As Terry pointed out, there are some football players that are upset about the potential bid by Rush Limbaugh (along with others) to buy the St. Louis Rams.
Of course, like clockwork, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have joined in and are opposing Limbaugh’s bid to buy the Rams because, as reported, of Limbaugh’s track record on race. They think Rush is too divisive. The question the NFL should ask is whether they should be listening to these two regarding divisiveness:
Sharpton: “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
Jackson: There are so many quotes to choose from. How about him being “sick and tired of hearing about the Holocaust.” How about him calling Jews “Hymies” and New York City “Hymietown.”
I’d like to see one clearly “racist” comment by Limbaugh (that is documented). The McNabb comment was a statement about race and the media–that doesn’t make it racist.
Would the NFL keep someone from buying a team, and possibly keeping the Rams in St. Louis, because he makes his living by expressing his views? I’d hope the NFL respects free speech more than that. Their political correctness suggests otherwise.
As for Jim Irsay, I’m not surprised he’d vote against Limbaugh. After all, why would he care about the Rams leaving St. Louis? The Irsay family (specifically Bob, the dad) is best-known for moving the Baltimore Colts in the middle of the night to Indianapolis.
Finally, the thing that really got me were comments on ESPN made by John Saunders. After reporting on the issue, he said: “Dave Checketts [the other key individual seeking to buy the team] is a solid individual, I don’t know what he’s doing
hooked up with Rush Limbaugh right now, as a matter of fact.”
I was shocked he’d made this comment–it wasn’t some commentary show. Nothing bothers me more (except maybe the designated hitter rule) than when dumb sports hosts want to discuss issues of politics, at least within a sports program.
Divisiveness isn’t a reason for the owners to oppose Limbaugh–anybody that expresses their views on sensitive topics will be divisive. If Michael Moore (the documentary filmmaker, not JLF’s Michael Moore) wanted to buy the Houston Texas, then so be it.
Unless there is clear evidence that Limbaugh is racist (which there isn’t), then the NFL should approve any bid (assuming the finances work).
