Posted on 09/08/2005 11:28:33 AM PDT by schaketo
The National Football League is refusing to punt Kanye West, despite the rapper's controversial trashing of President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina.
The NFL stood by the hip-hop star Tuesday at a Los Angeles press conference announcing the talent lineup for the upcoming Opening Kickoff special this Thursday.
The roster still includes the Chicago-based rapper, who made waves Friday when he ignored the TelePrompTer and lashed out at the White House response to hurricane victims during NBC's live telethon, saying " George Bush doesn't care about black people."
The network edited out West's remark from the West Coast rebroadcast and hastily issued a press release that said that the "Gold Digger" rapper's "opinions in no way represent the views of the network."
West was asked several times to comment on his remarks at the NFL press conference, but declined to address the issue, saying that between the hurricane and the controversy, it created "a lot of pressure for one human being."
"I don't want to detract from the show at all, because it's entertainment, and a lot of times, in a time of need, we need entertainment to lift people's spirits," West added.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy, meanwhile, told the Los Angeles Times that West "expressed an unscripted opinion." Performers, McCarthy said, were selected "for their entertainment value, not their political views."
Steve Brener, a rep for the event, did not yet know what songs West is planning to perform during his "medley," aside from a version of "Heard 'Em Say," but it's a safe bet the Time magazine cover subject will not be performing the new track "Crack Music," in which he raps, "Who gave Saddam anthrax?/George Bush got the answers."
In any case, West's performance will be taped 20 minutes before the show comes on live, then will be edited into the telecast.
Some football fans are having an increasingly difficult time buying the league's position regarding halftime and preshow talent tapped by the NFL in its quest to lure increasingly a younger and more diverse demographic.
Last month, many pigskin faithful of the conservative ilk were outraged that the league was launching a campaign featuring the Rolling Stones, whose latest release, A Bigger Bang, features a scathing indictment of the Bush administration in the form of the track "Sweet Neo Con."
The Los Angeles Times suggested the league hasn't learned any lessons after suffering backlash in the wake of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" incident last year or Nicollette Sheridan's towel-dropping segment preceding a Monday Night Football game last November.
Perhaps it's easier for the NFL to back West now that the Grammy-winning artist is the hottest thing in music.
His new album, Late Registration, will top the charts with sales close to 900,000 when Nielsen SoundScan releases its weekly report Wednesday.
Aside from West, Good Charlotte, Rihanna and Maroon 5 will also play the Opening Kickoff special, which takes place at the Los Angeles Coliseum Thursday. The free event begins at 2:30 p.m. PT, with portions airing live and on tape during the 5-6 p.m. pregame on ABC. The season kicks off at 6 p.m. with the Oakland Raiders taking on the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, West is putting his words into action regarding Hurricane Katrina. He will perform on BET's S.O.S. (Saving Ourselves) benefit on Friday and then join the Stones, Kelly Clarkson and Paul McCartney for the ReAct Now: Music & Relief special on MTV, VH1 and CMT this Saturday.
NOt those who actually WATCH football. And who cares what the perpetually pissed off whine about?
The fact that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson even get on TV is proof that the MSM will do anything, ANYTHING.......to harm Bush's gains in the Black Community.
Name one person who has been a better friend to Blacks, put Blacks in the highest Cabinet postions and advisory roles and who has consistently reached out to that community than the Bush Family. This includes blacks!
I watch football - professional and college. I think West is an idiot and disgusting human being for using a fundraiser to voice is uneducated opinion. I don't think the NFL should pull him because of it. He had a right to say it. We have a right to criticize him for it. What right does the NFL have to break a contract?
WHAT?????????????? Am I reading this right, the NFL is standing with that idiot West????? HUH??????????? What does THAT say about the NFL....interesting indeed.
BOYCOTT the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most of those who watch football, don't care one way or the other. How many people even watch the preshow anyway? This is not the Super Bowl, where everyone is watching including those who never watch football but want to see the commercials- which is why Janet Jackson's incident was taken seriously by the NFL.
if he didn't he would have been fired, plain and simple.
My friend seems you've been buying what the MSM would have you believe about Blacks. They are not a monolithic group who practice group-think while waiting for a handout. All Blacks don't see republicans as the enemy. Visit a Black church and you'll find many conservatives. Go to your nearest military installation and you'll find many Black conservatives. The media won't show them to you but trust me they are there. While you're at it look around in here and you just may be surprised.
" George Bush doesn't care about black people."
That's OK! I don't care about the NFL or ABC and even less about Kanye West. Who is Kanye West? What is Kanye West? I never heard of kanye west before this week.
These's too much money in the NFL and many of their players are just glorified, overpaid gorillas. The game has lost its connection with mainstream America. They have been misled by their own PR. I predict this season will show a decline in audience and game attendence.
I never said a thing about a boycott. My points on this thread have only been directed at the racism one way street.
My friend. I am not misguided in any sense of the word. My point, was yours exactly. My wife is black and therefore half of my family. Including my child to be who will be bi-racial. My wife and her entire family are Conservative, so I am drawing on their feedback, comments and experience as well as my own.
Trust me, I know I'm not in the majority among my own fan base.
*rolls eyes*
As trite as "why did the chicken cross the road".
Hehe...maybe, but the Pats are gonna whip their butts tonight.
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