Limbaugh stands by McNabb race remarks

AP | 10/01/03 | ROB MAADDI

[kattracks]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rush Limbaugh insisted Wednesday he had "no racist intent whatsoever" in saying the media have overrated the Philadelphia Eagles' Donovan McNabb because they want to see a black quarterback succeed.

In fact, the conservative commentator said he must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage.

Limbaugh offered no apology, and McNabb said it was too late for one anyway.

"I'm sure he's not the only one that feels that way, but it's somewhat shocking to actually hear that on national TV," the NFL star said. "An apology would do no good because he obviously thought about it before he said it."

Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show that he did not think McNabb was as good as he was perceived to be.

"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."

Limbaugh did not back down during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.

He reiterated that he does not think McNabb is a bad player, just that he isn't as good as some members of the media think he is.

"This is such a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "There's no racism here, there's no racist intent whatsoever."

"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," he said. "If I wasn't right there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark said Limbaugh should be fired. The retired Army general called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech."

The NFL disclaimed any responsibility for Limbaugh's remarks.

"ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," league vice president Joe Browne said. "ESPN selects its on-air talent, not the NFL."

ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle said he did not believe the comments were racially biased. "He was comparing McNabb's performance on the field to his reputation in the media," Nagle said.

Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, said he did not believe Limbaugh's tone or intent was malicious. "As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," he said. "I probably should have looked to soften it."

McNabb, who was runner-up for the MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight conference championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability. "I know I played badly the first two games," he said.

But McNabb said that the comments about his race were out of bounds and added that someone on the show should have taken Limbaugh on. Among the other panelists were former players Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson, both of whom are black.

"I'm not pointing at anyone but someone should have said it," McNabb said of the panelists, who also include Berman and Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."

A decade ago, there were few black quarterbacks in the NFL. This season, 10 of the 32 teams will have started black quarterbacks in at least one game.

Limbaugh has helped increase the ratings for "Sunday NFL Countdown." Nagle said ratings are up 10 percent overall. Sunday's show drew its biggest audience in the regular season since 1996.

Limbaugh is the radio host of the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.

[jungleboy]

Damn it Rush! Since the Steelers suk this year, Rush has got to go talk race issue instead of football here in week 4!. HEY RUSH, leave my FOOTBALL season alone with your politics!! Wait till the season's over.

[ServesURight]

McNabb, who was runner-up for the MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight conference championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability. "I know I played badly the first two games," he said.

Even McNabb himself takes responsibility for his mediocre play!! Stupid liberal assholes keep playing the race card -THANK YOU RUSH FOR NOT BACKING DOWN TO THESE PUKES....

[Axman4]

We didn't like it when Dennis Miller was injecting left-wing remarks when he was a football commentator (prior to Miller doing a 360 degree Arianna Huffington-like turn to the conservative side of the spectrum)...
Yeah, you got to watch those 360 degree turns, you just might end up going the same way you started.

[Maelstrom]

The comment wouldn't make any sense if it were racist.

It isn't.

LOL!

Rush wasn't commenting on McNair, nor Culpepper. He said that McNabb was overrated, and he speculated that the media that overrated him did so because of his skin color.

If anything, you'll want to go after Rush for calling someone ELSE racist!!!

[Bommer]

LOL! And a football expert. Love to hear his play-by-play

[JoeSchem]

Whether or not the reasoning is true, it does seem inappropriate to have brought it up in a context where people are trying to relax and have fun and forget about the cares of the world. Rush needs to remember it's just a game.

[SengirV]

He is good, he is overrated (unlike IMO Warner), and part of the reason he is overrated by the press is his skin color.

You are insane and in need of mental checkup. He is popular because his teams have historically won, and has had no pro bowl caliber offensive player in a skill position - read he does it single handedly. He makes some amazing plays that get him lots of play on Sportscenter. Point out that his stats are not what some others, great. Point out that the defense did more than their fair share in those wins great. Having Rush point out that McNabb is not a good QB(Great, that is his opinion), but pointing out that ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS McNabb is popular is because of the media pulling for black QBs is idiotic.

I seem to recall lots of media folks putting down Akili Smith, Shawn King, Culpepper(last year), Jeff Blake, etc... So how come the media who ohhhhh so much want to put black QBs up on pedestal rips these guys? Maybe because it doesn't exist. I guess it kind of does exist - In Rush's pea brain.

[swilhelm73]

and has had no pro bowl caliber offensive player in a skill position

2002 NFC Philly Pro-Bowl members;

OT Tra Thomas
TE Chad Lewis
QB Donvovan McNabb
DE Hugh Douglass
ILB Jeremiah Trotter
CB Troy Vincent
PK David Akers

So this team that supposedly stinks absent McNabb has 7 pro-bowlers, including, yes an offensive skill player. The RB from 2002, Duce Staley ran for more then 1K yards. He also caught over 50 passes.

In contrast to Phillies *7* Pro-Bowlers, Tampa, the SB champs had only 5.

McNabb is good - obviously he made the pro-bowl last year. However, the team around him is good in their own right. He did *not* carry the team by himself last year, but his horrific play this year is dragging them down.

[SengirV]

2002 Pro-Bowl = 2001 season. Chad hasn't been able to catch a cold last year and this year. 1K Yards for Staley ranked him #16 in the NFL(read average stater), and he has around 40 yards so far this year.

[virgil]

Rush just said what a lot of people think about minority atheletes sometimes.

[Greg Luzinski]

Hugh Douglas (note: one s in Douglas) and Jeremiah Trotter no longer play for the Eagles, by the way.

[Almondjoy]

I'll run circles around you with football knowledge. First off Mcnabb's ability speaks for itself on the field. Remember the game where he broke his ankle in the first quarter? He went on to throw 3 td's in that game that he got that injury. Not only that but who can aruge his sheer toughness. Remember the end of the Jags game last year where he puked on the football field from dehydration? Toughness baby.. toughness. Now run along... I hear Kobe Bryant asking you to defend his off the field sexual prowess.

[swilhelm73]

The argument was about McNabb's record in 2001-2002, so I think it rather appropriate to mention his teammates from 2001-2002...you know?

[harpo11]

Actually, his comments were so true, it hit the PC Zombies into a massive hissy fit because he illustrated how convoluted PC mania is. And Rush is right, it's the team that works as one to defeat their opponents, no single man can be the entire team.

Actually, I see this sort of writing from the PC journalists all the time. If a white kid does somethng heroic it is never printed or a side note, but if it is a minority kid, all out reporting. It's ok, but it is so predictable.

And on the other hand, if the perp is a white guy, all out reporting, but if the perp is a minority, no color is mentioned.

It's funny the PC Zombies don't understand, the a human being should be judged by his character and actions, not his color.

[gore_sux]

I have seen McNabb several times and have found him to be unimpressive.

Just like Daunte Culpepper, he can't seem to hit a moving receiver and his main forte' is running (I suppose saying that is racist too.) Well running gets you hurt, just ask Vick and Culpepper. After a quick look at the stats, I'd rank him slightly above a Jeff Blake or Aaron Brooks, and even with a Drew Bledsoe or Tommy Maddox.

He is definitely no Brett Favre, McNair or even a Jeff Garcia.

It was a big mistake for Philly to invest so much in him, just like it was a big mistake for Minnesota to plunk down the cash for Culpepper. We saw what Minnesota could do with a decent passer in the game the last two weeks.

[dwd1]

Once again, the problem that I see here is that there is no evidence that Donovan McNabb is being hyped because of his race... I do not even know that he is receiving unjustified praise.... What I do know is that there was an assumption which can not be supported by fact that Donovan McNabb is being hyped because of his race. I ask again, is it possible that Donovan McNabb is receiving a larger share of attention or being extended unearned courtesies simply because he is a nice guy (unlike Barry Bonds)?

I have no problem with critical analysis of a situation and I think that is what we are doing here. The question is, "How can we make a conclusion based on the information available?" I still maintain that the real problem here was that Rush jumped to a conclusion that appears to be racially biased and does not appear to have sufficient info to support it. He stepped over the line when he brought race into it.

I have been watching sports and political commentary shows for quite some time and I would love to know why it is that we can not discuss sports simply based on the merits of the players. I would be more than glad to discuss race as it relates to sports but I think have someone who brings more politics into the situation than experience and knowledge is getting off point and inserting less important and inflammatory statements simply to get attention...

Perhaps he should dedicate one of his shows to discussing the history of race in sports. We can discuss Jackie Robinson, Enos Slaughter, Joe Garagiola, Segregration, Title IX, or anything else. However, it is irresponsible for him to insert such an inflammatory statement without an opposing view and without having even met the player....

[dwd1]

What is different from what is happening to Rush Limbaugh and what happened to the Dixie Chicks?

[Greg Luzinski]

First of all, the argument was predicated on McNabb's performance in 2003 as well.

Not in any way intending to be a wise-ass (about this largely irrelvant tangent we've gone on), let me clear something up for non-football junkies.

You wrote "The argument was about McNabb's record in 2001-2002, so I think it rather appropriate to mention his teammates from 2001-2002...you know?"

When people discuss "McNabb's record in 2001-2002", which they were in part here, they're talking about the 2001 regular season and the postseason that followed (which took place in January 2002) + the 2002 regular season and the postseason that followed (which took place in January 2003).

However, the Pro Bowl list you cite is the one related to the 2001, not 2002, regular season.

It follows that McNabb's "2001-2002" Pro Bowl teammates, referenced earlier in the discussion, are those that played with him during the 2001 (not 2002) regular season, which led up to the Pro Bowl which took place the week after the Super Bowl, in February 2002. The proof of this is the inclusion on the list of Jeremiah Trotter, who played (poorly) for the Redskins during the 2002 season (there was no 2002 postseason taking place in 2003 for the Redskins ... tee hee!). This is also proven by the failure to include Jermane Mayberry, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins, Eagle Pro Bowlers last season ("2002-2003 All Pro", not "2001-2002 All Pro".)

Hope that clears things up. Certainly not the most important part of this discussion.

[swilhelm73]

As far as 2003 is concerned, I don't think anyone is arguing he has been anything but terrible so far. As the example of Warner indicates, a pro player can lose that 'it' that makes them good very quickly - whether that has happened to McNabb yet or not it is far to early to tell, but it would seem that his play this year has led directly to Limbaugh's comments.

As for the Pro Bowl, I was refuting the claim he had no pro-bowl caliber skill level players - he did.

As for the 2003 pro-bowl the Eagles had

OT Tra Thomas
OT Jon Runyan
OG Jermaine Mayberry
TE Chad Lewis
QB Donovan McNabb
DE Hugh Douglas
CB Bobby Taylor
CB Troy Vincent
FS Brian Dawkins
PK David Akers

All of which only makes the point this is not a one man team, and never was, all the stronger. Having seven and then ten pro-bowlers indicates a stacked, and balanced team.