Trashed for what? For saying that we should be able to discuss racial issues? We should. Is that what Rush was trying to do? Perhaps. He just happened to have one weak-@ss argument which in-turn made him come off as a racist or someone with an agenda. Sowell said nothing.
It goes without saying that we all should be able to discuss racial issues. Oops, Rush was not allowed to. There is a real ongoing problem when people;s suspicion converts a possible "weak-ass" argument into a charge of racism. So if he had gotten the football right (and picked on Kordell Stewart instead), we wouldn't have had this conflagration? I don't think so. If he had made these exact same comments on his radio show or on his website instead of the hallowed ground of the ESPN set, we wouldn't have had this conflagration? I don't think so. As one of my favorite students used to say: "Horse-hockey!"
OK just for the sake of discussion, what if Johnny Cochran had been on the panel and suggested that Peyton Manning was garbage and was only being hyped because he was white? See, it makes no sense whatsoever what Rush did? None.
Manning is over-rated as well, but that is another matter. Also, Rush did not say that McNabb was "garbage." What would make no sense about it is that Manning is not a member of a minority group with regards to the NFL so there are no grounds for a subtle racial agenda to be in play. Blacks are under-represented in the NFL in several areas: Head Coaches, Top Executives, QBs, and kickers. There is an obvious effort to change that at the level of Head Coaches. Detroit Lions got fined for not interviewing a black Head Coaching candidate. Can we really deny that these forces are not in effect? Relative to their population of other positions, black athletes are under-represented at QB. The numbers don't lie, but impressions can be changed or distractions can be offered. The fact is that most of the NFL quarterbacks are white, so their getting hyped for being white is not an issue. They are the majority already. BTW, I would love to see Cochran come on ESPN and say something like that-- just to see what kind of response it would get.
I found this commentary by Bill Maher about the Rush Limbaugh flap: "Rush Limbaugh had to resign from his ESPN NFL broadcasting job for suggesting his fellow sportscasters overrated Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb because they wanted to see a black quarterback succeed. . . . But, this time, Rush Limbaugh isn't the big, fat idiot. He wasn't implying that we'd all be better off if society were segregated, as Trent Lott did, or that blacks don't possess the "necesseties" [sic] to be baseball managers, as Al Campanis did. He was simply suggesting that some sportscasters, recognizing a historic glass ceiling for African-American quarterbacks, may have been practicing a kind of "accolades affirmative action." But, as we all know, in this country, when anybody makes anyone uncomfortable ever, they must lose their job. Sports Center is next." Accolades Affirmative Action. I like it!
"accolades affirmative action?" Hmmm, earlier I was saying that Rush's views stemmed from his right-wing political affiliation. But, is Rush really concerned that some white QBs are getting the short end of the stick in terms of "accolades?" Most professional NFL players get paid pretty well. Most aspiring rookies get some hefty salaries. Are we to feel sorry for a white QB if he's not getting 10 million dollar shoe contract, but rather a measly 2 million dollars? I mean, we're not talking about class-warfare here. We're talking rich NFL athletes vs rich NFL athletes. In the end, the QB in question HAS to perform, regardless of short-term "hype." Else, they become forgotten when the "next great hype" comes along. Whoever that may be. Does bias exist in the media here or there regarding McNabb? Sure. But it's far and few in-between that it would be sooooo hard to prove. Plus, its so inconsequential that it doesn't matter. It would be like complaining about a tea stain on the U.S. Constitution. Does the tea stain exist? Yes. Does it really matter? No. So if a writer from Philly writes favorable articles about McNabb just because he is black, so what!?!? Big deal! Let them. Rush is jealous! Plain and simple. If Rush was a writer, we'd write "hyped" articles on Bush. Oh, that's right. He already does. Some might say, "Well, at least it's not racially biased." I would say, "How do you know for sure?" It's hard to prove. Unless someone invents a mind-reading device. It would be hard to DISprove that McNabb is talented. It would be even harder to prove that so-and-so writer is biased for racial reasons. Maybe Rush should have called out specific writers instead of generalizing about the NFL's marketing department. In the end, it's about Rush's jealously.
<b>DavidS</b>: What makes you think that Rush is wanting to horde accolades for white quarterbacks? Rush did not limit his criticism to the local Philadelphia media. Thank you for explaining why Rush can and should not be labeled a racist; no one is reading his mind... and you sure can't conclude that from his text.
The Philadelphia media would be the most plausible. I just used it as an example. I mean, at least that would be a little believable on his part. But, as you said, he did not limit his criticism on Philly media. It was NFL and national media. And that's even a broader brush stroke. Do you see something wrong with that? As far as hoarding accolades for "white qb's." Well, we'll never know who he was directing it toward. I'm sure that Anti-Afirmitive Action is a root source of his beliefs. And the last time I checked, Affirmative Action is assists minorities, not whites. And as someone above stated earlier, having black QB succeed IS a distinguishing characteristic. It's new. And most people will always root for the underdog. That's just the way it is. Rush does not want you to root for the underdog.
Are you in the zero-sum game? There are not a necessary number of accolades to go out. Those who deserve them get them. Rush thinks McNabb gets more than his due for suspicious reasons. No doubt that the anti-Affirmative Action philosophy is in play here. What are we left with? Merit. See my first paragraph. Off and on, I've been listening to Rush since 1989 I think. I would disagree with your assessment that Rush doesn't root for the underdog. I've heard him compliment many callers who tell their tale of self-sufficiency and pulling themselves out of poverty or opression by their own wits and determination. That is almost his own story. He was fired some 4-5 times. His career was in the toilet. He conceived the path he's on and made it work with the help and support of others who believed in him. That's why he roots for the underdog. He was one.
