Head of NFL players union opposes Limbaugh’s bid: Sports are meant to reject ‘discrimination

[cal04]

Sports are meant to reject ‘discrimination and hatred.’
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/11/nfl-union-limbaugh/

Since Rush Limbaugh came out and expressed interest in buying the St. Louis Rams, black NFL players have let it be known that they would never play for a team owned by the hate radio host. “He’s a jerk. … He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn’t play for him,” said New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott. Now, NFL Players executive director DeMaurice Smith is also opposing Limbaugh’s bid. In an e-mail to the union’s executive committee yesterday, Smith wrote:

I’ve spoken to the Commissioner and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages. But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred.

I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game of football but also as players and partners in the business of the NFL,” said Smith in the e-mail. “They risk everything to play this game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its consequences for the rest of their life. We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up, giving in or lying down to it.

Our men are strong and proud sons, fathers, spouses and I am proud when they stand up, understand this is their profession and speak with candor and blunt honesty about how they feel.

In 2003, ESPN fired Limbaugh from Sunday NFL Countdown for saying that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the “media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.”



Smith sends e-mail detailing opposition
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4551010

Black NFL players crush prospect of playing for a Rush Limbaugh-owned St. Louis Rams
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/10/09/2009-10-09_black_nfl_players_crush_prospect_of_playing_for_a_rush_limbaughowned_st_louis_ra.html?print=1&page=all

[Catshrink]

1. Excellent!

I've been waiting for the players' reaction to the thought of working for Limbaugh.

:woohoo:

[JonLP24]

4. Jets Bart Scott and Giants defensive player Kiwanuka spoke out against it earlier this week

I posted it here in GD but since it was longer then 48 hours ago it's no longer under My posts. Great stuff.

[Catshrink]

7. I missed it.

They just cut off DU access at work (and all message boards. Damn.

[JonLP24]

12. If you're interested I found them

Bart Scott
"I know I wouldn't want to play for him. He's a jerk. He's an ---. What he said (about Donovan McNabb) was inappropriate and insensitive, totally off-base. He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... I wouldn't play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can't be bought."

Kiwanuka
"All I know is from the last comment I heard, he said in (President) Obama's America, white kids are getting beat up on the bus while black kids are chanting 'right on. I mean, I don't want anything to do with a team that he has any part of. He can do whatever he wants, it is a free country. But if it goes through, I can tell you where I am not going to play."

"I am not going to draw a conclusion from a person off of one comment, but when it is time after time after time and there's a consistent pattern of disrespect and just a complete misunderstanding of an entire culture that I am a part of, I can't respect him as a man."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/10/bart-scott-mathias-kiwanuka-no-possibility-of-playing-for-rush-limbaugh-owned-team/1

[Catshrink]

18. Thanks!

I'm glad they're speaking out.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

11. HOPE HE STANDS ON THE SIDELINES.... CLOSE

[Delphinus]

2. That's a wonderful stance!

I'm not a follower of sports, so forgive me for speaking up in this thread, but I think this is fantastic. Yea!

[Rex]

3. Hahaha! Hey Pigboy, the NFL says you are a fucking racist loser!

Your money ain't worth jack to them! They look at you as one of the lowest lifeforms on Earth. Hope that makes you feel good...worm.

[av8rdave]

5. Does anybody know what percentage of NFL players are African American?

Whatever percentage that is, good luck fielding a competitive team, Rush, when ____% of the league's players won't work for you!

It is my fervent hope that, should this transaction come to pass, that a significant percentage of the players of all other races and backgrounds also refuse to work for that racist pig!

[JonLP24]

10. 65-70% n/t

[Kber]

13. I think there's a good chance that the a portion of the 35 - 40% of the league that isn't black

will tell this toad to go to hell too.

[av8rdave]

17. That's what I'd like to see!

[grantcart]

6. We should be on our knees praying that Limbaugh becomes an owner

He gets away with his buffoonery because he lives in a 'dittohead' universe.


Limbaugh living in the transparent NFL would be a living hell for him. Everything he said during his radio show would become daily meat for explanation and discussion in the media.


Also Limbaugh is a blowhard when it comes to football. He is a fan who thinks he understands the game, but he would make terrible management choices and in a very difficult industry would be under constant examination.

[Old Codger]

8. I am

pretty much border line nfl fan anyway, if they sell to that scumbag I will find something else to watch for sure...

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. When Limbaugh changes the name of the Rams to the Klansmen

not only will African American players not want to play for that team, but they'll have a ball playing against it and whoopin' their ass.

[BeyondGeography]

14. Limbaugh loves a sport that is utterly dominated by black athletes

Meantime, he regularly and publicly treats the entire race with contempt and now he wants to essentially own a team of them. Cluelessness and arrogance to the third power.

[Tansy_Gold]

16. He believes he has a right to own them. As a team or as individuals.

Not only should the player refuse to be on his team but they should also refuse to play AGAINST his team. Or in his team's stadium. Forfeit the games, give him a default super bowl trophy, whatever it takes. Make a complete mockery of him.

After all, he has made his millions -- which is all he cares about -- from mocking them. Turnabout is fair play.




Tansy Gold

[lpbk2713]

15. First thing OxyRush would do .... rename the team.

The Caucasians


:rofl:

[OneGrassRoot]

19. Forget what he said in 2003. The NFL should be repulsed by...

what he has said over the last year.

Good stance by Smith. :)

Though it would be nice to have Limbaugh's shit aired over the TV weekly during football season. Most people don't know how unambiguously hateful he's gotten of late.

[Canuckistanian]

20. It's the closest he'll get to owning black people

Good to see that nobody is obliging him.

[paulsby]

21. sports reject discrimination - which results in unequal participation

and this is a good thing. it is correct that sports reject discrimination (except discrimination based on TALENT).

and we see GROSSLY disparate participation by different demographics.

for those that think that disparate participation in an institution necessarily equals discriminatory treatment, sports at least suggests that this is not the case.

i think that's excellent.

[BolivarianHero]

22. The idea of having Black "slaves" makes Our Big Fat Dumb Druggie rock hard...

Even if you could see it amidst the mounds of pure lard, it would still top out at about an inch or so.