Tom Jackson reportedly threatened to quit ESPN show unless Rush left.

[boxster]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/6919423.htm

Tom's been there forever. I'm glad Rush "decided" to leave.

[VermontDem2004]

1. Every episode

it looked like Jackson wanted to put a beat down on Rush, but instead he calmly explained why Rush didn't know wtf he was talking about and that he was wrong.

[rocktivity]

9. The only thing McNabb did wrong was not appreciate Jackson's support.

Apparently he felt that Jackson's response should have focused more on the racial aspect of what Rush said. But I thought what Jackson did was great--point out that McNabb has racked up three Pro Bowl appearances and two postseasons in a three-year career. He didn't NEED to "get racial" to defend McNabb because he had THE FACTS on his side. He made Rush look like a opportunistic liar as well as an ignorant racist. And I wouldn't be surprised if Jackson was one of several ESPN-ers who huddled up, went to management, and said, "Either he goes, or we do!"


rocknation

[VermontDem2004]

10. Correction

He has three postseason appearences in a 4 year career plus two straight NFL Conference Championship appearences.

[rocktivity]

14. I stand corrected

especially since it makes McNabb look that much better!

;)
rocknation

[jeanmarc]

59. Great post!

Yes, this one was easy. Limbaugh, in order to set a nice racist agenda and statement like a David Duke, did the following:

He created a 'B' that didn't exist and has no factual basis for him to connect A to C.

A= black quarterback
B= liberal media overly sympathetic to black QBs (ask Kordell Stewart if that's true)
C= McNabb is overrated

I believe A and C. I do. I think Donovan is a black quarterback. ;)

I think McNabb is also overrated. But the evidence against that is very good. It is a very debatable question, IMO.

But to say that he's overrated because of 'B', that's horsecrap! The problem with conservatives is they buy into B, and so they feel hurt that they are being accused of racism. Too bad.

Limbaugh getting busted for narcotics trafficking is hilarious to me. This guy sees nothing but black and white(literally). In my view, his show was created to do nothing but be popular, truth be damned. He catered to a demographic. He is a cheap propagandist that has no interest in the truth. He's a lowrent practitioner of demogoguery. For him to likely be busted for drugs, when he had such a wrong view on them for so long, that's a victory for real justice.

People might wake up(okay I'm dreaming) to the fact that the drug war is unwinnable, goes against any capitalism, and is completely unfair.

I'll refer to Rush as "Keith" as in Keith Richards. He's a junkie. He'll survive this. But it will hurt those hypocrites to hear their hero being referred to as something like a guy that should be dead. ;)

[wryter2000]

2. Yay for Tom Jackson

Quality won in this case.

[mark0rama]

5. Hear, hear

I would have loved it if he'd ripped Pigboy a new cyst on the air, but here's to him for reconsidering his decision not to and being willing to make up for it.

[VermontDem2004]

16. He did rip Pillboy a new cyst

referring to the football content of his message, plus he's been ripping Limpballz a new one every episode of NFL Countdown. But at least Jackson stuck to football what his job requires him to do, unlike Rush.

[underpants]

3. Some may say too little too late but.....

I was expecting to hear something like that. Not that I have personal knowledge but Jackson just seems to me to the kind of guy who would do that. Maybe he is covering his a** I dunno.


I posted this on the other thread (about John Rocker coming to Rush's defense) but I thought I would put it here too.

[bmbmd]

4. I wasn't watching the show live

but Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson looked absolutely flummoxed on the video. It was almost like they couldn't believe what they were hearing and were struck dumb, unable to speak. I am certain that their anger grew as the gravity of Rush's charges sank in, and I don't doubt that he was in for a serious tongue-lashing from two fine men. "The path of least resistance', indeed, was to resign and not show his face again.

[VermontDem2004]

11. Jackson raised his voice and said

He was the player who went to those pro bowls, the championship games, the one I saw making the plays with his legs. I agree, Irvin especially, he looked like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

[Forkboy]

63. Jackson's eyes said it all

watch that clip again and look at Tom's eyes...he was pissed.I've watched him from the start...he's the best in the biz at what he does..and I've NEVER seen that look on his face.

He did the class thing and completly contrasted Rush's idiocy.

[Ramuscule]

64. With all due respect, your contention is ridiculous

I watched the show last Sunday when it was aired and there was absolutely no reaction, looks or words, to Limbaugh's comments. You know why? Because Limbaugh didn't say anything that warranted it. Since when is it news for someone to say a certain group of people want a black to do well and will overcompensate for him. The subject of race and quarterbacks has been around for 30 years. Limbaugh's statement is being widely overblown and miscast as racist because it was Limbaugh that said it. If Chris Berman had said it, nobody would have ever noticed. I get really tired of this trivial shit. Let's stick to the real issues facing America and stop trying to score cheap political points.

[wndycty]

6. I would still like to see him quit. . .

. . .the real offender in this issue is ESPN (Rush bears a lot of responsibility), they knew what there were getting and they did not respond properly to begin with. If I was Jackson I would leave unless the exec who hired Rush gets let go.

[VermontDem2004]

12. Rush made those comments not ESPN

They hired him because his radio show got good rating plus he was a former sports caster and the urged him to not talk politics, keep the subject about football. They probaly knew what his hate-radio fest was like but Rush bears the only responsibility, I would not quit if I were Jackson.

[wndycty]

13. By giving Rush the forum. . .

. . .even though many people warned them this would happen ESPN is just as responsible. I hold them just as accountable.

[VermontDem2004]

15. Rush made those comments

not ESPN, I hope you can understand that. They urged Rush not to talk politics and he done his job of not doing that til recently. Hold them accountable all you want, just remember Rush made those comments not ESPN. Should we have held the voters of Alabama accountable for Trent Lott's comment?

edit: I can't believe I misstyped like that, D'uh!

[wndycty]

17. They got what they wanted. . .

. . .they were warned. They ignored the warnings. . .they were irresponsible. I am still boycotting. The Cubs are on ESPN tonight, I will be listening on WGN-AM.

[VermontDem2004]

22. No Rush ignored warnings

They warned him not to talk politics, the only one irresponsible is Rush. Plus wtf is boycotting going to do, what is the purpose of your boycott? You boycott for an action you would like to see, with Rush gone what is the fucking point of boycotting, oh by the way, I got my channel turned to ESPN as of right now. :evilgrin: I think you are blaming the wrong people.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Sorry Windy, But. . .

I don't agree with Vermont's assertion that nobody at ESPN is culpable. But, the important thing is that the idiot got launched.

Boycotting is tilting at windmills at this point. I understand your passion, but i think at this point, it's best to be a gracious winner and just gloat to ourselves that this moron has gotten his comeuppance.
The Professor

[VermontDem2004]

27. Rush made those comments

Not ESPN, ESPN specifically told him to keep politics out and talk only about football. They knew his politics but they also knew he brung in high ratings, he was also a former sportscaster and a longtime sports fan. The only one who bears responsibility is Rush himself for those comments.

[wndycty]

35. I am offended by ESPN's actions in hiring Limbaugh

I choose to boycott. Isn't that my right?

Just an FYI, I have done publicity for ESPN RADIO 1000 here in Chicago on occassion. I have shared my displeasure with the some of my friends there. I sent them an e-mail on Tuesday and we have been playing phone tag. My protest can cost me money (they usually hire me 4 times a year), but I am taking a stand I believe in. I might not get anywhere with this, but I can live with myself because if I did nothing I would be selling out my convictions.

[VermontDem2004]

37. I didn't say it wasn't your right

But what would be the point, you boycott for a reason and what reason would that be. What would ESPN have to do for you to start watching ESPN again? Obviously nothing because Rush is no longer with them, FYI I didn't have a problem with them hiring Rush as long as he talked football and not politics or other stuff, guess what he failed and he is no longer with ESPN. I am sure ESPN gave him the opportunity to resign rather then publicly fire him, but Rush made those comments not ESPN and I wish that was a simple concept for you to understand.

[wndycty]

38. Please do not insult my intelligence

I know Rush made those comments. But he would not have been able to make those comments if ESPN had not enabled him by hiring him. ESPN has fucked up and they are still fucking up.

Do you know that Tom Jackson is not being made available to the press? According to the Chicago Sun-Times even Dan Patrick criticized ESPN management for their handling of the matter.

What can ESPN do? Fire the exec who courted and hired Limbaugh. Hey I understand your position. You want your ESPN so you won't hold them accountable. I cannot live like that, you can.

[VermontDem2004]

39. You are still blaming ESPN for Rush's comments

I can't understand you, But he would not have been able to make those comments if ESPN...

I remember when Dan Patrick said he liked Limbaugh so I don't care much about what he has to say, but Limbaugh made those comments he and only he is responsible for those comments, it shouldn't of matter if ESPN hired him, Limbaugh is a grown man, he knows what happens when you say the wrong things, ESPN is not responsible for what he said. But there is nothing you can hold ESPN accountable, they didn't say those comments.

[wndycty]

40. So it would be ok for ESPN to hire David Duke. . .

. . .and if says something offensive no one should criticize ESPN?

[VermontDem2004]

41. I have no idea who David Duke is

But Rush is a right winger so is at least 30% of the country and so is Steve Young. He was a former sportscaster thus a qualifacation, a minor one but it is one, as long as he talked football and not politics he was ok with me. But Rush is the one and only person who can control what comes out of his mouth not ESPN.

[wndycty]

42. That tells me a lot about your grasp of racism

and the people who enable it.

[VermontDem2004]

43. Do I defend Rush's comments no?

I wanted him gone, he is gone, I am happy he is gone, Now I can watch ESPN. Notice how I said Rush's Comments, I didn't say ESPN's Comments.

[wndycty]

45. So you are saying the employer bears no responsibility?

:kick:

[VermontDem2004]

46. Exactly

Say if I get hired by AT&T, I say something that offends alot of people, is AT&T responsible for what I said?

[wndycty]

47. Well. . .

. . .if someone told AT&T that you might cause problems then they would share the blame for what you did. You still did not answer my question about David Duke. If you don't know who is, ask someone. Your not knowing who David Duke is tells me you do not really concern yourself with issues that involve race. As long as you can watch ESPN its all good.

[VermontDem2004]

48. But if part of my contract says

that I cannot talk politics or I should stick on topic which is football. All I am saying is ESPN did not say what Rush did, Rush did. I do concern myself with issues involving race, I just don't happen to know who David Duke is.

[wndycty]

49. Take the time to find out. . .Google him! Its not that hard. . .

And then tell me whether it would be ok for ESPN to hire him.

Also if ESPN had to tell him not to talk about politics then they are acknowledging that they had a potential problem. But hell ratings and profits were more important than respecting their viewers.

[wndycty]

50. Also. . .

. . .what do you think of ESPN's not making Tom Jackson available to the media?

[VermontDem2004]

55. Jackson is a grown man

He could of said whatever he wanted to, if the article is true it was all Jackson himself that prevented him for speaking his mind.

Spies say Jackson was "beating himself up" for not responding directly to Limbaugh's racist remarks concerning Donovan McNabb on Sunday. Limbaugh said he never thought McNabb was "that good" of a quarterback.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/6919423.htm

[VermontDem2004]

53. I hate to use an O'reilly quote

But comparing Limbaugh to David Duke is like compared Ted Bundy to Winona Ryder.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Come On Vermont! A Good Job?

He did this in the 4th week. He's on air for this show 2 minutes per week. So, for 6 minutes he kept his piehole shut, and then did this and you think that's a good job? Man, you're standards are pretty low.

I'd say it was a good job had he gotten through the season without saying something stupid! You're so generous that 6 minutes was enough for you to give credit. You're an easier grader than am i.
The Professor

[VermontDem2004]

28. He is on much longer then two minutes

but that is not my point, he didn't talk politics in his first 3 shows. I am not saying he had to overcome so much to resist peeping rnc talking points, what I am saying as long as he talked football and not politics is all I care about, I watch pre-game shows to find out about matchups, injury reports, game conditions, and basically pre-game predicitions.

[ProfessorGAC]

31. I Agree Mostly

He was on for only 2 minutes per show. Not counting the point where the others join in, his solo bits were 2 one minute segments. One of the solo bits didn't even include immediate give and take with the others, but just a transfer back to the anchor desk and the next topic.

But, three weeks, no matter the minutes, is a pretty short tenure in a 16 week season. My point was that you were being pretty generous saying that he did good when he could only hold his tongue for 3 weeks. I would say he did quite poorly, given that his contract called for talking football as an analyst/fan. (Remember the original news items? That's what ESPN claimed.)

And, if you're interested in the things you say, which all make perfect sense, what the heck are you going to learn from him? Why would he know any more than the rest of us? The other guys spend the whole week gleaning info to do these shows. He was just doing opinion pieces. So, by your standards he was completely superfluous, because you were not going to get any of your needs met by hearing "just another fan" express an opinion.
The Professor

[VermontDem2004]

33. I liked watching Rush get stomped in the challenges

but I watched mostly because of Jackson, Young, and Irvin.

Edit: I was not praising him or congratulating, I should of said He DID HIS JOB by not talking politics for 3 weeks. But you COMPLETELY missed the point of my post, I wished you would have ignored that little part and focused on what I really had to say. I should of just said he did his job, not a good job, are you happy?

[oustemnow]

51. I would hope you wouldn't blame Alabama voters

for Trent Lott's comments, as I believe Lott is from Mississippi.

Otherwise, I tend to agree with you.

[VermontDem2004]

56. whoops

My error, Mississippi. But anyways that was a bad example.

[Tempest]

7. Sorry, but color me skeptical

I just don't buy the story.

Jackson has always spoke up in the past when he disagreed with someone, why would Rush be any different?

[ILeft]

8. This article is an illustration of how the Right has poisoned...

...pretty much every part of our society. Since the Bush Regime seized power in 2000, the Right has managed to taint so many things we used to enjoy and cherish- it's amazing how quickly it's all been disintegrating...even football of all things.

It really feels like they've pushed hard enough that things are coming to a head, but that doesn't mean things are going to get better...

[FuseONE]

18. yeah

It does kind of look like Irvin and Jackson were just flabbergasted and couldn't immediateley formulate the type of response that they really wanted to.

[FlemingsGhost]

25. Think of it this way:

The U.S. was in dire need of an enema.

It ain't pretty, it doesn't feel particularly good (unless your into that kind of thing ...Yikes!) but the end result is positive.

This nation will survive George W. Bush et al. and will be much healthier for having gone through the experience.

[ILeft]

57. Kind of like a flu epidemic

It might kill us, but we know there's a good chance we'll recover. I feel like this is the middle stage, when it seems like it's never going to end...:puke:

Maybe we'll build up an immunity to the Right Wing Extremist Virus?

[TheBlob]

34. Excellent observation

I was telling my girlfriend just yesterday that it's almost as if this had to happen. The Republicans had to get this much power and now they are getting drunk on it and screwing up bigtime.

It seems the only way to defeat them is to let them defeat themselves. Steal an election, take the country on a U-Turn, exploit our tragedy, rule through fear, invade a country, demolish the surplus, send the economy into the toilet...

Americans are finally starting to see how much the Republicans don't care about any of us and are unqualified to run this country.
We tried to warn them, but they had to learn it the hard way.

Too bad all of this had to happen just so people would wake up and see the obvious.

It's not over yet though.

[Bandit]

54. I seem to remember someone else saying it had to get worse before it

could get better. I won't mention any names because he isn't well liked here but his initials are Ralph Nader.

[Chomskyite]

62. But

We have to be there to cut their throats, all the same.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

[Character Assassin]

19. Jackson is a former Devner Bronco. Therefore, he is never, ever wrong.

Just thought I'd clear that up. ;-)

[Character Assassin]

20. He is also a former Denver Bronco. Obviously, I am not....

and have been wrong, including spelling, in the past.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. Did He Play In Both Cities, C/A?

Does Devner have a Broncos team, too?

I assume by the nature of the post, you're a fan of the Broncos!

And, while not a fan of same, i say Huzzah(!) for Mr. Jackson.
The Professor

[Character Assassin]

30. He clouded my mind, I was bedazzled and could not spell

Such are the estimable powers of all Broncos, both current and former.

I am a lifelong Bronco fanatic, born and bred in..... California.

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Wow! You Are Bedazzled!

A long distance fandom. Go figure!
The Professor

[Uzybone]

26. Well done TJ

I was pretty suprised he didnt say something on the show. But if he laid down his fist later I can understand it.

[jobycom]

29. People are way too hard on Jackson. He did the right thing.

Rush had obviously scripted his comment, and for all Jackson knew, he probably had a few responses ready to fire at anyone who challenged him. The comment was carefully crafted to be vague and hard to attack (notice how many different interpretations of it have been put forth-- Rush did that deliberately), and Rush no doubt was ready to defend it with his normal obfuscation.

Rather than stepping into the trap of debating someone who had had time to prepare when Jackson hadn't, Jackson stuck to what he was safe on. He defended McNabb's football record, on a football show, showing that Rush knew little about the sport, or more likely that Rush's own bigotry prevented him for a realistic analysis of the game. He defended McNabb without starting a wild, Springer-esque debate on race on live tv.

We also don't know what orders the crew had about Rush, about not engaging him on politics or race. Jackson had to decide in a moment on live tv how to attack. Not easy. So he stuck to what he was good at. I even heard an analysis from Tony Cornheiser (sp?) about how hard it is to be even be sure you heard a comment right, since you are generally already concentrating on your next comment, the last three comments you've heard, and whatever other facts and figures you need to keep in mind.

I understand McNabb wishing someone had taken on the bully, but it would have turned out worse for all involved. Of course, it may have turned out worse for Rush if he had been cornered, but he's a slippery eel when it comes to debate. Jackson prevented an ugly moment from getting uglier.

And we still won. Anyway, that's my opinion. It's probably as worthless as the rest of mine are, but hey, I have no life, so I just spout out stuff around here.

[FuseONE]

36. JOBY

I think your analysis is absolutely on point, well said.

[NashVegas]

52. Assuming this was Live

or something like it, you're absolutely correct. It's up to a broadcaster where they 'wanna go' - everytime you talk on mic/camera, you risk falling on your face, especially in an unscripted exchange - not someone else to decide what angle they're going to take.

Talking about racial matters on-air is not something Jackson has a lot of practice at, is it?

It would be like expecting McNabb to suddenly play left tackle and be brilliant at it.

[scarface2004]

44. jackson wanted to kick rush s pimply ass.....

but rush started crying like the little punk bitch he is so jackson let him slide!!

[robbedvoter]

58. Karma is a bitch! Rush did same when Randi Rhodes was

going to be picked by his radio network. (thereby proving that it's nothing but the market itself that demands that radio be 100% RW)

[billbuckhead]

60. ESPN has a series that makes black football players look real bad.

ESPN's not above using race, so Rushbo is no surprise. I think they were surprised that Rush turned out to be not as mainstream as they would have liked. Middle America isn't as backward as they'd like to think. They pushed the envelope to far casting Rushbo as everyman.

[gasperc]

61. should quit, unless these tapes of Arnie aren't shown!

Let's go to the videotape.

Now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has apologized for his behavior toward women, perhaps he wouldn't mind if footage of his alleged groping of a British broadcaster against her will was released.

So far, Carlton Television in London is refusing to show a tape of a December 2000 show, "Celebrity," in which Schwarzenegger grabbed host Melanie Sykes at the waist. Sykes said that when she pushed the bodybuilder away and said, "Get your hands of me - I'm scared," he responded by grabbing her breasts.

"Apparently, there's a problem with a batch of tapes, and the Melanie Sykes thing is one," Carlton spokesman Murray Buesst told our Spencer Morgan.

Sean Walsh, chief spokesman for the California gubernatorial candidate, told us: "I don't even know that these alleged incidents took place."

Stay tuned.