Limbaugh stands by McNabb race remarks

AP | 10/01/03 | ROB MAADDI

[kattracks]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rush Limbaugh insisted Wednesday he had "no racist intent whatsoever" in saying the media have overrated the Philadelphia Eagles' Donovan McNabb because they want to see a black quarterback succeed.

In fact, the conservative commentator said he must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage.

Limbaugh offered no apology, and McNabb said it was too late for one anyway.

"I'm sure he's not the only one that feels that way, but it's somewhat shocking to actually hear that on national TV," the NFL star said. "An apology would do no good because he obviously thought about it before he said it."

Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show that he did not think McNabb was as good as he was perceived 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."

Limbaugh did not back down during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.

He reiterated that he does not think McNabb is a bad player, just that he isn't as good as some members of the media think he is.

"This is such a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "There's no racism here, there's no racist intent whatsoever."

"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," he said. "If I wasn't right there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark said Limbaugh should be fired. The retired Army general called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech."

The NFL disclaimed any responsibility for Limbaugh's remarks.

"ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," league vice president Joe Browne said. "ESPN selects its on-air talent, not the NFL."

ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle said he did not believe the comments were racially biased. "He was comparing McNabb's performance on the field to his reputation in the media," Nagle said.

Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, said he did not believe Limbaugh's tone or intent was malicious. "As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," he said. "I probably should have looked to soften it."

McNabb, who was runner-up for the MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight conference championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability. "I know I played badly the first two games," he said.

But McNabb said that the comments about his race were out of bounds and added that someone on the show should have taken Limbaugh on. Among the other panelists were former players Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson, both of whom are black.

"I'm not pointing at anyone but someone should have said it," McNabb said of the panelists, who also include Berman and Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."

A decade ago, there were few black quarterbacks in the NFL. This season, 10 of the 32 teams will have started black quarterbacks in at least one game.

Limbaugh has helped increase the ratings for "Sunday NFL Countdown." Nagle said ratings are up 10 percent overall. Sunday's show drew its biggest audience in the regular season since 1996.

Limbaugh is the radio host of the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you. Freeper 'Autoresponder' made that gif ...

[cake_crumb]

"If a black commentator made the same comments about a white boxer, i would think he is a racist... boxing and football always comes down to the men in the ring and the field... "

Why does he have to be racist? Why can't his assessment be right?

And welcome to FR to you too.

[triplejake]

But Rush didn't say McNabb sucks this year, he said he has always sucked. Your link shows McNabb rated #7 in the league in both 2002 and 2001.

[Bommer]

I have lost all respect for Limbaugh. What kind of arguement is "I must of been right otherwise I wouldn't of sparked such outrage." Hey here's a piece of advice you overblown windbag! Take your oversized ego and stuff it where the sun don't shine. You know nothing about football.. except that you know there are 22 players on the field at one time and they throw around a pigskin... anything beyond that your brain cannot grasp.

WOW! With intellectual retort like that you must be an expert! Why don't you refute what he said as being a lie instead of name calling? Personally I'll take Limbaughs expertise in Football over your feeble comments

[jragan2001]

I thought last year that Culpepper should have stayed on
the bench longer in favor of Todd Bowman.

[Thebaddog]

You could be right, but those lines are unbelievable of the Bears. That new stadium might be hosting more soccer games to make the rent soon.

[dwd1]

His assessment about McNabb's skills are debatable but acceptable.... His conclusion or assertion about the fact McNabb's being overrated or that he get's a free pass because he is black has no basis in fact...

He sounds like just like the people that would say that black people have no business flying planes during world war II (Tuskegee Airmen)....

He did not give any facts (unless he is going to refer to the media attention McNabb has received because he endorses Campbell's soup) that his ratings are based on his race....

He should not have brought race into it and he knows it... He most likely raised the issue to create some controversy and he succeeded....

[CyberCowboy777]

Look at the 'niners

[eleni121]

Rush is the man-----the media are the morons

[JohnnyZ]

"If a black commentator made the same comments about a white boxer, i would think he is a racist... boxing and football always comes down to the men in the ring and the field... "

If a black commentator said "Jim White is overrated because sports writers are talking him up as the next great white boxer", you would say the commentator was racist?

That's backwards.

I smell troll . . .

[cake_crumb]

"Actually he criticized sportswriters for inserting THEIR political statement into their sports analysis."

...Which brings us full circle to this ESPN author inserting presidential wannabe Clark's comments into this article. Proving Rush has a point.

[dwd1]

I have no control over your nose... I think the problem is in what is being sought...
The primary issue that should be reported and discussed is one's athletic ability...

If one is better or not, the discussion should revolve around that and not media or popular perception based on race...

I call that fair and objective journalism and reporting...

leave the race discussions for the bars and talk shows...

Let us be consistent... Are we looking for a meritocracy or not.....

[swilhelm73]

Kurt Warner put up two of the best years a quarterback has ever had, and actually won a superbowl, and still people said he was overrated, and got such good press because of his aweshucks personality and rags to riches story.

While the latter was false, the former is certainly somewhat true. And the story is the similar with McNabb. He is good, he is overrated (unlike IMO Warner), and part of the reason he is overrated by the press is his skin color.

McNabb is rated 15th out of 16 QBs listed in the NFC by ESPN.com. This is a rather stark contrast to his being the best QB in the NFL as some have claimed.

As to the notion that McNabb was solely carrying his team - another point pumped by the press these past two years - it is largely untrue. Yes, Philly has had weak WRs. However, they had a good OL, a good RB, and a pro-bowl TE, to go along with perhaps the NFL's best defense. Douglass might be the best DL in the NFL.

[cake_crumb]

I don't know. His assessment that McNabe might be getting more glowing praise than he deserves because he is black is probably equally debatable. What this boils down to is personal opinion. Sportscasters are always injecting opinion into their commentary, and basically, everyone on this thread is giving our opinion of this particular sportscaster's opinion. Something else which is extremely common.

[dwd1]

Also, I think that the issue with what you mentioned would be unfair if a white fighter were dismissed or not taken seriosly because he is white....

I think Gerry Cooney may been a "great white hype" but he got in the ring and fought the fight... I give him respect as I would Tex Cobb or Jean Pierre Coupman or Richard Dunn or Davey 'Boy' Green because they puy on the gloves and fought the good fight... that is not a racial matter... it is about heart and regardless of their race, they had it... That is what the discussion should be about....

[swilhelm73]

Moon was the only NFL QB that could make the "duck and chuck"...err..."run and shoot" work. I think that says something about his abilities. I'm still amazed he never won an SB...

[dwd1]

Please tell me what evidence exists that McNabb earned his ratings and then got a few extra points (like at the University of Michigan) because he is a minority...

His ratings are based on stats and many intangibles that have nothing to do with race...

Rush made an accusation that he is unable to support with fact... He is only able to support it with opinion... And is he willing to debate (not on his show where he controls the microphone and always gets the last word) and substantiate his claim....

[Reactionary]

"We give blacks "extra credit" because they are black so that they will be included. But, when a white person mentions that a black's success is based in part, on his blackness, the lefties scream about that."

Exactly.

[swilhelm73]

Blake can throw the long ball really well. You actually have to have an OL that will give you enough time to actually lift your head from the sanp to make any use of the ability though. ;)

[swilhelm73]

It seems that the last few weeks the troll activity on FR has been going up...perhaps the cretins at DU or moveon are up to something.