Hehe Rush Resigns

[Bonegavel]

Awwww. Now ESPN will have nothing to talk about. Oh yeah, it is football season.

[Sharpieman]

There is a god!!!

[Bonegavel]

for those that hate Rush, you can be satisfied to know that I'm sure this pained him greatly because he loves football. He talks about it constantly on the AIR and, knowing his love of talking and giving his opinion, the countdown was probably a dream come true for him.

So, all you Rush haters can rejoice.

[edit to remove dola - damn, I'm slow]

[bigdawg2003]

Well that experiment worked.........

[Suicane75]

In his resignation statement he said his opinion was not racially motivated.

[ISiddiqui]

There goes the rating gains for ESPN's NFL Countdown.

[sabotai]

I'm not happy because I hate Rush, I'm happy because the show might actually be watchable again. But that's a little wishful thinking on my part...they'll find a way to ruin it.

And please Bone, don't try to appeal to emotion with me. I have no emotion to appeal to.

[Swaggs]

Ann Coulter signed on to replace him.

[sabotai]

That's not funny, Swaggs!

[Sharpieman]

Ann Coulter- The devil with blonde hair....

[Easy Mac]

What about Hillary?

[kcchief19]

When you think about, who is really surprised by this? Didn't we all see this coming? I was probably the most outspoken person here on why this was a bad idea. In retrospect, I should have just waited for Rush to implode. He was bound to say something stupide like that eventually.

Of course, now we'll have to put up with all the ditto-brains coming out about how "The Man" is keeping Rush down and how the "PC thugs" brought him down.

[sianews]

Show's the hyprocricy in the media alright... Dusty Baker makes a blantintly racist comment and the whole thing blows over within 24 hours. Rush Limbaugh makes a questionable statment and after 48 hours of non stop headline news, not only do they force him to resign, they are coming out with drug abuse allegations! (see drudge)

[CamEdwards]

Originally posted by kcchief19
When you think about, who is really surprised by this? Didn't we all see this coming? I was probably the most outspoken person here on why this was a bad idea. In retrospect, I should have just waited for Rush to implode. He was bound to say something stupide like that eventually.

Of course, now we'll have to put up with all the ditto-brains coming out about how "The Man" is keeping Rush down and how the "PC thugs" brought him down.

Only if you listen to the show, kc.

[Swaggs]

I guess the sports media is left-leaning, as well.

EDIT--I heard that from an except from Rush's show played on MSNBC.

[Sharpieman]

Originally posted by sianews
Show's the hyprocricy in the media alright... Dusty Baker makes a blantintly racist comment and the whole thing blows over within 24 hours. Rush Limbaugh makes a questionable statment and after 48 hours of non stop headline news, not only do they force him to resign, they are coming out with drug abuse allegations! (see drudge)

Um thats because Black people have been persecuted for hundreds of years and white people have done the persecuting.

[ISiddiqui]

So it's ok for blacks to be racist .

More equality for some?

[damnMikeBrown]

Now, if we could slip Sterling back into his chair. . . Somebody, send some more Crack & "Dancers" over to Irvin's place before show time.

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by BoneGavel
for those that hate Rush, you can be satisfied to know that I'm sure this pained him greatly because he loves football. He talks about it constantly on the AIR and, knowing his love of talking and giving his opinion, the countdown was probably a dream come true for him.

So, all you Rush haters can rejoice.

Not that two wrongs make a right but I'm sure much of what he's said on the air has pained many people greatly.

That said, this is a lot like trying to put Dennis Miller on MNF- it was an interesting idea but it just didn't work. Liberal, conservative, nothing- they are football outsiders. Then again, I'd prefer a Dennis Miller/Rush Limbaugh booth on MNF to having Madden slobber through another night and he's considered a football announcing god by the average moron.

SI

[Chief Rum]

Originally posted by Sharpieman
Um thats because Black people have been persecuted for hundreds of years and white people have done the persecuting.

I'm sorry, but that's some of the biggest load of crap I have ever read on this board.

A racist is a racist. It isn't justified in any circumstances, no matter who the racist is or the color of his skin.

CR

[Arles]

I think that the whole race thing was blown out of proportion. First of all, Rush should know better than to throw this kind of easy soundbite to his critics. So, you have to wonder why he would even say something like this.

But, let's actually look at the comments in their entirety (something very few have been willing to do). Rush said that the media had invested a great deal of capital in McNabb and wanted him to succeed. Therefore, they would be more willing to "embellish" his ability to keep the story going. He then went on to make a very good parallel (that hasn't gotten any mention) of a white QB in the same situation named Kurt Warner.

Now, I disagree on his point as I think that McNabb is a hell of a QB. But I don't consider Rush a racist for this opinion. Especially since his examples for additional cases of media favoritism went to white QBs as well.

The bigger issue is the pressure from left-leaning organizations and individuals against anyone with an opinion that they don't agree with. It's not "let's debate and let Americans come to their own conclusions", it's let's silence that opinion and fire Rush from ESPN. I wonder what the NAACP and the democratic presidential candidates would say if a conservative group came out and wanted a liberal radio DJ fired that spoke ill about Pro Life.

I have a feeling they wouldn't be very happy if that man got fired for his comments. For examples of this, look at the dixie chicks and the outcry on the left for the boycott against them.

I think you let people vote with their pocketbooks. If the criticism against Rush was legitimate, he would lose credibility and people would turn to something else. Just like with the chicks. But, the answer is not to strongarm ESPN or some concert arena and prevent them from being able to voice their opinion.

If we are going to voice tolerance as a goal, you have to be tolerant of differing opinions as well and hope that, in the long run, your argument will win based on merit, and not because it is the only one allowed to be heard.

Arlie

[mckerney]

Originally posted by Sharpieman
Um thats because Black people have been persecuted for hundreds of years and white people have done the persecuting.

No reason to allow racism. Racism is just as wrong no matter by who or against who.

And in the words of Ben Folds: "It wasn't my idea"

[pjstp20]

Originally posted by Sharpieman
Um thats because Black people have been persecuted for hundreds of years and white people have done the persecuting.

Please, take this argument and stick it in a place where you cannot retrive it. . Last I heard it was EQUALITY, not let others slide because of past injustices commited by dead men. Sianews makes a good point don't belittle it with this idiotic logic.

I've never persecuted anyone, so I'm not gonna bite my tounge for something I didn't do. I have just as much a right to be offended by Baker's comments as an African American has a right to be offended by Rush's, and both should be treated with equal disdain amoung the general public and the media. Neither should be brushed off, nor should there be this media frenzy. But since we live in such PC times this and affermitive action is what we get. Baker should have been roasted just as bad as Limbaugh.

[Arles]

Originally posted by pjstp20
Baker should have been roasted just as bad as Limbaugh.

Funny, I think neither should have been "roasted" at all.

Arlie

[pjstp20]

I feel the same way, I'm just saying Rush should have been granted the same impunity given to Baker. But if your gonna run Rush through the ringer for this, the same should have been done to Baker.

[Arles]

Originally posted by pjstp20
I feel the same way, I'm just saying Rush should have been granted the same impunity given to Baker. But if your gonna run Rush through the ringer for this, the same should have been done to Baker.

Fair enough, but I think people need to lighten up overall. And while I am not normally in the "media conspiracy" camp, I think the media did a lot to hype up both statements. I heard the full comments from both Rush and Baker. I don't know how any logical person can get all "hot and bothered" by either. Baker's were completely in jest while killing time and Rush was using a little hyperbole to make the point that McNabb's status as a top black QB meant the media was very reluctant to criticize his overall play.

While both were a little over the top, neither were anything I would get worked up about.

Arlie

[HornedFrog Purple]

Ok Arles, I'll tackle it. By the way, when I posted the thing in the first place it cracked me up.. it still does.

Why did Rush feel the need to point out McNabb was black?

Since according to Rush, McNabb is embellished to the point of being overrated, why did he decide to let us all know after an 0-2 start? I mean if a guy is overrated, he is overrated. Right?

I bet you my bottom dollar if Philly is 2-0, Rush doesn't say that.

Hell if he felt that way, say it on opening day. What's the difference?

As far as the media protecting the black QB that is garbage. I can't tell you how many media guys down here continue to bash Quincy after 2 wins.

[Kodos]

Should he be referred to as Rush The Greek now?

[McSweeny]

i don't really see how Rush was being racist or making a racially charged statement. All he said was that the media was pushing for a black QB to be a success right? Is it so wrong to point that out? It may or may not be true, but it seems like a plausable thing to discuss doesn't it?

[j51]

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, unless you are a white male, aged 18-55.

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by j51
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, unless you are a white male, aged 18-55.

Being a white male aged 18-55, I feel this way sometimes, but no one made a law saying he can't say what he did. However, he is facing the consequences of what he said, right or wrong. This is all happening in the private sector and no one is carting him off to jail or putting him in front of congress. He has the right to free speech and he is facing the consequences of exercising said free speech and the government is doing nothing either direction.

SI

[Axxon]

Ok, wait a minute. The network knew what he was going to say, instructed the other commentators not to comment on his statements and now when theres some IMHO predictable negative feedback they come back with :

"Wednesday night, ESPN issued a statement that, in part, read, "We have communicated to Mr. Limbaugh that his comments were insensitive and inappropriate."

That's total horse crap and likely the reason he decided to quit. I think Rush got hosed on this one.

FWIW, I don't agree with what Rush said but I certainly don't believe it to be a racist remark either. I've thought and read about it quite a bit and I'm not seeing the racism. I'm not surprised that opportunists would just fall all over themselves just to climb the bash Rush bus though.

I can't get over the way the network handled this. Surely they had to anticipate something like this. This wasn't a spur of the moment quote, it was a planned segment. Makes no sense at all. Makes me wonder if there wasn't something behind the scenes going on.

[Axxon]

Originally posted by HornedFrog Purple
Ok Arles, I'll tackle it. By the way, when I posted the thing in the first place it cracked me up.. it still does.

Why did Rush feel the need to point out McNabb was black?

Since according to Rush, McNabb is embellished to the point of being overrated, why did he decide to let us all know after an 0-2 start? I mean if a guy is overrated, he is overrated. Right?

I bet you my bottom dollar if Philly is 2-0, Rush doesn't say that.

Hell if he felt that way, say it on opening day. What's the difference?

As far as the media protecting the black QB that is garbage. I can't tell you how many media guys down here continue to bash Quincy after 2 wins.

My take is that it isn't such an important issue to him that it would stand out on opening day. After a bad start, all eyes were on McNabb and he gave the issue some thought. I don't think he searched out McNabb I think McNabbs bad start came TO him in other words.

Peter King wrote an article blasting Rush but in it he said that SI had sent him to find out "what's wrong with Donovan" and I'd say it's the same thing. Nothing unusual here.

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by Axxon
Ok, wait a minute. The network knew what he was going to say, instructed the other commentators not to comment on his statements and now when theres some IMHO predictable negative feedback they come back with :

Where was it said that the network instructed other commentators not to comment on it? I haven't seen this anywhere, but I havent' been following the story that closely.

As for the network protecting Rush, yes protecting him, because that's what you are asking them to do with these comments, let's see... they want ratings, a huge controversy about racism that stirs up all kinds of publicity for them, the fact that Rush is smart enough to know what he's saying and he's not a little kid- c'mon. ESPN isn't going to censor the guy if he's going to say something that is a PR nightmare for him but will drum up ratings for them. He's an adult and even more, a public figure used to scrutiny: he should know better than to not say something like that.

Yes, the comment was blown out of proportion, but it's not ESPN's job to protect him from himself.

SI

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Axxon

I can't get over the way the network handled this. Surely they had to anticipate something like this. This wasn't a spur of the moment quote, it was a planned segment. Makes no sense at all. Makes me wonder if there wasn't something behind the scenes going on.

Read Chris Berman's comment on this. He read the quote before the show. That means more than he read it at ESPN. They did not find it "insensitive" before it aired. They didn't find it "insensitive" until they came under a firestorm of criticism. Then they did what all corporate toadies do. They caved.

[Axxon]

sterlingice ,

the following link is from ESPN and states that USA today reported it.

Link

Dude, they are his employer. They knew what he was going to say. They let the sentiment go over the air with their full knowledge and forethought and now are trying to cut bait and shaft their own employee.

It's one thing to want ratings and controversy but it's another thing entirely to coldly screw over your own employees. It's self serving and it sucks. It also makes no sense as the show was enjoying higher ratings since he was there. Arguably he was a cause of that. You don't do something like that to your successful employees.

I still think he got screwed.


GrantDawg,

I read the Berman quotes. It's in the link above. I agree that the most likely scenario is the one you put forward but it's also possible that Berman is spinning to protect ESPN.

I was also wondering if the deal maybe just wasn't working out. Maybe Rush wanted out and this was a way to let him out without embarrasing him and generating massive ratings and publicity for both parties in one fell swoop.

This certainly only hurts Rush if he really was enjoying doing football. I'm betting this fiasco earns him more dittoheads than ever. I'm not suggesting, merely contemplating. Remember, at heart I'm a cynical sob.

[daedalus]

Disney don't do bad pub.

[Axxon]

Originally posted by daedalus
Disney don't do bad pub.

Great point.

Do you think behind the scenes some heads may roll at ESPN over this? I just can't believe that they wouldn't anticipate this kind of negative reaction considering the personality and the issue involved. Heck, I'd fire them even if they truly didn't anticipate this because that would show some gross incompetence and lack of understanding of the industry and the public.

[pjstp20]

I actually think Rush has a good point but basing it on race is where he screwed up. I think the media as a whole has overhyped black QBs that have shown the slightest bit of success, but I don't think it was because they were black. Theres numerous examples: Randall Cunningham's first few years, Kordell Stewart's first few years, Donavan McNabb, Steve McNair - the last season and a half, and of course Michael Vick. I think their style of play however, was more of a factor than their race. It's a little more exciting to watch their highlights than the classic drop back and pick apart a defense QB. Sports shows will show tons of highlights of these QBs and the hype begins.

I know Rush is vehemently against some new NFL policies, particularly the "must interview one minority coaching canidate" policy, and maybe he thought the media and the NFL were giving black QBs more credit than they were due in order to make QB a multi race position. I dont know just speculating. To me none of this matters.

[pjstp20]

Dola- seeing one of the most racist organizations in the U.S., the NAACP, comment on this is the epitome of hypocracy.

[Axxon]

Originally posted by pjstp20
Dola- seeing one of the most racist organizations in the U.S., the NAACP, comment on this is the epitome of hypocracy.

You know, I found this :

The NAACP also condemned Limbaugh's remarks, calling them "bigoted and ignorant," and called for the network to fire Limbaugh or at least provide an opposing point of view on the show.

It seems that they are not opposed to providing an opposing point of view which is more moderate than the three democratic presidential candidates who flat out called for his firing.

I guess we're not doing to bad when one of the most racist organizations in the U.S. is more moderate than the presidential contenders. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with providing an opposing point of view. Debate is never a bad thing.

[Axxon]

dola,

In the same story I found this quote. I'm not offering it as an
editorial but it struck me as quite funny so I offer it in jest.

Asked about Limbaugh's comments, Eagles defensive end N.D. Kalu said: "He speaks well, he's well-read, but he's an idiot."

As far as put downs go, this one is actually pretty good.

[cuervo72]

This whole thing just amazes me. I mean, RL said this what, Sunday morning? And here on a football message board the first time I hear anything about this is Wednesday morning (I know HFP posted Tuesday night)? What took so long if it was such a big story?

Then last night I see it's on CNN, NBC, ABC....ABC was great, let me tell you. An ashamed looking Peter Jennings, comparing Limbaugh to Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis. Where did Rush say anything about the inherent abilities of blacks? He didn't. He just said someone was overrated in part because he was black. ABC then said "this about a QB who has lead his team to two championship games". Hasn't Kordell Stewart done this? Hasn't Steve McNair done this? Certainly nobody is calling Stewart overrated these days McNair if anything is underrated (which goes against Limbaugh's theory). Oh, Kurt Warner has been in a couple of NFC Championships too (ok, not the last two), and he's hardly the media darling right now either. ABC also mentioned that "Mr. Limbaugh is a very rich man"...I forget what the rest of the statement was, but why is this relevant?

This whole thing just strikes me as liberals taking an opportunity (which Limbaugh might have thought better about) to attack someone they despise, whether the attack is warranted or not.

[Ksyrup]

I agree, this was not a racist statement. The mention of race in an opinion does not automatically mean a statement is racist. The comments made by Jimmy the Greek and Campaneris - nevermind the fact that they've been echoed by black historian Harry Edwards for the past decade without any backlash - were comments inherent to one's race. In contrast, you could take Rush's comment, substitute, say, "athletical," and he would have been arguing that the media is trying to push an "athletical" QB over your typical stand-in-the-pocket QB. He may be flat wrong, but it's just an opinion, and it is not a commentary, good or bad, on one's race.

It seems to me that while Rush was probably wrong about the media intentionally hyping McNabb or any black QB as "The Great One," his overall point about the media is being proven by the backlash this is creating. Did this really upset millions of people when they heard it, or did hearing about it, then listening to the news media describe how racist it was, cause people to feel as if they were upset about something they likely would have shrugged off two days ago? I may be wrong, but this whole scenario strikes me as not having gained wings by the comments themselves, but the attention it drew from people with a motive to want to see Rush embarrassed.

[Senator]

Color has nothing to do with it and shouldn't have been brought up; pure and simple.

There are plenty of other qualities, good and bad, that make up a man. If he actually thinks the media conspire to elevate a player because of his color, then either he is a huge racist or he is right and we haven't made any strides at all in civil rights and should be very ashamed.

I have always felt that if you let a man be a man, you will see what kind of character he has inside, and then you have all you need to know.

McNabb has been a great QB in Philly, I am still unsure what his beef is with him.

[Ksyrup]

Well, I think his basic opinion is that the "liberal media" and liberals in general are the first to argue for a colorblind society, yet they also go out of their way to point out any issue involving race, legit or not. And so I think that was the base upon which his opinion of the McNabb situation was formed. I'm not saying he was right, but that's how I think he came up with that opinion.

The irony, of course, is that in making that argument, when the majority of football fans clearly didn't see race being a factor at all in the hyping of McNabb (regardless of whether he deserved the hype or not), Rush made himself look no better than the Jesse Jackson's of the world that he chastizes for doing the same thing every day on the radio.

Bottom line - he may be a football fan, but so are a lot of other people who have no business being on a TV talking about it. He should have just politely declined the invite, or made it his goal to talk football and not bring politics into it at all. He could have still been controversial, if that's what he wanted, based strictly on football issues.

[cuervo72]

Hey, howdy Senator! As a Philly fan, yes, I appreciate McNabb as a QB. I don't think he's one of the greatest pure passers in the league, but he makes up for that with his threat as a runner. I'd rather have him then most of the other guys out there.

Ksyrup - funny you should mention Harry Edwards, ABC showed a clip of him last night in their report. I think his opinion was that what Rush said wasn't necessarily racist, but was pretty stupid.

[Mustang]

Wow...

You mean the media ACTUALLY draws attention to the success of an athlete based upon their race? When the hell did this start happening?

Must have started with McNabb recently.. no wait, it was the Williams sisters.. Ichiro.. no.. Tiger.. Umm.. maybe Ray Rhodes/Mike Sherman debate. No.. not that either. Larry Bird? hmm.. no.. no.. Gerry Cooney 'The Great White Hope..' ?

I don't think its any big revelation that people want others to fail or succeed based on various factors - Race, sex, religion, politics, etc. Hell, there is probably a whole slew of people that want American's to return in body bags from Iraq just so Bush looks bad. And while Rush's comments where not well thought out and he should have known better.. I don't think he is racist for it.
Racist term gets thrown around too much and has lost it's meaning.

[Samdari]

Originally posted by kcchief19
Of course, now we'll have to put up with all the ditto-brains coming out about how "The Man" is keeping Rush down and how the "PC thugs" brought him down.

Does he really say this? Is he saying that the chubby, rich, white middle aged white men who hold power in this country are holding him - a chubby, rich, white, middle aged man - down?

[Maple Leafs]

Wow... it doesn't take much to lose your job these days. Are we really still stuck at the point where you can't mention someone's race without getting a pink slip? Didn't we get past that about ten years ago?

I didn't agree with what he said, but that's not a firing offense*. Yeesh.

*When you maintain that you've done nothing wrong, then suddenly resign, and your employer immediately issues a statement saying they're glad you resigned... you didn't resign, you were fired.