NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was on the Hill Wednesday talking to Congress about "Legal Issues Relating to Football Head Injuries." So, naturally, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) used the forum as an opportunity to grill Goodell about Rush Limbaugh's interest in becoming part owner of the St. Louis Rams.
Video after the jump, but here's all you need to know: After King warmly welcomed the commissioner he got right down to business.
"...Your position on owners have the right image, and I would direct it to your statement on the 13th of October where you said, 'I think it's divisive comments, or they are not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kinds of comments from people who are in responsible positions within the NFL, no, absolutely not.' Now, I take you as a man of your word. But I would point out that you have a couple of owners that have performed lyrics in songs that are far more offensive. In fact, I don't think anything that Rush Limbaugh said was offensive, but with Fergie and with J. Lo, they have, between the two of them, alleged that the CIA are terrorists and liars, they've promoted sexual abuse of women, they've used the N-word, verbal pornography, recreational drug use, et cetera, and they are owners of the Dolphins..."
Goodell, whose father was a U.S. Senator (and a Republican!), is a savvy politician, but he seemed blindsided by the question. He did manage to defend Donovan McNabb's honor against the evils of Limbaugh ("I think Donovan McNabb is an outstanding young man. He's an outstanding quarterback, and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin..."), which prompted Limbaugh to respond on his radio show.
Of course, Goodell's a total weasel. He had no answer about the Dolphins' owners so wouldn't even address the question, and he got on his high horse about how McNabb is a fine player and a fine person and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, when I (a) never said he was not a fine person; (b) never said he was a bad QB -- just that he was overrated (which no one should deny); and (c) said the MEDIA was obsessed with the color of his skin (which is also undeniable), not that I was.Yes, a beer. That would fix everything. Maybe invite Bart Scott and Mathias Kiwanuka, too.
I respect Donovan McNabb, as I do all the elite athletes qualified to play in the NFL. I'd love to have a beer with him and discuss football. My job on the ESPN pre-game show was to disagree with the panel when I did. The production meeting the day before the show featured two segments on McNabb and the Eagles. The focus of BOTH segments was, "What's wrong with McNabb?" My thought was that not that much was wrong, that the Eagles defense was not getting sufficient credit, and that I thought the media was hyping McNabb for my stated reasons.
via sportsBYbrooks
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
10-29-2009 @ 5:33PM
exp said...
Rush Limbaugh is exactly why we should consider limiting the 1st amendment further. This guy is a fear monger and a hater. I am not black but listening to him is more painful than having a surgery while awake. these people are loyal opposition. they want to divide us based on left and right paradigm and make money off of it.
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10-29-2009 @ 7:50PM
sjonesj1235 said...
Limbaugh simply stated the truth, he is overrated, and because he is black, he gets special treatment from the media.
We've become a country when truth is no longer permitted
10-29-2009 @ 8:29PM
exp said...
So the next thing you want to tell me is that Barack Obama is not a US citizen, right? Rush Limbaugh has duped you my friend. He is making millions while you outsource your brain, stop thinking, stop reading, and just repeat what he says. Mcnabb may be overrated. But that's hardly all Rush says.
Rush stands for Greed. I don't care if you are a capitalist, a communist, a socialist or whatever. Greed is the big trouble in this country. How can you defend people like Rush and Beck, when all they do is talk about how the poor must stay poor and the rich must stay rich. What can you possibly do with billions of dollars these guys have? And the way he has made money is despicable. He stands for the negativity in this country. He divides people like a cancer in our society.
I would say the same for the guys in the left. But let's face it. The right wing is more adapt in dividing people. They have done it for years. The left is spineless.
10-31-2009 @ 2:24PM
radicaltomato said...
Really??? lets alter the constitution over some guy on the radio!!!..What a great idea!!!..NOT!!
10-31-2009 @ 2:32PM
aasstro1018 said...
Lets deny you your first amendment rights like you would like to happen to RUSH
All you need to do is change the channel, like the real AMERICANS are told to do by the fascists in librals clothing
10-31-2009 @ 2:43PM
jmehe55 said...
McNabb was over rated. At the time of Limbaugh's comment, McNabb had a QB rating the same as Trent Dilfer's. Was Dilfer a great QB? At least Dilfer won a Superbowl! As for divisiveness, we are forced to listen to Keith Olbermans obscene liberal political diatribes every Sunday night! Roger Goodell IS a two-faced, hypocritical, weasel!
10-31-2009 @ 2:54PM
RobertnAK said...
Yeah, why don't we just dismiss the constitution just for you because you don't like what an entertainer is saying on the radio. Maybe we should do the same thing about the idiots that rap about cappin' the pigs, and beatin thier hoe's with thier dic stic's at the same time. If you don't like to hear what he has to say, get off your lazy fat ass andchange the station.
10-31-2009 @ 2:59PM
ckandrus2001 said...
I could not agree more. I also think the term weasel is for more fitting when describing Rush.
10-31-2009 @ 3:23PM
darkestlightx said...
Seriously???
did you read his response?
have you ever even listened to the guy?
or do you just assume all the negative things said about him must be true because he is, after all, a conservative. OOHHH.. evill conservatives want to eat your babies... Mwahahaha!!!!
10-31-2009 @ 3:35PM
sterling said...
if you dont like him dont listen. everyone has a right to voice their opinion either way. thats america, not your god obamas america but our america. where was censorship wants when people were writing books about killing bush? take your bleeding heart to another country, ill buy your ticket. i really will.
10-31-2009 @ 3:37PM
niqua said...
Notice: just because you disagree with opinions stated by someone you don't respect, does *not* give you the *right* to promote the restriction of First Amendment rights.
Restricting First Amendment rights for media -- would restrict your First Amendment rights as well -- a lose-lose situation, as far as everyone is concerned.
Just take Limbaugh for who he is: a radio presence. You don't have to listen to him or hold his beliefs. Do you really think he does this for cash profit? Or possibly ... because a) it is his passion; b) it is his civic duty? Think on that.
And. If you have a problem with him, duh, call him on his show. Embarrass him to his face. If you can.
10-31-2009 @ 3:39PM
phil said...
"....Limbaugh is exactly why we should consider limiting the 1st amendment further." "That's the sad part about capitalism. Greed! People like Limbaugh have no problem capitalizing on your fear and while you are losing your homes and don't have money to pay for food next month" "How can you defend people like Rush and Beck, when all they do is talk about how the poor must stay poor and the rich must stay rich."
My G_d. This guy goes on and on with his socialist rants! Great idea. Let's limit those First amendment rights further. This guy is another obvious product of the public schools in this country. They have no idea about Capitalism, Free Enterprise, or our unique system of government that has given even those such as he- a voice. Exp is ignorant, yet I will not call for his silence.
I will however, ask that we require literacy and I.Q. tests for voters. This would keep someone like exp from pulling the lever for only the candidate that promises the most freebies.
10-31-2009 @ 4:02PM
greatbirdusa said...
Rush was not being Racist all all.
Bless you Mr. King and BRAVO for your statements.
It is clear that Goodell is a worm ----
10-31-2009 @ 4:19PM
Exactly said...
I never have used "it takes one to know one", but in Bush Limpballs case, so appropriate. He and all that follow his mentality [or lack of] are a shame and disgrace to humanity.
10-29-2009 @ 5:58PM
swrightola said...
The only thing that is worst than Rush Lamebrain is the idiots that listen to him. They are the ones to fear.Be very afraid of this group.They want the world to see things as they do. They don't even get the fact that they are just being used by the top 1%. The Republican agenda is not for them. They just don't get it.
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10-31-2009 @ 2:29PM
Mack Walker said...
"The idiots that listen to him"!!!! What qualifies you to make a comment like that, unless you, as you identify them, are one of the idiots that listens to him.
10-31-2009 @ 3:33PM
Woody said...
They want Obama to fail! You know what that means?
They appear to be un-American from my point of view.
10-29-2009 @ 8:26PM
exp said...
That's the sad part about capitalism. Greed! People like Limbaugh have no problem capitalizing on your fear and while you are losing your homes and don't have money to pay for food next month, Limbaugh is complaining about not being able to buy a Football team. You listen to his program. You help him make money. Does he care about you? Not one bit. Forget fairness doctrine. We need to put these people in jail. Charlatans.
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10-30-2009 @ 10:08AM
cestlaviex said...
OK, then, by the same token let's put the owners of AOL/Time Warner in jail as well. You subscribe and comment on postings. I subscribe and comment on postings. We both help them make money. Does AOL really care about either one of us? Not one bit. So we let's just put those folks behind bars as well. Hypocrite.
10-31-2009 @ 2:45PM
slapscc said...
what about the ball players making millions of dollars to play a game. i don't see you railing against them for that you are a hypocrite and an idiot.