Thanks to a rebuke of Rush Limbaugh by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Colts Owner Jim Irsay this week, the talk radio host was dropped from a group bidding to buy the Rams today. Cited as basis for the rebuke was Limbaugh’s past “divisive” comments. Though the subject of those “divisive” comments went unclarified by Goodell. Though Limbaugh as a racist was the operative translation.
(Rush vanquished by NFL Owners as Jay-Z welcomed by NBA Owners)
Now that Limbaugh’s personal bid has been reduced to tatters, onto other matters of import. From Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com this week:
I’d say we’re less than 24 hours from Limbaugh playing the Jay-Z card. Brother Jay owns a piece of the New Jersey Nets and has a library of rap tunes spewing the same kind of black-degrading lyrics, phrases and stereotypes that have made Limbaugh rich enough to buy a chunk of the St. Louis Rams.
Then there’s rapper Nelly, who holds a minority interest in the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats while happening upon a similar propensity for the debasement of women and black culture.
So how is it that two men responsible for such prolific dissemination of detestables have been unanimously affirmed as owners of major league pro sports teams, but Limbaugh was cast out from his mere attempt to join an NFL ownership group?
Limbaugh’s daily, on-air presentation purports the pretext of news and informational authority, the content of his dialogue to be discerned not necessarily literally, but certainly critically. Ironic considering Limbaugh considers himself a supreme entertainer, though that “entertainment” fosters an environment demanding listeners consider his words as they would a Supreme Court Justice.
For that reason, and Limbaugh’s Donovan McNabb remark while under ESPN employ, NFL Owners are holding the talk host accountable for his pronouncements as they apply to the mores of League public policy. (However vague and self-serving.)
Meanwhile, our undying devotion to the cult of entertainment provides cover for the performances of Jay-Z and Nelly. When presented in covenient context and appropriate venue, societal rules don’t apply to self-style “artists” - otherwise known as rappers. Master brand manager Jay-Z takes that paradox a step further during a recent appearance on Oprah:
People give words power. For our generation, what we did is that we took the word, and we took the power out of that word. We took a word that was very ugly and hurtful into a term of endearment,” Jay-Z said. “We pretty much took the power out of the word. If we just start removing words from the dictionary, they’ll just make up words the next day. So we don’t address the problem. The problem is racism, that’s really the problem.”
Brilliant framing of a lame argument. But if Oprah buys it, that’s all that matters.
Ditto NBA Owners.
The other shoe cementing Limbaugh’s demise was the NFL’s perception of the demographic he regularly offends. Goodell noting the talk host’s “divisive” statements was akin to calling Limbaugh a racist.
From that, I think the league thought if it blessed Limbaugh’s bid, and he was voted in as Owner, there’d be potentially ugly, mass protests at Rams road games.
No such concern though with Jay-Z and Nelly in the NBA though, where they’re more likely to be embraced by the vast majority of NBA game attendees than anything - regardless of their stage-borne sins.
The NFL has evolved into North America’s most insufferable, over-examined media stage besides the White House. The NBA maintains only a fraction of that audience. If a rapper like Jay-Z wanted to buy into the New York Jets, he’d face significantly more scrutiny in doing so than the NBA Ownership approval process.
With the precedent set by Goodell this week, I actually think there’s a good chance Jay-Z would be turned away in a bid to buy into an NFL ownership opportunity.
Less ironic than we all might surmise, as it’d just be one more thing rappers and Rush have in common.
3:43 am on October 15th, 2009
If Jay-Z or Nelly went on Kia NBA Shootaround and said “Steve Nash isn’t even really that good, he’s a product of the media wanting a White player to succeed” then the NBA would handle them like the NFL Owners (not Goodell, he just replayed what players and owners were saying) “handled” the Limbaugh situation…
which isn’t even a situation at all, the Rams aren’t officially for sale, Rush’s own “group” of (wanting) owners kicked him out and said he was a distraction and hurt the chances of the team staying in St. Louis (exact quotes from Checketts)…
Players in the NFL, the head of the NFLPA and Owners in the NFL all said they would be against Rush Limbaugh owning a team…
Still posting a bunch of stories about this and trying to spin it into something it’s not, there was one reason for backlash from NFL players, NFLPA head and Owners (again, not Goodell which you keep saying, maybe watch NFLNetwork and watch the press conferences live instead of chopped up quotes or short videos…)…that one reason is because he said race related comments when he worked for ESPN on an NFL pre-game show, NFL Sunday Countdown….
guessing you’re getting people to check the site by keeping this story going, but you’ve been making comparisons that aren’t legit at all, first to Olbermann, Olbermann has never said race related comments during Football Night in America on NBC, now to Jay-Z and Nelly who have never said race related comments during Kia NBA Shootaround or on TNT’s coverage of the NBA, etc…
Rush’s OWN PARTNERS kicked him out of the group…end of story, you’re better than this, lets move on to something legit, like Bloggers (aka fake media) and media (aka oldheads and talking heads that don’t know shit) talking shit about Brett Favre and saying he needs to go away and can’t play anymore and now he’s 5-0 making all the haters look like the idiot, no knowledge about sports, clowns that they’ve always been…
4:59 am on October 15th, 2009
Rush never apologized for his comment which is probably why the NFL won’t let him purchase a part of the Rams. I believe the NFL asked him to, but Rush stood by his comments. I guess what comes around goes around.
The NBA can move to Europe because watching NBA games is like watching WWE. The only difference is that the performers in WWE are better technicians of their craft.
8:18 am on October 15th, 2009
Have you ever even LISTENED to Limbaugh’s show that you can support unfounded accusations like “…spewing the same kind of black-degrading lyrics, phrases and stereotypes…”? Aside from the “McNabb comment”, what has he said that’s racist?
Second, in 2003, Limbaugh’s comments were not off the mark. McNabb wasn’t that good of a quarterback and the stats for that season tell the tale. 20th in completion percentage, 16th in passing yards, 18th in TD, but 2nd in sacks.
Third, it’s sad that because someone makes racist comments, it’s all right for him to be a part owner of an NBA team, but not an NFL team. When are we going to come out of the stone age?
9:32 am on October 15th, 2009
This is nonsense and all political. A means for liberal people to attack without having to look at their actions. Reverand Al (a joke of a name) seems to forget the Tawana Brawley incident. Boycott NFL products.
10:14 am on October 15th, 2009
I agree that a Jay-Z or a Nelly would have harder time buying into the NFL now that this precedent was set.
Even if Rush never made the McNabb comments, or any comments that might cause somebody to think he’s racist, I think the NFL would be hesistant to approve him. I think he’d be a lot like Mark Cuban. He’s too big to need the NFL, and he has a huge outlet to speak on. The NFL doesn’t like anybody associated in it to be able to speak their mind, and there is no way they’d be able to control what Rush says on his radio program.
I don’t like Rush Limabaugh, but I do find it strange that when some people say controversial things, they are brave and practicing their first amendment rights, while others are pariahs.
10:27 am on October 15th, 2009
CitizenX,
Whoa, you might re-read the post. You’ve got things reversed.
10:38 am on October 15th, 2009
Ha! Citizen X must be a dittohead.
Great post.
10:46 am on October 15th, 2009
The NHL refused the billionaire from Canada who wanted to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, why? because they can in fact they purchase the coyotes for $100 Million less than what the guy offered!
What i find ironic is that Rush is playing many of you, i think it was all p/r to get Rush more attention and it worked like a drum. P.T. Barnum was correct!
Why would Rush, who rails about socialism and it’s evil, want to join forces with 31 other conservative white men who share equally tv revenue, merchandising, and split gate receipts 60/40, sounds like socialism to me. Hmmmmmm!
All this crap about Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, reverse racism, free speech is specious. How many were defending the Dixie Chicks several years ago when they said they were not proud of President Bush.? and wanted stations not to play their records. Come on people think a little!
12:08 pm on October 15th, 2009
This was a no-brainer - they just want to hear stories about Kim’s big a** at the owner’s meetings.
1:07 pm on October 15th, 2009
Good for the league!!!
1:16 pm on October 15th, 2009
Just another day in Obamerica.
2:42 pm on October 15th, 2009
First of all, McNabb is overrated. Every Eagles QB within one game of getting their feet under them has performed as well or better than Donovan when he was out due to injury. Hell, TO even bagged on him. Race shouldn’t have been an issue, but his career play at quarterback isn’t equal to the hype.
Second, Jay Z and Nelly are no different than Rush in terms of “off the court/field” sentiments. All get paid to “entertain” so I doubt any of them truly believe 100% of what comes out of their mouths. Yet, the industry that Jay & Nelly are directly involved in fits in more with the NBA culture than a conservative talk-show host fits in with the NFL.
Third, people like Rush & Cuban live off of controversy like this so I am sure all of this just put more money in Rush’s back pocket due to all of the media hype. So in the end, this failed bid at ownership may have hurt his ego (as a sports fan), but fattened his wallet (as a talk-show host).
Finally, Jason Whitlock knows how to stir up more crap than Rush ever did. He only wishes he was as successful as Rush….
4:11 pm on October 15th, 2009
Jay-Z lyrics arent about b*thcs n hoes or w/e else u think rap is in general. its music telling a story of what he or people that he may know have been thru. talking about making it out and doing other things (hence half of the “gangster” rappers that has been dropped by him.) u have to really listen to the music and hear wat he is saying than jus grouping it with all other rap music, aka stereotyping it
8:03 pm on October 15th, 2009
Señor Brooks Says:
“So how is it that two men responsible for such prolific dissemination of detestables have been unanimously affirmed as owners of major league pro sports teams, but Limbaugh was cast out from his mere attempt to join an NFL ownership group?”
To Which I Reply:
Because the ownership group that is looking into buying the not-for-sale Rams kicked him out of the group. End of story.
11:59 pm on October 15th, 2009
How could you even begin to compare Jay-Z to Rush. Yes, Jay-Z’s lyrics can be offensive and degrading to women, but it stays true to what he say and what surrounded him growing up. Jay-Z isn’t racist and has never been accused of such “divisive statements” that Goodell speaks of. And he absolutely never publicly put down the NBA or the NFL for that matter.
Yes, I definitely agree that Jay-Z would have a hard time joining an NFL ownership group in this day and age, but the bottom line is this- players would love to play for a team owned by Jay-Z and owners would love to be partners with him.
12:13 am on October 16th, 2009
What a joke this issue represents. Lot of false statements that was not substantiated by the mass media. An article in the UK Telegraph regarding this issue highlighted the bias media coverage. And the comments by individuals on the various outlets were laughable. You say a subjective comment and you get blasted. I remember McNabb got offended becuase someone compared him to another qb that happened to be white. Even the local NAACP person in Philly talked bad (subjective) and nothing was made of it. And the weak rationalization of Jay z was just as bad as the Nobel for Pres Obama.
5:44 am on October 16th, 2009
HOVI BABY!
11:15 am on October 16th, 2009
JayZ - In ….. it would be racists to deny him.
Fergie is a minority owner of the Dolphins - ever heard any of the Black Eyed Peas lyrics?
Bigots can be black or white or red or yellow. Racism, be the dictionary defintion, can go in any direction.
Anyone who says the NFL needs more minority coaches or more minority owners is in the same category as Limbaugh. Same sentiment, different angle.
This was only about his politics and I’ll bet the White House made phone calls.
Anyone who repeated the false comments on the TV screen, in front of an audience or in print should be sued to the degree that they drain their bank accounts and even loose their jobs due to the time constraints invoilved in defending themselves.
Limbaugh has deep pockets and would have 10’s of thousands of donors.
9:11 pm on October 16th, 2009
Demorris Smith lead the charge against Limnbaugh (look him up)
Smith was also on the Obama transition team and is a long term friend of Eric Holder.
NFL now officially sucks
3:00 am on October 17th, 2009
It is reverse racism. In fact I think it is time for white people to have their own naacp becuase we are under attack and we are being played with. It is time to take back our equal rights. I’m so tired of this crap and double standard B. S. that it is hard for me to look past the morons that spew this white people this white people that crap. If you didn’t vote for Obama you must be a racist. I’m not for abortion I believe in God and that is why I am a conservative and not a hypocritical liberal. Save tha animals, save the planet, don’t believe in the death penalty but by all means kill a unborn child. Are you people from Mars! Rush is a business man and there is no reason he shouldn’t be allowed to do business in the NFL.
7:14 am on October 17th, 2009
I am a democratic, and I don’t believe in abortion, nor do I believe in the death penalty, because too many Africans have been convicted of crimes, when it was too obvious to everyone they didn’t commit them. The facts are in 70% of the people found innocent of crimes they were convicted of were African, and many were on death row. Check out the innocent project.
9:46 am on October 17th, 2009
Can you spell Hypocrits? I know I probably can’t, but you get the point.
1:25 pm on October 17th, 2009
tisha,
what the heck does your comments have to do with this issue.