An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Setting It Straight
The Race Card, Football and Me
My critics would have you believe no conservative meets NFL ‘standards.’
By RUSH LIMBAUGH
David Checketts, an investor and owner of sports teams, approached me in late May about investing in the St. Louis Rams football franchise. As a football fan, I was intrigued. I invited him to my home where we discussed it further. Even after informing him that some people might try to make an issue of my participation, Mr. Checketts said he didn’t much care. I accepted his offer.
It didn’t take long before my name was selectively leaked to the media as part of the Checketts investment group. Shortly thereafter, the media elicited comments from the likes of Al Sharpton. In 1998 Mr. Sharpton was found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay $65,000 for falsely accusing a New York prosecutor of rape in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case. He also played a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot (he called neighborhood Jews “diamond merchants”) and 1995 Freddie’s Fashion Mart riot.
Not to be outdone, Jesse Jackson, whose history includes anti-Semitic speech (in 1984 he referred to Jews as “Hymies” and to New York City as “Hymietown” in a Washington Post interview) chimed in. He found me unfit to be associated with the NFL. I was too divisive and worse. I was accused of once supporting slavery and having praised Martin Luther King Jr.’s murderer, James Earl Ray.
Next came writers in the sports world, like the Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon. He wrote this gem earlier this week: “I’m not going to try and give specific examples of things Limbaugh has said over the years because I screwed up already doing that, repeating a quote attributed to Limbaugh (about slavery) which he has told me he simply did not say and does not reflect his feelings. I take him at his word. . . . ”
Mr. Wilbon wasn’t alone. Numerous sportswriters, CNN, MSNBC, among others, falsely attributed to me statements I had never made. Their sources, as best I can tell, were Wikipedia and each other. But the Wikipedia post was based on a fabrication printed in a book that also lacked any citation to an actual source.
I never said I supported slavery and I never praised James Earl Ray. How sick would that be? Just as sick as those who would use such outrageous slanders against me or anyone else who never even thought such things. Mr. Wilbon refuses to take responsibility for his poison pen, writing instead that he will take my word that I did not make these statements; others, like Rick Sanchez of CNN, essentially used the same sleight-of-hand.
The sports media elicited comments from a handful of players, none of whom I can recall ever meeting. Among other things, at least one said he would never play for a team I was involved in given my racial views. My racial views? You mean, my belief in a colorblind society where every individual is treated as a precious human being without regard to his race? Where football players should earn as much as they can and keep as much as they can, regardless of race? Those controversial racial views?
The NFL players union boss, DeMaurice Smith, jumped in. A Washington criminal defense lawyer, Democratic Party supporter and Barack Obama donor, he sent a much publicized email to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that it was important for the league to reject discrimination and hatred.
When Mr. Goodell was asked about me, he suggested that my 2003 comment criticizing the media’s coverage of Donovan McNabb—in which I said the media was cheerleading Mr. McNabb because they wanted a successful black quarterback—fell short of the NFL’s “high standard.” High standard? Half a decade later, the media would behave the same way about the presidential candidacy of Mr. Obama.
Having brought me into his group, Mr. Checketts now wanted a way out. He asked me to resign. I told him no way. I had done nothing wrong. I had not uttered the words these people were putting in my mouth. And I would not bow to their libels and pressure. He would have to drop me from the group. A few days later, he did.
As I explained on my radio show, this spectacle is bigger than I am on several levels. There is a contempt in the news business, including the sportswriter community, for conservatives that reflects the blind hatred espoused by Messrs. Sharpton and Jackson. “Racism” is too often their sledgehammer. And it is being used to try to keep citizens who don’t share the left’s agenda from participating in the full array of opportunities this nation otherwise affords each of us. It was on display many years ago in an effort to smear Clarence Thomas with racist stereotypes and keep him off the Supreme Court. More recently, it was employed against patriotic citizens who attended town-hall meetings and tea-party protests.
These intimidation tactics are working and spreading, and they are a cancer on our society.
Oh I have been waiting for you to post something about this. Right or wrong the NFL is an exclusive club that basically denied Rush a membership. It’s like when Augusta denied Bill Gates a membership. The NFL does not have to let anyone into their organization.
Do I think its right, no not really. Rush was only going to a minority holder in the team. Basically and investor. He was going to have no say in personal, he was not going to have dealings with the players or front office. The problem is he would have been the face of the franchise because he was the most well known of the group that Checketts put together.
When you compare what some of the players have done like Pacman Jones, Micheal Vick, Donte Stallworth to the views and opinions that Rush spends hours on end each and every day sharing with the world, its really not that bad.
I wish Rush would just take all the publicity this situation has created for him, be happy and move on. If he had made his money in porn, he wouldn’t have been accepted either. He can blame whatever Obama lovin Dems and Liberals he wants, but when it boils down to it his believes, and his opinions that banned him from Roger Goodells super exclusive club. There is nothing wrong with him standing up for what he believes, but he can’t be expected to be accepted everywhere he goes.
Before people start blasting me about being a Rush hater, that isn’t the case at all. I like Rush, I like the fact that he stands up for what he believes in. He pissed the world off and has the balls not to care. I am merely looking at this from a business stand point, and that is really all this was. If Checketts wants to buy the St. Louis Rams as a business deal, and investment and Goodell says Rush can’t be involved, then it was a business decision on Checketts part to drop Rush from the group.
I can guarantee you one thing if Rush wanted to buy and NBA franchise then David Stern would welcome him with open arms. The NBA is suffering financially, Rush could also have his pick of 17 NHL teams right now as well. The problem is the NFL doesn’t need Rush, or his money. If the NFL needed something from Rush, then Rush would still be in on this deal.
I have never been a fan of Limbaugh personally, however what bothered me about this is that Checketts dropped him from the group because of all the publicity. They should have let it go to an owners vote. I agree that Goodell probably never wanted it to go that far, and the reason is simple. the sale would have been approved. The NFL is the epitomy of exclusivity. Goodell holds everyone to the strictes codes of what can and cannot be said in public. Limbaugh may have been viewed as too much of a wildcard. Limbaugh can spin this all he wants as a left/right issue…Its not, and never was. Most of the owners in the NFL are Republican, the group would have been approved. Players would still sign with the Rams whether they viewed Limbaugh a racist or not, the only color that matters in sports is green. As Ick stated, he would be a minority owner and have no dealings in personnel decisions, so any fears of players boycotting the Rams are assanine. Ick is also right about the NBA welcoming Limbaugh, hell they just approved a RUSSIAN billionaire as an owner, Stern will take money from anyone at this point, so maybe Rush should make an offer for to him…Half the teams in teh league are probably looking for a new owner
Good point Sean, wish I had remembered last night about the Russian billionaire. Hey if David Stern can put up with Mark Cuban, then Rush would be a cake walk. LOL
Theres a few things wrong with what youve both said, at a quick glance…
First, its not about whether or not Rush is accepted wherever he goes. Its about an American being denied something that is not illegal, immoral or that would deprive any other Americans their liberties in any manner, based on his political views and the color of his skin.
Thats right, I said it.
This is because Rush is a white conservative who criticizes Obama.
If Rush were russian, or had made porn, I got news for you: he would have been welcomed with open arms. Thats how we do things here in America: we idolize the twisted, the immoral and the unruly, especially if theyre a minority. Michael Vick, 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, etc. Our media would love it if a communist would have bid for the team. Remember, they hate America, and love anyone that is normally considered our enemy.
Also, this is VERY MUCH a left / right issue.
You think for one SECOND that if Keith Olbermann, Bill Mahr or Michael Moore bid for an NFL team theyd be denied? OF COURSE NOT.
The media would throw them a party, not throw out ridiculous, made up comments that they might or might not have said. (In the case of those 3, you wouldnt have to look hard to find some hateful, racist comment!!)
With all of the negative publicity the NFL has gotten over the past 10 years, Rush certainly wasnt denied because of PR fears.
Heres someting for everyone to ponder: What would have happened had a black man been denied ownership? Or someone who is Islamic?
The NFL had nothing to lose by having Rush as a part owner. A few Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons would have been pissed off, but to hell with them. Nobody would stop watching the NFL, or buying their crappy merchandise, and it wouldnt have cost the Rams or the NFL fans, anymore then Vick did.
For every irate black hypocrite, there would have been a conservative stepping in to support Rush. I guarantee he has many more fans than Jesse Jackson.
Im getting the message now: if youre a black athlete, you can do what you want and get away with it (still be able to play a sport for millions of dollars and fame) if youre white and speak out against the trashing of our constitution, anything Obama does, or the liberal media, then youre the devil. (Partially quoting farrakhan there.)
The same thing would happen if Rush tried for an NBA team. Remember, the NBA (at a guess) is like 90% black. Rush buying an NBA team would go over like a turd in a punch bowl. I think he should buy into an NFL team as a silent partner. Money talks, BS walks.
Sorry Shadow, I don’t buy it. As I said before the majority of owners in the NFL are Republican, and last I checked all are White. Right and Left had NOTHING to do with it.Not every effing thing in this country is Right/Left, Holy Shit, is that effing old(Sorry side tracked there). The NFL can and does say who joins, it is a privately run corporation, perhaps the most successful one in the United States. Checketts caved and dumped Limbaugh, like I said before had it gone to an owners vote assuming the Rams are indeed for sale, the sale would have been approved. Yes Olbermann, Moore, and Maher would get the same scrutiny and disapproval of the commissioner(maybe not the owners) as Limbaugh seemed to get. Goodell will not approve an owner he cannot control. Jerry Jones was recently fined 6 or 7 figures by Goodell for making public comments about the possibility of an upcoming work stoppage.
As for some of your other points. What does Vick have to do with anything? What he did was abhorant. But last I checked he served his time, and is now allowed to earn a living in any profession that will have him, no different from anyone who else who has paid their debt to society.
Obama had absolutely nothing to do with this, sounds like you are looking for something that isn’t there, unless he is an owner of an NFL team, he would have had no vote here.
And again, as Ick and I both have said, at this point the NBA would take anyone’s money. There is already talk of an expansion team over seas, or relocating a team overseas simply because there is no money for a Jordanless NBA, not when the NFL, MLB, and NASCAR are the predominant sports leagues.
Sean
Where do you get your info that the majority of NFL owners are republican? I would guess that they are conservative, but Id like to know where you got this info? …and the owners didnt vote on Rush so thats a moot point, not sure why you even said it…?
You SERIOUSLY think that the people I mentioned would get the same scrutiny, from a media that hates Rush to the point where theyre purposely lying about him, and the same media thats been giving Oblermann, Mahr and Moore a free pass of no accountability? SERIOUSLY? You need to stop and take a breath and think about it.
Almost EVERYTHING we do in this country / world is affected by left / right decisions. Everyday we make these decisions from the smallest thing like do I put a quarter in the homeless guys cup, to who do I vote for, to what news do I watch, to how much am I paying in taxes. To not recognize something as blatant as a conservative talk show host being lied about in the media and being denied a business opportunity because of his political beliefs when its out there for the whole world to see, is well…. mind boggling. So Ill say again in another way: if Rush were a liberal on MSNBC, he would not have been denied. So it IS a left / right thing. Whats really getting old is running into people that dont see the forest for the trees: 90% of all our media (news, entertainment, etc) is extreme left, and they have an agenda. Everything from our current healthcare debacle, to the destruction of the American dollar, to the indoctrination in our public schools is all being done on PURPOSE. These people arent even hiding it anymore. They dont think they have to.
Im quite aware Vick served his time, but that makes it ok with you, to the point where he should be able to go back to making millions playing a professional sport, because he spent some time in jail? This is EXACTLY what I was talking about; many people like yourself in our country today seem to have very backwards thinking when it comes to morals, setting examples, being a role model. BECAUSE Michael Vick committed crimes, and was sent to prison is EXACTLY WHY he shouldnt be able to have the priveledge of playing sports anymore. That priveledge should be only given to those who respect the law, have some kind of moral fiber, set a good example, and just generally arent shitbags who maim animals for illegal amusement.
Think about it.
What kind of example does this send to our youth?
“You can go do whatever you want, suffer a minor inconvenience, and go right back to stardom and millions.”
Gee. What a lesson he learned there.
Hell, Ill take that deal any day! Send ME to prison for a couple years, then let me go make millions in the public spotlight! Heck yes! Then Martha Stewart, Michael Vick, Roman Polanski, etc. wouldnt feel so alone, huh?
You dont seem to get suggestions, or concepts very well. I didnt SAY Obama had a direct hand in this, now did I? I said Rush speaks out against Obama. Obama didnt do this, but yet we notice as usual he didnt speak out against it either, did he?
Dont put words in my mouth and try to keep up, would ya?
I apologize if I dont recognize yourself and Ick as being the authorities on the NBA, especially when I explained why Rush wouldnt be able to get a team there either. (Hint: it would go the same way, the media would try to show him as a racist, mindless people would believe it, and hed be denied.) You think the same people that blocked Rush from the NFL wouldnt try the same tactic with the NBA, of which the majority is black?
Come on, man.
Shadow…
Here is some information I was able to find on Political contributions broken down by teams.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/10/13/rush-limbaugh-would-fit-right-in-with-nfl-owners.html
Also nowhere did I say I was ok with Vick being allowed to play, I was simply pointing out the fact that he can. Again sounds like you are looking for something that isn’t there.