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Posted on 12/31/2005 5:11:20 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
December 31, 2005 - 19:48.
When a few years ago Rush Limbaugh suggested that the media, hoping for a black-quarterback success story, had over-rated Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, ESPN fired him from its Sunday night football show.
Can you imagine what the media would have done to Rush had he dared to employ the classically racial "feets don't fail me now" line?
Yet that is exactly what major ESPN personality Chris Berman did a few minutes ago in introducing coverage of this afternoon's Denver Broncos game.
He apparently said it vis a vis white Denver Broncos QB Jake Plummer.
Berman's co-host, black former Denver linebacker Tom Jackson, gave what seemed a rather forced laugh in response.
Odds that Berman, who has described himself as a "New England Democrat," will face any discipline? Slim, IMO.
This has turned out to be one of the more interesting threads I've ever posted.
I took it for granted that everyone was familiar with the racial background of the phrase, but - largely due to age differences - that obviously isn't true.
Also, many people accused me of being PC, or overly sensitive on racial matters, whereas my only point was that the MSM has a double-standard and would have surely nailed Rush for using the phrase, whereas Berman, a liberal, is likely to get off scott free.
Even so, I predict we won't hear Berman use the phrase again any time soon!
BINGO!!!
We have a winner!
I remember as a kid (prior to PC) watching a movie where Stepin Fetchit was scared and wanted to get away quickly and used the phrase, "Feets, don't fails me now!"
Wasnt it Charlie Brown? Number 87?
S-t-r-e-t-c-h....
Are you familiar with the phrase's background?
Do you believe Rush Limbaugh could say "feets don't fail me now" and not have the MSM come down on him?
Thanks for your support ;-)
From Answers.com:
"Cosell drew criticism during one Monday Night Football telecast in September, 1983, for calling a wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, Alvin Garrett, a "little monkey." Cosell left Monday Night Football shortly before the start of the 1984 NFL season, claiming that the NFL had "become a stagnant bore." His duties were greatly reduced to just baseball, horse racing, and a sports news program called Sportsbeat."
Thanks for the correction, I could have sworn it was Down Town Charlie Brown. On a similar note, wasnt Jimmy the Greek's demise similar?
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Moreland played Charlie Chan's chauffer in several movies, and he would use that line when trying to solve the crime with Son #2, when they'd get stuck where they shouldn't be with the bad guys coming. It was the comic back-story to many of the Chan films.
It's ironic that the Fox Movie Channel wanted to do a Charlie Chan film festival a few years ago, but were forced to abandon the idea when Asian groups complained about stereotyping.
-PJ
The stereotypes I am talking about were for blacks. We are not talking about today. We are talking about in the 1930s and 1940s. If you think racism against blacks didn't exist then and up through the 60s you just don't know what you are talking about.
What about "For my next impression, Jesse Owens!"
I don't agree with the racist issue here.....
Birmingham Brown (Mantan Mooreland) said this is several Charlie Chan films also.
Wolf Blitz was a better thread when he said about N.O. person's. They are so poor and so Black.
I know that, but I was talking about his time with Tom Jackson
possibly, but Rush went over the line and started talking politics.
I like Rush, but I didn't like what he was saying on the show. I wanted football to be analyzed, not the media.
You are correct Dan. I remember the movie. It's a Little Feat song, but had racial overtones long before that.
Right after it happened.
Rush was NOT fired but resigned rather then hurt ESPN.
Jackson gave interviews ripping Rush and Berman gave several saying that Rush was being misinterpreted.
Even now, Berman (who is very quick to point out that he is liberal...he doesn't say democrat but actually uses the word liberal) says he still likes Rush, and knows that Limbaugh isn't racist, FWIW, Al michaels also has pretty conservative leanings.
Rush was trying to live a dream and be part of the NFL that he loves. It was IMHO a setup from the get-go.... It was predetermined that he would be made to look like a bigot and a fool in front of a national audience. The spinmeisters and race pimps can make anything that comes out of someone's mouth appear to be whatever they want it to be.
Berman and Jackson neither one were "smart" enough to to be offended when Rush made his statements. They suddenly became offended when their "handlers" told them they were offended.
Jackson looked like a fool trying to explain why he wasn't "offended" and outspoken until after the fact.
I quit watching sportscenter years ago. Their "agenda" and double standards rival that of the other MSM.
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