Rush Was Right

In 2003, Rush Limbaugh had just begun work on ESPN's Countdown show when he was shunned, and eventually fired, over comments he made regarding the bias of left-wing sportswriters. Revisionists contend the comments were racist and directed at Donovan McNabb.

This is wholly untrue. Judge for yourself—the comments to wit:

"Sorry to say this, I don't think [McNabb] has been that good from the get-go," Limbaugh said. "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. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Although there were multiple blacks on the ESPN set with Limbaugh at the time the comments were made, no one voiced opposition for the remainder of the show.

As the story goes, Tom Jackson, long time Denver Bronco great and Countdown studio host, decided over time that he was offended by the comments and would no longer appear with Limbaugh.

Chris Berman, the face of the network, subsequently said he would not appear without Jackson and—voila—Limbaugh was dismissed without debate.

Let’s put aside two peripheral issues here for a time, that:

(a.) ESPN fired someone that they hired only weeks early with the purpose of sparking dialogue on the show, only to fire him over speech that was marginally controversial (it’s not as though Rush had had 15 years on a nationally syndicated radio program to absorb what the man is about or anything); and

(b.) Tom Jackson’s pitiful inability to meet speech he did not like with more speech of his own. He, instead, decided to take his ball and go home. Very cliché for a former thick-headed linebacker, Tommy.

Rush’s comments were an eye-opener for me as I began to notice more and more that commentators were using their pulpit to dive into waters they have no business swimming.

Everyone wants to matter. Celebritards such as David Letterman and Eddie Vedder are no longer satisfied with simply entertaining. They now intend to influence.

When I go to a Pearl Jam concert (I’ve been to several), or buy their album (I have most), I used to expect to hear what they have been put on this earth to do—play damn, good music. Instead, it's a Nader plug or a Palin joke mixed in. Political commentator Laura Ingraham got so feed up with being preached to at concerts, she titled her next book "Shut Up and Sing."

To the point: in the coming weeks I will document specific examples of sportswriters betraying the implied contract we make with them by reading their stuff to "just give us our bloody sports already." After a few weeks of witnessing their dribble fall far outside of their expertise, maybe you too will agree that Rush was right.