See, I told you so. I knew from the moment he started, Rush
Limbaugh would never last as a football commentator on ESPN. Well,
I never actually told anyone, but I promise, I thought it. Not
because I dislike him; no, I listen to Rush almost daily. There’s
just something about him that doesn’t fly on national television.
He’s too decisive in his opinions; he’s too relentless in voicing
convictions. He always says exactly what he thinks, which is not
very kosher on PC-TV. Rush is paying for it now.

In case you haven’t turned on a television in the past week, and
don’t know Limbaugh’s current circumstance, I’ll paraphrase for
you: Last Sunday on ESPN Sunday Morning Countdown, Rush claimed
that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb is overrated
because the media wants a black quarterback to succeed and the
Eagles defense deserves more credit. After harsh criticism,
Limbaugh’s resignation soon followed.

Days later–surely not by coincidence–the National Enquirer
launched a story that pose of Rush as an addict to prescription
painkillers caught in the middle of a south Florida drug ring.
Hesitant to comment due to the legal implications any statement may
have, Limbaugh has remained silent on the matter until a later
date. The story started off as hot news, but has quickly tapered
off into unlikelihood. That aside, consider what Rush said. Is
McNabb really even overrated? Quarterbacks, as a general rule,
often get more hype than deserved. Until teams like the Ravens of
’01 and last year’s Buccaneers emerged, defense usually ranks
secondary behind a star QB running the show. Was Joe Namath that
good, or did he just have nice legs?

The Eagles defense certainly does deserve credit; they didn’t
lose a step when McNabb was injured for several games last season.
So, say McNabb is overrated. What does his race have to do with it?
Plenty of social concern is abound in the NFL, but I really don’t
think any of it has to do with who’s behind center. Just look at
Akili Smith, a black QB drafted the same year as McNabb. His career
sunk like a boulder and no Cincinnati media begged for him to stick
around.

I’ll give Rush his dittos, but I’m not afraid to say he can be
wrong.

When he is wrong though, the criticism knows no bounds. Now,
media gleefully accommodates in slamming Rush at every opportunity
presented. Some of it is warranted, but much of it has turned into
spurious outrage disguising the joy so many feel at seeing this
conservative “blowhard” go up in flames.

Some critics can be unfair. Sports Illustrated columnist Mike
Silver curtly exaggerated Rush’s comments as if he suggested that
all successful black athletes had social concern to thank for their
success, which couldn’t be further from what Limbaugh meant.

Some can be just wrong. Movie critic Richard Roeper goes as far
as referring to Limbaugh’s aloof language in regards to the
uncertain drug rap as Clintonian. Now, Roeper may just be using
that as a vitriolic insult to Rush, but as long as he brought up
the Clinton parallel I’ll run with it. We all know what Bill
Clinton did when he became imbedded with scandal, so let’s go with
what Rush hasn’t done. Rush hasn’t spoke crossly of the suddenly
credible National Enquirer, he has not denied anything, his wife
hasn’t blamed the liberals of “conspiracy”–even though Mr.
Limbaugh may have in many past cases. The only thing Rush has done
is the only thing Bill Clinton never did, promise full
cooperation.

Say what you will about Limbaugh, he has immense, undeniable
broadcasting talent. He’s the most listened-to radio personality of
the time. However, that Sunday, I had never seen (or heard) him so
out of touch with an audience. Whatever justification he may offer
about his comments, Rush has to consider that no one tunes into a
football broadcast at 10 a.m. to hear a racial discussion.
Likewise, why would he make such a statement where he is offered no
more than a 30-second blurb to explain himself?

It has become clear, Rush boldly misfired that Sunday. Yet,
holding true to form like in everything he does, it was bold. If
there’s anything we can learn about this Limbaugh conundrum it’s
that one axiom holds true–it’s best to leave race out of
everything.