Why all the fuss, Rush?
The incredible noise surrounding Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to be part of a group seeking to buy the NFL’s St. Louis Rams has become quite deafening. He is claiming that he is being discriminated against and, in essence blackballed, from owning a National Football League team. He bases that claim on the fact that his proposed inclusion in the bidding process by this particular group of investors was going to be opposed by the Player’s Union, as well as some of the more powerful minority groups in this country, for his numerous off-color and even racist comments in regards to the NFL and it’s players.
We could sit here and debate the man’s First Amendment rights, or whether or not a known drug abuser is fit for NFL ownership. We could argue if the NFL is a closed organization that has the right to determine who is part of their “club”. We could talk about whether or not he has ever truly recanted his intolerant comments towards the players and the league.
But, all of those subjects, which Rush has been wrapping himself up in the last few days, are not and have never been moot. That’s because the right-wing talk-show host has created this huge media morass after he was withdrawn from the interested investment group, by the group themselves. That’s right … his own peeps didn’t want him anymore! It wasn’t a liberal/minority conspiracy or lack of “American convictions” by the league and it’s ownership. It was simply that Rush’s own people couldn’t afford the liability he represents if they were to make a successful bid … or perhaps they were just tired of hearing him talk.
So, we can spend all our time deliberating these hypothetical rhubarbs. Or, we can devote our attention to some of the more pressing matters facing our country like jobs, the economy, healthcare, energy, or the recent story that the Arctic ice cap will possibly fully melt this coming summer. Somehow, I think Rush will stay with the more selfish debate. I just hope the rest of us can rise above the din.
Soft White Underbelly 
What’s really hypothetical is the remarks people have claimed that he made. If he had made them, it would be one thing, but he didn’t.
Now that is the best defense I’ve ever seen … deny that the statements ever happened! A quick check of the facts, though, shows that Rush did indeed resign his position as commentator on ESPN a few years back because of the racially charged comments he made about Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. So, I guess it really is, at least, “one thing”.
Rush is a sportsman? Okay, but what kind? A real sportsman won’t be thwarted. I designed a plan for Rush that will fit him fine.
???? Who called him a sportsman?
Does your plan include a humility check, some self realization, or a compassion infusion?
First, Rush never made a racially charged comment about Donovan McNabb. He said that the MEDIA has him overrated, that the MEDIA wants him to succeed because he’s black, etc.
Donovan proved again yesterday that his head is not in the game, and that he’s overrated. He’s a decent NFL QB, but not one of the great ones. The Raiders beat the Eagles good, and McNabb was so flustered he called a timeout when he had none left.
I totally agree that Rush needs a heavy dose of humility, that he points fingers at others while not realizing that he’s got four fingers pointed at himself. If he wants to be a leader, Jesus says the last shall be first and the first shall be last, that the leader must be a servant of those he leads.
You might not think that comment is racially charged (we won’t bother with whether or not you are a minority), but a lot of others do think it is. ESPN called the comments “insensitive and inappropriate.” Even Rush knew the comments were over the line since he quickly resigned rather than defend his position, both belief-wise and employment-wise. Plus, we haven’t even addressed the comment about the NFL looking “like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons“, made in January 2007.
Now, if you are going to insinuate that Rush is correct because McNabb had a bad game yesterday, you need to step off the myopic Limbaugh Bandwagon for a second and get real. Donovan is on the downside of a career beset by injuries. Despite that, in his ten seasons, he has led his team to 4 consecutive NFC East division championships, five NFC league championships, and one Super Bowl. He is also the Eagles all-time leader in career wins, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns … besting names like Ron Jaworski and Hall of Famer Norm Van Broklin. This is hardly the resume of a run-of-the-mill, “overrated” QB. For the record, I am not a McNabb or Eagle fan, in the least. But, as they say, “facts is facts”.
The bottom line, though, is that Rush was not excluded from the bidding process because of his alleged comments. He was omitted by the same folks who brought him to the table in the first place! They realized, as I’m sure most of the NFL ownership did (including the Colts Ron Irsay), that Rush is more of a liability than an benefit. Or, as I like to put it, more of an ass than an asset.