Rush Limbaugh Resigns from ESPN after Racist Remark

[Burner]

[quote]Originally posted by Timber Loftis:

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

[Chewbacca]

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 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,...

I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire?

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: 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: quote: 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,...

I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire? [/QUOTE]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 "Hey, we keep hearing how good McNabb is...when we actually see some of this supposed skill on display?" 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 Burner) 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.

[John D Harris]

[quote]Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric:

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.

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: quote: Originally posted by Chewbacca: 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: quote: 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,...

I guess what I am asking is how and when has the media expressed this alledged desire? [/QUOTE]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 "Hey, we keep hearing how good McNabb is...when we actually see some of this supposed skill on display?" 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 Burner) 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. [/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.

[John D Harris]

[quote]Originally posted by Burner:

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.}

[Luvian]

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 ]

[johnny]

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 ?

[Burner]

Originally posted by John D Harris: quote: Originally posted by Burner: 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.}

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

[Melusine]

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 ]