Rush’s Rams?

Ever since I was 7 years old, watching football on Sundays has been a personal gateway into a world that allowed me to forget the stress of the week and watch my team fight my battles for me.

Even with the unfortunate state of the economy, Americans across the country share in this simple pleasure every week if only to watch Peyton Manning dazzle the world with that perfect pass just one more time.

It’s almost spiritual, really.

Unfortunately, politics have permeated this sacred realm. 

During the recent weeks, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh publicly displayed interest in becoming the next owner of the St. Louis Rams. Limbaugh has been quoted saying, “It’s a dream to own part or all of a National Football League team.”

Given the fact that the Rams haven’t had a winning season since they were the “Greatest Show on Turf” back in 2003, a little image change might have been exactly what they needed.

But on Oct. 15, Limbaugh was forced to drop any potential bid for the team because of unrelenting pressures from left-wing leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. 

The fight against Limbaugh’s involvement in the NFL stems from a controversial comment he made about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb: “I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he really didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team.”

Let’s look beyond the fact that every word of Limbaugh’s quote is indisputably true and ask the question: What on earth does any of it have to do with his right to buy a football team?

Rev. Al Sharpton voiced his concerns with the potential bid by saying: “The National Football League has set high standards for racial justice and inclusion,” Jackson said. “(Limbaugh) should not have the privilege of owning an NFL franchise.”

Millions of Limbaugh’s viewers will tell you that after listening to his show and applying the correct context to his viewpoints, he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.

This quote does nothing to retract from that. The quote is clearly about media bias and has very little to do with McNabb – other than him being overrated, which is true.

Rush Limbaugh should not be an NFL team owner because it would inevitably make the NFL too political, but to deny him the team because of media hypersensitivity and contextual misrepresentation will not only fuel the political fire but also cheapen the simple joy of watching Brett Favre performing gridiron miracles year after year.