With Apologies, ESPN's Football Pre-Game Show Goes On (great article)

[WilliamPitt]

I really like ESPN, and I was furious when they brought Limbaugh on. Read this article:

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Berman & Co. apologize for Rush's comments
ESPN.com | Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1631106

NEW YORK -- ESPN's NFL pregame show returned Sunday with an apology -- and without Rush Limbaugh -- a week after the commentator's race-tinged comments about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Steve Young and Michael Irvin took criticism from the media, as well as McNabb, for not responding when Limbaugh suggested on the Sept. 28 "Sunday NFL Countdown" show that McNabb was overrated because the media wants to see a black quarterback succeed.

"Do I wish that I had caught it in hindsight? Absolutely," Jackson said Sunday. "Do I regret that I didn't? Yes. But I'm human. Mostly, I regret that I missed it for Donovan McNabb's sake. I regret that."

Limbaugh resigned from the show Wednesday, and later said he was leaving so the sports network's employees would be spared the uproar over his remarks. He denied that his comments were racially motivated.

On Sunday, following a video recap of the happenings of the past week -- including a replay of Limbaugh's original comments -- the ESPN panelists offered their thoughts on the controversy.

Though they agreed that someone should have responded to Limbaugh right away, Young compared it to viewing game film the week after having missed an open receiver in the end zone.

"We all missed it. I missed it. And the truth is, everyone at ESPN missed it," the former quarterback said.

Berman said: "I have been kicking myself all week."

Jackson criticized the network's decision to bring Limbaugh aboard.

"Rush Limbaugh is known for the divisive nature of his rhetoric," Jackson said. "He creates controversy, and what he said Sunday is the same type of thing that he said on radio for years."

...more...

[mlawson]

1. (One of) my problems with this is,

was everything else Pigboy has said, over many years on his shows okay with ESPN, so that they hired him without any regard to his history? But THIS comment was beyond the pale?? Bad as it was, it is nothing comapred to thousands and thousands of his earlier remarks!

[WilliamPitt]

4. No doubt

Some wingnut jackass producer with clout probably got this deal done, "Yeah, he brings press, he'll turn all eyes to ESPN, baby!" That wingnut jackass has a name just slightly worse than mud at that place. Lessons learned.

[NashVegas]

15. It was All About Murdoch

and the DirectTV (30 Fox sports channels) purchase.

[calimary]

16. One can hope, at least...

I just wish Rush had gone down in even BIGGER flames. Like RIGHT ON THE AIR, put on the griddle by one of his cohosts. But then again, much of the nation has been asleep at the switch for far too long. It wasn't just these guys.

[frank frankly]

2. McNabb was wiser than the "adults"

Rush was exposed. I am glad that the NFL audience now has to choose between the poster on their wall and the man on the radio.

I hope he loses EIB, or 30% of it.

[mark0rama]

3. Is this enough?

I wasn't an ESPN watcher before, if only because I don't have cable or satellite, but I'd like to know: do you feel that ESPN has addressed the issue thoroughly enough for you?

[WilliamPitt]

5. My comment from above

Some wingnut jackass producer with clout probably got this deal done, "Yeah, he brings press, he'll turn all eyes to ESPN, baby!" That wingnut jackass has a name just slightly worse than mud at that network now. I'm ashamed that ESPN was stupid enough to do this in the first place, but I am glad they got kicked in the nuts for it, and I'm glad the network's own personalities are criticizing what happened. Could it be better? Absolutely. But the thought of that destroyed wingnut producer does warm the cockles of my heart.

[spooky3]

7. There's nothing more to say but there is much more to do

ESPN's top management needs to reexamine the management decisions that led to this appalling hire in the first place and what philosophy they must have that permitted it. This was a completely foreseeable problem. What are the limits of what they will do to attract the audience they want?

They need to conduct training on racism (and probably on other biases) in the workplace and help its employees to recognize and respond appropriately when racism occurs.

They should NOT make Berman et al the fall guys for managerial and culture problems at ESPN.

[VelmaD]

6. I don't know how I feel about this...

Part of me would like to believe that they are all sincere that they wish they had caught it and said something at the time.

The other part has the same "I call bullshit" feeling I had watching Arnold's apology for "offending" women on "rowdy movie sets".

Somehow it just doesn't feel like enough to me yet.

[NicoleM]

8. Earlier in the week

I read that Tom Jackson basically said "him or me." I think he's really upset about this. I don't know about Berman or Young, I didn't see the show this morning so it's hard to know just from print how sincere they were.

[VelmaD]

9. I hope that's true...

about Jackson. That sounds more like what I would expect from him. Do you remember where you read it? Link? I'm a sports nut and I kinda miss being able to watch Monday Night Football. Would love to be able to be comfortable watching ESPN and ABC again.

[tishaLA]

12. James Brown (FB guy, not godfather of soul) on Fox

talked about it this morning. And TJ was so pissed he was ready to spit and/or cry when he talked about it today. To me, Young's comments stretche credulity, but I've always been annoyed by him anyhow.

I think ESPN now realizes the mistake--Eagles owner Jeff Lurie this week said ESPN engages in institutionalized racism, though, with their original series about the NFL, which is a fair complaint, but in that way ESPN is no different from any other broadcasting outlet--and I don't feel bad about watching them. I happen to think I made a mistake once or twice myself.

[soothsayer]

10. The freepers were miffed that espn did not apologize to RUSH

I kid you not!

[KG]

11. that espn would even consider hiring the pig boy speaks volumes

the esteem in which i held espn has been forever dashed.

[KittyWampus]

13. Didn't Rush Do NBC Election Night Commentary?

So they got away with that, why would ESPN not want to bring him aboard?

Which has more "prestige" among journalists anyway, Sports or Politics?

[never cry wolf]

14. I heard an interesting theory the other night on radio,

channel surfing and I got a station in from Milwaukee. The called opined that Limpballs created this because he wanted to deflect attention from the drug story he knew was coming out. The caller stated that Jackson and Lush had been friends for a long time, Jackson did not demand "him or me" until Wednesday morning, days after the actual occurence, and the drug story came out Wednesday night.

Interesting thought, no??