How Rush Limbaugh gave America its Sundays back

American Thinker ^ | 10-18-09 | Neil Braithwaite

[smoothsailing]

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October 18, 2009

How Rush Limbaugh gave America its Sundays back

By Neil Braithwaite

Ever since I can remember, from my days as a young boy sitting beside my dad perched in front of the old black and white 25" console, to just last week watching my high-def 42" flat screen television, pro football has been the essence of my fall and winter Sundays. I'm sure this is also true for countless milions of other men across this great land.

But for many pro football loving men this past week, that came to a halt faster than the Cowboys' Walt Garrison on the goal line when hit by Washington Redskins' Kenny Houston on October 8, 1973. Go Redskins!

So what would persuad thousands of armchair quarterbacks to put down their remotes and walk away from their split-screen NFL Sunday utopias -- cold turkey?

Was it because the pro football game has gotten so boring and predictable? Did all their wives finally put their collective feet down? No. Countless men addicted to the NFL are walking away from pro football this week as a direct result of what transpired in the media during Rush Limbaugh's attempt to become a minority NFL owner.

Rush Limbaugh has attracted many male listeners over the years because of his staunch conservative views, unabashed humor and unapologetic manly attitude. It all makes for great male bonding. But the one thing that helps form a special bond between the big guy and many of his male listeners is Rush's love for pro football.

Rush is known for being a very passionate guy, so when he corroborated the story that he was a minority partner in a group trying to purchase the St. Louis Rams, he must have had some serious "game day" butterflies. Rush's pro football-loving listeners share his passion, so when they found out about his bid to become an NFL owner, they immediately began to root for their competitive friend to win. Go Rush!

Most Rush listeners know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would not only be great for the St. Louis Rams' organization and its players, but also ultimately be great for the NFL. They know that Rush is a strong competitor and would bring that "must win" attitude to the NFL. His love and respect for the game, its players and organizations have been on display for all America since his radio talk show became syndicated in August 1988. If Rush had become an NFL owner, many of his loyal listeners would have to enlarge their sentimental NFL team base to include the St. Louis Rams just because of Rush. Go Rush -- go Rams!

It was inevitable however, that Rush would get some flack about his stint as a commentator on ESPN and the whole Donovan McNabb story, but no one expected what ultimately transpired in the media because of his minority ownership bid.

In retrospect, the vicious and slanderous attacks that poured out on Rush from the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were to be expected. These two guys never miss an opportunity to sling a little racial slander and grab some limelight. But several liberals in the news media decided to get on board the slander train and that's when things started getting out of hand. Then some current and former NFL players along with a select group of the sports media decided to jump into the Rush feeding frenzy and things really began to go overboard. This band of ignorant and slanderous liberals attributed unthinkable racial statements to Rush without any definitive proof. The angry mob's accusations ultimately led to Rush's removal from the group bidding for the St. Louis NFL franchise.

But the story doesn't end there. Not one NFL owner or representative came out to denounce the uncivil tone and unfounded slanderous attacks made against Rush, who, as if they were too ignorant to know, happened to be one of the NFL's biggest supporters as well as a prospective owner. It was the ultimate responsibility of the NFL's commissioner, Roger Goodell, to put a stop to this nonsense. But did Goodell step forward? No. In fact, he did just the opposite and climbed on the slander train himself by saying that "divisive comments" would not be welcome in the league. Goodell's statement was reprehensible and became the straw the broke the camel's back for countless thousands of Rush supporters. It was game over -- adios NFL!

Unlike the NFL, in the game of life there are not always clearly defined winners and losers. However, in this tragic situation there are a few of each. The biggest losers are the NFL and the St. Louis Rams, who lost an opportunity to have an awesome new competitor and minority owner. The merry host of media slander slingers also lost the last bit of respect anyone may have ever had for them. And America just lost a little of what makes her the greatest country in the world -- civility, respect and fairness. Rush Limbaugh, on the other hand, became a big winner in the eyes of his loyal listeners for the responsible and dignified manner in which he handled the whole situation.

But the biggest winners of all are the thousands of families throughout America who just got their husbands and fathers back on Sundays. Picnic anyone?

Neil Braithwaite is a Real Estate Broker and writer in Charlotte, NC. He writes political commentary and satire and is a regular contributor to PoliticalDerby.com. 

Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/how_rush_limbaugh_gave_america.html at October 18, 2009 - 01:16:21 AM EDT

[discostu]

Which is why I’m a fan of the Jerry Rice style players.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Geraldo, like Larry King, believes that only whites can be racist, because only whites have the power to implement racist policies.

The Race Game is reaching a tipping point. There's going to be one of two outcomes. Whites are going to decide that "Civil Rights" was all just a hustle and a scam to take their property. Or there's going to be a huge backlash against anyone promoting these racial scams.

[SouthTexas]

Agreed.

I always said there is more action, more drive, more determination, and more effort in grandson’s munckin football games than the NFL.

[discostu]

You didn’t know about TV timeouts? I knew about TV timeouts when I was 10, before I even attended my first live game. Every sport has TV timeouts. Sports is business, every level of sports is business, from little league through high school and college to the major leagues and detouring through the various adult versions of little league, somebody is always making a buck on it and is only involved FOR the buck.

NBA basketball is boring, too many dunks not enough basic skill. I stopped watching the game when league wide free throw percentage dropped below 30, and I’m not coming back until it’s up over 60, I figure at that point the fundamental skills of the game will be back. Meanwhile NCAA b-ball still know how to throw the ball into the hoop.

The business of sports doesn’t bother me or distract me from the entertainment of the game. Sometimes it even heightens my entertainment, a consider much of capitalism to be a spectator sport in it’s own right, so things like watching Coors blow a ton of money to become the official beer of the NFL and get NOTHING for it (because beer sales are determined by stadium, almost all of which have major contracts with AB) amuse me.

Well it’s time for the bike ride, should be back and showered in time for the kick off. It’s another NFL Football Sunday.

[MinuteGal]

If you watch or don't watch a football game this weekend it has no bearing on the "Neilsen ratings".

You have to be part of the company's MO....i.e. you must have a Neilsen meter or some type of diary system to record your viewing habits over a period of time.

How would a company know what you're watching in any given time period....it boggles the mind that some people think Neilsen "antennas" pick up gamma rays or something from nationwide TV sets and then are able to break the signals down by channels.....LOL.

So, unless you're in participation with the Neilsen company in some way, you can watch the football game this weekend without lining your closed drapes with tinfoil.....and no one will be the wiser.

I'll not watch a game strictly out of principle and in moral support of Rush who is selfless in his support of this country.

Leni

[jellybean]

You really believe Rush is stupid enough to put millions into a pool and not know who ALL the partners are?

So, now you call Rush a liar? Do Rush haters have any sense of shame? Is there any boundary you won't cross to malign the man?

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Generally I agree w/you (except for the Rush part, whom IMO is simply a genius and his “ego” stuff is 75% self-deprecation)

First, I absolutely agree that *every* football fan would like their football served politics-free. They’d like it served off-field violence-free, dogfight free, and murder-free. I believe that sports, generically, is where the races mix and get along better than virtually anywhere. Though I am not a sports fan, I recognize that it’s a wonderful piece of escapism that starts and ends and has a decisive conclusion. Those two elements aren’t widely available elsewhere.

But as to the potential conservative reaction to this dustup...while Rush was the trigger, I don’t believe Conservatives will soft or hard boycott the NFL out of pure loyalty to Rush. This dust-up was an attack on Conservativism that showed two things: That there is (yet another) fetid reservoir of bias against them and 2: that this bias will resort to the basest kind of slander to further its’ aims, while appearing to allow the likes of Al Sharpton to lead the parade.

That is going to be a bridge too far, IMHO. It’s not out of fan loyalty to Rush on a personality basis. It’s a trifecta insult to Conservative ideas and ideals. It won’t be a matter of wanting to hurt the NFL out of spite. It’s more a matter of being personally insulted and I think the wounds will take some time to heal.

[Trailerpark Badass]

“care”

[jazusamo]

And America just lost a little of what makes her the greatest country in the world -- civility, respect and fairness.

That is very well said.

My interest in the NFL has been waning for 10 or 12 years due to the increasing numbers of players that are poor examples for our young people.

This pathetic example of Goodell, owners, coaches and players not only not trying to stop this character assassination but adding to it is the final straw, I'm no longer a fan of any team.

[discostu]

I’m simply calling it like it is. He’s either dumb for putting millions into a billion dollar deal without bother to find out who he’s getting into bed with, or he’s BSing and saying he didn’t know who he was getting into bed with. There really is no reason for a “silent” partnership in an NFL team purchase, if the bid goes far enough for an ownership vote all names must be revealed.

I don’t hate Rush and I’m not maligning anybody, just speaking the truth.

[discostu]

I don’t care what other people watch. But I don’t like the holier than thou ego a lot of boycotters display, so I point out the fib behind chest thump.

[Mac from Cleveland]

Michael Vick—welcome back!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick

Lawrence Phillips—it’s all good:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Phillips

Ray Lewis—it’s cool, bruvahman:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Lewis

Pacman Jones—ain’t no thing but a chicken wing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacman_Jones

But—Rush Limbaugh????

are you kidding?

/sarc

[j_tull]

I’m with you. If Rush is still a fan, so am I.

[jellybean]

I’m simply calling it like it is. He’s either dumb for putting millions into a billion dollar deal without bother to find out who he’s getting into bed with, or he’s BSing and saying he didn’t know who he was getting into bed with. There really is no reason for a “silent” partnership in an NFL team purchase, if the bid goes far enough for an ownership vote all names must be revealed.

From Rush's explanation it sounds like Soros may have come in (if he is indeed part of this group-nothing has been corroborated) after his (Rush's) deal had already been struck:

Mr. Checketts is not the primary partner here. The NFL has a rule that the primary owner has to have 30% equity in the team, and our group lost our 30% equity guy, and we had to scramble and find a new one, and I was told who it was, but now I'm wondering if it was Soros and I wasn't told.

Either you didn't read Rush's explanation or you think he's lying. I don't know this Checketts guy, but it's plausible he may have kept Rush in the dark concerning Soros, suspecting Rush may back out of the deal if he was the majority owner.

[discostu]

If that’s the truth then Rush needs to be paying more attention on his deals. If you’ve got millions in a deal and there’s even the slightest possibility that you don’t know all the players you screwed up, period.

I’m not accusing Rush of anything. I’m simply pointing out the implications of the facts. If you don’t like those implications that’s not my problem. I don’t really care one way or the other, no part of this event will change my life in the least, my NFL and Rush levels will remain identical. But facts are facts, and the facts are that either Rush knew he was in a deal with Soros or he was doing a poor job of due diligence.

[OldPossum]

Although I agree that there was a conspiracy to shaft Rush, it’s had no effect on the OldPossum’s television viewing habits (next to non-existent anyway).

I find football in all its forms uninteresting. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see any football game ever played.

[TigersEye]

Goodell's statement was reprehensible and became the straw the broke the camel's back for countless thousands of Rush supporters. It was game over -- adios NFL!

What article did you read?

[bmwcyle]

I see there is still too many Freepers addicted to Football.

Boycott Football

[Terpfen]

If ratings are down, there are many reasons more likely than a boycott: the economy (teams have had trouble selling out stadiums dating back to last season), bad matchups/games (Browns/Steelers outcome was never in doubt, Bills/Jets is a stinker, Titans/Patriots is snowed, etc), things like that.

It would take a massive cratering for anyone to even begin to fathom that there’s a boycott happening.

[Terpfen]

it's just his ego that's a little out of whack to me

If you think he's got an ego, you never listened in the first place.