NFL fans won't pass on Rush (Great column on old El Rushbo!)

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 8-20-2003 | RAY McNULTY

[Trailer Trash]

NFL fans won't pass on Rush

By RAY McNULTY
August 20, 2003

For as long as I can remember, we've been getting our nightly network news delivered from the left.

And that was supposed to be OK.

Dan Rather, who succeeded Walter Cronkite at CBS, spoke at a Democratic fundraiser, constantly referred to Kenneth Starr as "Republican independent counsel" and called Bill Clinton an "honest man."

And that was supposed to be OK.

ABC's Peter Jennings, a Canadian, refused to let country music star Toby Keith sing his rousing, patriotic song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," on the network's Fourth of July special.

And that was supposed to be OK.

We've got National Public Radio, the New York Times and CNN (Clinton News Network?), all of which claim to be "objective" in their journalism but almost never see things the right way.

And that's supposed to be OK.

But ESPN announces that it is adding Rush Limbaugh to its "Sunday NFL Countdown" show.

And, apparently, that's not OK.

Why? Because Limbaugh espouses conservative views.

Because Limbaugh sometimes says stuff that isn't politically correct.

Because Limbaugh, whose top-rated radio show attracts a daily audience of nearly 20 million, has made a lucrative career of challenging the words and deeds of those on the opposite side of the political fence.

So his listeners love him, and liberals - especially militant feminists, environmental extremists and anyone who believes the federal government is the answer to all of life's problems - hate him.

Which makes him a bold, controversial and interesting choice for his new TV gig.

According to ESPN, Limbaugh is going to provide the "voice of the fan" and help spark debate on the cable network's popular, NFL pregame show, hosted by Chris Berman. And for that role, he is well-equipped.

Limbaugh loves football, particularly the NFL, and he seems to be an knowledgeable fan.

He is not shy about giving his opinion.

He is a gifted communicator who knows how to make his point and do so in a calculated, colorful and compelling way.

Will his political views occasionally creep into his on-air contributions? Probably.

But when they do, rest assured there will be at least a hint of humor.

Fact is, Limbaugh can be very entertaining. And he will bring something new, maybe something unique, to a show that is already fun to watch.

ESPN's plan is to have Limbaugh provide a 90-second opinion piece - an oral essay - on whatever aspect of the NFL is in the news that week, then participate in the impromptu banter with Berman and the other analysts.

I, for one, can't wait to see how he fits in and hear what he has to say. (Then again, I also enjoyed Dennis Miller's now-defunct contributions to Monday Night Football.) And I don't think I'm alone.

Limbaugh will bring more than a few of his loyal listeners - including many who wouldn't normally spend their late Sunday mornings watching an NFL pregame show - to ESPN.

And I'm betting his presence draws more viewers than it turns away.

I just hope he doesn't take himself too seriously. I hope he doesn't get caught up in all the hype and try to present himself as a football expert.

He isn't, and he's not supposed to be.

He's a fan.

Football is a game.

The show is entertainment.

The only way this thing works is if Limbaugh has fun with it - and he will.

He'll do it right.

And that's OK with me.

Ray McNulty is sports columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. Contact him at ray.mucnulty(at)Scripps.com.)

Copyright 2003, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.

[HP8753]

Colt Frontier Scout is a revolver,it will be louder then a pellet gun out of a revolver..You need to use a bolt action rifle.

I also shot them single shot out of a Ruger 1022 .If you get the CB longs (CCI) they will work in the clip,they just don't have enough power to fully eject the shell.
Some stovepipe and some just move the bolt back aways and then slam back in.
That also increases the sound.The best way is with a bolt action rifle.
You can also see the bullets leaving the barrel (about 750 ft/sec)and that is kinda cool too.
Also their effective range is a lot further then a pellet gun.

[HP8753]

Sorry about that,The darn multiple windows open at once thing again,makes me post the wrong comment to the wrong tread.

Anyways,My cat doesn' get the humor of drawing a 1/4" arc off his ear while he's sleeping.

[SengirV]

Do you believe that Limbaugh will have any kind of background or knowledge that will help comment on football?

No. But he does have enough experience to play the hits while I'm spritzing my pits =)

[Fledermaus]

I wasn't mad they picked Miller, I just thought he was not the right choice and he didn't last.

I don't think their average viewer understood, or even cared to understand, some of his off the wall metaphors using Greek references and such.

[Fledermaus]

Well, after Miller dissed Nashville on the air while IN Nashville for a Titans game, I heard he almost needed a bodyguard to get out of the stadium.

He can be somewhat pompous and his schtick was just old redneck type jokes most of us that even live here quit telling when we were kids.

At least Jeff Foxworthy makes it funny.

[Fledermaus]

(sniff, sniff)...Yep. I smell another jealous Rush hater.

So exactly what does being a "failed top 40 DJ" have to do with his success? He's the first to tell you how many jobs he got fired from. So will every single person that ever worked in radio. It's the business.

He then creates his own show that all the "experts" in the radio business said "would never work" and now Rush is sitting on about $500 million. And all those "experts" are probably sweeping floors now. Talk to anyone in the business and they'll tell you how Rush single handidly with his show revitalize AM radio.

I guess since my wife left high school her senior year to attend nursing school and then dropped out of that and now owns her own business, she is nothing but a "failed nursing student". I'll let her know.

[Fledermaus]

He has zero experience with anything in polotics, nor has any kind of background to be THE AUTHORITY on anything.

And this means what? What does any of that have to do with the fact of his success?

He is an experienced radio broadcaster and politics is his passion. And just ask every freshman Republican from 1994 whether or not Rush has political experience. Experience doesn't have to equal running for office. Gray Davis proves that.

[Rockpile]

I reckon you must be a big expert on this topic so I have one other query for you. Have you worked for a professional football team--in the National Football League--like this Limbaugh guy has?

[SengirV]

I do not like Rush, and I am not about to change my opinion by having his clones insult me when I bring up his past. I can't wait to see what happens when Rush actually hits the NFL circuit. You all will be insulting people left and right when they inquire as to why Rush is on ESPN.

[1smallVoice]

Rush loves football and therefore he will succeed. He knows his football and will bring much to the show and not let politics get in the way. I think he will draw many listeners from both side and will make the show a success because those who do not like him have never really listened to him or given him a chance. Rush is not perfect but Rush is a good person, he will succeed.

[Guillermo]

I could care less what your opinion of Rush is, but to call him a failure is absurd.

[Guillermo]

And of course, "offending" the Politically Correct is the greatest sin one could ever do.

We should demand ESPN remove Rush because he may offend a limosine liberal who wouldn't be able to identify a football if it hit him in the face.

[StarCMC]

Of course if you disagree with me please feel free to drop me a note and unlike Rush's show I'll put it in the next update.

Obviously he listens to Rush...NOT! Typical!

[StarCMC]

//ah-ha! Mine didn't either - may he rest in peace. Here's another good one. Get a gol hold on the back of his neck and repeatedly (GENTLY!) tap his nose. Porduces a sneeze every time! Please, no animal lovers freaking out -- it doesn't hurt, just drives 'em crazy! I loved my kitty and miss him muchly.

[StarCMC]

No doubt!

[1Old Pro]

I, for one, can't wait to see how he fits in and hear what he has to say.

Add me to that list. When's the debut?

[discostu]

I think Foxworthy is only funny from the inside, outside his group he's pretty dull.

No doubt Miller occasionally steps over the line, that's what happens when you push the limits. Most of the time though he's pretty funny. I loved when him and Al were making fun of Clinton right after the t-shirt signing incident. And arguing that Ezra Pound was wrong and there indeed is a there in Oakland was pretty funny.

[bullseye1911]

I am not about to change my opinion by having his clones insult me

I don't recall insulting you, only questioning your motivations for your dissin' one of the biggest contributors to the revival of the Republican party there has ever been. That's as opposed to you referring to my "flawed logic" and accusing me of being a demonRat.

I don't take offence to being labeled a "clone" of Rush, if only I were so lucky. But I suspect this conversation is already over your head, so I will fulfill your contention.

BITE ME!