[simple simon]

ok, i know this is sort of an old story, but we never had a chance to discuss it as a forum

i heard this rehashed a little today on ESPN radio

im a little confused about what all happened, so maybe we can sort it out

i was watching ESPN when the "incident" happened

as i recall, Rush basically said he thought Mcnabb was way over hyped by the media because they wanted a popular black QB.......and Mcnabb was not as good as some reporters made him out to be

now today i here Kieth Olberman saying it was a case of racism by Rush

now this isnt something id consider racism, he didnt say he had anything against black people in any form at all

it seemed more like he accused the media of bias

what's your take on this ?

also, was it a fireable remark ? imo no

(just to be clear, im not starting this to have a huge discussion on race relations, just want to be clear on this one situation)

[EmpireWF]

Limbaugh is a big goof for many other things besides his remarks about McNabb but that's not for this forum . Anyway, he did say some stupid things then. He claimed McNabb is basically an average QB and is only hyped as one of the better NFL QBs because he's black. Then he tugged on the long-held belief that whenever an average or decent black QB comes along, the media will attempt to hype them because they want a great black QB, whether the talent is there or not.

Now whatever you want to believe, the remarks were out of place. Whether you want to say McNabb is a great, good or horrible QB is fine, but why bring up race? That's the thing that irked so many people.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Limbaugh is a big goof for many other things besides his remarks about McNabb but that's not for this forum . Anyway, he did say some stupid things then. He claimed McNabb is basically an average QB and is only hyped as one of the better NFL QBs because he's black. Then he tugged on the long-held belief that whenever an average or decent black QB comes along, the media will attempt to hype them because they want a great black QB, whether the talent is there or not.

Now whatever you want to believe, the remarks were out of place. Whether you want to say McNabb is a great, good or horrible QB is fine, but why bring up race? That's the thing that irked so many people.

I actually remember the broadcast...and dumb or not, his aim was at the media and not really black quarterbacks per say...though he did not think much of McNabb...It's like the Air Force coach who said his white players just weren't fast enough (and to be fair, you won't find a white runner in the top 10, 25 or maybe even 50 best 100 meter times of all time)...were both statement lacking sensitivity?...perhaps...dumb?..most likely...should it really be costing someone a job like it did Howard Cosell, Jimmy the Greek etc...not really...send them to sensitivity training and move on...the more issue you make out of it, the greater the spectacle you make it...

I remember the Cosell remark that cost him his career...dumb?...yep...but Cosell who was buddy-buddy with Ali etc, wasn't a racists...dumb in front of a live audience for one brief moment shouldn't negate a career that points in a different direction when it comes to the race issue...

[simple simon]

that's just what i meant, dumb but no way racist

id think it would be like if i said

"larry bird was an average player......the media built him up so we could have a white player look good in the NBA, but he wasnt that good"

that would be dumb to say but not racist and not directed at bird

so i dont see why people like Olberman cant see that

[ThePundit]

Limabaugh's mistake was trying to take his "liberal media" theory in mainstream news and relate it to sports media which was a dumb thing to do. I guarantee you John Madden doesn't think like Dan Rather.

They should really keep guys like Limbaugh and Dennis Miller out of the booth. I love Dennis Miller but I couldn't listen to him when he did MNF. Same way actors like Tom Cruise,Martin Sheen,and Barbara Streisand should stop talking about things they know nothing about - Limbaugh and Miller should stay out of sports commentary.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Limabaugh's mistake was trying to take his "liberal media" theory in mainstream news and relate it to sports media which was a dumb thing to do. I guarantee you John Madden doesn't think like Dan Rather.

They should really keep guys like Limbaugh and Dennis Miller out of the booth. I love Dennis Miller but I couldn't listen to him when he did MNF. Same way actors like Tom Cruise,Martin Sheen,and Barbara Streisand should stop talking about things they know nothing about - Limbaugh and Miller should stay out of sports commentary.

Naw...it depends on the guy...look at Howard Cosell...he was a Lawyer from New York...but he messed well with Dandy Don and the Gipper...

I like Miller and his over your head vocab...not a hit with the average fan granted, but they were trying for something a bit different...

The Rush thing was the same...he had tried out for Monday Night Football...had a major following...they were trying for one of those odd mixes that entertains...it just didn't take...

I agree on Stresans and Sheen...but give Alien Boy Tom Cruise a break...that kid don't live in reality...I's like to see a Celb Boxing match between him and Amazon Girl Brooke Shields...

[TheSportsGuru]

His point wasn't racist. The way he said it, was...

By saying that the only reason McNabb gets the hype he gets is because he is black is saying that he is treated differently becuase of the color of his skin, which is a form of racism. If he had come at it form a different angle it would have been ok...

My problem is, if it had been Tom Jackson that had said it, or Michael Irvin, than it would have been fine.

I hate the double standard...

Same thing with Bryant Gumbel's comment about Gene Upshaw. If Bob Costas makes the leash comment Jesse Jackson would be telling everyone that he should be fired...

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by TheSportsGuru

His point wasn't racist. The way he said it, was...

By saying that the only reason McNabb gets the hype he gets is because he is black is saying that he is treated differently becuase of the color of his skin, which is a form of racism. If he had come at it form a different angle it would have been ok...

My problem is, if it had been Tom Jackson that had said it, or Michael Irvin, than it would have been fine.

I hate the double standard...

Same thing with Bryant Gumbel's comment about Gene Upshaw. If Bob Costas makes the leash comment Jesse Jackson would be telling everyone that he should be fired...

I agree there is a double standard...

But the Rush take was that "the media is bais when it comes to a QB's race"...now the point might be 100% wrong... but to have an opinion on the media's take, no matter how myopic a view it is, does not constitute a racists statement...not in the same league as him saying, "A white QB is superior to a black QB because...blank...blank ...blank"...but it still cost him his job.

[cjg11582]

ESPN brought in Limbaugh to say controversial things and fired him for saying controverisal things. Good times all around!
I seldom agree with Rush's politics, but I enjoyed his perspective on ESPN's pregame show (though I couldn't stand that ridiculous format in which he had three "flags" he would throw to interject on discussions the four main commentators were having, a little too gimmicky for me). But he was bound to be fired for something like this, regardless of how unjustified some of us believe it to be. Oh well, he's a billionaire, I'm over it.