Shocker: Limbaugh Opens Mouth About Sports, Says Something Stupid
Somehow, I missed the initial outcry over Rush Limbaugh's remarks about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb:
On Sunday, during ESPN’s televised pregame show, former NFL quarterback Steve Young questioned McNabb’s "ability to run the offensive," saying that his White backup, Koy Detmer, would likely do a better job.First of all, it's now clear to me that Steve Young has suffered lasting brain damage from all those hits he took as a quarterback. That's the only explanation for thinking Koy Detmer is a better quarterback than Donovan McNabb.Limbaugh chimed in. "I think the sum of what you’re all saying is that Donavan McNabb is regressing, he’s going backward," Limbaugh said. "Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go."
But Limbaugh didn’t stop there.
"The media has been very desirous that a Black quarterback do well. "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."
As for Rush Limbaugh's comments.... huh? McNabb's nearly led his team to the Super Bowl the last couple of years. He's a fine quarterback who started this season slowly, but I guarantee almost every general manager in the league would like McNabb starting for his team. McNabb is not a player created by the media (unlike, say, Anna Kournikova).
There may indeed be a media bias in favor of blacks who play a position that, frankly, once was the subject of some ugly racist thoughts by quite a few people (i.e. the stupid notion that Blacks couldn't play quarterback). If there is such a bias, so what? Guys are either going to succeed -- or not. It will be decided on the field.
It's still not clear to me what any of this has to do with football, or why Limbaugh was chosen to be a part of the ABC/ESPN broadcasts. Personally, I'd rather hear more of Ron Jaworski on Donovan McNabb's problems, and less of the conservative loudmouth.
(10-01-2003 Update) SI's Peter King says Limbaugh's comments weren't racist, just boneheaded. Agreed on the latter part, undecided on the former.
(10-01-2003 Update 2) Limbaugh has resigned from ESPN. Now here's my request: PLEASE, give us someone who will talk about football. I like Dennis Miller's comedy, but I don't want it intertwined with football. Nor do I want to hear Rush Limbaugh politicizing the sport. I just want to hear Xs and Os. That's why I listen to audio streams of Bill Parcells' daily press conference. Is it too much to ask for coverage of FOOTBALL?!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 09/30/03 19:03 | Sports | Technorati
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Further to the Rush Limbaugh controversy (which we were rambling about here before everybody and his dog joined the bandwagon), the two most succinct paragraphs I've run across come from Tom Bevan ...
[Linked on 10/02/03 by PubliusTX Weblog]
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Comments
This is exactly what Rush Limbaugh needed *NOT* to do. The notion that McNabb may be overrated because he's black may or may not be a worthy topic of conversation, but it's one better left to the experts (ie former athletes & coaches turn announcers) and not to a controversial political commentator whose job at ESPN is not political commentary.
Posted by R. Alex @ 19:20 on 09/30/03
Alex,
You know very well that no one else at ESPN would ever even consider the possibility for fear of the very reaction that Limbaugh is getting now. It's just too PC. Having said that, Peyton Manning is probably the most overrated QB in the NFL while Steve McNair is probably one of the more underappreciated, though I think both are now starting to be evaluated more objectively.
Posted by Gary C @ 09:02 on 10/01/03
Gary,
You might be right about that. On the other hand, I still view the criticism of Limbaugh as being justified whereas if someone else had said it, I'd be out there defending him. If Limbaugh had said it on his radio show, I'd actually object less. It's the melding of the two that I disagree with. Limbaugh should keep his political agenda (even though I agree with more of it than not) out of ESPN.
Posted by R. Alex @ 10:42 on 10/01/03
The question of whether McNabb is overrated is legitimate, as is the question of who has carried that team. Let's have that discussion! You already have some idea of my answer, which is what Bill Parcells said last week about Curtis Martin: If they are tired of him, just send him on down here. I'm pretty sure a bunch of GMs would answer similarly
But why did the assertion have to be McNabb is overrated by the media because he's black? Especially when the charge that he's overrated in the first place seems flimsy (and so far as I know, the media doesn't vote for Pro Bowl honors, which McNabb has earned more than once)? Did Limbaugh not think any of that through?
Honestly, I'm no PC weenie, and I do think our society would benefit from being more open to discussions about race. Frank discussion is often closed off because we don't want to offend anyone. I'm more shocked by what I view as the stupidity of Limbaugh's comment than its actual anti-PC nature.
And I'm still not sure what Limbaugh adds to the broadcast. Give me Jaws breaking down film! I don't need social commentary mixed with my football. It detracts from the broadcast, in my view.
Gary, now you see why I want to have plenty of radio broadcasts available! I tend to turn off the TV sound. :) Agreed on McNair and Manning, btw -- especially McNair. Why do you think that's the case? Size of the media market? Jeff Fisher's approach to the game? Something more nefarious?
Posted by Kevin @ 13:45 on 10/01/03
Kevin,
I prefer Limbaugh to stick with the political commentary.
As for why McNair doesn't get more respect, I don't know. Market size may have something to do with it. I don't think skin color has anything at all to do with it. All I do know is that the guy has a knack for making plays.
I actually do like listening to the Cowboys on radio - when they lose. Yes, I admit it, I am a Cowboy hater. It was not always thus. I was a Cowboy fan when Staubach played. After he retired, I lost interest in them. My apathy then turned to hate when Jerry Jones bought the team. Right now, I am pretty disullushioned with college and pro football. I hate the Titans with a passion while being lukewarm about the Texans. I don't think it's possible for me to form any positive emotional attachments to an NFL team. And college football is so rigged in favor of the mega-conferences that it bores me. It's a shame, because I do have a love for the game.
BTW - I have been anAsylum Street Spankers fan for a number of years. I am not familar with Dead End Angels, but look foward to checking them out.
Posted by Gary C @ 15:38 on 10/01/03
Gary: Were you at that last Spankers show? Very enjoyable.
If you like alt-country, then definitely check out the Dead End Angels sometime. I'm sure I'll carry on about them next time they're around.
So you're more of a Jerry Jones hater? I can understand that. But after watching them from Staubach on, I've just got nowhere else to go! Although I must say, after several beers at that Texans-Cowboys scrimmage at UH, I launched quite a few rude comments Jerry's way. And I think I probably even meant most of them. :)
Posted by Kevin @ 20:19 on 10/01/03
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