It was the right thing to do for the group, headed by Dave Checketts, chairman of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, both from a business and a social standpoint.
In order for the group to purchase the Rams, it would have to be approved by three-quarters of the NFL’s 32 owners.
Given Limbaugh’s well- publicized criticism of the NFL and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Donovan McNabb, there is no way this was going to happen while Limbaugh was a member of the group.
In 2003, Limbaugh, then a member of the crew on ESPN’s NFL Countdown, said McNabb was overrated as a quarterback because he was black.
Never mind that McNabb is one of the league’s top quarterbacks, and at the time of the comments McNabb had been named to three Pro Bowls and was in the midst of a streak in which he led the Eagles to four consecutive division championships and four consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game.
Following this comment, Limbaugh was let go by ESPN.
In 2007, transcripts posted on Limbaugh’s Web site said, “The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”
Either of these comments should have been reason enough for Checketts to not even consider Limbaugh to be a member of his proposed ownership group, but Checketts approached Limbaugh anyway, which was a mistake.
Once Limbaugh found out he was going to be dropped from the group, he said he mentioned to Cheketts his involvement in the group would cause a huge firestorm.
Limbaugh said Checketts was aware of this and he had cleared matters up with “the highest levels of the NFL.”
Following his dismissal from the group, Limbaugh lashed out at Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, at NFL union leader DeMaurice Smith and at the media.
I really don’t know what Sharpton and Jackson have to do with this, but Limbaugh criticized them, calling them “race hustlers.” Limbaugh also went on to say the NFL would enjoy the same fate as the automobile industry and Wall Street.
Obviously, Limbaugh has not been paying much attention to the NFL.
In an economy in which many industries are failing, the NFL continues to thrive. Most stadiums still sell out just about every Sunday, and the NFL is by far the most popular sports league in the United States.
Limbaugh’s rant also included him lashing out at the Obama administration and sports writers.
I just don’t get this guy.
He’s stuck his foot in his mouth on numerous occasions, yet he wants us to believe he is a victim in this situation.
I admit it was wrong of Checketts to pull Limbaugh into this. He obviously did not have this cleared with “the highest levels of the NFL,” as he told Limbaugh, but Checketts did the right thing in dismissing Limbaugh from his group before even more scrutiny could be placed on the situation.
Many of Limbaugh’s comments can be perceived as racist, so I don’t understand how he can be so upset that minorities are not happy with him.
His numerous bone-headed comments are the reason he is under constant attack by the media and various other outlets.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for a multimillionaire who makes his living pissing people off.
By ERIC MCGUFFIN
Editor
demcguff@ius.edu
