Lurie says ESPN to blame for negative portrayal of NFL

AP | 10/0203 | Dan Gelston

[BurbankKarl]

(yes, the felons playing in the league have nothing to do with it)

Lurie says ESPN to blame for negative portrayal of NFL By Dan Gelston Associated Press

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie today accused ESPN of "institutional racism" for its decision to hire Rush Limbaugh and for the portrayal of NFL players in the fictional series "Playmakers."

ESPN had tarnished its image of being one of the most respected media outlets for NFL coverage for the sake of ratings, Lurie said. The hiring of Limbaugh and the show are examples of "racist potshots" toward the league, he said.

"Some of the events of this week are built with institutional racism," Lurie said. "It exists. Let's not hide it. Let's not make us believe the problem is a single person. It's far from that."

A telephone message seeking comment from ESPN today was not immediately returned.

Limbaugh resigned from the sports network's "Sunday NFL Countdown" late yesterday, three days after saying on the show that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

"We thought we were long past this," Lurie said. "When you hire somebody like that, this is what you're going to get. It wasn't a surprise. You get what you hire."

Limbaugh today said he resigned as an ESPN sports analyst to protect network employees from the uproar over his remarks.

Lurie, however, said the sports network's problem wasn't solved with Limbaugh's resignation. He singled out "Playmakers," ESPN's new series about a fictional professional football team, as promoting racial stereotypes of the league.

ESPN insists the series is a drama. So far, the show has featured the star running back getting a quick cocaine fix 30 minutes before kickoff and outrageous depictions of day-to-day locker room scenarios.

Yesterday, McNabb said he had no ill will toward the network, and was even interested in appearing on "Playmakers."

"I'm still looking for my shot at 'Playmakers,"' he said.

Lurie declined to respond to McNabb's comments.

Some Eagles were upset over the way the professional team is portrayed.

"I'm not respecting ESPN right now as far as 'Playmakers' and the way they stereotype the NFL," said wide receiver Freddie Mitchell. "Eighty percent of the NFL players are African-Americans. It's not what we want for kids growing up to see. You have 12-year-olds watching and they see players doing drugs at halftime. It's not true."

Eagles defensive end Mark Simoneau said the show "doesn't give a good picture of the NFL."

Lurie said black children need to look at McNabb and Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair as role models, not the players depicted on the show.

"They don't deserve to be portrayed like this for quick ratings," Lurie said.

[kinghorse]

my post of the same article was going first if only I did like you and not post a comment :). obviously I checked to see if this was already posted. sorry for the dup mods.

[Ingtar]

McNair is black? Wow! I noticed how good of a quarterback and person he appears to be. I never noticed he was black.

I think McNair is as underrated as McNab is overrated.

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[isthisnickcool]

If pro football never had another game played I would not care. Or notice actually.

[Admin Moderator]

Your thread was posted barely a minute after this one. No apology necessary :-)

[Callahan]

Lurie is a California transplant to Philly. I don't have to guess which party he donates his money too. Lamest thing is that when Donovan was negotiating his deal, he tried pulling some race card stuff for a few procedural knick knacks in the contract. The Eagles called him on it and his agent backed down. Now Lurie is like a "proper" offended liberal.

[Ranger Drew]

You have 12-year-olds watching and they see players doing drugs at halftime. It's not true.

Yeah, what we really want them to learn is how to gang-bang, steal, abuse women, sexually assault, and get off without a penalty.

[Lost Highway]

Eagles defensive end Mark Simoneau said the show "doesn't give a good picture of the NFL."

I was unaware that it was a documentary.

[Callahan]

They only thing kids can learn from Freddie Mitchell is how not to get open.

[Lee'sGhost]

Reality check:

Rush was pointing out the institutional media bias in terms of reports on blacks.

And this guy is whining about the "institutional racism" of ESPN.

And Rush got canned?

[kinghorse]

ESPN equals ABC equals Disney equals Eisner the Toad King of Kingdom of Moral Decay in America today. I resent his targetting of 8 to 12 year olds with these Playmakers previews aired between innings of sporting events like the recently completed Little League World Series.

My children and I didn't tune to ESPN to get an eyeful of crack huffing and whoring when we wanted to watch the 12 year olds play ball. I resent having to stand guard over the remote ready to switch the channel during sporting event breaks. You clowns at ESPN/ABC/Disney deserve our aggregated indignations.

[Lost Highway]

Of course McNair was convicted of a DUI, in Nashville, over the summer.

[HenryLeeII]

Let's see, ESPN thrives as a business venture because of its coverage of the sporting world, of which the NFL is the most popular professional league. So, in order to further its profits and ensure its future existence, ESPN tries to destroy the NFL's credibility. This makes as much sense as giving a QB with a 77.5 lifetime rating a $110M contract!

[kesg]

Yet one more reason to hate the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hey, Beagles fans, this is for you:

[HenryLeeII]

...and let's not forget participating in a double murder, fleeing the scene, destroying evidence, and then lying to the police in the initial reports.

[smith288]

So their racist policy of forced black interviews is ESPNs fault as well as Rush Limbaughs? Wow, they sure got a lesson of Jesse Jackson syndrome.

[bird4four4]

How come no one in the press has jumped all over Greg for this comment...

the business of portraying athletes in an African-American sport

Is football an African American sport? Since when? I never knew that. Why isn't he asked to step down?

[Timesink]

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing your Philadelphia Eagles Racebaiters!

[bird4four4]

Sorry not Greg laurie, Jeff Laurie. Dumby