Rush Limbaugh, football commentator

[Shell]

*ugh* This is going to annoy the crap out of me. I can't stand Rush

MON JULY 14, 2003 11:55:09 ET
SOURCES: RADIO KING LIMBAUGH JOINS ESPN-TV AS FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR

**Exclusive**

The nation's top radio host Rush Limbaugh expands to sports TV this fall, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Limbaugh will join ESPN-TV in September, industry sources reveal, during NFL Sunday Countdown.

Limbaugh will provide a two-minute essay near the top of each show and participate in discussions during the show, sources say.

Terms of the deal with ESPN/DISNEY are not known.

"I am adding to my work load, not taking anything away from it," Limbaugh assured his radio audience. "Nothing is going to change."

"Football is like life and I know life. I am a big fan of the NFL and now I get to do what every football fan would love to do. I get to take my observations from the living room couch to the ESPN studios and talk football..."

[Stormbringer]

Oh joy...as if Chris "Burr" (As in our and the Ducks' side)-man and Brent Cheeseburger weren't enough to "tolerate". :roll:

Wanna bet Rush's being a football commentator will go over as well as Dennis Miller trying his hand...er, mouth at that?

[crazy4canes]

Good thing for me I don't like football. :spin:

[Guyute]

I like Denis Miller. Unfortunately for him.... his cerbral comedy was just a TAD over the heads of most football fans. I loved hearing him call people stupid without them even knowing what he was talking about though. that dude can't be beat :)

As for Rush... all I can say is, I'm damn glad I don't watch much football on ESPN.

[Stormbringer]

I like Denis Miller. Unfortunately for him.... his cerbral comedy was just a TAD over the heads of most football fans. I loved hearing him call people stupid without them even knowing what he was talking about though. that dude can't be beat :)

Oh, I like Dennis Miller too...just more so as a comedien instead of an announcer. I especially love when he makes fun of pictures in the news, just like this site... :D

http://www.humorinthenews.com/

(PG-13 warning for that place.)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I like Denis Miller. Unfortunately for him.... his cerbral comedy was just a TAD over the heads of most football fans. I loved hearing him call people stupid without them even knowing what he was talking about though. that dude can't be beat :)

As for Rush... all I can say is, I'm damn glad I don't watch much football on ESPN.

Ditto to all that. They'd rather just have some empty-headed chick with big tits on there than someone with an intelligent sense of humor. You know, lowest common-denominator and all that. No offense Guy. ;)

I freakin' HATE Rush Limbaugh with every fiber of my being. :mad:

How is he going to participate in discussions? I thought he was pretty much deaf these days? Not that he ever bothered to LISTEN to anyone else talk anyway. :roll:

[Jeff O Rocks]

:sick:

[Guyute]

Ditto to all that. They'd rather just have some empty-headed chick with big tits on there than someone with an intelligent sense of humor. You know, lowest common-denominator and all that. No offense Guy. ;)

none taken dear. of course, they could make people like me real happy, and have the hottie, along WITH Miller. ;)

[Jillsdad]

I take it that most people on here hate Rush for his political beliefs. He may know a lot about football and might bring a fan's point of view to the conversations, and not just the viewpoint of all these former players who see things from the player's union standpoint. Don't blast the guy until you hear his football viewpoints and see how he does. If he remains completely out of politics while he is doing the ESPN show and people dislike the way he does football then fine, but don't judge his football knowledge until you hear it and don't dismiss what he can bring to a show just because you don't like his political viewpoints.

And also, he had a cochlear implant so he can hear fairly well again although many voices sound computer generated I believe.

[Shell]

I definitely see your point Jillsdad. However, I can handle political differences just fine... I just can't stand his generalizations, stereotypes, and not listening to any opinion which does not mirror his own. The man talks like he knows everything there ever was to know. I do not respect him as a person and therefore don't want to see him mucking up my football.

[Jillsdad]

I understand where you are coming from Shell and your dislike of him is warranted. However if you are worried about mucking up your football then we also need to get rid of Deion, Jerry Glanville, Stuart Scott, Dan Marino, and all the other talking heads except for Tom Jackson and Sterling Sharpe. Lets be equal opportunity headhunters and not just pick on Rush!!!

[Guyute]

Lets be equal opportunity headhunters and not just pick on Rush!!!

This is a conversation about Rush... which is why he's being "picked on". If you like him, fine. Lots of folks don't. and this is a thread about Rush being brought into the NFL fold.

That being said- I'd gladly throw all of those guys onto a sinking boat.

[hyena]

for all the viewers espn will lose for adding Rush, they will add just as many. i'm not that big of an NFL fan but i am an occasional Rush listener and i will tune in just to see how he does -- the same way i tuned into MNF when Dennis Miller was on there because i find him entertaining as well.

say what you want about Rush, but he's got a big audience, is articulate, and is controversial enough that people are discussing this way before the debut of the show. the guy knows his football and i seriously doubt politics will ever come up. actually, i give props to espn for this, it's a gutsy move.

oh, and i also like berman so maybe that makes my entire opinion discountable. ;) :beatup:

[Canesluver]

I just can't stand his generalizations, stereotypes, and not listening to any opinion which does not mirror his own. The man talks like he knows everything there ever was to know. I do not respect him as a person and therefore don't want to see him mucking up my football.

Agreed! I can't give him an ounce of respect because of his racist, homophobic and bigoted opinions. He's not someone I would invite to dinner in my home, so why would I invite him to invade my living room on the television?

[HockeyPat]

rush is an idiot and will bring nothing to ESPN's coverage. The only reason he is popular is he tells stupid people what they want to hear.

If it wasn't for the NHL on ESPN, I'd probably never watch it.

[Shell]

I take it that most people on here hate Rush for his political beliefs. He may know a lot about football and might bring a fan's point of view to the conversations, and not just the viewpoint of all these former players who see things from the player's union standpoint. Don't blast the guy until you hear his football viewpoints and see how he does. If he remains completely out of politics while he is doing the ESPN show and people dislike the way he does football then fine, but don't judge his football knowledge until you hear it and don't dismiss what he can bring to a show just because you don't like his political viewpoints.

And also, he had a cochlear implant so he can hear fairly well again although many voices sound computer generated I believe.

OK, I am guessing everyone is well aware of his comments by now.. if I thought he was ignorant before I think he is hella-stupid now. I really don't think the common fan thinks that McNabb is not a good quarterback, but that he is only successful because the media wants to hype a black quarterback. That was a truly ignorant and insensitive remark, not to mention flat out wrong. Rush never fails to boil my blood.

[nccanes]

Well he probably did exactly what he was hired to do. Create some controversy and get more people to tune into what he might say in the future. :roll:

Here's my rub on this - did he offer up some proof that the guy has been overrated for that reason? Did he say that media and sportswriters have admitted that? He says that it was his defense that propped him up, okay fine. Isn't that typically why pro athletes get overrated to begin with - the supporting cast of the team does more than they get credit for. That alone can't be the reason for any quarterback to be overrated? Every day this country over people disagree about [insert athletes name] is overrated or underappreciated. IMO, he threw that out there to be controversial - that's his gig. Whatever.

I'm sure McNabb appreciates being told his talents have only been recognized because he's black. :roll:

[Guyute]

I'll be eagerly watching the wire for news on Rush's visit to Philly tomorrow. LMAO

"The City of Brotherly Love".... uhmmm... I think not.

[Jillsdad]

While I do agree that his reasoning that McNabb is overrated is stupid, I do not disagree with the fact that McNabb is overrated. I also think, as most of you know by now, that Warner and Brady are overrated as well. In my opinion, other than Michael Vick who is in a league by himself, qb's who scramble around a lot are a detriment to their team overall. McNabb scrambles far too much in my opinion and because of that his receivers, who are not world class anyway, are never sure what position to be in on the field. I think this hurts the Eagles to no end. MCNair used to be the same way, but ever since he has become more of a pocket passer, the Titans have been a far better team. I think McNabb is overrated as a QB for these reasons, not because he is black and the media has hyped him.

[nccanes]

I don't follow the NFL enough to have an opinion on whether he's overrated or not, but I certainly have heard enough comments that are similar to yours (radio, water cooler) and I can accept that. Like I said, athletes true meaure of success/talent is something debated ALL the time.

I also realize that Rush is one of these "color" (hehe) commentators that's being paid to speak opinion. But to toss it out there that he knows a large and varied number of people's personal motiviations is just not fair. I'm pretty sure he wasn't a fan of that old accusation: "vast right wing conspiracy", but he's thrown out his own blanket of accusations himself. Weak.

But, that's why they hired him. :roll:

[JaroFan]

Well he's gone now so no one has to worry anymore. I understand that he said something wrong, but when Dusty Baker said "dark people play better baseball because they're used to the heat", why wasn't he asked to resign? I know he's black but it just seems like all around people shouldn't make comments like that.

[Shell]

I agree Jaro.. I don't follow baseball so I didn't know a thing about it, but sure that guy should be gone as well.

[Guyute]

I don't believe Rush was asked to resign, I think he did it on his own.
could be wrong, that's what I heard this morning though.

[JaroFan]

I don't believe Rush was asked to resign, I think he did it on his own.
could be wrong, that's what I heard this morning though.

I don't mean ESPN asked him, I mean Democratic Presidential candidates and the NAACP called for it.

[Guyute]

aye.

here's the article from espn if anyone cares.

Thursday, October 2

Limbaugh resigns from NFL show

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services


In the wake of his controversial statements regarding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, Rush Limbaugh has resigned from his position on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show.

ESPN has accepted the resignation.

"My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated," Limbaugh said in a statement issued late Wednesday night. "I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret.

"I love NFL Sunday Countdown and do not want to be a distraction to the great work done by all who work on it.

"Therefore, I have decided to resign. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the show and wish all the best to those who make it happen."

George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, issued the following response:

"We accept his resignation and regret the circumstances surrounding this. We believe that he took the appropriate action to resolve this matter expeditiously."

The comments referenced by Limbaugh came during Sunday's pregame show when the conservative talk show host offered the opinion that McNabb wasn't as good as the media perceived him to be.

"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,'' Limbaugh said. "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."

Negative reaction did not come immediately. But on Tuesday, McNabb told the Philadelphia Daily News: "It's sad that you've got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal."

From there, the firestorm spread quickly. Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and Rev. Al Sharpton called for ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Others in both political and athletic circles also lashed out at Limbaugh's comments.

The National Association of Black Journalists also called for ESPN to "separate itself" from Limbaugh.

""ESPN's credibility as a journalism entity is at stake," NABJ president Herbert Lowe said in a news release. "It needs to send a clear signal that the subjects of race and equal opportunity are taken seriously at its news outlets."

McNabb also provided more reaction on Wednesday.

"It's somewhat shocking to hear that on national TV from him," McNabb said. "It's not something that I can sit here and say won't bother me."

Limbaugh turned down requests to appear on SportsCenter on Wednesday. But earlier in the day on his syndicated radio talk show, he refused to back down.

"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

Wednesday night, ESPN issued a statement that, in part, read, "We have communicated to Mr. Limbaugh that his comments were insensitive and inappropriate."

Limbaugh's resignation was officially announced just before midnight ET.

Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Philadelphia on Thursday morning.

[Shell]

"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

An excellent example of why I detest Rush so much! :mad:

[Guyute]

ayup.

pompous ass.

sure, it has nothing to do with you making racial comments. :roll:
ignoramus. I'd like to meet that guy in a dark alley once.
:evil:

[rkbrasse]

I don't think what Rush siad was patently racist. He pointed out his opinion that the media made McNabbs stardome larger because he is of color and not based on his skill.

I disagree with his comments. McNabb is a good quarterback and I think the press would be covering him regardless. He is talented and the QB of a decent team, he would be in the news based on that.

Now that being siad I don't think he was saying black quarterbacks are not as good as white quarterbacks. That assertion would be foolish, and I really don't think he is a fool, politics aside. In the past I think his comment might have held some water, because and only because a black quarterback in the NFL used to be news. Why he thought this was appropriate subject matter for his commentary, I don't know. A black quarterback has not been "news" for a long time. If the other comentators had any stones they would have called him on it immediatley. Mcnabb is a probowler afterall and the players give you that honor, not the press.

[Shell]

I do think his comments were false. This season, 10 of the 32 teams, have started black quarterbacks in at least one game, including the Panthers' Rodney Peete. I certainly don't see all of those QBs getting undue attention. McNabb gets it for his style of play, and not for his color IMO. I can't stand the Eagles but I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.. I mean, kicking ass for 3 quarters with a broken leg?

[HockeyPat]

Rush Limblah's point was that McNabb is a starting QB because he is black and the league and media want to see him start because he is black.

That is blatantly racist. It's implying that his race was the sole basis for him being a starter. It undermines his talent irregardless of the fact that he led his team to the Conference championship last year and was selected to the Pro bowl.

Rush is an idiot who appeals to idiots.

[Guyute]

Saying Rush is an idiot is fine. Saying he appeals to idiots is not. There are a lot of people here with the same political lean that goes the same way as Rush's.

keep it civil please.

oh... psst.. Multiple Pro Bowls (3 in a row) and Multiple Championship games (2 in a row past 2 years)

[JaroFan]

I think Rush was doomed from the start for that position. People were waiting for him to screw up. I think if someone else had made his comment, it would have been overlooked. Even 2 other guys on the panel agreed that McNabb has been hyped by the media extensively. While I do not listen to Rush Limbaugh, I am a conservative, so know that we aren't all like that! :kiss:

[Guyute]

I think if someone else had made his comment, it would have been overlooked.
omg, are you serious? well.. I don't care if Ronald Frikkin McDonald said it, I'd be yelling at my tv.

Even 2 other guys on the panel agreed that McNabb has been hyped by the media extensively.

see the above stats. if those don't get you some recognition.... then yeah, I guess it MUST be because he's black. :roll:

and I'm three-toed sloth.
:)

[Guyute]

a few stats in an article from the philly inq.


some big names he's right alongside with... and white boys too. lol

Posted on Mon, Jan. 13, 2003

Eagles Notes | McNabb enters elite QB territory
By Phil Sheridan
Inquirer Staff Writer

Donovan McNabb is beginning to keep some exclusive company.

The Eagles quarterback is the same team-oriented guy as before. But his performance in Saturday night's 20-6 playoff victory over Atlanta would be impressive even if it had not been his first start in eight weeks.

The Eagles are playing in the NFC championship game for the second straight year.

"That is special," McNabb said yesterday. "Not too many teams have been able to do it."

More to the point, not too many quarterbacks have been able to lead their teams to consecutive conference championship game appearances. Brett Favre did it three times in a row, from 1995 through 1997. John Elway took the Broncos to back-to-back AFC games (and Super Bowls) in 1997 and 1998. Troy Aikman did it.

Favre, Elway, Aikman. That's some exclusive company. At 26, in just his fourth NFL season, McNabb has the chance to do some amazing things over the course of his career.

Short of a Super Bowl win, though, he may have trouble topping the circumstances of his last two games.

On Nov. 17, McNabb broke his right ankle in the first quarter of a game against Arizona. He remained in the game, completing 20 of 25 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns.

On Saturday, after an eight-week layoff, he started against the Falcons on a bitterly cold night at Veterans Stadium. McNabb completed 20 of 30 passes for 247 yards and the game-clinching touchdown. And though his mended fibula ached in the cold, McNabb ran four times for 24 yards and made his touchdown throw on the run.

"He's a beast," coach Andy Reid said. "He's a tough guy. He just loves to play the game, and you can see that."

The bigger the game, the better McNabb has been.

McNabb is 4-2 as the Eagles' starter in postseason games. That makes him the winningest QB in club playoff history. Tommy Thompson (1947 to '49) and Ron Jaworski (1979 to '81) each won three playoff games.

Two of the Eagles' victories with McNabb at the helm came against Tampa Bay. Two years ago, in his first playoff start, McNabb completed 24 of 33 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for another score. Last year, he was 16 for 25 for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

[JaroFan]

I think if someone else had made his comment, it would have been overlooked.
omg, are you serious? well.. I don't care if Ronald Frikkin McDonald said it, I'd be yelling at my tv.

Even 2 other guys on the panel agreed that McNabb has been hyped by the media extensively.

see the above stats. if those don't get you some recognition.... then yeah, I guess it MUST be because he's black. :roll:

and I'm three-toed sloth.

:)

I'm glad Guy, we need more people like you. I was thinking mainly about the post I made early where Dusty Baker made a comment.

I think some of their points were that McNair is an excellent qb who doesn't get quite the hype McNabb did. I'm not in their heads though....just typing before I think. Please forgive!!!! :kiss:

[JaroFan]

More dirt on Rush. He's really gotten himself in a bad place now!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98871,00.html

[caveman]

I've seen the entire segment, and Rush (who I don't like) did not say anything remotely racist. His comment was that the media was racist, not that McNabb was black and therefore sucked. Rush's comments might have been wrong, but they weren't racist -- they were anti-media, not anti-black. On the set with Rush were two black commentators and they did not take umbrage with anything other than that they thought McNabb was a better quarterback than Rush did.

As for my two cents... (1) McNabb was the first pick of my fantasy draft, and if you look at his numbers last year he's absolutely fantastic, especially considering the other 'talent' on the Eagles offense (there wasn't much). (2) I think Rush is an pompous windbag, but I don't think he said anything racist in this latest bru-ha-ha.

[tommy]

I've seen the entire segment, and Rush (who I don't like) did not say anything remotely racist. His comment was that the media was racist, not that McNabb was black and therefore sucked. Rush's comments might have been wrong, but they weren't racist -- they were anti-media, not anti-black. On the set with Rush were two black commentators and they did not take umbrage with anything other than that they thought McNabb was a better quarterback than Rush did.

As for my two cents... (1) McNabb was the first pick of my fantasy draft, and if you look at his numbers last year he's absolutely fantastic, especially considering the other 'talent' on the Eagles offense (there wasn't much). (2) I think Rush is an pompous windbag, but I don't think he said anything racist in this latest bru-ha-ha.

What he said... about everything.

[Guyute]

I think some of their points were that McNair is an excellent qb who doesn't get quite the hype McNabb did.

well.. yeah. but while McNair IS a good (I wouldn't say excellent) qb... he's got no personality. McNabb was bred to be a star. He is always smiling and joking around, he is in the public light quite a bit... whereas Steve is not. That right there, imo, explains most of the difference in "media coverage" that McNabb gets over McNair.

as for the rest...

well... while what he said wasn't anywhere near as bad as it could've been. I mean, he didn't mention heading to 'bama and taking in a rally...

he HAD to know what he was getting himself into. as much as I dislike his opinions (and his need to push them on other people)... I will not say he's not an intelligent man.
There was NO reason to start up the "black quarterback" thing. I mean really... when was the last time you heard that discussed? Probably when McNabb came into the league (along with a couple of others) 4 years ago. So... why bring it up now?

No, he isn't deserving of the hatred the grand wizard gets....
but he is a jackass, and ESPN might've gotten some ratings out of it... but you couldn't have paid me to watch him run his flapping jowels while I try and get the dish on the matchups for the week.

eh... it don't matter. buh-bye rush. back to the hole with ya.

[caveman]

I think some of their points were that McNair is an excellent qb who doesn't get quite the hype McNabb did.

well.. yeah. but while McNair IS a good (I wouldn't say excellent) qb... he's got no personality. McNabb was bred to be a star. He is always smiling and joking around, he is in the public light quite a bit... whereas Steve is not. That right there, imo, explains most of the difference in "media coverage" that McNabb gets over McNair.


Also that McNabb went to Syracuse and was frothed over by the media there, and McNair went to Alcorn State in relative obscurity until pretty much his senior year.

[Hellas1982]

One word: idiot.

[nccanes]

I've seen the entire segment, and Rush (who I don't like) did not say anything remotely racist. His comment was that the media was racist, not that McNabb was black and therefore sucked. Rush's comments might have been wrong, but they weren't racist -- they were anti-media, not anti-black. On the set with Rush were two black commentators and they did not take umbrage with anything other than that they thought McNabb was a better quarterback than Rush did.

As for my two cents... (1) McNabb was the first pick of my fantasy draft, and if you look at his numbers last year he's absolutely fantastic, especially considering the other 'talent' on the Eagles offense (there wasn't much). (2) I think Rush is an pompous windbag, but I don't think he said anything racist in this latest bru-ha-ha.

What he said... about everything.

I think the accusation that Rush's comments prove in some way that he is racist are off-base. However, he DID interject race into a discussion where it had absolutely no merit. He did accuse the media (some of which were seated beside him) of having a racial agenda of some sort. I think saying he made racially-charged comments is very accurate.

Now, there are probably people that prior to these comments feel Rush is racist, but if we're looking at these comments alone - my feelings are the above.

As Shell mentioned above, he claims the uproar proves he must have been right? Huh? I didn't know that when people agreed with a controversial statement that they THEN decide to complain about it. What a warped way to look at public outcry. (Did all those demonstrators praying in Alabama really think that the 10 Commandments should NOT be in the Courthouse?)

I guess Rush is working under the reverse rules like the Canes did for that game where they "won" 2-9 against the Panthers. Sorry, totally inside joke for those that were in the chat room that night.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I have never heard anything come out of his mouth that was worth a piss in a whirlwind....I knew when I saw he had been added to the ESPN line up that it would be a short period of time before he opened that mouth and inserted foot...AGAIN!! :eek2:

[Jillsdad]

Here is my right wing conservative take on this whole matter.

1)HockeyPat: Make sure you hear the segment before you run off at the mouth. Rush NEVER said he was a starting QB because he was black and the media and the NFL want him to start because he is black. He said that he was overhyped and overrated because he is black. Get your facts straight before calling anyone a racist.

Guyute: To say that McNair is only a good QB I personally believe is way off base as well. He has led his team to a Super Bowl which is more than McNabb has done, and he was 1/2 yard from beating the Rams juggernaut in that Super Bowl. When the "money"has been on the line, McNair has delivered whereas as of yet McNabb hasn't. Plus I dare say that the Eagles defense is heads and tails above Tennessee's defense. I am not saying that McNabb is not a good QB, but imho McNair is better.

One other thing, you printed the article about McNabb carrying his team to multiple championship games along with Favre, Elway, and Aikman. I believe that each of the aforementioned QB's have won a championship game or two, whereas McNabb hasn't. Can't compare him to them just like you can't compare Barkley to Jordan.

[Guyute]

your free to your opinion. (as wrong as it may be. :p ;) )

[jhardman]

Rush's whole personna and career is about getting people fired up and generating an audience to appeal to his advertisers so he can make more $$$ for himself. ESPN knew this - it's why they hired him.

So I go here to read some good hockey stuff and he's made it in here! What is it with this guy!!??? Now he's in the news for illegal painkillers after this McNabb brouhaha. I guess there's another book of his coming out and he wants to make some more money.

PPfffftttt....

Hockey anyone?

[Jillsdad]

I believe your analysis is somewhat jaded by the fact that you are a supporter of said team. Me on the other hand, i am a Panthers fan, and I know for a fact that our QB's are not worth a s*it and therefore can look at it objectively!!! :angel: :p

[Jillsdad]

Hey jhardman, there are other forums on this website for hockey talk, if you read the description on this forum,it is talk about other pro sports other than hockey which the last time I checked football is.

[JaroFan]

I believe your analysis is somewhat jaded by the fact that you are a supporter of said team. Me on the other hand, i am a Panthers fan, and I know for a fact that our QB's are not worth a s*it and therefore can look at it objectively!!! :angel: :p


Ha ha! Good point!

[Guyute]

yes, I do tend to pull for the Eagles. :p

but, that does not mean I'm blind to other talent in the league. whether or not you think Steve is better than Donovan.... my original post on That subject was in regards to why is McNabb so much more the media favorite. I don't think he (DM) is head and shoulders above SM. but is he a better qb? yes, imho, he is.

if it makes you feel better.. I'll change my label of "good" to "very good" for SM. but I won't put him in the elite. ;)

[Shell]

for the Canadian POV

Fri, October 3, 2003
Rush gets the brush-off
Limbaugh is a preacher of politics, but his half-truths aren't sporting
By MIKE ULMER

The darling of the American Right, Rush Limbaugh, has done what seemed to be the impossible. He has shown us what is good, really good, about professional sports.

On Sunday, Limbaugh said Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was the beneficiary of a white-dominated press corps that was "desirous that a black quarterback do well."

Yesterday, Limbaugh quit ESPN's NFL Countdown program.

Quitting was the best way of slinking back to the well-fortified hole from which he has been shooting mortars for 15 years.

"The great people at ESPN did not want to deal with this kind of reaction," Limbaugh told a broadcasting convention yesterday. "The path of least resistance became for me to resign."

Now, it's not like Rush Limbaugh can give the NFL a black eye. People don't think much of those involved in the NFL or any other branch of professional athletics for that matter.

They are tired of the money, tired of the moaning among players for the kind of 'respect' that can only be measured with a dollar sign.

They are tired of shakedowns for new stadiums, tired of $200 ticket prices, tired of $7 cups of beer, tired of sports federations that overturn failed drug tests.

They are tired of French figure skating judges, tired of Don King's flag-waving, tired of Olympic bribery scandals, tired of the neutral-zone trap and overzealous umpires, tired of talk of labour Armageddon, tired of wide receivers who prance after seven-yard gains and hockey franchises that dump their skate with the Easter Seals.

Viewership and interest in virtually every element of professional sports has been on a decade-long downslide and it is for this very reason ESPN, owned by the good folks at Disney, tried what stablemate ABC attempted a few years ago when it parachuted acerbic comedian Dennis Miller into the Monday Night Football booth.

The Mouse wanted interest. They wanted Limbaugh's army of listeners to re-enlist via NFL Countdown and damned if it didn't work. The show's viewership swelled by 10%.

Limbaugh has made himself a multi-millionaire by ridiculing all things that he views as Liberal and un-American and, like Joe McCarthy before him, he does a darn good job at it. But on NFL Countdown, Limbaugh was no longer preaching to the choir of 20 million listeners eager to shout hallelujah to the hail of half-truths on the most widely listened to radio show in America.

After all, who really understands the ins and outs of affirmative action, California recall campaigns, judicial activism and American-bred terrorism.

It's not brain surgery. The bad guys, in Limbaugh's world, are anyone who opposes unlimited access to assault weapons or speaks of reforming a justice system in which one of every two young African American males are either charged, in jail or on parole. To quote that great philosopher Bugs Bunny, "Hey, it's a living."

But Sunday, Limbaugh was talking to football fans and he learned the lesson that everyone in this business learns.

Everywhere you look, you will find people who know just as much, if not more, about professional sports than you do.

America may have a goofy view of global politics. Her residents may have been duped about the need to wipe out phantom weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They may think our prime minister is named Jean Poutine.

But most Texas grandmothers have forgotten more football than Limbaugh will ever know. A fifth grader knows McNabb is one of the league's best players, a three-time Pro Bowler.

You can't hide excellence in sports. That is, perhaps, its one redeeming value and we owe Limbaugh something for affirming that, however accidentally.

McNabb has led a fairly pedestrian offence to two consecutive NFC conference finals. In one season, his passing and running accounted for 84% of the Eagles offence.

Wayne Gretzky was really, really good.

Barry Bonds can turn on a low fastball. Donovan McNabb is a hell of a player.

There are undeniable, unalterable truths in sports.

That's why Rush Limbaugh got out of the business.

[HockeyPat]

1)HockeyPat: Make sure you hear the segment before you run off at the mouth. Rush NEVER said he was a starting QB because he was black and the media and the NFL want him to start because he is black. He said that he was overhyped and overrated because he is black. Get your facts straight before calling anyone a racist.

I did watch it. I have since seen the segment many times and have read, watched and listened too much commentary on it. It was a racist statement. He implies that McNabb only starts because of his race. That’s racism. Why do you think most decent people are upset by his comment? It is an attempt to diminish his talent by suggesting his race was the only reason for him starting in the NFL.

How about this Guy: Rush is an idiot who appeals to people who want simple explanations for complex problems. He won’t debate anybody and does not allow people who differ with him to comment because he is not clever enough to defend his shallow and ill thought out ideas.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

There was NO reason to start up the "black quarterback" thing. I mean really... when was the last time you heard that discussed? Probably when McNabb came into the league (along with a couple of others) 4 years ago. So... why bring it up now?
Exactly. I thought we were long past that stupid issue and here comes Rush bringing it out again. What a worthless moron.

On the set with Rush were two black commentators and they did not take umbrage with anything other than that they thought McNabb was a better quarterback than Rush did.

Um, go watch the segment again. They are absolutely appalled. They are squirming in their seats. It makes me sick to see what they are going through having to sit there and listen to him say that crap.

[VandyCane]

Rush knew exactly what he was saying. I can't find the exact quote from yesterday's newspaper but whe he resigned he said something like---I must have been right since I caused such an uproar. Even in retrospect he has no regrets about what he said. :roll:

Edited to add the quote as reported in San Francisco's paper:
"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

Here's the site:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/10/02/national0554EDT0480.DTL

[StormShaman]

he said something like---I must have been right since I caused such an uproar.

What a tard he is. The man knows nothing about football--hello, Steve McNair? Doug Williams?

The man is an idiot--forget the racial aspect of his comment. It was just plain uninformed and stupid.

[JaroFan]

[quote=guyute]There was NO reason to start up the "black quarterback" thing. I mean really... when was the last time you heard that discussed? Probably when McNabb came into the league (along with a couple of others) 4 years ago. So... why bring it up now?
Exactly. I thought we were long past that stupid issue and here comes Rush bringing it out again. What a worthless moron.

I think we should move past the race thing in general. The Lions got fined for not interviewing a black coach, yet no black coaches wanted to come to the interviews.

[JaroFan]

[quote="Shell"]for the Canadian POV

Fri, October 3, 2003
Rush gets the brush-off
Limbaugh is a preacher of politics, but his half-truths aren't sporting
By MIKE ULMER

The darling of the American Right, Rush Limbaugh, has done what seemed to be the impossible. He has shown us what is good, really good, about professional sports.



Just so you all know, he's not the darling of all the right.

[Jillsdad]

Exactly JaroFan. A far as I am concerned their is only one darling of the American Right and unfortunately hedoes not know that he is the darling of the Americar Right anymore. His name is Ronald Reagan.

[nccanes]

Well, I'm sure Rush likes that John Rocker is coming to his defense. :laugh:

John Rocker, the former Atlanta Brave who's hardly the voice of discretion, has come out in defense of Rush Limbaugh.

This survey is not a scientific sampling and does not reflect the opinion of the general public, but only of those who choose to participate.

"All I will say, is people need [to] stop being so sensitive," Rocker said while appearing on Sporting News Radio's Peter Brown Show this week. "(Rush) wasn't trying to physically hurt or mentally hurt Donovan McNabb. I mean, he just wasn't doing it. I know Donovan is probably a little upset by it, but that certainly wasn't [Rush's] his intent. He has been a journalist and newsman long enough to know better than to intentionally, blatantly make a comment like that to intentionally offend somebody."



First off, I realize that people are sensitive to racial issues. But who gives a rip what Rocker has to say (for once why didn't he say nothing when asked) and how the hell does Rocker know what Rush's intent was? And since when the hell was Rush a "newsman" or "journalist"? :laugh: (That's not a slam on Rush, but folks in his line of work are NOT "newsman". He isn't, O'Reilly isn't, Chris Matthews isn't, Geraldo isn't, Buchanen isn't, Press isn't, etc.)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

He has been a journalist and newsman long enough to know better than to intentionally, blatantly make a comment like that to intentionally offend somebody."


Exactly. So why'd he do it? If he didn't know when saying it that he was going to offend McNabb then he is a LOT more stupid than I ever thought. :roll: