Rushing to Judgment: NFL and Media Reality

By now you’ve heard the disheartening news (probably multiple times): Following cries of racism, Rush Limbaugh resigned late Wednesday from his post as a part-time ESPN commentator. Yet even the most cursory review of his comments suggests that his words did not target any suspect class, unless network executives perpetually wallowing in white guilt have achieved minority status.

The media’s rapid response to the news betrayed their obvious glee. CNN featured the headline on its website, "Is Rush Racist?"—and the network led with the Rush story ahead of its ordinary litany of trumped-up scandals du jour. Then the other shoe dropped: Word got out that The National Enquirer was about to report that Limbaugh was a pill popper. Demonstrating the height of journalistic integrity, the networks offered this information as if it came from the newspaper of record (which paper, as luck would have it, featured that very story on its website). Not to miss out on the fun, presidential wannabes Wesley Clark, Howard Dean, and Al Sharpton called for ESPN to sack Limbaugh, and the NAACP referred to his remarks as "bigoted and ignorant."

Rush makes his living driving network executives and Democratic presidential hopefuls into fits, but this was different. What exactly did Rush say to cause all this commotion? In his Sunday commentary, Rush argued that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is overrated. While many have disputed this assessment, it is Rush’s reason for believing that McNabb’s performance has been exaggerated that generated the controversy. Specifically, he said:

First, it is useful to note what Rush did not say. He did not say that African Americans are less qualified or less capable of performing at quarterback. Nor did he say that McNabb’s alleged poor performance correlated with his race. Rather, he suggests that McNabb has a better reputation than perhaps he deserves because the media wants black quarterbacks to do well—that is, because the white establishment wishes black athletes well. Of course, this is not the first time that statements like this have been made. For example, to this day it is debated whether Larry Bird deserves his reputation as among the best basketball players of all time, or whether his status is overrated because he is white.

Sports have long been an area where African Americans have enjoyed great success as a result of merit, and, at least recently, reduced institutional barriers to entry. Indeed, from a strictly statistical perspective, African Americans are overrepresented in the NFL compared to their percentage of the U.S. population. This staggering success has largely been a function of (my old professor at the University of Chicago’s Law School) Richard Epstein’s law: in a competitive workplace, employers who discriminate based upon arbitrary characteristics such as race will lose—in this case both games and revenues.

Despite the general success of black athletes in the NFL, there remains the perception that there is a statistical imbalance in the number of black quarterbacks. But this may be more perception than reality. A quick review of the league shows that in 2002, there were 8 black quarterbacks starting out of a possible 32 spots. In 2003, the numbers remain the same (although there would actually be 9 starting black quarterbacks if Michael Vick was not on the injured list). At 25 percent, this would suggest that African Americans are again overrepresented in the position of quarterback compared with their representation in the total U.S. population.

Whether the number of black quarterbacks represents a perceived or real deficit in black "representation" is largely irrelevant, however, because the public wants to see more black quarterbacks. A study produced by economists at Duke University found that Monday Night Football games featuring at least one black quarterback generate significantly higher ratings. And when they say significant, they mean it. In 1998, for example, an average of two million more viewers tuned in on Monday nights when at least one quarterback was black. This difference translates into millions of dollars in advertising revenues. While they considered that this viewer preference may be a proxy for other player or team attributes, the study concludes that the difference is motivated by viewers exhibiting "a taste for diversity." The moral of the story is simple: The NFL and the networks have a strong financial interest in promoting black quarterbacks. Or, to use the words of El Rushbo, the media is desirous of successful black quarterbacks.

But one does not need a regression analysis to see that Americans cheer black achievement. That Rush suggests that this cheerleading may be unwarranted as applied to a specific athlete cannot negate this truth, and should not be used to cast Limbaugh as a racist.

Robert Alt is a fellow in Constitutional Studies and Jurisprudence at the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University.

Writing in the Wall Stree Journal, August 25, 1999, Dennis Prager¹ stated " A desire to see Jews dead--the uniquely defining
characteristic of anti-Semitism--is what moves anti-Semites."

If the same can be said concerning racists; Rush is no racist. Rush is pro-life² for red, yellow, black and white, and all who
are precious in HIS sight.

JESSE JACKSON³ is the racist - a racist, far worse than any member of the K.K.K.

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as a white male in America...i never talk about race around minorities...it makes no difference what i say, if it is percieved as disrespectful to some...i could lose my job...bottom lne, end of story....is it right...hell no! but i have to feed my family....Rush goes back to his day job... i get in the unemployment line.

Tony Snow was setting in for Hannity, when they were at
the NAB, and he said that Steve Harvey came to the
microphone and said something to the effect that
"We can talk about race....long pause.... you cant"

if rush wants to talk about soical concern in the NFL, he should talk about how the detroit lions were expected to trot in black coach after black coach to interview, when they knew all along that they were hiring steve mariucci. apparently, tokenism is okay, but speaking your mind isn't, as usual.

You are correct. Rush is a white entertainer. How could he comment on issues of race or media?

I got my information from Dusty Baker (social psychologist/anthropologist- apparently) about how well those with darker skins play better baseball in hot weather.

Obviously the Cubs needed more caucasions today. It was cold and they lost.

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