Rush Limbaugh attempts to be a football analyst again

Limbaugh returns to football analysis: "[T]hey're dumping on" Grossman "because he is a white quarterback"

Summary:

On the February 5 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh, responding to media coverage of Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, stated "they're dumping on this guy -- Rex Grossman -- for one reason, folks, and that's because he is a white quarterback." Limbaugh later insisted in conversation with a caller that, "they just want this guy not to do well 'cause he's a white quarterback," and that Grossman was "targeted for destruction." The Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI.

Limbaugh was forced to resign from his position as a football analyst for ESPN in 2003 after he claimed that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because "[t]he media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." The following season, McNabb led his team to the Super Bowl.

Several weblogs took note of Limbaugh's comments, including American Princess, Night Bird's Fountain, and Skull/Bones.

From the February 5 broadcast of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: And before we go to the break here, folks, I've got to get something off my chest. You know, the game was the game. And the game was what it was. But I - I can't handle anymore press criticism of Rex Grossman. They're writing his name W-R-E-C-K-S. They're just -- worst quarterback ever to play in the Super Bowl. And it's been like this since the Green Bay game -- actually since the Arizona game, a little crescendo of it in the Green Bay game, the last game of the season for the Bears. And it's just unrelenting! It's just -- they're focusing on this guy like they don't focus on anybody! And I tell you, I know what it is. The media, the sports media, has got social concerns that they are first and foremost interested in, and they're dumping on this guy -- Rex Grossman -- for one reason, folks, and that's because he is a white quarterback.

[...]

CALLER: But, I also wanted to say that I appreciated the fact that you were having some compassion for Grossman. I sat there last night watching the game and I felt sorry for him. He is a Hoosier, by the way. His grandfather played for the Baltimore Colts.

LIMBAUGH: Yeah.

CALLER: And I -- you know, he's a young guy. You know, it's a team effort.

LIMBAUGH: It's, yeah, they're just all over this guy. They can't wait for this guy to fail. They are hoping he fails.

CALLER: Yes, they're terrible.

LIMBAUGH: They're talking about before the game, they're talking about him as the worst quarterback ever to play in the Super Bowl and they're asking [Bears head coach] Lovie Smith all during the week, "When are you going to bench the guy, Lovie? At what point in the game?" And that's the only time Lovie Smith apparently lost his cool a little bit during the week with, with media sessions. You know what this is: The media - you, you know the social things. I don't need to go into this.

CALLER: Well --

LIMBAUGH: They, they just want this guy not to do well 'cause he's a white quarterback.

CALLER: Even during the game last night. Before, before they went on the air they were all saying who they were going to pick and why and everything and when the, you know, the - they made their first runback with the score - then they started turning the tables on everything. It's like, "Now, wait a minute. I heard what you said before the game started." You know? Now they're changing tunes because --

LIMBAUGH: Well, because they're -- no -- they were all acting surprised. Everybody was acting, "Whoa. Grossman can actually complete a pass. Why nobody thought this would happen. Let's stop everything and give him the MVP now. He actually completed a pass." But he came through for them in the end. All those fumbles. The wounded-duck interceptions. He gave them the copy they wanted to write today all last week.

CALLER: Well --

LIMBAUGH: They were hoping to write that Grossman was an embarrassment and that Lovie Smith needs to seriously bring in somebody to compete with him next training camp. I can, look it, I feel for the guy. He's, apparently, bores, bears up under it rather well or has borne up under it rather well or so his teammates say and so forth. But the guy's been targeted for destruction.

— A.D.S.

He was right about McNabb, but he's not right about this.

last time i checked peyton was white also so there is no racial issue here

levistep said:

He was right about McNabb, but he's not right about this.

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McNabb went to the superbowl, but lost.

Grossman went to the superbowl, but lost.

Lets suppose, we don't know anything about football.

The obvious conclusion is that McNabb and Grossman are equals as quarterbacks, as both went to the championship game and lost.

However, according to Rush Limbaugh - one is "over-rated", and the other "recieves too much unfair criticism" which means "under-rated".

The facts are clear.

Both McNabb and Grossman went to the superbowl, and both lost.

However, Limbaugh insists the former is over-rated, while the latter is under-rated, when they both equally accomplished the same thing in the championship game, (without considering their stats).

Limbaugh is a racist through and through. He is a jackass.

You know, there were a few interesting story lines to this recent superbowl.

Will Manning finally gets his due, or will he choke in the biggest game of his career?

Will Tony Dungy win a superbowl? (since he was fired from Tampa after building that team from scartch, and his replacement Gruden won it the very next year)!

Will the ref play a decisive role in this year's game like last year's game.

I think, will all the hoopla associated with a superbowl, I think this year most football fans felt satisfied with the outcome, because it was a just outcome. The better team won, the more deserving quarterback won (unlike last year were funny things happened on the field.)

But all Limbaugh can think and talk about is race. Where did this come from?! Unbelieveable. What an asshole.

Fact is that Rex Grossman sucks. But if Rex was black there is no way people would be calling for his head like this. Look at michael vick.

VIck's QB rating this year playing in a Dome was 75 , which is about his average for his 6 year career.

This was grossman's first year as a starter and he had a 73 QB rating playing outside in some cold weather games and took his team to the superbowl.

Now if anyone here wants to say that the media would kill a black QB who took his team to the superbowl in his first full season in the NFL, you are dellusional. I hear people saying that Rex should never start another game the rest of his career (specifically i heard Rick Reily say it today and a few others since sunday).

Its so easy to kill rush limbaugh and feel good about it, even when he happens to be right.

Polaris said:

McNabb went to the superbowl, but lost.

Grossman went to the superbowl, but lost.

Lets suppose, we don't know anything about football.

The obvious conclusion is that McNabb and Grossman are equals as quarterbacks, as both went to the championship game and lost.

However, according to Rush Limbaugh - one is "over-rated", and the other "recieves too much unfair criticism" which means "under-rated".

The facts are clear.

Both McNabb and Grossman went to the superbowl, and both lost.

However, Limbaugh insists the former is over-rated, while the latter is under-rated, when they both equally accomplished the same thing in the championship game, (without considering their stats).

Limbaugh is a racist through and through. He is a jackass.

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McNabb and Grossman both suck. McNabb was hyped up, because he was black, as being the greatest thing ever. His media rating was like 9/10. Grossman, however, is being criticized for being absolute garbage, which is mostly true. His media rating is closer to 2/10. McNabb's real rating should be closer to a 5/10, and Grossman's is probably in the same ballpark.

Limbaugh is right that Grossman is getting steamrolled, but it isn't because he is white. It's just really fun exaggerating how much he sucks.

Polaris said:

Limbaugh is a racist through and through. He is a jackass.

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No he's not, a paid professional antagonist, and I see he got under your skin, which makes him good at what he does.
Not a jackass, jackasses don't make a gazillion dollars, and don't get a gazillion share in the arbitron ratings.

Think about it, he's so good at what he does, he pulls in listeners that hate his guts, just to get pissed off by Rush.

Man, that's good !

primetime21 said:

Fact is that Rex Grossman sucks. But if Rex was black there is no way people would be calling for his head like this. Look at michael vick.

VIck's QB rating this year playing in a Dome was 75 , which is about his average for his 6 year career.

This was grossman's first year as a starter and he had a 73 QB rating playing outside in some cold weather games and took his team to the superbowl.

Now if anyone here wants to say that the media would kill a black QB who took his team to the superbowl in his first full season in the NFL, you are dellusional. I hear people saying that Rex should never start another game the rest of his career (specifically i heard Rick Reily say it today and a few others since sunday).

Its so easy to kill rush limbaugh and feel good about it, even when he happens to be right.

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This is one of the better posts Ive read in 2 years here.

Vick is also highly marketed, hyped, and was a top draft choice.

I like watching vick at qb, but lets be realistic...there have been glimpses, but overall hes not living up to anything close to the hype.

When Chandler was still starting in Atlanta, prejudiced black fans at games endlessly booed him and cheered when he did well for they wanted vick in the game. Had that been white fans doing that to any black qb a few years ago, it would still be regularly discussed.

Culpepper compares himself to elway and favre and not much is said about it eventhough hes been a joke as have most black nfl qbs other than warren moon he actually never got the shot he deserved.

Its part of the media game to run down the white man. Anyone with two eyes watching television commercials can see the brainwashing. Count the number of times in commercials you see a white man made to be a fool and/or bad guy vs. a black and the conclusion is obvious.

DAWOOFDADDY said:

This is one of the better posts Ive read in 2 years here.

Vick is also highly marketed, hyped, and was a top draft choice.

I like watching vick at qb, but lets be realistic...there have been glimpses, but overall hes not living up to anything close to the hype.

When Chandler was still starting in Atlanta, prejudiced black fans at games endlessly booed him and cheered when he did well for they wanted vick in the game. Had that been white fans doing that to any black qb a few years ago, it would still be regularly discussed.

Culpepper compares himself to elway and favre and not much is said about it eventhough hes been a joke as have most black nfl qbs other than warren moon he actually never got the shot he deserved.

Its part of the media game to run down the white man. Anyone with two eyes watching television commercials can see the brainwashing. Count the number of times in commercials you see a white man made to be a fool and/or bad guy vs. a black and the conclusion is obvious.

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Yeah I remember the whole Chandler incident. I also remember one game when Chandler got hurt and the fans started cheering and his wife got in a fight with the fans.

Maybe I can ask you this DWD because you seem to talk about black/white issues with some balance, WHY would the media, especially sports media, with an overabundance of Caucasians (conservative 90/10 split)want to have a white man to be made a fool vs. a black one? It seems like Rush continues on the point but he never says why.

BTW, the media can make the black athlete look quite the fool as well. Just say they are equal opportunity, IMO.

levistep said:

McNabb and Grossman both suck. McNabb was hyped up, because he was black, as being the greatest thing ever. His media rating was like 9/10. Grossman, however, is being criticized for being absolute garbage, which is mostly true. His media rating is closer to 2/10. McNabb's real rating should be closer to a 5/10, and Grossman's is probably in the same ballpark.

Limbaugh is right that Grossman is getting steamrolled, but it isn't because he is white. It's just really fun exaggerating how much he sucks.

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McNabb is much much better then Grossman... They are not even close.... Mcnabb is a top 10 QB at min... I hate the eagles with a passion and will admit it...

oldirtyku said:

McNabb is much much better then Grossman... They are not even close.... Mcnabb is a top 10 QB at min... I hate the eagles with a passion and will admit it...

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Amen. Reality slaps you in the face when you read threads like this

Grossman gets too much criticism, but it's not because he's white, it's because he's in Chicago. Anyone remember Kordell Stewart? He got run out of Chicago in one season What race was he? Chicago hates it's QB's -- white, black, brown, purple, whatever. Unless you win a SB, then maybe.

Ironman_8 said:

Yeah I remember the whole Chandler incident. I also remember one game when Chandler got hurt and the fans started cheering and his wife got in a fight with the fans.

Maybe I can ask you this DWD because you seem to talk about black/white issues with some balance, WHY would the media, especially sports media, with an overabundance of Caucasians (conservative 90/10 split)want to have a white man to be made a fool vs. a black one? It seems like Rush continues on the point but he never says why.

BTW, the media can make the black athlete look quite the fool as well. Just say they are equal opportunity, IMO.

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The Chandler incidents in Atlanta were disgusting, but the media didnt discuss it much and most white people, unless or until it happens to them personally, refuse to acknowledge blacks have any prejudice.

Ironman, I personally believe some whites are so worried about not being labeled prejudiced, they give into the bash-the-white-man flavor of the day. It all starts at these ad agencies and Hollywood which is filled with left-leaning individuals.

Cris Collinsworth has discussed these issues and shockingly he is still on tv.

I personally dont think Rex is being bashed because hes white, but I agree with 21 that if Rex was black he would not be getting this level of criticism. Face the music...he deserves alot of egg on his face for his performance sucked. Rush is right about the mcnabb comments, but hes reaching with Rex.

DAWOOFDADDY said:

I personally dont think Rex is being bashed because hes white, but I agree with 21 that if Rex was black he would not be getting this level of criticism.

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Why? Read the post above you. You think your average Chicago Bear fan would not be leveling F'bombs at Grossman if he was Black? That's rediculous. Personally, I think if he was black, he'd be getting MORE criticism.

McNabb is a pretty good quarterback and he is always getting blasted. I won't even go into Leftwich or Culpepper, who are also getting blasted...for the right reasons, they are jst plain bad quarterbacks.

It's amazing how this turns into a black and white issue when there wasn't even a freakin' black QB playing at the superbowl. Must be the media's fault.

WC Bias said:

Why? Read the post above you. You think your average Chicago Bear fan would not be leveling F'bombs at Grossman if he was Black? That's rediculous. Personally, I think if he was black, he'd be getting MORE criticism.

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I dont believe the criticism would be as heavily broadcasted if Rex was black.

However, if "average" Chicago game-attending fans (which Im going to assume are mostly white), would be labeled racists.

The media would run with it and show films of 1960s when whites protested neigborhood/school integration and any other systematic discrimination against blacks in Chicago during the past 50+ years.

DAWOOFDADDY said:

I dont believe the criticism would be as heavily broadcasted if Rex was black.

However, if "average" Chicago game-attending fans (which Im going to assume are mostly white), would be labeled racists.

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You know, there are a lot of "talking heads" defending Grossman. These same talking heads would be labeled "socially concerned" if Grossman was black.

Sorry man, we disagree here. Projecting the level of criticism based on "If a white man was black" is sheer craziness.

D2bets said:

Grossman gets too much criticism, but it's not because he's white, it's because he's in Chicago. Anyone remember Kordell Stewart? He got run out of Chicago in one season What race was he? Chicago hates it's QB's -- white, black, brown, purple, whatever. Unless you win a SB, then maybe.

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If you ever listen to Chicago local sports radio....LOL...tough crowd.

Wc

Not a problem at all...people disagree all the time. I never expect popular responses when these threads appear.

Has anyone hear ever heard a black athlete referred to as having "deceptive speed"?

Gave major ups to Shannon Sharpe when he first got into broadcasting for saying "If Ed McCaffrey was black, hed be making 5x more than his current salary and have dozens of endorsement deals".

DAWOOFDADDY said:

Gave major ups to Shannon Sharpe when he first got into broadcasting for saying "If Ed McCaffrey was black, hed be making 5x more than his current salary and have dozens of endorsement deals".

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He left off the part about talking like he has a mouthful of marbles...that always helps too.