Sizing up Rush's Rams

[FredFlash]

Sizing up Rush's Rams

Rush Limbaugh made a splash in the news this week when he released a statement confirming that he and business partner Dave Checketts had made a bid to buy the NFL's St. Louis Rams. While thinking about the ramifications of Rush co-owning an NFL franchise, we imagined how Limbaugh might throw his weight around in the owner's box, and came up with a few suggestions for Rush on how he might be able to cut some corners and gain a competitive advantage in the league.

Our first idea was inspired by Limbaugh's baseless assertions and smears of Department of Education official Kevin Jennings. In his recent broadcasts, Rush refused to recognize the facts in the right-wing concocted controversy surrounding Jennings. Not only was there no evidence to support Limbaugh's claim that Jennings gave "advice" to a student to "further" the student's relationship with an older man, but Rush repeatedly lied about the student's age at the time. Despite concrete evidence that says the student was 16, Rush continued to insist the student was 15 years old.

Since Rush is apparently fine with lying about people's ages, he might as well use it to his benefit as owner of the Rams. Why draft washed-up college athletes when you can flout the rules and pick up the top high school prospects? And if the league conclusively determines they're too young to play, he could just hold press conference after press conference saying they're old enough, provide no documentation of their age, and send them out onto the gridiron anyway.

Drafting his players out of high school may end up being a necessity, as Rush Limbaugh's Rams might have trouble even fielding a team. Since Rush announced his bid for the team, several athletes have come out to state their reluctance to play for the radio host. Donavan McNabb -- with whom Rush has some history -- told a reporter that he "won't be in St. Louis anytime soon" if Limbaugh's deal goes through. A few other players in the New York market have also come out to say they wouldn't play for him, either. And to make matters worse, it doesn't sound like the sports media will be welcoming him with open arms.

But what about the general health and well-being of the team and his employees? Well, they can forget about trainers or health coverage of any kind -- it's time for them to "man up"! Besides, it's cheaper to pay for your own health care anyway. Strained quadriceps? Torn rotator cuff? Pssh, walk it off, Nancy. Those are just examples of "media-inspired plagues or panics," like that H1N1 virus. Speaking of which, that's another area in which Limbaugh might be able to cut the organization's health care costs. His personnel certainly won't be getting vaccinated if we're to take at face value Rush's defiant stand against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' polite suggestions that at-risk persons and their families get the H1N1 vaccine.

Read the rest of this fine piece at: http://mediamatters.org/columns/200910090057

[livestrong6]

NFL Players executive director DeMaurice Smith on Saturday made a move to solidify the union against a bid by conservative talk show radio host Rush Limbaugh as part of a group that aims to purchase the St. Louis Rams.

In an e-mail to the union's executive committee on Saturday specifically addressing Limbaugh's bid, Smith said, "I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages. But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."

Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts are among six potential ownership groups that have discussed buying the Rams. League sources say the current sale price has ranged from $700-to-$750 million but that there did not appear to be an imminent transaction.

On Sunday, Smith briefly elaborated, "This communication is more about what we stand for than the reality of our role in any franchise sale. While it's true the subject matter was related [to Limbaugh's bid], I do understand that the NFL does not present ownership bids to me or the NFLPA. I encourage our players to express their views."

At least seven NFL players have publicly opposed Limbaugh's interest in purchasing the Rams with Checketts. In Smith's communication Saturday with his executive committee, the union leader encouraged players to speak their mind on all matters, including Limbaugh's bid.

"I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game of football but also as players and partners in the business of the NFL," said Smith in the e-mail. "They risk everything to play this game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its consequences for the rest of their life. We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up, giving in or lying down to it.

"Our men are strong and proud sons, fathers, spouses and I am proud when they stand up, understand this is their profession and speak with candor and blunt honesty about how they feel."

Limbaugh has expressed a number of controversial racial ideas in the past. For example, he suggested that Gen. Colin Powell supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy simply because he was black, and he also stated that the media wants black quarterbacks to do well and that Donovan McNabb doesn't deserve much of the credit he has received for the Eagles' success.

Among the half-dozen interested buyers of the Rams, there are strong African-American ownership groups interested in buying the Rams, including businessmen Donald Watkins and Dave Steward.

The league has maintained it does not publicly address potential franchise sales. All transactions, when formally presented after a thorough background check, are decided by the 32 owners by vote.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4551010

Any deal that has Limbaugh in it will be shot down. The NFL owners would never approve a limbaugh bid! To me it's a dead topic!

[Taylor13]

Slow day Fred and livestrong??

[equinox137]

Oh.....he wasn't 15 - he was 16. I guess that makes it OK.

[Bearcat357]

Slow day Fred and livestrong??

Must be...... Silly Libs....

[FNA209]

Players saying they won't play for Rush?

This is the answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeZQ8tChMUg&feature=player_embedded

"They're lying thru their stinkin' teeth!"

[SRT936]

If the NFL players continue to play for Jimmy Jones and Al Davis, they'll play for Rush....

[livestrong6]

Associated Press

BOSTON -- Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy the St. Louis Rams ran into opposition within the NFL on Tuesday. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay vowed to vote against him and commissioner Roger Goodell said the conservative commentator's "divisive" comments would not be tolerated from any NFL insider.

"I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him," Irsay said at the owners meetings. "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."

Limbaugh has long been a hero of conservatives and villain to the left, thriving on his place in the political spectrum while establishing himself as one of the most successful broadcasters in history. But the NFL tries to avoid controversy, as Limbaugh learned in 2003 when he was forced to resign from ESPN after saying of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

"Divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about," Goodell said. "I would not want to see those kind of comments from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL."

Limbaugh also said, according to transcripts posted on his Web site: "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it." That comment, and others, resurfaced this month when he revealed he is teaming with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts to bid on the Rams.

Goodell said the Rams updated the league on the progress of their potential sale, but bidders were not discussed.

"They're not certain they are even sellers," New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said, adding that he expected a decision by the end of the season. "We can't speculate on potential owners because they have not brought up any names to put before ownership. It's out there, but without confirmation from the Rams or the Rosenbloom family, frankly, we don't know who the potential buyers are."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft referred questions about Limbaugh to the commissioner. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said anyone who meets the "normal criteria" is a candidate to own a team.

"But our vetting process is very thorough," he said.

Prominent blacks are already lining up against Limbaugh, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith, who is also black, urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid, and several have already said they would not play for his team.

But Irsay is the first owner who has stated unequivocally he would reject Limbaugh if it comes up for a vote. Prospective owners must be approved by 24 of the league's 32 teams.

Irsay said at first that he would consult with people he respected, such as defensive lineman Dwight Freeney, coach Jim Caldwell and former coach Tony Dungy, all of whom are black. But later, the owner said he did not need to get anyone else's input before rejecting someone who made a habit of "demonizing individuals."

"I met Rush only once. He seemed like a nice guy to me and all those kind of things," Irsay said. "It's bigger than the NFL. As a nation, and as a world, we've got to watch our words and our thoughts. They can do damage."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4556315

[FNA209]

I find it ironic that the NFL would try to stand a stand on any moral or ethical issue given what their players seem to did on a regular basis. Granted pro-football player aren't quite as bad as some of the NBA thugs, but they are a close second.

It's just another tarnished organization with a rather spotty reputation.

[Bearcat357]

I wonder what would happen if Al and Jesie pooled their money together and tried to buy a team....and white players and white management said they weren't going to play for them....what the outcry would be....?

Hmmmmm.......

[ray8285]

Rushes real reason:

And then there’s Limbaugh’s highly-publicized comment about slavery: "I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: Slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back. I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."

Catch up, this has already been shown to be a false statement. Rush never made it yet it continues to flourish all over the media.

Same thing about his comments on ESPN, he never said a word about social engineering...it was about reporters trying to prop McNabb up when he wasn't ready for it yet....and there were persons on the set who agreed with what Rush said as well (I believe it was Irving).

[stryker11]

Another funny thing....he's only a minority party in the deal. He really wouldn't have much, if any real authority over the team's day-to-day operations.

[fedny]

The NFL caring about morals and ethics??? All the players care about are contract$. Last time I checked Jay Z owned part of the Nets. He is controversial and made plenty of racial comments.

[Seahawks398]

Jay-z is beyond a racist thug. He disrespects whites daily. Someone should tell him who pays his bills.

[ray8285]

The NFL caring about morals and ethics??? .

Two words say more than anything about the NFL and morals and ethics........MICHAEL VICK