversy as they hoped. They wanted to generate the "oh my, what's he gonna say next week"? phenomenon.

4. Yup, he delivered as usual. ESPN was flabbergasted at his diatribe and forced him to resign. They threw him under the bus when he delivered EXACTLY as they wanted. Now, even with him gone, they've generate more interest in a show that is really suffering with ego. TJ, Steve, and Irving are so out of touch. It's all about them and how they did it. They offer more "me me me" opinions and ragamarole than substance. It's a putrid pregame show and that's why Rush was brought in.


Now, was Rush right? Yes, no, maybe.

I'll try and explain how I see it, not that you care, it's only my opinion. Pdf has since replaced me and I'm a dying breed.

Oh, sorry for the momentary lapse of sanity.

The liberal media (and that's the last you'll hear me refer to it in this post as politics and sports don't belong together) so claims Rush wants to see the "black man" succeed. Whatever. Is the media racist as it continues to pump and sell Jason Seehorn (white guy)? Oh, sure, the waning white superstar only get's attention because he's white, Rush will argue. Ok, so if McNabb is struggling should the media just start bashing him? That's contrary to the treement they give guys like Nancy Drew (Bledsoe) and Seehorn. So really, the media is racist because they tout the struggling white guy and don't bash the struggling black guy? Ok, well I'm a moderate republicrat and even I don't believe that. It's NON-SENSICAL! It's ridiculous.
The media LOVES guys with personality. If they succeed they gobble them up like a 400lb frenchman at a Cremé Brulée festival. They don't let go and milk them for everything they can. They are the media "darlings". McNabb fits this profile. Well respected citizen, standup guy, charity work up the wazoo, EXCELLENT FOOTBALL PLAYER. A perfect media "darling". Seehorn is the same. 1 black guy, one white guy, treated the same. OMFG! A white guy and minority treated equally by the media. How can this be? The media is racist, right? It's insane.

All I can say is maybe it was the pills speaking and Rush wasn't thinking. Then again does Rush EVER think about what he says or is he just always trying to stir the pot?

Hope the made sense. Now, how to kill that PDF thing...

 

[Sage]

the sad fact is that it's possible Rush is right. I don't know anything about football except that a bunch of guys try to run each other over and get a (rather strangely shaped) ball to the opposite end of the field so I'm not in any way qualified to comment on this specific situation, but there is a big problem that I see and that being both racism and reverse racism. There is a lot of racism that comes from our history, now people are starting to feel bad about it and are so paranoid about racism that they are reverse racist. ANd what do you think happens when someone is reverse racist and someone who is racist see's it? It just makes them even more racist, and then the reverse racists see the increased racism and become more reverse racist...

 

[cthellis42]

My paper had a good dual-op about this today, though sadly I can't find Paul Mulshine's bit online right now. (E.J. Dionne's is good by itself, though.)

AP article on Rush and the aftermath, too.

All things considered, I'm not surprised in the slightest, and Rush will forever remain a blowhard. (Well, short of lobotomy, I suppose. )