I’m a little concerned about Rush Limbaugh resigning from ESPN, which is something I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d say.
Mind you, I’m not particularly bothered that he’s off the air. I’m no more interested in his football opinions than I am any of his other opinions. It’s just the way that the whole incident played out that has me troubled.
What this is is another example of racial bias against privileged white men, the only demographic in the country that is denied the right to speak freely if their words offend someone.
The time line on the Limbaugh affair goes something like this: During the live broadcast of an ESPN NFL pregame show, Limbaugh stated that he considered Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb over-rated. He opined that the league hypes McNabb because the NFL wants to see a black quarterback succeed.
When he made the comment, Limbaugh was not rebuked at all by Tommy Jackson or Michael Irvin, both of whom are black and co-host the show. In fact, nothing was said about Limbaugh’s comments until two days later when some political-correctness watchdog out there let ESPN know that he, she or they were offended.
Shortly after the offended party let it be known that they were offended, Limbaugh’s comments started to get some play in the media, which loves to take down guys like Rush Limbaugh. So, in a pre-emptive strike, Limbaugh quit before he could become a distraction.
Thus, Limbaugh joins the likes of Trent Lott, Al Campanis, Howard Cosell and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, guys who’ve had their careers ruined or nearly ruined because of things they’ve said that have offended some minority group.
Meanwhile, over on HBO, on that network’s “Inside the NFL” show, Wanda Sykes, a black woman, is free to offend anyone she pleases, and correspondent George Lopez does nothing but crack jokes about Mexicans and say things like, “Hey, white man, get out of my way.” I’m quoting that from the show, by the way.
There’s not a white man alive who could get away with saying, “Hey, black man, get out of my way” on TV.
I’m not saying that Sykes or Lopez should be censored in any way. I’m just saying that Limbaugh shouldn’t be either. We live in a country whose first constitutional right is the right to freedom of speech, but we need to extend that right to everyone, rich white men included.
Now let’s look at what that rich white man really said, for in truth it’s more of an economic comment than a racial one.
On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with saying that the NFL wants to see a black quarterback succeed. Of course they do. They want to see white quarterbacks succeed, too.
The offended party must have surmised what Limbaugh really meant was the NFL wanted to see a black quarterback succeed more than a white quarterback, and I guess they must have been offended because they thought this made Limbaugh angry because he doesn’t like black people, or something like that. Whatever. He said, “black,” so he must be a racist.
But what Limbaugh said makes sense. Everywhere you look these days, hip-hop fashions predominate. Every kid in America wears baggy jeans and baseball caps and basketball jerseys. They’re not getting that look from Peyton Manning or Terry Bradshaw.
If you are marketing a league to the youth of America, you need to think along hip-hop lines, and that makes Donovan McNabb an easier sell than Jake Plummer. And, yes, it’s because McNabb is black. I’m sorry if that offends anybody, but it’s the truth.
Do I think that means that the NFL is biased in McNabb’s favor? No. But if Rush Limbaugh thinks they are, he’s entitled to that opinion by the First Amendment. He certainly shouldn’t have to resign for voicing that opinion.
Look, I believe very strongly in equality for all people, and I oppose racism in all its forms. Unfortunately, right now I feel like I see a lot of it directed at the white man. Sure, maybe the white man’s had it coming for the last 400 years, but if we ever want true equality, we’ve got to let everyone speak their peace, even Rush Limbaugh.