Your new owner of the St. Louis Rams: Rush Limbaugh? I suppose one’s first reaction to this might be horror … will cigars and painkillers be freely dispensed in the locker room? Will Rams fans be known as Dittoheads? Defensive coordinator Michael Steele?

A group headed by Limbaugh and Dave Checketts made an offer to purchase the troubled franchise on Monday, and reaction around Rams Nation has been mixed. But when you think about it, isn’t Limbaugh exactly the kind of owner you’d want?

The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH is reporting that the group intends to keep the franchise in St. Louis, which is the first good sign.

According to league sources, there are multiple bidders for the Rams as the potential sale of the team has advanced to a second stage — from looking for potential buyers to evaluating the merits of bidders. It is not known who the other bidders are.

“I certainly think individual bidders have the right to discuss their interest in the club,” said Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ executive vice president of football operations. “There’s really nothing for us to say. It’s really not fair to anybody involved in the process.”

In a statement, Limbaugh declined to discuss details, citing a confidentiality agreement with Goldman Sachs, the investment firm hired by the family of former Rams owner Georgia Frontiere to review assets of her estate, including the NFL team.

A Missouri native and former ESPN football analyst, Limbaugh has let it be known since last year that he would like to be involved in owning the Rams, a franchise rumored to be worth $900 million. But wouldn’t the presence of the conservative talk host be a polarizing and distracting figure in the owner’s booth?

Commenters are having their say about that today. From the POST-DISPATCH:

What, no drug clause for owners? — ANTE-BELLUM-ARCHIE October 5, 2009 9:57PM CST

Please Rush buy this team. What a dream it would be for me to discard the liberal goofs from the fan base. I’m a die hard fan but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t stand to be in the same room with the far left flakes. — John Fremont October 5, 2009 10:12PM CST

If Limbaugh becomes the owner of the Rams I’ll have even less interest then I do now, no matter what the Rams record is. Limbaugh is a cancer that does not deserve to be an NFL owner. — SolarWind October 5, 2009 9:53PM CST

It’s funny because this will be great for football in saint louis. think about how the media thrives on story lines like this, “Rush Limbaugh savior or satan is saving st.louis!” I say savior. I mean how much crap do you hear about favre or “the boyz”, think how much emotion will be drawn from shots of rush at a hopeful renovated rams stadium (notice not dome) on MNF. — ZitotoSTL October 5, 2009 9:55PM CST

From the HUFFINGTON POST:

Finally an all white pro football team! — Jrumm

want him to FALL FLAT ON HIS FACE, I WANT HIM TO FAIL.

ESPN:

Limbaughs is a name and cash in this deal. The main point is Checketts running the potential new ownership of the Rams. If you are aware of what this man has done for the Blues, taking them from dead to exciting in a few seasons, then you can see that this would be the best thing for the Rams and the city of St. Louis. Plese let this sale get done soon so we can have something to cheer about. — Pikapfatchance

Great, maybe Al Gore can buy the Bills, Hannity scoops up the Raiders, Olberman grabs the Jaguars and Beck/Cheney team up for Cleveland. Then we can put them into a separate politico-loser bowl division. At least it keeps the those teams in the league. — Utahbones

Speaking completely selfishly here, my God, this is great news. Why would you not want this? If history has taught us anything, it’s that the more polarizing, controversial and downright nutty an NFL owner is, the more entertaining the result. Here’s hoping Eddie DeBartolo gets another team and they’re in the same division as the Rams.