ESPN's NFL Show Goes On, With an Apology...not to Rush, of course.

The Cincinnati Enquirer ^ | Oct 5, 2003 | CONNOR ENNIS

[yankeedame]

Oct 5, 3:54 PM EDT

ESPN's NFL Show Goes On, With an Apology

By CONNOR ENNIS
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- ESPN's NFL pregame show returned Sunday with an apology - and without Rush Limbaugh - a week after the commentator's race-tinged comments about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Panelists Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Steve Young and Michael Irvin took criticism from the media, as well as McNabb, for not responding when Limbaugh suggested on the Sept. 28 "Sunday NFL Countdown" show that McNabb was overrated because the media wants to see a black quarterback succeed.

"Do I wish that I had caught it in hindsight? Absolutely," Jackson said Sunday. "Do I regret that I didn't? Yes. But I'm human. Mostly, I regret that I missed it for Donovan McNabb's sake. I regret that."

Limbaugh resigned from the show Wednesday, and later said he was leaving so the sports network's employees would be spared the uproar over his remarks. He denied that his comments were racially motivated.

On Sunday, following a video recap of the happenings of the past week - including a replay of Limbaugh's original comments - the ESPN panelists offered their thoughts on the controversy.

Though they agreed that someone should have responded to Limbaugh right away, Young compared it to viewing game film the week after having missed an open receiver in the end zone.

"We all missed it. I missed it. And the truth is, everyone at ESPN missed it," the former quarterback said.

Berman said: "I have been kicking myself all week."

Jackson criticized the network's decision to bring Limbaugh aboard.

"Rush Limbaugh is known for the divisive nature of his rhetoric," Jackson said. "He creates controversy, and what he said Sunday is the same type of thing that he said on radio for years."

Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show that he didn't think McNabb was as good as perceived from the start.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said. "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."

McNabb, who was outspoken about being disturbed by the lack of argument from the other panelists, didn't seem to be holding a grudge against the network.

Later in the program, he participated in a humorous segment where a woman who follows feng shui said the Eagles new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, had good vibes.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[jonalvy44]

Just an observation, but if you've seen the latest Campbell's commercial starring Donovan McNabb, he and his "mother" chastise some poor white guy over his inability to "choose a proper melon"...

Were a white QB to say to a black guy "show me how to pick a proper melon" it would be deemed racist.

Just my two cents.

[putupon]

How utterly insensitive that he should find humor in this woman's spirituality. He should be fired.

Payback opportunities will happen, book it.

[auggy]

"I say the NFL show's ratings will plummet this season. "

If, it is left up to me, I know it will.

[cryptical]

McNabb appears to be sucking again today, although I wouldn't say it in public because it might be mistaken as racist.

[Boxsford]

Thanks for posting this. I caught the last part of the show and wondered if anything had been said. These men had the chance to stand up and be honest and they failed. Wimps all of them!

Rush's comments about these same men on Friday were gracious and humble. He said he counted them his friends.

[gunnedah]

No they dont, Rush should have his head examined for going on a show with PIMPS.Most of the white people on these shows are nothing more than PIMPS and sports wannabes.They have no first hand knowledge and they pimp for the real atheletes.

[twittle]

You know, I just have to comment on this issue.

The fact is that I just haven't seen the media trying to prop up McNabb.

If you think the media tried to prop up McNabb, then you also have to agree the media tried to prop up Doug Flutie.

Rush did not have to bring up McNabb's race. The show wasn't about that.

Stop defending Rush. He screwed up.

[cubreporter]

"We all missed it. I missed it. And the truth is, everyone at ESPN missed it," the former quarterback said.

COME ON STEVE...YOU EXPECT EVERYONE TO BELIEVE "YOU MISSED IT?"


Berman said: "I have been kicking myself all week."

COME ON CHRIS....SAME TO YOU! yOU HAVE BEEN KICKING YOURSELF ALL WEEK? IT TOOK YOU THAT LONG? JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUNDAY SHOW? GIVE US A BREAK WILL YOU?

Chris "I have been kicking myself all week" Berman!!! No more ESPN for this household.

[willieroe]

Cris Collingsworth during today's Eagles game (just heard): "God bless Donovan McNabb; he's been through so much this week." (Now remember, this is a guy with a $115 million dollar contract.)

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, we'll see who is feeling pain when they lose the 10% in ratings Rush brought them plus 2 more for the way they've treated him. There are other NFL pregame shows available.

[putupon]

Were a white QB to say to a black guy "show me how to pick a proper melon" it would be deemed racist.

I could be mean and insensitive and make a comment about mother McNabb's melons, but I have too much class to say something like that.

[cubreporter]

silly ads anyway.

[twittle]

I don't have any sympathy for McNabb.

Rush was just a complete dumbass for his remarks in THIS forum.

[Akira]

To tell you the truth, I don't know how much it'll hurt them. It was a very strange fit. It's a two hour pre-game show, obviously meant for football fanatics. I love football as much as anybody, but I don't sit through that show or any other for anywhere near that long. My fiance loves Rush and listens to him all she can, but he certainly wasn't going to get her to watch a football pregame show. I think football fanatics will continue to watch and be largely unaffected by all of this. In the end, it will just give liberals more ammunition in their tirades against Rush.

I wish it would hurt ESPN somehow, given that they obviously didn't hire Rush for his football expertise. They got what they wanted, then they tucked tail and ran.

[willieroe]

I responded to your line, "The fact is that I just haven't seen the media trying to prop up McNabb." I doubt that Cris Collinsworth has extended his request for God's blessing to any other NFL player today.

[1L]

I don't have any respect for any of these people. Rush said he developed friendships with each of them, and I believe him. He didn't say an unkind word about any of them last week, but they all turned on him because they couldn't take the heat.

I despise people that can't stand up, rhetorically, to others.

[#3Fan]

Since Berman has decided to join the race-baiters, let me say that he absolutely sucks calling baseball games. I listened to him call one of the Giants-Marlins games and he'd be better off sticking to just doing NFL Primetime.

[sirchtruth]

"Rush Limbaugh is known for the divisive nature of his rhetoric," Jackson said. "He creates controversy, and what he said Sunday is the same type of thing that he said on radio for years."

He creates controversy because idiots like Jackson hate the truth!If I had a nickle for everytime the sports media tried to create victamization for black quaterbacks and black coaches I'd be a friggin' rich bastard! This was a Philadelphia leftwing conspiracy at it's finest and Rush caved because he's a wuss.

What Rush said was in NO WAY racial and these prix at ESPN know it!

Pure unadulterated scam! Oh, and BTW McNabb sux!

[twittle]

Chris Collinsworth is just another media sycophant at this point trying to toe the company line.

The fact is that Rush simply used extremely poor judgement in this matter.

He made a rookie mistake.

[willieroe]

Whatever. Another intercepted pass from McNabb, by the way.