Posted on 10/16/2009 9:01:21 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The concern and negativity expressed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Indianapolis Colts' owner Jim Irsay, and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith over Rush Limbaugh potentially becoming a limited owner for the St. Louis Rams was certainly the right thing to do from a public relations standpoint.
And it certainly accomplished its goal, as Dave Checketts essentially had no choice but to drop Limbaugh from his group that is interested in the franchise, which he did last week.
But from a business standpoint, it sends a bad message to prospective owners and could end up hurting the league’s bottom line as a whole.
Not only was the potential for an overlooked team that lacked tradition in St. Louis to become meaningful in the eyes of NFL fans everywhere discarded, but Limbaugh’s tremendous platform that could have been used to promote the league was also lost.
Limbaugh’s job description and resume as a conservative shock-jock speak for themselves, and stating that you want President Barack Obama to fail and insinuating that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is overrated because he is black are not the best things to say if you want to become a part of the increasingly P.R. conscious NFL.
But Goodell and Irsay seemed to focus more on what Limbaugh has said, than to whom he has said it to.
Millions and millions of people, many of who like him and many who despise him, and more importantly, many longtime NFL customers combined with those who could not care less for the sport.
I don’t know how having Limbaugh as an owner would have hurt teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, who can’t sell out their stadiums, because Limbaugh could have been the Jerry Jones of owners for liberal sports fans everywhere.
And I also don’t know how it wouldn’t have increased the value of the NFL’s TV and cable contracts, its advertising spots, and the amount of Rams' merchandise sold across the country.
Advertisers gobble up spots for Limbaugh’s radio show, why wouldn’t they do the same for games featuring a team owned by him?
And the notions that Limbaugh being a minority owner for the Rams would have hurt the team’s ticket sales and resulted in players refusing to sign with the franchise are false.
If there is one thing that fans do best, it's separate their teams from their owners.
Clippers' owner Donald Sterling has admitted to paying for sex and has been accused of housing discrimination, but that doesn’t stop the team’s small number of loyal fans from showing up at the Staples Center.
And Lions fans still support their team sufficiently even after years of poor ownership by the Ford family.
It's easy for players to say that they wouldn’t have taken Limbaugh’s money now, but I don’t know if that would have ultimately been the case.
ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen said it himself when talking about the subject: “Money talks.”
Is the NFL powerful enough to continue to be the most successful professional sports league in America without Limbaugh?
Obviously.
MLS commissioner Don Garber and the NHL’s Gary Bettman would have played Russian roulette with Andrei Kirilenko if it meant having an owner with the shrewd marketing skills and audience that Limbaugh possesses, and would have put up with all of his potential Mark Cuban-type moments on the radio because of that.
The NFL is not the MLS nor the NHL.
But with that said, perhaps the biggest consequence of Goodell and Irsay writing off Limbaugh so quickly will be revealed in the near future when current owners try to sell their teams.
There are only so many multimillionaires with squeaky clean reputations that are interested in becoming an NFL owner.
Former CEOs of insurance companies, Russian oligarchs, and Saudi princes may prefer to spend their money on an NBA or European soccer team instead of making a bid for an NFL franchise at the risk of their character being publicly criticized.
In a league where teams can be worth more than a billion dollars, that could cost an owner millions.
Why does anyone give a sh#t about what Sharpton thinks? The man is a literal GD idiot!
Thinking you are going to appease Al Charlitan over a proven and *actually* powerful Rush, it borders on insanity.
NFL! Who do you think is going to win?
I did not pay for the ticket.
Is that OK?
I like the NFL. I like it a lot.
I seriously doubt that FReepers are going to be winning Hearts & Minds by encouraging folks to boycott the NFL. That is seriously pissing against the wind.
Rush does not get to own a piece of the action. So what?
He don't care about that. He don't need it. He does however raise a lot of capital by getting shut out of this deal. Oh Yes. Yes indeed.
Limbaugh is more brilliant than folks seem to realize, even out here on FR.com
My view is the NFL should hire the employees that can perform the job best. I have no problem with Vick or any other player.
My problem is that the NFL led by Goodell said they don’t want people with views like mine around. I am always happy to leave where I am not wanted. I would think any conservative who is serious about being conservative would be happy to leave where they are not wanted.
They’ll never get another dime out of me, I know that much.
Dittos.
Every Christmas I buy my Packers fan son different team items. Not this year, or any year hereafter.
True, if you have a cable box they know what your watching. That's why I will not be watching this Sunday (not just talking about a boycott, but doing it). I'm sure it's going to kill me but I'm really tired of the BS and at this point it really isn't about Limbaugh, it's about me.
If you really think this is about Limbaugh your missing the point, it’s really a much bigger issue. I’m not sure Limbaugh really even gets it.
FU NFL.
I’m not here to tell you what or what not to do with your time or money! That’s why we’re conservatives, we know that each individual makes those determinations!
I am gradually getting tired of the NFL. The 16 game season is long enough with all of the pregame hotair, bad announcers, and games that last til midnight east coast time.
College basketball practice starts this week. A sport I find worth watching.
Both seem innocuous on the surface, but below, a sinister act is taking place. To borrow from the boxing world, there's a horseshoe in somebody's glove, and it ain't the conservative's.
Though the judges may score this as a hit, it's way below the belt and they know it. Anyone with a problem will have to drink beer with the President to get it resolved. Or not. "Screw you, we won."
I just like watching the NFL. I especially like watching the Patriots.
Isn't this thread about Limbaugh and the NFL?
I like them both.
I think that you`re missing a fundamental point.
I like football because I played it myself, and I made a few great plays. My teams won games because of what I did. Me! I made great plays. ME! I did it.
Do you not understand that?
I think that Rush "gets it" more than most.
I wish that I could explain it better.
Yep. It was just a waste of my time anyway. To hell with them. I hope Limbaugh sues the NFL and every media outlet that libeled and defamed him.
Inunddate Goodell, Checketts, and Irsay with letters explaining why you’re boycotting the NFL.
As others had noted - it’s a still free America - so far anyway, so enjoy while you can - likewise it’s not about “supporting” Rush
_________________________________________________
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— (the Conservative) and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Maybe Rush just needs to torture some dogs. Then all will be forgiven.
Rush - Wall St Journal (opinion) - via Drudge
The Race Card, Football and Me
My critics would have you believe no conservative meets NFL ‘standards.’
I have not payed much attention to the NFL since the greatest backfield ever, Bart Starr, Jimmy Taylor and Paul Hornung, left/retired from the Green Bay Packers.
I still think the UBS crap swept under the rug is still in play.
It is a thug league of criminals and reverse racists. Mindless entertainment with thugs. Enjoy it.
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