Posted on 10/01/2003 8:58:01 PM PDT by BUSHdude2000
ESPN REPORTING!
| Limbaugh resigns from NFL show ESPN.com news services |
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In the wake of his controversial statements regarding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, Rush Limbaugh has resigned from his position on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show. ESPN has accepted the resignation. Limbaugh issued a statement late Wednesday night in which he wrote: "My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret. "I love NFL Sunday Countdown and do not want to be a distraction to the great work done by all who work on it. "Therefore, I have decided to resign. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the show and wish all the best to those who make it happen." George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN and ABC Sports, issued the following response: "We accept his resignation and regret the circumstances surrounding this. We believe that he took the appropriate action to resolve this matter expeditiously." The comments referenced by Limbaugh came during Sunday's pregame show on ESPN when the conservative talk show host offered the opinion that McNabb wasn't as good as the media perceived him 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." Negative reaction did not come immediately. But on Tuesday, McNabb told the Philadelphia Daily News: "It's sad that you've got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal." From there, the firestorm spread quickly. Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and Rev. Al Sharpton called for ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Others in both political and athletic circles also lashed out at Limbaugh's comments. The National Association of Black Journalists also called for ESPN to "separate itself" from Limbaugh. ""ESPN's credibility as a journalism entity is at stake," NABJ president Herbert Lowe said in a news release. "It needs to send a clear signal that the subjects of race and equal opportunity are taken seriously at its news outlets." McNabb also provided more reaction on Wednesday. "It's somewhat shocking to hear that on national TV from him," McNabb said. "It's not something that I can sit here and say won't bother me." Limbaugh turned down requests to appear on SportsCenter on Wednesday. But earlier in the day on his syndicated radio talk show, he refused to back down. "All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community." Wednesday night, ESPN issued a statement that, in part, read, "We have communicated to Mr. Limbaugh that his comments were insensitive and inappropriate." Limbaugh's resignation was officially announced just before midnight ET |
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Easy question for me -- I don't watch football. I wish I could get into it, but never did. I gravitated towards basketball first, then to baseball shortly thereafter. Now it's pretty much just baseball. The NBA is too much 'attitude' for my tastes. Too many players seem to be constantly aware of making the play that will generate the most flashbulbs. The Larry Bird Celtics were the last team I followed avidly.
Speaking of which, did Larry Bird ever get due credit for hiring a black head coach for the Indiana Pacers? And a former bitter rival at that. It would hearten me to at least see some props for the guy. I'd be willing to bet they've been vilifying him for firing Thomas, though. And somehow the word 'black' will have to do with the media's accusations, and nobody will get in trouble for saying so.
Rush has been "branded" for 15 years. The fact is, this show was not his gig, and whether or not Rush can take the heat, the others involved in the show never signed up to take heat.
Perhaps Rush's ESPN gig was just a way for him to better learn the business. If so, now it's time for Rush, great entrepreneur that he is, to figure out a way to create his own vehicle for involvement in the NFL, rather than continue to ride on someone else's.
Not only that they're blasting anyone who listens to Rush...the dittoheads...anyone who thinks his comment on Mcnabb wasn't racist.
Goose is saying Rush should get piled on...he's done it to everyone else (implying x42 & dems) but they couldn't respond. Time Rush gets a taste of his own medicine...can't handle it...career going down over one stupid remark...
Makes ya want to spit.
Think I might post this to it's won thread as well and see if anyother morning shows...espeically Rush outlets are doing the same thing.
prisoner6
I can partially agree with you, but to say that the media wasnt pulling for 'Slash' is a somewhat inaccurate. They pulled for him big time, but IMO, that was only because of his explosiveness when a play went bad, a trait that McNabb has shown as well. But defenses got wise to Kordell, as they have gotten wise to McNabb. Also, it doesnt help that McNabb has no supporting crew, and that the Philly brass wasnt smart enough to keep Hugh Douglas to keep their D at the top of its game. McNabb is overrated, but I dont really think that it is because of his race. With guys like Kordell, Moon, Culpepper, Blake, Cunningham, and even the less fortunate black QBs like Akili Smith and others, that 'new car smell' about black QBs in the NFL is long gone, making Rush's comment seem a bit out of whack...JFK
Rush knew he was getting into bed with MORONS like these guys. I hope he did.
My "JD!" Ping for the initial thread included the comment, "So much for Rush on ESPN."
I got pooh-poohed for it, but even though Rush was looked at as the second coming of Howard Cosell for ESPN/ABC, they weren't (and still aren't) ready for the firestorm when he stepped in it.
I think Rush shoved his foot deep down his gullet - but it wasn't worth the resignation. He should have stayed put and fought it out. Screw the Dims and the poverty pimps.
By resigning, he provided more ammo to the left. He provided more ammo to those who cast conservatives as "eeeeevilll racists™", and more ammo for those who cast right-thinking blacks as sell-outs, oreos and clueless morons who have sold out our birthright.
This was not the line-in-the-sand issue that he should have stood on.
The double standards are absurd, anyone with half a brain can clearly see it.
Yep, same one. Now, I, a rational person, can disagree with Isiah without calling his comment racist. I think Bird deserved his reputation. Compare the record of his team the year before he joined vs. the year after. He led the Celtics to three championships in the Magic Johnson/Dr. J/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era. He was huge in postseason games. He once scored 60 points in a game. He once made an absurd number of consecutive free throws (50-70 I believe). And so on. Nobody ever said he could dunk or jump. And as for race, since I already stated my case for the larger issue of Bird not being overrated compared to his peers, my case also applies to blacks, which are a subset of 'his peers'.
So I can disagree with Isiah, but he wasn't being racist, and it doesn't mean he was wrong. An opinion can't be wrong. He was suggesting that others used race in judging Larry's stature relative to his peers. If it is racist merely to talk about racism, then the word racist should be banished from the dictionary, or nearly every last man, woman, and child (of sufficient age) will be guilty of it.
Right on! A white guy speculating about the racial reasons for a black player's treatment on a sports network smacks of a southern bigot, plain and simple. Southern bigots always look for the sinister racial undertone which "explains" everything. I personally don't want to hear about it. Talk about the sport not about race.
Rush was wrong and stupid. He handed all who hated him already, an issue to gore him with. Rush delivered his own head on the platter. DUH!!! How stupid can one get? Never thought he'd fall like this, but the tongue is so unruly and yes, impossible to tame.
Everything is OK unless it includes, directly, indirectly, using hand gestures or eyebrow wiggles, the concept of non-white race. And it is not OK in any case for Republicans. Especially white Republicans. Especially white, male, Republicans. Especially white, male, rich Republicans.
Got all that? I think I need a cheatsheet. Somebody out there could make a fortune by writing a sarcastic book about "The Rules" as set by the liberals and the media. Something in the spirit of "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories" or "Chicken Poop for the Liberal's Excuse for a Soul".
Rush should have known better. The real shame is that we live in a world where he NEEDED to know better. That world used to be called America. If we screw up the very first amendment, how are we ever to get around to the other twenty-six?
As smart as Rush is, President Bush could teach him a lot about tact, and picking one's battles.
But it still doesn't make him a racist. Too bad so many are still so insecure that they 'hear' racism where it isn't. The best way to stop racism is to stop looking for it.
It's truly sad that so many people can make their living on being aggrieved. Jesse Jackson is their patron saint. And I'm not just talking about blacks, plenty of people of other races idolize Jesse, because they feel smug and superior hitching their wagon to his supposed underdog freedom-fighter aura.
I agree - This must have been hard for him - but it was a dumbassed statement
He may be right 99% of the time, but since he's talking about 100% of the time, we're gonna hit a few bumps
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