Rush of Racism Toward the NFL

In a world - okay, a country - where an Austrian bodybuilder is about to become governor of California, a slutty pop singer has a bestselling children's book, and the year's National Book Award for Lifetime Achievement goes to Stephen King - Stephen King! - you take your good news where you find it. I found mine today in my local paper - on the sports page. And surprisingly, it is not about the MetroStars.

Conservative talk radio motormouth Rush Limbaugh resigned from ESPN's football show "NFL Sunday Countdown" yesterday, three days after suggesting that the Philadelphia Eagles's quarterback, Donovan McNabb, who is black, was overrated for his performance on the gridiron because the media want to see a black athlete do so well.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL," Limbaugh stated this past Sunday before the Eagles-Buffalo Bills game. "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do so well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this time that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

His obvious mangling of the English language aside ("media" is a plural word, for example), Limbaugh's comments are, as always, vicous and groundless. The Eagles's coach credited McNabb for the victory over the Bills in Sunday's game, and he added that McNabb was integral to ther team's performance, noting that the Eagles are "very lucky" to have him. McNabb himself said he didn't mind criticism of his playing, but added that Limbaugh's choice to make race an issue was upsetting and that it was too late for Limbaugh to apologize - which Limbaugh refused to do anyway.

Limbaugh insisted on his syndicated talk radio program that he must be right if everyone was making such a big fuss over his comments. Of course, he thinks any controversy over his statements validates his opinions, and he believes he's always right. (Yes, far right.) Has anyone heard Limbaugh admit error under any circumstances?

ESPN knew what they were getting when they hired Limbaugh as a commentator, and now they probably wish they hadn't. Good riddance.