Limbaugh resigns ESPN gig over McNabb comments

Tanager · October-2nd-2003, 08:09 AM

Limbaugh Quits ESPN Job After Comments Spark Uproar

Not that I know all that much about football, but what, precisely, did ESPN expect when it hired the man? Having said that, I wish Limbaugh would just fade quietly into the night...what a self-important blowhard.

tippy · October-2nd-2003, 08:15 AM

Howard Stern has been talking about Limbaugh's drug abuse problems this morning, including oxycontin (sp?), which means he's got something in common with the Ozborne kid.

Enforcer · October-2nd-2003, 09:27 AM

I'm glad Rush didn't lose his hearing a couple years ago. Sometimes, though, I kind of wish I had lost my hearing instead, so I wouldn't have to listen to him.

Larry

Chris D · October-2nd-2003, 09:47 AM

This is the best news all week. (Not what he said about McNabb, which is not only reprehensible but patently false, but that he got canned.)
Now I can watch that show again.

jesus marion joseph · October-2nd-2003, 10:15 AM

I didn't quite "get" the whole setup with Rush. Why wasn't he sitting on the same side of the room with the other commentators? All in all, I'd say his resignation and removal from the show is a positive. And his comment was stupid, too. McNabb is loaded with talent IMHO, and I really think the media would be just as happy to tear him down as build him up. Call it Darwinian selection.

walto · October-2nd-2003, 10:51 AM

To continue in my normal Pollyanna mode, let me say that while I don't have much (read "any") use for the Limbaughs, I don't think either that this remark (as I've heard it described) was clearly racist or that TV sports "analysts" should be fired for being wrong in a statement of that kind--assuming that JMJ is correct that Limbaugh WAS wrong. I really have no idea myself.

Anyhow, I didn't see many left "analysts" fired from their TV spots for saying (rightly, I think) that Clarence Thomas wouldn't be on the Supreme Court if he weren't black

BWTHDIK?

Uli · October-2nd-2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by walto
To continue in my normal Pollyanna mode, let me say that while I don't have much (read "any") use for the Limbaughs, I don't think either that this remark (as I've heard it described) was clearly racist or that TV sports "analysts" should be fired for being wrong in a statement of that kind--assuming that JMJ is correct that Limbaugh WAS wrong. I really have no idea myself.

Anyhow, I didn't see many left "analysts" fired from their TV spots for saying (rightly, I think) that Clarence Thomas wouldn't be on the Supreme Court if he weren't black

BWTHDIK?

Context, Walto. the statement itself why I think it's wrong always depends on context. To that extent Libough never provides any other than onesided venom. I don't like that in political discussion but don't wanna deal with this crap in a Sportshow. I don't know why he would qualify as a football commentator so why would anybody hire him other than for his bullshit?

October-2nd-2003, 11:22 AM

Those baboons that do that show are a bunch of NFL drones, Uli. So obviously all you're going to get is a one-sided story anyway. Even the most controversial happenings in the league are glossed over in a higly rehearsed way by the glassy eyed Berman, and his yes man Jackson.

But I do have to agree with almost every statement made here so far. I don't watch those lying drones on Sunday morning, so I wasn't really aware of what happened until it was on Scarborough Country last night. I was somewhat shocked, but mostly because he tried to potray McNabb as being such a bad quarterback. The race thing didn't help his cause, and I really felt that if this was all he could come up with, he should have just moved on to another subject.

Chris D · October-2nd-2003, 11:31 AM

It wasn't the first time in his short tenure that he brought up race, from what I read.
He also talked about the "sham" of interviews with minority coaches for head coaching jobs.
He was dancing very close to the third rail as it was, if that's indeed the case.

Rob C · October-2nd-2003, 11:41 AM

I agree with Uli. If RL had said the same thing on his radio show, it probably wouldn't be an issue, because there his job is to talk about "liberal media bias" or whatever, and if he wants to latch onto a football player's supposed overrating because of his race as an example of such, well, okay, then.

But in the context of a sports show, he's supposed to be talking about football. It's perfectly acceptable, in that context, to say a player is overrated. But when he says the player is overrated because he's black, he's not saying anything about the "media" so much as he's saying something about "black football players" (and more than that he's saying something ABOUT HIMSELF).

mke · October-2nd-2003, 12:18 PM

From what I've read on Limbaugh, I'm astonished that anyone has much (read "any") use for him and that he continues to receive high-profile engagements.

RainyDay · October-2nd-2003, 12:23 PM

Oh, jeez, who cares about this anyway? Rush a racist? (screeeeeam!!) It can't be! ESPN is a network, in particular, for overgrown children. How could you expect them to make an adult decision about on-air talent?

graypencil · October-2nd-2003, 12:52 PM

I must admit that since moi ( along with Walto and probably many others)
have absolutely no use for Limbaugh in any context ,hovever:

I also admit to basking in a bit of schadenfreude (sp?) at his current situation
brought on by both his big yap, and his alleged drug problems
that hadn't come to light earlier ..

with any luck, may he sink into the media sunset at last ..

Darryl G. Thomas · October-2nd-2003, 01:03 PM

Like many here I skip pregame shows and just watch the games, so I didn't hear about the Limbaugh comment until last night. For those who don't know, I'm black and from Philly, so naturally the story interested.

Personally, I wish Rush hadn't resigned. He'll just make himself the victim in this, blame "political correctness". This is the same guy who once told and African American caller to his show to "take the bone out of your nose and call me back later" or something like that. He was playing to his audience and I'm sure he'll get tons of support from his regular listeners.

Even though I'm an Eagles fan, I wouldn't have had any problem with him stating that McNabb is overrated. I think McNabb is a work in progress. He's made great football plays numerous times, but he hasn't shown the consistency of greats like Montana, Marino, or a contemporary like Steve McNair who in my opinion may be the best QB out there. But Limbaugh chose to ignore the fact that McNabb's been to pro-bowls, two NFC tiitle games, and he must have missed that game last year where Donovan threw 3-4 touchdowns on a broken leg. McNabb's not the best, but he's a talent, and to deny his talent to make a point about the "liberal media" and political correctness is wrong.

The sad thing is sports may be one of the few meritocracies out there. If you're good you will play. Sam Cunningham destroys Alabama in the early '70s and the next thing you know the all white SEC integrates. Bear Bryant wanted to continue to win.

Enforcer · October-2nd-2003, 01:10 PM

Very true, Darryl. This guy has pandered to his audience since day one. The people whose attitudes are too offensive to be verbalized, and too radical for him to publicly embrace, but who he can sort of speak for in a "nudge nudge wink wink" way while talking a good game to make it seem like it's not really what he's about.

Larry

Gordon B · October-2nd-2003, 04:26 PM

1. Limbaugh's statements were absurd. I think he's probably predisposed to think that way. Regardless, his self-editing function appears to have been deleted from his internal wiring. He was hired to be a footbal analyst not a conservative football analyst. He should have anticipated the brouhaha that came about from his comments.
2. In no way do I construe his comments to be racist. There's no malice towards black people in his comments only white reporters who aren't objective, in his opinion.
3. The most annoying aspect of the entire episode was that Howard Dean, Wes Clark, and Al Sharpton all thought it was an important enough issue for them to ask ABC to can him.

Steve Reynolds · October-2nd-2003, 07:06 PM

bottom line is that Rush made a comment that is not even a issue anymore

hasn't he heard of Mike Vick? or the best QB in the AFC right now - the *great* Steve McNair??

the issue is dead - everyone knows there are great black QB's

sounds like he was trying to make a little splash - and he went about it the wrong way

as far as the comments being racist - please - Rush is simply a dolt

fwiw- the show is unwatchable due to the other loudmouthed morons on the panel

steve(thelil) · October-2nd-2003, 07:10 PM

What he said wasn't racist in actual content. But the fact that he had some personal need to add, during a pure football discussion, not only that a black guy was overrated but that the media need to overrate blacks suggests a somewhat racist world view might have been motivating him.

Thank you.

Uli · October-2nd-2003, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon B
There's no malice towards black people in his comments only white reporters who aren't objective, in his opinion.

imho, that's a naive assumption at best.

Captain Hate · October-2nd-2003, 09:11 PM

Well, not that I ever listened to him on the show or anything, but I take it that they hired him to bring some controversy to the show, and once he brings it, they can him. Kind of like what happened to Bill Mahr who, once he finally said something politically incorrect on one of the most politically correct shows you could find, was shown the door (although not as quickly as this).

It takes a tortured misreading of this to construe it as racist; or an agenda predisposed to find it that way. Somewhat stupid is what it was; but in pretty good company in that type of a show. Presidential candidates making a big deal out of this ought to be questioned hard about their committment to freedom of speech. I guess this means that any frank discussion of race will never happen on television. Again: Freedom of speech, love it or shove it. Being stupid still isn't a crime.

HLJ · October-2nd-2003, 10:01 PM

Rush is a BIG FAT JUNKIE RACIST BIGOT PIG and the shit he said was racist.What's worse was Irvin and Jackson didn't call him on that BULLSHIT.If he said that to The Brothers I watch the games with he'd be a WHUPPED-ASS!! Maybe he was fucked up on all those pills he been droping.Peace and all that.

October-2nd-2003, 11:18 PM

Quote:

fwiw- the show is unwatchable due to the other loudmouthed morons on the panel

EXACTLY!

Quote:

the best QB in the AFC right now - the *great* Steve McNair??

Great? What has he done that makes him great? Other than the good start he's had this season, I believe he is one of the biggest under achievers in the league today. Along with the *great* Eddie George.

Gordon B · October-2nd-2003, 11:20 PM

Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi-
Function: noun
Date: 1936
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

Rush said,
"The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve."

There's no way that Rush's comments fit the Merriam Webster definition of racism. If there is a dictionary that defines racism in such a way that his comments are racist, post it here, whoever thinks he made racist comments.

The truth is when I heard that Rush made those comments on got fired, my first reaction was that I wish that Bill Walton had made them instead

October-2nd-2003, 11:22 PM

Captain, as usual you have nailed the situation squarely on the head. Excellent post!

October-2nd-2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

The truth is when I heard that Rush made those comments on got fired, my first reaction was that I wish that Bill Walton had made them instead

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahahaha......................

Ron Thorne · October-2nd-2003, 11:41 PM

As many as 100 pills per day? While not connected with the sale of drugs, Rush was apparently associated with the illegal purchase of large quantities of prescription drugs such as Oxycontin.

I don't know how anyone could conduct their lives, let alone be a daily radio broadcaster under these circumstances.

Captain Hate · October-3rd-2003, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon B
The truth is when I heard that Rush made those comments on got fired, my first reaction was that I wish that Bill Walton had made them instead

Every time Walton opens his mouth, alumni of UCLA must cringe.

tippy · October-3rd-2003, 12:47 AM

I don't think that comments have to be hate-filled to be deemed racist. Prejudicial statements may even be well-intended but give away a simple ignorance to which the speaker is blind. I have caught subtle types of prejudice in probably 99% of the people I know (myself included)--and I'm pretty certain that 100% of them don't think that they are prejudiced.

walto · October-3rd-2003, 06:49 AM

"I'm pretty certain that 100% of them don't think that they are prejudiced."

I don't know. I think a lot of people are probably like you, realizing that we're all unfairly prejudicial on some level at some times.

frankpop1 · October-3rd-2003, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Rush is a BIG FAT JUNKIE RACIST BIGOT PIG

and politically irrelevant.

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rbian olwenkic si a ibg atf iotdi oot

nlyo idkding ): opos