Posted on 10/01/2003 3:04:45 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
ESPN.com: NFL
Wednesday, October 1, 2003 QB disappointed others didn't respond during show
ESPN.com news services
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb isn't looking for an apology from Rush Limbaugh, who said he was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
It's too late for that.
“ An apology would do no good because he obviously thought about it before he said it. ” — Donovan McNabb
"He said what he said. ... 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 Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback said of Limbaugh at a news conference Wednesday. "An apology would do no good because he obviously thought about it before he said it."
Before McNabb led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said during ESPN's pregame show that he didn't think McNabb was as good as perceived from the start.
"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 didn't back down from his comments during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.
“ All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something. ” — Rush Limbaugh
"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."
The NFL disclaimed any responsibility.
"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."
Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, described himself as "a New England Democrat" but added, "I don't think Rush was malicious in intent or in tone.''
"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.
"We're sorry we upset a guy who got off to a rough start. We don't need to be in the middle of his travails.
"As the quarterback of the show, I feel bad about it. I don't think it was meant the way it came out. I don't think that defines the way Rush feels about people."
McNabb, who was runner-up for the league MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight NFC 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 Wednesday.
ESPN executive vice president Mark Shapiro came to the conservative Limbaugh's defense.
"This is not a politically motivated comment. This is a sports and media argument," Shapiro was quoted as saying in a USA Today column published Wednesday. "Rush was arguing McNabb is essentially overrated and that his success is more in part [due] to the team assembled around him.
"We brought Rush in for no-holds-barred opinion. Early on, he has delivered," Shapiro told USA Today.
McNabb got off to the worst start of his career this season and was the NFL's lowest-rated starting quarterback after losses to Tampa Bay and New England. Still, the Eagles are 36-22 in games he started.
He said Wednesday that Limbaugh's comments about his race were out of bounds and added that someone on the show should have taken him on. Among the other panelists are 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 Chris Berman and Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."
According to USA Today, ESPN chose not to have Jackson, Irvin, and Young comment.
The outcry in Philadelphia might grow when the timing of Limbaugh's remarks is considered: He is scheduled to be in the city Thursday to give a keynote address at the three-day National Association of Broadcasters radio convention.
ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle said Tuesday that with Limbaugh on the show this season, ratings for "Sunday NFL Countdown" are up 10 percent overall, and 26 percent among the 18-to-34 male demographic. Sunday's show drew its biggest audience in the regular season since November 1996.
Limbaugh is best known as the radio host of the conservative, politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.
He spent most of the 1990s assailing then-President Clinton and now spends Sunday mornings talking football, a job he called "the fulfillment of a dream."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
I would be pissed if I were McNabb. I would hate to think about myself that I got to my position in life because I'm such-and-such minority. I don't think his success is because of his race at all. He's got charisma, and that's why I beleive he has the endorsement offers.
He didn't "probably" mean it...that's exactly what he said. He was talking about the sportswriters.
Rush tackled this topic on the very first ESPN show he did.
..he would NOT be on WABC for long.
When I said 'probably', I wasn't clear. I meant to say that he probably meant that he was ONLY referring to the media hype, and NOT referring to fans buying into it. In that case, 'probably' is about as strong a word as I can use, since I don't know for sure if he was implying that fans bought into the hype.
His "proof" is in all the sports stories he was reading about McNabb and the Eagles. It's not his job to "prove" what he was reading. He was discussing the MEDIA and it's portrayals. You can easily do a search and find those stories yourself.
If shows, even like NFL Countdown, have people that throw out opinions (and they all throw out opinions on that show...TJ, Irving, Young, Berman) had to stop and give the veiwers a list of what they've read to come to that conclusion it would take all day.
The only question I have is Why? Why did he do this?
I believe this may the demise of Rush on ESPN.
Whatever his motives, it was a stupid thing to do. He of all people should have known the reaction. After all, does he not always tell us he has "watched the libs for 40 years and knows them like the back of his hand"??
I have said many, many times in the past and it is so true:
The only thing conservatives have to fear are themselves.
Exactly. I mentioned that in my previous post. My only question is why? There is no way Rush can win this. Whenever a conservative brings up race in any way, they are labelled racist. Rush is the biggest voice of conservatism in the country. He is already a target. Dean mentions him in every speech for God' sake. I see no winning position in this for Rush or conservatism.
Why apologize. We are all here (well, most of us) for the dialog.
Your assertion that Rush is in a no win situation has merits, unless, of course, his intention is to illustrate his often stated points in a NEW forum. I don't think he set out to stir up a hornet's nest with this, rather was just being "Rush", but now he has a golden opportunity.
Those of us who listen to him every day know what he is going to say about most stuff like this. A large contingency of ESPN viewers do not, thus he has a new audience to "educate". I think if ESPN were seriously considering letting him go, they would be making some gestures to the press. They are not.
Not YET. Never underestimate the liberals. ESPN is obviously getting serious pressure to let Rush go. It is only a matter of time before Jessie "High" Jackson gets involved. I believe the response is much more than Rush anticipated.
With all the press this "story" is getting, it almost certainly WILL be addressed by the crew on Sunday.
That is for certain!
Once Rush has the opportunity to respond in the debate, watch out! He will then have the chance to operate in a new arena, outlining the fallacy of the NFL's minority practices.
Rush would have to make one of the most profound statements of his career to do that.
These guys on the panel know sports, but probably think about social and political "issues" about as often as they do taking out the garbage, with maybe one or two exceptions. In a debate, Rush is pretty dang good. Allowing him to debate about something he has had YEARS to thin about and discuss on his radio show, and he will be the one with the advantage.
I do hope you are correct. BUT, we are talking about the media here. They will do everything they can to get Rush fired for being a racist and ESPN just might bend. After all, he is the conservative mouthpiece and the biggest conservative target, after W.
Personally, I think they will discuss it, he will make his points and essentially shoot down the arguments against his assertions. He will likely expand his thoughts into the other racial issues and probably highlight that he wasn't insulting McNabb as much as he was the sports writers. They, of course, will hate that.
Man, I do hope your analysis is the correct one!!
The panel will probably be ready to move on, and the sports writers will spend the next week jumping all over Rush once again. ESPN's rating will continue to soar.
Well, if Rush is still working for ESPN by, say, the Wednesday following this Sunday, then he will stay there. It appears that everything depends on just how good a communicator he is this Sunday.
Just my uneducated theory on all of this. :)
Sounded pretty damn educated, logical and full of common sense to me! That's what bothers me. The libs have no logic or common sense.
GREAT POST!!
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