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.

[triplejake]

Everyone agrees that McNabb is having a crappy season, but the Limbaugh comment is that McNabb was never very good. He was ranked 7th in QB rating last year, and has multiple pro bowl picks as well.

[af_vet_1981]

Rush Limbaugh did something he always (rightfully) accuses the libs of doing - injecting race into an argument.

He is trying to speak truth to power.

I don't follow the NFL enough to know whether McNabb is any good or not, but that's beside the point, as is his race.

Then you don't know if it is beside the point or not.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> i don't like clark that much either, but c'mon. his politics are squishy, but he served his country and took a bullet, which is more than you can say for rush.

There is no justification for Clark's activities, lately or in recent years, unless he took that bullet in the brain.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>I thought I was the only one with a memory that long!!! Seemed like EVERYONE had forgotten his SNL days.

According to Miller, he got religion during the Juliani administration when he suddenly noticed that crime was down, the city was cleaner, etc..

[af_vet_1981]

I think the main issue here is whether people can talk about race without being racist. So many people are afraid of the subject that they avoid it (and people that might make it come up) thereby supporting an invisible type of racism in itself. It is more healthy for Rush to voice his opinion (which does not disparage McNabb's race, but critically analyzes his abilities and the media's perception and coverage of those abilities).

McNabb's performance may be affected by the discussion, but that is always the case with sports critics. There is no racism preventing him from making the team and doing his very best. The fans don't care what color he is. They just want him to score or be sacked, depending on their allegiances.

[SengirV]

So, saying McNabb is overrated is now racist? Or is the press trying to deny that they have been on campaign in recent years to demand more black coaches and QBs - irrespective of talent?

You are mixing up two seperate arguemnets there. The FORCED hiring practices are a debatable subject. But saying that the only reason McNAbb is popular is becasue he is black is totally idiotic. Players become popular now-a-days in three ways. First - make great plays that can be shown a thousand times on sportscenter. Second - Break some record that is very impressive(like rich gannon's 10+ 300 yard passing games last year). Third - win baby win. I'll add a forth wildcard reason here - You can become a SUPERSTAR for doing any of the above while taking your team upon your shoulders, becasue the other people on your team are sub par.

Now, lets look at McNabb. McNabb has plenty of highlight real matterial that gets him plenty of play on Sportscenter. He also wins. He has taken his team to the NFC championship game two years in a row. Take into account that magical 4th reason, that he is surrounded buy a bunch of sub par players on offense, he gets elevated to superstar proportions.

If you don't agree with makes makes a star now-a-days, please tell me where I am wrong.

[Revolting cat!]

The Grand Enquirer will burn at stake the boy who shouts that Lady Godiva has no clothes!

[MeekOneGOP]

I haven't been so upset since I learned that pro-wresting was fake.

LOL !!

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.

Oh, yeah. I'm sure Irvin was probably busy doin' his job ...

http://www.skins.net/irvin.html

Smoke Some Crack
(Sung to the tune of Deck the Halls)

Smoke some crack with Michael Irvin - Fa la la la la - la la la la From the law he's runnin', swervin' - Fa la la la la - la la la la Fancy moves have nev-er failed him - Fa la la la la - la la la la Oops! The Dal-las cops just nailed him - Fa la la la la - la la la la See the case the DA's trying - Fa la la la la - la la la la Hear the bimbo testi-fying - Fa la la la la - la la la la In the court-room Irv-in's sweat-ing - Fa la la la la - la la la la Twen-ty years he could be get-ing - Fa la la la la - la la la la See his lawyer cop a plea now - Fa la la la la - la la la la Michael Ir-vin's go-ing free now - Fa la la la la - la la la la Push-ers face in-car-cer-ation - Fa la la la la - la la la la All-Pro Cowboys get pro-ba-tion - Fa la la la la - Ha Ha Ha Ha

[jragan2001]

You hit a home run my friend! The pictures, especially the
top one, pretty much says it all-no further words needed.

[JohnnyZ]

The mistake he made is this-he inserted a political statement into his sports analysis.

Actually he criticized sportswriters for inserting THEIR political statement into their sports analysis. Rush's point was that it shouldn't be a factor, but that people were, wrongly, using race in their analysis.

[discostu]

Where you're wrong is the same place you were wrong yesterday:
Rush never said the only reason McNabb was popular is that he's black.

[cake_crumb]

"i don't like clark that much either, but c'mon. his politics are squishy, but he served his country and took a bullet, which is more than you can say for rush"

His service and his wounding were decades ago. WE are talking about his actions from 12 years ago to the present. He's guilty as charged of everything we're accusing him of.

Welcome to FR, where parroting syncophantic talking points may earn you the nickname of "troll"

[Uncle Hal]

Rush should of known better. There is no way he can win on this. The Dems and the liberal media will be all over this. Wesley Clark enters this fray because Rush wrote a hit piece on Clark a week ago in the WSJ and ever since then Clark has been on Rush's case. This will obviously help ESPN's ratings. Rush may have a short career in sporta broadcasting.

[Almondjoy]

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.

Rush.. I think you have more than a hearing problem these days.

[Samurai_Jack]

People that Hate Rush Limbaugh... Will still hate him. People who like Rush Limbaugh... Will still like him. Nothing changes here, it only makes him more visible.

[Grit]

360?

[GSWarrior]

The problem here is Rush suggesting his freedom of speech is being violated.

[TheGunny]

For any one that cares about facts, here they are.....
Mcnabb has a QB rating of 51.1, Cordell Stewart has a 49.8. last and second to last of all starting QB's in the entire NFL! The Facts speek for themselves.....he is a good athlete, at this point not even average. Here is the URL for your veiwing pleasure.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bycategory?cat=Passing&sort=49&qualified=1&conference=NFL&year=season_2003

[Grit]

Seemed like EVERYONE had forgotten his [Dennis Miller] SNL days.

Miller has admitted that Sep 11 changed his views about a lot of things. Also, wasn't Franken writing SNL material then?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Clark is hoping to be the second Black President.