By Perry Green
AFRO Sports Editor
Former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott told the media, “He could offer me whatever he wanted; I wouldn’t play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can’t be bought.”(AFRO Photo/John Moore)
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(October 15, 2009) - ESPN reports that conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh—well known for his history of racially discriminating comments—has been booted from a group interested in buying the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.
The 58-year-old American radio talk-show host had recently made several news headlines for his reported interest in joining the NFLs owners’ box as a limited partner to a group led by Dave Checketts, who owns the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.
But according to ESPN, Checketts said in a statement on Oct. 14 that Limbaugh's involvement had become a problem in the group's efforts, so the bid will now continue without him.
“It has become clear that his involvement in our group has become a complication and a distraction to our intentions; endangering our bid to keep the team in St. Louis,” Checketts said, according to espn.com. “As such, we have decided to move forward without him and hope it will eventually lead us to a successful conclusion.”
At least 24 of the 32 team owners of the league would have to approve the sale of any franchise, and after much outcry from NFL players, owners and the commissioner, it became apparent that Checketts’ group would have been denied due to Limbaugh’s participation.
“I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Associated Press.
“When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it's something that we don't need.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t have a vote, but stood in agreement with Irsay, nonetheless.
“I have said many times before that we are all held to a higher standard [in the NFL,” Goodell told AP. “I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kinds of comments from people who are in a responsible position within the NFL. No. Absolutely not.”
The divisive comments Goodell mentioned include a statement Limbaugh made while he was serving as an NFL analysts for ESPN in 2003. Limbaugh said during a pregame show that the media is “very desirous for a Black quarterback to do well,” and that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb didn't deserve praise for his success with the team. Limbaugh was dismissed from his position as analyst for making the comment, but that didn’t stop him from making more racially offensive remarks.
According to nydailynews.com, he once stated that “the NFL all too often looks like a game between the ‘Bloods’ and the ‘Crips’ without any weapons.” More recently, he suggested that retired four-star general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy only because he was Black.
New York Giants defensive lineman Mathias Kiwanuka said Limbaugh’s long history of disrespect towards African Americans is the reason why most Blacks would never play for such an owner.
“I am not going to draw a conclusion from a person off of one comment, but when it is time after time after time and there's a consistent pattern of disrespect and just a complete misunderstanding of an entire culture that I am a part of, I can't respect him as a man,” Kiwanuka said, according to the nydailynews.com.
According to ESPN, Limbaugh used his nationally syndicated radio show to respond to those who opposed his bid.
“This is not about the NFL, it's not about the St. Louis Rams, it's not about me,” Limbaugh said, as stated on espn.com. “This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative.”
But civil right activist Al Sharpton believes otherwise.
“It is a moral victory for all Americans -- especially the players that have been unfairly castigated by Rush Limbaugh,” said Sharpton, who recently addressed the situation on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”
“This decision will also uphold the unifying standards of major sports.”