Going Out on a Limb-augh

I have high hopes for the Redskins as I do every season. I cling to the hope (until it truly is hopeless) that the team will manage to pull together, turn themselves around, dig themselves out of a whole and in general just get back to their old successful ways. But until that happens, I'll still sit and stew every weekend, especially if they are a repeat of this past weekend. But I digress; my purpose isn't to talk about the Redskins of Washington but rather the Rams of St. Louis and the attempt to purchase them by talk-show host (and erst-while 'voice' of the conservative Republicans) Rush Limbaugh. Now I think that every person who can afford to own a sports team should do so. I'm envious of them at times; but in the case of Limbaugh I believe he's trying to have his cake and eat it too.

I say this because Limbaugh, who is no stranger to controversial statement or blatantly racist comments when it comes to the NFL has already kicked off a firestorm of anger among outsiders and NFL players themselves. Limbaugh was once a commentator with ESPN's Sunday Countdown and during a show in 2003, Limbaugh made a passing comment regarding Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb. In a nutshell, Limbaugh implied that the praise that had been heaped on McNabb to that point (McNabb was in the midst of a shakey season) was more because of the media and the NFL's desire to have a black quarterback do well and not because of his capabilities. Now I will say that these comments were and are totally off the mark. McNabb has struggled in the years since and injuries have hampered the ability he had to scramble like a running back but he is by no means getting a free pass just because of his race.

Now perhaps there was no racial slight intended by Limbaugh with the comment, but rather than stating that it was a bias being given towards McNabb due to his popularity, Limbaugh purposely pointed out that McNabb is a black quarterback and that that was likely the reason that the media kept him in the spotlight. Some argue that had an African-American made the comment then perhaps there wouldn't have been so much controversy among folks but what sets this comment apart is the fact that Limbaugh makes and continues to make such comments at regular intervals. During one of his shows, he stated that James Earl Ray (the convicted murderer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) should have been given a posthumous Medal of Honor.

He also made comments that while he felt slavery was bad (and that it shouldn't necessarily be brought back) he stated that it was an institution that 'built the south' and made the streets safe after dark. Again, he could argue that this is statement that wasn't made with racial conotations but if that wasn't the intent then what is? And now here he is attempting to purchase a stake in a team which itself has nearly 30 to 40 African American players; I can't help but wonder then if that means he'd treat his players like men or property. Many NFL players have (rightly) taken a stance against the proposed sale to Limbaugh and his partners as they don't appreciate comments he has made in the past and continues to make at present on his conservative talk show.

Now I'm sure he'd view this as reverse discrimination given the fact that people like the rapper Jay-Z make detrimental comments about the African-American community in their rap songs and such but are still have stake in sports teams. Jay-Z's comments, while harsh and controversial at times, are still largely pointed at his own community and racial group (which strikes me as being a little odd but whatever floats your boat is fine with me) whereas Limbaugh strikes out at others without turning the mirror on himself. Again, perhaps they aren't all that different in terms of how bad their comments are but the other difference is that Limbaugh (like many conservatives) attempts to point to 'affirmative action' for anything and everything that someone does that is better than anyone else. I'm sure he agrees with comments being made by some that the reason Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize was due to affirmative action. If NFL owner Roger Goodell has any sense he would step in and find some way to prevent the sale from being considered for the sake of the St. Louis Rams. I think the NFL has enough controversy as it is, it doesn't need any more.