Rush Limbaugh Resigns

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Wednesday, October 1

Limbaugh resigns from NFL show

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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.

Limbaugh issued a statement late Wednesday night in which he wrote:

"My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated. 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, 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 on ESPN 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.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.</font>
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<font color=deepskyblue>Personally, I never knew how Rush Limbaugh qualified as an NFL Analyst in the first place. As right-conservative as I am, I can't stand to listen to his political rants. The paragraph near the bottom where he defends his comments on his talk show by saying the only reason the controversy erupted was because he must be right is a perfect example of the supreme arrogance that I find so repulsive in the man. I don't know what prompted ESPN to ever hire him in the first place, but I'm very glad to see him gone.</font>

<font color=orange>I couldn't either Cerek. Rush bored me to tear to listen to him. I always thought G. Gordon Liddy was much more entertaining! My impression of Rush has always been that he LOVES to hear himself talk.

Add to this the story I heard on the radio this morning that some tabloid is reporting he has a problem with prescription pain killers and you may have to ask how long before Rush retires?

Maybe I'm missing something, but this don't seem racist to me. He simply said a certain player was getting overhyped by the media. There's nothing wrong in saying this.

It's not as if he said black people could not be good players.

Sadly, we all know that corporations and other public entities often have quotas to fill when it come to recruiting people of different ethnicity.

I think this has more to do with his political opinions and his numerous ennemies than it has to do with his comment. It's only an excuse to get rid of him.

Wow...I have to admit Luvian, you're one of the last people I'd expect to find defending Rush Limbaugh. [img]smile.gif[/img] But good post, I say. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I've looked over the quote as well...the WHOLE quote, IN CONTEXT(same one you quoted), and I agree. I dont see that it's racist in any way. He's commenting on the sports media's desperate attempt to make an idol out of a black QB. That's not racist IMO, just the simple truth. But I agree. He will be demonized(again) by people who will get all in a lather and take his quotes out of context(on purpose). C'est La Vie(sp?)...I'm still a fan.

Another quote, also by Mr Limbaugh, which sums up the issue pretty well.

I actually wasn't aware that he was on Sunday Countdown though(dont watch enough ESPN, I guess). I dont know...while I am a fan of him, and his radio show, and was really excited at the prospect of him as color man for Monday Night Football(hey...I like Dennis Miller, but, lets fact it, his humor is a little...obscure for the average Monday Night Football crowd). He's good at color commentary...but as for analysis...I have to agree. I dont think that's a good place for him to be. Too bad he has to leave under the veil of this silly 'contreversy' though.

How, funny, the ONE TIME in his career Rush said something true, and he had to resign for it. [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/whackya.gif[/img]

<font color=deepskyblue>I have to agree. It isn't unusual for <font color=red>Luvian</font> and I to disagree, but each of us seems to be on the opposite side of the issue than would be expected this time.

<font color=deepskyblue>I have to disagree with you here, <font color=dodgerblue>Nachtrafe</font>. If McNabb were the ONLY black quarterback being playing in the NFL on a good team, Rush Limbaugh may have a point. But there Dante Culpepper, Michael Vick, and Steve McNair out there also. ALL of these guys have done great things for their teams and recieved the appropriate praise for their efforts. McNabb has also. His success is NOT just a product of media hype. He HAS made the plays at Philadelphia in the past. He HAS gone to the Pro Bowl several times, and he HAS won several football games on the strength of his physical skills. The media could hype him all they want, but if he wasn't actually delivering, the public would see through it in a heartbeat.

You know, normally, I would be the one defending Limbaugh in this case and saying that - in the context - his statement wasn't racist. While I agree that he intended to target the media rather than black quarterbacks, there are a plethora of ways he could have done it without saying that the media is practically bending over backwards to praise a black football player simply because he is black. The fact is, however, that McNabb has earned the praise based on his past performance. As <font color=coral>Rokenn</font> might say, if you can't see at least an implied racist attitude in his comment, then I don't see any other way to point it out.</font>

</font>[/QUOTE]<font color=deepskyblue>Sorry, but Rush Limbaugh has done plenty to humiliate himself and destroy his reputation without requiring the assistance of the "arbiters". He doesn't need any help. He does a fine job of it on his own.</font>

</font>[/QUOTE]Now there is something that the Dixie Chicks could agree with! I wonder what Rush thought of them? ;) :D

Factually correct, but Rush is (1) allowed to have his opinion as a commentator as to the guy's abilities and (2) is allowed to speculate on reasons for what he sees as a mis-perception about the guy. Independent of the other QB's, it is completely true that the media tries to hype minority QB's, as there are precious few of them. I don't know why movies can point this out (e.g. Any Given Sunday) in a fictional setting but commentators can not speak of it as a reality. [img]graemlins/noevil.gif[/img]

So, while Limbaugh may be wrong as to the guy's ability (seems to me most would agree he is NOT), he is right about the media's hyping of QB's. He stated this, and now has to resign?? Look, it's a fair point he makes -- that successful blacks are often hyped, resulting in an increased perception of their ability, resulting in increased expectations of them that may be unfair.

Anyone see Law & Order last night? Same premise -- different circumstances. A black reporter fabricated interviews because the pressure he was under to be the best (e.g. he kept getting promoted up the ladder too fast for his experience) was more than he was capable of living up to.

[ 10-02-2003, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

[quote]Originally posted by Timber Loftis:

Quote:

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: [qb] If McNabb were the ONLY black quarterback being playing in the NFL on a good team, Rush Limbaugh may have a point. But there Dante Culpepper, Michael Vick, and Steve McNair out there also. ALL of these guys have done great things for their teams and recieved the appropriate praise for their efforts. McNabb has also. His success is NOT just a product of media hype. He HAS made the plays at Philadelphia in the past.

Factually correct, but Rush is (1) allowed to have his opinion as a commentator as to the guy's


Yeah, he's allowed to have his opinion as a commentator. Who tried to stop him? Nobody, but he made a lot of people angry with his comment, and then they expressed THEIR opinion. ESPN then expressed THEIR opinion, which boiled down to "we don't need this!" I don't know if he resigned at their request, because he wanted to avoid causing trouble for the show(his story), or because he didn't want to be in a small room with people the size and temperment of, say for example, Warren Sapp who are the same race as McNabb after what he said(my theory), but let's have some perspective here. Nobody tried to arrest him, nobody tried to hurt him, they just wrote ESPN and said "we don't like this". ESPN hired the guy to increase ratings, if he has the exact opposite effect he'd have to expect to get the ax.

Bear in mind also that this isn't exactly his first foray into racism, he's done it for a while now. He once told a black caller "take the bone out of your nose and call me back", claimed that a lot of composite pictures of wanted suspects resembled Jesse Jackson, and once said "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." And as recently as 9-23, he said (WRT the court case about voting machines in the California recall) that blacks and Hispanics are "too stupid" to vote, and that concerns about there being too few polling places in minority districts because “didn’t matter since blacks and Hispanics were bused to precincts anyway”. For somebody who's always on about personal responsibility, he doesn't seem to believe in it when it comes to his own comments. Good riddance.

Burner

What does race have to do with a player performing well or not? The QB is always held in the media as the spotlight key position. Any quarterback regardless of race is going to get more scrutiny and attention than any other position because the QB drives the offense.

I am unaware that the media hypes a players race with in relation to ability, regardless of position. I admit I am terrible at following sports so maybe I am missing something. Does anyone have any hard evidience to back up this opinion:
I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire?

I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire? </font>[/QUOTE]<font color=deepskyblue>His comment about the "the media being desirous that a black quarterback do well" might have some substance to it IF McNabb had never been to a Pro Bowl and if the Eagles had continued to have losing seasons with him as the quarterback. If his performance didn't match up to the media hype, then Limbaugh would have had a point and could have said something like <font color=white>"Hey, we keep hearing how good McNabb is...when we actually see some of this supposed skill on display?"</font> But the fact is that McNabb, Michael Vick, Steve McNair, and Dante Culpepper have ALL been major contributors to their teams improving and performing well. If the media really did have this narrow-focused intent to consistently promote black QB's regardless of results...then we would still be seeing Kordell Stewart hyped up. He still has the same talent he always did, but he hasn't done anything remarkable or explosive in the past couple of years. (Quick Question - how many fans can even tell me which team Kordell is now on?).

That's why Limbaugh took so much heat for his comments. I do believe he meant to attack the media rather than Donovan personally, but I also believe that he does harbor some racist feelings (based on examples provided by CNN and <font color=orange>Burner</font>) and I think he just made an "Oooopsie" and let some of those racial feelings slip out.

I don't know, maybe I'm the one that's wrong here. I actually Registered on the Eagles Discussion Board to give my viewpoint on Limbaugh and was surprised at how many people there supported Limbaugh just like several are defending him here. Either way, I am glad to see him gone from ESPN. I didn't feel he knew enough about the game to be on there in the first place...but apparantly ESPN didn't hire him for his knowledge...they hired him to "stir things up".

Well, like they say, be careful what you wish for.</font>

[quote]Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric:

Quote:

If McNabb were the ONLY black quarterback being playing in the NFL on a good team, Rush Limbaugh may have a point. But there Dante Culpepper, Michael Vick, and Steve McNair out there also. ALL of these guys have done great things for their teams and recieved the appropriate praise for their efforts. McNabb has also.

Now this may really be a day of firsts Cerek I have to disagree with you completely on your logic used in the above quote. Rush was speaking about McNair not delivering for his team so far this season as of sunday morning BEFORE the Eagles won. So to bring up the other Quarterbacks that are doing well and have delivered for their teams so far this season is not an honest assesment of the statement. All three of the quarterbacks you named teams have a winning record so far this year as of sunday morning. Rush DID NOT say a quarterback with a winning record so far this year was overated. He said a Quarterback with a loing record was over rated. That is like saying because the Oklahoma Sooners are doing good this year it's not ok to critcize the Crimson Tide for losing.

I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire? </font>[/QUOTE]<font color=deepskyblue>His comment about the "the media being desirous that a black quarterback do well" might have some substance to it IF McNabb had never been to a Pro Bowl and if the Eagles had continued to have losing seasons with him as the quarterback. If his performance didn't match up to the media hype, then Limbaugh would have had a point and could have said something like <font color=white>"Hey, we keep hearing how good McNabb is...when we actually see some of this supposed skill on display?"</font> But the fact is that McNabb, Michael Vick, Steve McNair, and Dante Culpepper have ALL been major contributors to their teams improving and performing well. If the media really did have this narrow-focused intent to consistently promote black QB's regardless of results...then we would still be seeing Kordell Stewart hyped up. He still has the same talent he always did, but he hasn't done anything remarkable or explosive in the past couple of years. (Quick Question - how many fans can even tell me which team Kordell is now on?).

That's why Limbaugh took so much heat for his comments. I do believe he meant to attack the media rather than Donovan personally, but I also believe that he does harbor some racist feelings (based on examples provided by CNN and <font color=orange>Burner</font>) and I think he just made an "Oooopsie" and let some of those racial feelings slip out.

I don't know, maybe I'm the one that's wrong here. I actually Registered on the Eagles Discussion Board to give my viewpoint on Limbaugh and was surprised at how many people there supported Limbaugh just like several are defending him here. Either way, I am glad to see him gone from ESPN. I didn't feel he knew enough about the game to be on there in the first place...but apparantly ESPN didn't hire him for his knowledge...they hired him to "stir things up".

Well, like they say, be careful what you wish for.</font> </font>[/QUOTE]Most of this is good Cerek, but you testify against yourself by bringing up Kordel Stewart, He sucked he was worse then Trent Dillfert(sp?) yet he was hyped for years and it sure as "hale" wasn't for his abilty.

[quote]Originally posted by Burner:

Quote:

Bear in mind also that this isn't exactly his first foray into racism, he's done it for a while now. He once told a black caller "take the bone out of your nose and call me back", claimed that a lot of composite pictures of wanted suspects resembled Jesse Jackson, and once said "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." And as recently as 9-23, he said (WRT the court case about voting machines in the California recall) that blacks and Hispanics are "too stupid" to vote, and that concerns about there being too few polling places in minority districts because “didn’t matter since blacks and Hispanics were bused to precincts anyway”. For somebody who's always on about personal responsibility, he doesn't seem to believe in it when it comes to his own comments. Good riddance. Burner

I don't Know about the quote about "get the bone out of your nose" I've heard that was made in the 70's. BUT I do know about the 9-23 quote and that is taken completely out of context and is a BLATANT FLASEHOOD What Rush said was that "The 9th Circut Court of Appeals by allowing a stay of the Ca. recall election was in essance saying 'Hey Blacks & Hispanics you're to stupid to vote" Rush spent several days talking about that. About the busing Rush was speaking about the Dems, who make a big deal about the FACT they make sure minority voters get to the polls by busing them in, He was wondering why they would be upset over less polling places, because it would be easier to bus people in with less polling places, and since the Dems by their own admition do bus people in why would it matter if the where less polling places, since the Dems are brining them there in the first place.

to use those two examples would be like me quoting your above quote to read:
"Factually correct, but Rush is Good" {those are all words you used in in your post but just not in context and with a few words left out.}

When I said he was getting overhyped, I didn't mean he wasn't good. Simply than he was getting too much hype.

You can be the best at something and still be overhyped.

Just look at the Matrix. People often say it's the "best movie of all time". It was good, but the best movie ever? I'm not cetain of that.

Oh, and thanks Nachtrafe. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 10-03-2003, 12:15 AM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

I agree with Luvian here. It was all a big hype, and it probably caused the player in question to perform less than expected. I know they're eagerly searching for that one black quarterback, who'll prove em all wrong.

Now why is that ?

It's kinda like a boxingmatch, every time a talented white guy steps in the ring, they'll turn him into "the great white hope". It's stupid. I'm sure Rush didn't have any racist intentions with his remark, but he's still an asshole for speaking it out loud. You KNOW they're gonna hunt you down when you make statements like that.

Why is it cosidered a joke when a black guy says that white men can't jump, but when a white guy says that black guys are crappy quarterbacks, it's a racist issue all of a sudden ?

To address your points one at a time: The line about "take the bone out of your nose" apparently did happen in the 70s. So what? It's no less egregious for being an old line, and AFAIK he's never apologized for it. The bit about Blacks and Hispanics being too stupid to vote is secondhand, so you may be right about that one. Does anybody do transcripts of his show? I'd like to check it out and see what he said. But as far as Democrats bussing minority voters around, it may happen some places but I think he's implying that all minority voters are bussed in, which is not true and which seems to be intended to imply that Democrats are doing something sinister. But even if these quotes are out of context, I don't see a way to explain away the comment about "riot practice" and some of the other things he's said.

Burner

Well, I'm sure people have me all nicely pegged and pigeonholed, so this opinion of mine will probably be thought "surprising" and "out of character" but then, I am not so desperately dependent on labels like right-wing and left-wing that it determines my worldview.
I'm sure I should be totally against Mr Limbaugh (but as it happens, I've only the limited experience of having read some websites on him to form an opinion, since not the whole world receives the channels he is broadcast on). But anyway, I'm not. As far as I'm concerned that was a very mild comment to be resigning over. Wow. I'm quite surprised it caused even a small uproar, to be honest. Yes, it's wrong to refer to people's skin color with the express purpose of disparaging them, but er... what is wrong with referring to it if it's relevant or just to distinguish? It's like saying your car is red, your wife has blonde hair, my neighbour is black. To me, the word is not inherently WRONG.
So anyway, you can all go gawp and gasp now that I said something to defend Rush Limbaugh. ;) There's a small chance that I would have reacted differently had I been exposed to his drivel on TV for a while but somehow I doubt it. If a left-wing person does something I disagree with, I'll say so. If a right-wing person does something I don't see a problem with, I'll say so. I don't see what the big bloody deal is about that... to me it's the most logical thing in the world. [img]smile.gif[/img]


Edit: If what Burner says is true, and he has made racist remarks before, well, my above post is strictly about the current remark he made. Limbaugh's reputation is known to me, like I said I have read some stuff from and about him, so I am sure I would disagree with most of what he says and don't doubt he's made remarks that WERE over the line before. But strictly keeping to the quoted remark, as I said it's not very shocking or outrageous to me. It does make a difference if someone you know as a completely bigoted racist or someone you know as a well, "normal person" makes such a remark, I guess.

[ 10-03-2003, 04:30 AM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

<font color=deepskyblue>And I - in turn - must respectfully disagree with you, <font color=white>Mr. Harris</font>. In just about any other situation, I would be agreeing with everybody else that Limbaugh's statement was not that inflammatory and I DO agree that at least part of the "tempest" caused by his remarks is the result of the Standing Double Standard in our society where it isn't acceptable to say anything remotely critical of any minority group, but you can make the exact same comments about white players and be praised for it.

The reason I take exception to Limbaugh's statement is because it implies that the ONLY reason McNabb is receiving media attention is because of his skin color...and that simply is not true. McNabb has been to the Pro Bowl more than once. He has led the Eagles to the NFC Championship game more than once. He DOES have talent and has exhibited on the field. But since he hasn't won all his games this year, suddenly he is only being hyped because of the media's desire to promote black QB's. BTW, Philadelphia does not have a losing record...they are .500.

As for McNair not delivering for his team, I suppose the fact that he has been injured since the season began has nothing to do with that. Even with his injuries, he still goes out and plays every Sunday.

As for my comparing other black QB's to McNabb, it most certainly IS relevant given the implication by Rush that the media is desparate to hype a black QB. Again, that would be an accurate statement (or implication) if there were no black QB's doing well in the NFL, yet were still being hyped by the media. But that simply isn't the case. I'm pointing out that there are several examples of black QB's that ARE doing well based on their skills and NOT the "hype of the media". Yet Limbaugh's statement indicated that the media had to "produce" a black QB hero because none would exist without their help.

As for Kordell Stewart being worse than Trent Dilfer, you're certainly welcome to that opinion. My point in bringing up Kordell was that he did receive a lot of media attention a few years ago based on his performance at Colorado and his first couple of season with Pittsburgh (during which he WAS an unpredictably explosive component of the offense). However, once Kordell couldn't maintain that explosive offensive capability on a consistent basis, he dropped out of the public eye quicker than if he had joined the witness protection program. According to Rush Limbaugh, if the media is concerned with hyping a black QB as successful, then it makes sense they would still be mentioning Kordell, at least occasionally.

The fact is that the media has a remarkably short attention span. So once an athlete stops producing, he/she will usually be "yesterday's news" as far as the media is concerned.</font>

No one seemed to get upset when Isiah Thomas said that the only reason that Larry Bird "would be just another basketball player if he was black", and I seem to recall that Isiah Thomas wasn't forced out of the NBA after saying that.

No one seemed to get upset when Isiah Thomas said that the only reason that Larry Bird "would be just another basketball player if he was black", and I seem to recall that Isiah Thomas wasn't forced out of the NBA after saying that. </font>[/QUOTE]Well... Larry was kinda pissed off about it. :D

No one seemed to get upset when Isiah Thomas said that the only reason that Larry Bird "would be just another basketball player if he was black", and I seem to recall that Isiah Thomas wasn't forced out of the NBA after saying that. </font>[/QUOTE]Nope. But, Larry Bird got his revenge recently by forcing Thomas out of Indy. [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

<font color=orange>I caught a discussion about this topic on Fox Sports last night. I black guy said that it's all right for Whites to talk trash about whites and it's ok for blacks to talk trash about blacks, but it's not ok for whites to talk trash about blacks, while it is perfectly ok for blacks to talk trash about whites. He was saying that's how the system works now-a-days. He went on to say that he thought it wasn't right though. I personally thought he was right on the mark!

No where in his statement did Rush say that the only reason McNabb is receiving attention is because of his skin color. What he did say is that he is an over-hyped player because of his color.

McNabb is a decent player, but he is no where near the caliber of player that most of the media makes him out to be. His teams defense did carry him most of the time; often compensating for mistakes he made during the game. Without the defense the team had, McNabb would not have had any of the current success he did.

So as McNabb is touted as being the entire team, Rush brings it home to point out the fact that this is not true.

Going back to last year for an example you can look through the local Chicago newpapers and see exactly what Rush is speaking off. There were multiple articles on McNabb, McNair, Cullpepper, and Vick. Not one article was printed in the normal sports section saying anything about the quarterbacks that were tearing it up such as Gannon. Gannon set a new all time passing record and he didn't even get mentioned.

So yes, BLACK quartbacks ARE over-hyped. Rush just said what many people don't want to see.

So after years of media attention and being refered to as a "Black Quarterback" he all the sudden has a problem. I honestly feel that McNabb decided to play the racism card to take the heat off of the real controversy, his ability not being up to snuff when compared to the hype produced by the media.

From today's NY Times.
By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: October 3, 2003
____________________________________
Keith Appell, a public relations executive who has worked on Republican campaigns, said Limbaugh should not have resigned.

"Can a prominent white person in America criticize a prominent black person in America without being told his speech is impermissible?" he asked. "He's got a right to be wrong, but he shouldn't lose his job because some hypocritical, pinheaded Congressmen and presidential candidates become the speech police."

Appell said Cosell's remark (referring to a black player as a "little monkey")was inarguably worse than what Limbaugh said. But Cosell survived in part because of his civil rights credentials.

Appell asked, "Does that mean if you're a liberal you get a pass on it, and if you're a conservative, you don't?"

Melusine, Nice post, My honor demands that I compliment you on your post if I am and have been willing to disagree with your logic on other posts. Your reasoning and logic is sound. [img]smile.gif[/img]
John D.

[quote]Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric:

Quote:

<font color=deepskyblue>And I - in turn - must respectfully disagree with you, <font color=white>Mr. Harris</font>. In just about any other situation, I would be agreeing with everybody else that Limbaugh's statement was not that inflammatory and I DO agree that at least part of the "tempest" caused by his remarks is the result of the Standing Double Standard in our society where it isn't acceptable to say anything remotely critical of any minority group, but you can make the exact same comments about white players and be praised for it. The reason I take exception to Limbaugh's statement is because it implies that the ONLY reason McNabb is receiving media attention is because of his skin color...and that simply is not true. McNabb has been to the Pro Bowl more than once. He has led the Eagles to the NFC Championship game more than once. He DOES have talent and has exhibited on the field. But since he hasn't won all his games this year, suddenly he is only being hyped because of the media's desire to promote black QB's. BTW, Philadelphia does not have a losing record...they are .500. As for McNair not delivering for his team, I suppose the fact that he has been injured since the season began has nothing to do with that. Even with his injuries, he still goes out and plays every Sunday. As for my comparing other black QB's to McNabb, it most certainly IS relevant given the implication by Rush that the media is desparate to hype a black QB. Again, that would be an accurate statement (or implication) if there were no black QB's doing well in the NFL, yet were still being hyped by the media. But that simply isn't the case. I'm pointing out that there are several examples of black QB's that ARE doing well based on their skills and NOT the "hype of the media". Yet Limbaugh's statement indicated that the media had to "produce" a black QB hero because none would exist without their help. As for Kordell Stewart being worse than Trent Dilfer, you're certainly welcome to that opinion. My point in bringing up Kordell was that he did receive a lot of media attention a few years ago based on his performance at Colorado and his first couple of season with Pittsburgh (during which he WAS an unpredictably explosive component of the offense). However, once Kordell couldn't maintain that explosive offensive capability on a consistent basis, he dropped out of the public eye quicker than if he had joined the witness protection program. According to Rush Limbaugh, if the media is concerned with hyping a black QB as successful, then it makes sense they would still be mentioning Kordell, at least occasionally. The fact is that the media has a remarkably short attention span. So once an athlete stops producing, he/she will usually be "yesterday's news" as far as the media is concerned.</font>

Cerek,
1) Philly has a lossing record 1-2 http://www.nfl.com/standings as of sunday before the game when the comment was made Philly's record was 0-2.
2) See this link check out the Facts/Stats listed in the artical http://slate.msn.com/id/2089193/
3) It does not stand to reason the media would still be hyping Kordell, after all there are other quarterbacks in the NFL NOW that would be classified as having the same skin color or race.
4) I've be watching the NFL since the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in '69, during the late 70's and throughout the 80's I saw numorious stories done on why there should be black quarterbacks, not good quarterbacks but black quarterbacks. Lordy, Lordy, the NFL even has a rule right NOW that demands when ever a team hires a new Coach they must interview a coach of a certain race, not interview a coach because the team GM or owners thinks the coach is good but because of the coach's race and only race.

I didn't feel his remark was overly racist, but can easily be described as such by many. He should not have used the word "black". He should never had said that. But serves ESPN right for hiring him. They did want a controversial commentary and they got it. Boo! on them for making the wrong call. He's no sports analyst (same goes for Dennis Miller [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] ) And boo! on Rush for making that "bonehead" comment.

Is Rush a racist? I found an old article that details some interesting things he has said and leads me to believe his opinion about the QB wasn't based on any sort of objective analysis of the media, but based on his ignorant and well documented bias:

http://www.fair.org/articles/limbaugh-color.html

[ 10-03-2003, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Very interesting Chewwie by chance did this source also mention Rush's slogan about "Illustrating absurdity by being absurd"? A slogan he used for at least 10 years starting in 1992, A slogan he used on his radio show and tv show as much as his other slogans "Half my brain tied behind my back just to make it fair" or "Talent on loan from God". I seriously doubt the source mentioned the "Illustrating absurdity by being absurd" Because if they did it would show that Most of Rush's outrageous absurd statments were said to illustrate something he believed to be absurd. But then I guess Since he is a conservative He's not alowed to have an opinion, and believe somethings are absurd. Or wait I guess since he came out and said he was "Illustrating Absurdity by being absurd" he really meant it when he came out and made absurd statments, and wasn't "Illustrating absurdity by being absurd".

NICE view if Diversity liberals, I guess it's ok to say Republicans and conservatives want to Children to starve, old people to die, and if you elect a Republican another Black Church will burn (A radio Campaign ad Aired in 2000 & 2002, Where?...St. Louis metro area which just so happens to include East St. Louis.)

I refuse to believe anything that comes from FAIR. After all, if they have all this stuff on R.H Limbaugh III, then why didn't they try to collect the million dollar reward El Rushbo had for anyone who could prove he ever said anything racist or anti-semitic?

I'd like to know the context. What's offensive about it? If someone speaks Ebonics, I call them on it. It's not a language. Swahili has verb tenses, and they have a purpose. Same with English. If the bone/nose thing is in and of itself offensive, let me remind you of the 70s. Oh, wait, lemme get out my Good Times and Jeffersons reruns so you can see it for yourself.
[img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] Y'know, you may hate it, but he's got a point.

Why just the black children, Spike? Is Cheers a "now-defunct" TV show? Is Spike's movie career "now defunct?" What a lame choice of words. Oh please, allmighty newswriter, lead me by the nose. Which may or may not have a bone in it.

Look, the only thing Malcolm X ever preached in his life worth hearing was near the end when he basically said, "Oh, oooops, I had it all wrong." Teaching young blacks/whites any other of his words is teaching bigotry. If you're going to give our kids texts about the "white devils," I demand you also give them a good KKK primer on the "lesser races" to balance out their view.
Well, it ain't real funny, and it ain't real on point. Limbaugh's not the sharpest stake in the coffin. However, calling the NAACP "nonviolent" is like calling Arnie "non-beefcake" or Carrot Top "non-annoying." In fact, their violence is the worst kind. They look for people they don't like to make an innocent slip-up, then demonize them, villify them, and demand we rip them apart.

Again, let me be clear. SCREW YOU NAACP. SCREW YOUR ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER SAID. You are not about fairness or equality, you are about ADVANCEMENT of COLORED PEOPLE. That is called bigotry. You are the evil that makes me retreat from the realm of fairness and justice and into the realm of believing in the ADVANCEMENT of WHITE PEOPLE. For if we are not to each advance, then we should neither advance.

They axed for it. Teachers promoting Ebonics standing outside LA classrooms with "I be the teacher" written on their T-shirts axed for it. Learn to speak the common language or I be makin' fun of you for trippin and being a foo. Fo Sheezy.
Which is why we should have quotas in pro sports requiring a certain amount of whites be gainfully employed. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Look, while Rush again is off the mark here and into Conservative Lala Land, the 12% is a GOOD POINT. Just how much of the country's welfare goes to this 12%? 12%? Pfft... not. I'm not going to rail on 12% too terribly much, because I'm not sure it's an accurate number (maybe it's 14%, or 18% -- I don't know). I just want to point out that in any situation where a school has more than 12% (for example -- but, I mean the national percentage of blacks in the population) blacks or when a workplace has more than 12% blacks, the minority group is actually being OVER-REPRESENTED. I mean, are we striving for balance or not?

[ 10-07-2003, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Screw you "angry white guys" who ignore the statistics of racial disparity as well as ignore history. Thanks making more racial problems rather than helping find solutions.

You know, I thought we had reached an understanding about this in the BAKE SALE THREAD. You seem to be accusing me of things you began accusing me of there. Did we even have that discussion, or am I hallucinating. But, thanks for allowing me my free opinion, it's real big of you. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I don't qualify for is "angry white guy," guy. I just get pissed when people contort something to mean what it is not. And, I don't forget history. But, as I've said, it is inequitable and illogical to punish someone for acts they did not commit. Ugh.... I give up.

Hey T.L.,

I did not and have not accused you of anything. If I have, I would expect a direct and thourough rebuttal.

You did write "SCREW YOU NAACP. SCREW YOUR ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER SAID." The bold letters suggest anger in my opinion. Besides my comments about angry white guys wasn't aimed towards you personally anymore than your comments about the NAACP was aimed towards me personally.

And your ( I suppose) sarcasm about having a free opinion? Am I not allowed to freely have a differing opinion? You expect to attack the NAACP and one of its sympathizers isn't gonna stand up with a rebuttal? Where is the common ground here?

Hey, I felt an accusation was being levelled. That's all. I wouldn't have whined about the "freedom of thought" otherwise.

Y'know I saw a panopoly of people on TV tonight who have shared adjoining trailers or other similar situations with Arnie on movie sets -- and THEY came right out and said that with the guys, he's generally a guy, around ladies he's less overt and polite, and he's generally a respectful guy. I'm not saying the isolated incidents alleged aren't true -- but I am hoping they are overblown.