i'm glad rush got the bums-rush, but that's mostly just because i think rush is a big fat idiot.

blacks (and jews, etc..) have been discriminated against for hundreds of years and are still being discriminated against, although at a lesser rate than before (bad schools, lesser gov't services, etc). For Rush to state that McNabb (or any black from a none middle class environment) has been give a free ride is beyond absurd, and IMO, does hint at racism. it sounds a lot like the arguments you hear about all the blacks being given an 'unfair' advantage in Ivy school admissions. yea, right. there are way too many ghetto kids in harvard. (didn't keep that brilliant student george bush out, did it..ha ha)

just an opinion...and i admit it's not clear cut.

steve

Paul, I'm confused. In one breath you said you don't think there is such thing as a black quarterback anymore, they're just quarterbacks. Then you said you're afraid that discussions on race, that should be taking place, will be muted. Which is it, and why should discussions on race be taking place? What is the benefit?

Rush was in town yesterday (Philadelphia) for the National Broadcasters Convention, as a guest speaker. He was unable to stay in town after his speech due to the fact that he was a security risk for the Philadelphia Police, and even they could not guarantee his safety.

I agree with Paul (except for some of his praise for fellow 'Cuse alumni, McNabb). Rush was forced to resign over voicing his opinion of a player's performance and pointing out the fact that he is one of the few black quarterbacks in the league, and sports media root for that. Big fucking deal it is the truth. The media and the public have ripped that apart and made it a racial issue. Just say that this was a white basketball player (please don't give me shit for this because we know that white men are a minority in the NBA) and a black broadcaster made similar comments--would it be a frenzy like this? NOPE. The racial sensitivity of the sports media is one sided, though this is NOT a racial issue. It was made a racial issue because the player is black and the broadcaster is white. The regular media has taken this and made a monster out of it. The racial tension in Philadelphia was insane with word that Rush was in town. I blame the mainstream media for that since they are shoving their microphones in the faces of every black person on the streets of Philadlephia, and asking their opinion on this. This has been the top story in the news since Sunday. I guess the high crime in Philly, the strippers screening bags at Philly airport and the War in Iraq are all back burner news.

Donovan McNabb has fallen under the Philly Curse. Anytime a Philadelphia sports team signs a player to a ridiculous multi-million dollar contract, the player stops performing the way they did to earn that $. Look at the some of the history: McNabb (Eagles), John LeClair & Eric Lindros (Flyers), Pat Burrell (Phillies) and Matt Geiger (Sixers).

To Tim's comment:

I don't think anyone pays attention to a QB being black anymore. At one time it was a novelty, as recent as the Super Bowl Doug Williams won and at which time he was asked, "How long have you been a black quarterback?" It's just not a story anymore.

What is a story is the fact that 0% of NFL leaders at running back and wide receiver for 20 years are white, and I think it's worth discussing rather than ignoring. What do we get out of it? Truth. I don't know what the truth is. But 0% is absolutely statistically relevant, especially sine it's clear whites enjoy playing football and they are certainly good enough, it seems, to garner starting positions at middle linebacker and offensive lineman.

Great Post, Paul. I dont' have time to comment now, but great post.

-ap

I don't think he resigned just over those comments. There are also allegations that he may be addicted to oxycotin. . . .

Rush is not acknowledging the drug allegations, so that is incorrect. He resigned based on pressure from ESPN. Unfortunately, this whole ordeal would have gotten uglier, had he not resigned. ESPN wants it to go away.

BTW, people would have been more sensitive to a person with drug issues than those who are being accused of racism. He would never have been made to resign over drug allegations.

I'm not saying that was the only reason, but just that if those allegation they are trully being investigated, and there is any merit to them, the fact that a well-reknown conservative analyst might be addicted to drugs could be a distraction to him performing his job with ESPN. Just because he hasn't addressed the issue, doesn't mean it couldn't be part of the reason.

The statement Rush made may have some validity, but is certainly debatable. You mention Kordell Stewart--the only reason he has a job is because of his race and the media. He is AWFUL!!! Maddux was an average white quaterback that made Pittsburgh's offense look unbeatable last year. Kordell with the same offense couldn't do squat. Now move over to Minnesota and you find a similar situation of racial preference. Frerotte puts up unbelievable numbers compared to the OVERRATED Culpepper. Yet Dante will get the start when he returns...Doesn't make sense?? I think Rush picked the wrong guy because Mcnabb is damn good and an excellent leader. So is Steve Mcnair. Yet take a look at Jeff Blake...why the hell is he still playing?? Former all-pro Griese gets drilled into the ground after one bad year, but guys like Stewart, Culpepper, or Blake all start...There is some validity to his statement just not with Mcnabb--stick to politics Rush... Dumb ass!!

The media roots for Black Quarterbacks to succeed?? When did this happen? As far as I know, when it comes to sports every local radio station and newspaper roots for THEIR team to succeed, white, black, green whatever.
But really, the bottom line here is that Rush is looking to carry the flag against "THE LIBERAL MEDIA" into any venue he can, including the NFL, and the vast majority of Americans don't want to hear his crap.

I have to say, the Slate article is pretty good.

I don't follow the Eagles and have no comment on the talents of McNabb. But I do know that after he got hurt last season they kept winning with the backup.

One thing about the politics of race that does deserve to be mentioned, the Lions hired Steve Mariucci in the off-season.

They were fined for not interviewing a minority candidate.

Matt Millen was right up front.

This was the guy they wanted.

Why interview a guy you had no interest in just for window dressing?

Because of an agreement the league made with some advocate group that announced last year they might sue if the NFL didn't hire more black coaches.

Sue for what?

Hiring someone you want to hire?

Too bad Rush left ESPN.

Racial extortion needs to be addressed and the suits in the NFL aren't going to do it.

Anyone remember Reggie White's comments about the different races? Many I ask don't, but everyone remembers Jimmy the Greek and his opinion. Is it because Jimmy was more famous than Reggie, or because the media pushes what they want us to hear and remember?
Charles Barkley is speaking his mind, but Rush is an idiot.
And they wonder why I drink.......

There is certainly a double standard as far as what blacks can say and get away with compared to whites. Excellent point Neal. I think I need a beer too.

First of all, the claims that Rush is addicted to drugs are ridiculous. Even if you don't agree with what he says on his talk show, he is too articulute and too intelligent to be addicted to any drug, especially oxycontin.(effects you like cocaine. I know, my friend OD'd on it last year.) Good post about the issue, Paul. Rush was not making a racist statement about blacks in the NFL, it was just an opinion on McNabb. I have listened to Rush enough to know that he is not racist. I believe that his comment was not PC, and also not correct, but I also KNOW that he was not making a derogatory statement towards blacks as a whole. If you actually think about it, his statement has some credence. Kordell Stewart was esteemed much the same way McNabb is now, and he obviously turned out to be completely overrated, and he also was black. I do think that the media is striving for a black athlete that they can worship like John Elway or Steve Young as both athletes and role models. Rush was trying to make that point, he just didn't articulate it well enough.

I have listened to Rush enough to know that he is not racist.

Did you hear him or read about it when he told a black caller to call back after taking the bone out of his/her nose?

Nope, Rush isn't racist.

That said, I think his statement, as Peter King mentions, was that the media is racist because they're giving a black quarterback more credit than he deserves just because he's black. That's his opinion, and it's impossible to prove one way or the other.

But Rush is the one bringing up race as a factor in someone's perceived success or lack thereof. Why couldn't it be that the media was just
"rooting" for a good guy? No, with Rush, it has to be race and it has to be the liberal media and it has to be false qualifications because of those two things.

WTF was he doing on a football analysis show, anyway? It's not an issues show, it's a pre-game analysis show.

there is a difference between "rooting" and giving credit. the statement was referring to credit, not who one "roots" for.

By the way, when did Rush say it was the liberal media he was attacking? And is there even such a thing as liberal media in sports? You just assumed he meant the liberal media.

Yes I did, because Rush believes the media is liberal. He couldn't have meant anything else. That's his schtick.

like i said, there is no such thing as "liberal media" in sports, so your argument about that really doesn't make sense. This isn't a political issue, where liberal media is Rush's schtick, it's sports.

I agree with you that sports media isn't liberal. But I think that's what Rush thinks, because to him all media is liberal [those bastards!]. He's a right-wing political commentator, and in my opinion, he was inserting right-wing political opinion into his "sports analysis." He used Donovan McNabb to make yet another "liberal media" attack. That's just my opinion, but it's also what I think ESPN brought him in for. It couldn't have been for his knowledge of football, compared to, say, Steve Young or Tom Jackson. It had to be his politics and his big mouth. Again, that's my opinion and it may not jive with yours.

Just an interesting note which no one will read, but Rush admitted he was addicted to drugs this past weekend. Hmmmmmmmmmm . . . .

To jeffcaw

Your comments about the "overrated" Daunte Culpepper have been proven false, as you can see by the season he's had so far. As far as Jeff Blake and Kordell still starting, I'll leave you with this bit of knowledge. GOOD STARTING QUARTERBACKS ARE AT A PREMIUM. There aren't that many good starting QB's in the NFL, do you think teams and their management would INTENTIONALLY start a bad QB who loses games for them, just because he's black? Both the Cardinals and the Bears had very few options as far as starting QBs go, and as mentioned, msot good starting QBs already are playing for other teams.

To jailbird

Really? Rush is addicted to oxycontin? I thoguht he was too articulate to be an addict?(Not directed at jailbird, but to the person who cited Rush's good articulation as a reason for non-addiction). Seriously, some of the statements I've read on here are just plain ignorant.

having been a QB as a kid 1970-73 in jr. high and high school my opinion of black dominance in football is that they are clearly superior athletes. it's not that whites can't compete or don't compete at running back or wide reciever they don't have the juice.

it's like racing in the Indi 500 those cars are designed for that track and style of racing. where as in another venue they may not be the best design.

football in the 21st century is about speed, agility, duribilty and strength. blacks dominant in 3 of those 4 catagories. whites hold there own in strength, i.e. notice offensive linemen.

as for QB as it's designed to be played is not relient on speed, agiltiy and duribilty, although they can't hurt. QB is very much mental with a sense of quickness. as a QB I was quick but I wasn't fast. i could dodge an oncoming defensive lineman and could drop back quickly but put me in the open field and I couldn't out run my mother.

QB's like michael Vick are exciting but soon he will have to forgo the scrambling and runs and play more like an NFL QB and that will show what he has as a QB. I think he's got it, many black QBs don't and white are still holding there own i.e. vinny testeverde taking over for quincy carter and the demise of cordell stewart.

but still blacks are the better athlete and whites are still the best administrators.

my suggestion for whites is to have camps for whites to at least keep them on the playing field by focusing on building up there strength and agiltiy for sprinting. design programs for whites to maximise there abilty in such a camp. six weeks at camp cambawanda couldn't hurt.

I mean if there is a congressional black caucus and NAACP etc... geez, why can't we have a white man sprinters camp to help them out.