As noted on another blog, only one of the NFL owners voted for Obama. So, Rush is not that far off from the others. Has a St.Louis Ram actually made a comment? Would the others refuse to play against a Rush-owned team? Cynically, I think NFL players will go for the money and play, Rush or not. They are already playing for people who probably hold them in low esteem. They are Human Resources, expendable when their value is diminished. Witness the plight of retired NFL players who have fallen on hard times.

Rush may not win the bidding wars, but he is not that far from the rest of the owners in "principle."

Having just read the SI article on the horrible history the NFL has on race, I find this particularly disturbing.

The push to re-integrate the NFL began with California insisting on integration before they would agree to the move of the Rams to LA from Cleveland.

I say allow Rush to buy a team and attempt to be like Hitler at the '36 Olympics. Let's crush his notion of white supremacy and the inferiority of people of color once and for all (again!).

Seriously, I agree with st john. Rush probably has more in common with other NFL owners (not to mention the commissioner too) than we care to know.

Calling Rush Limbaugh an "unapologetic racist" is like calling Rosie O'Donnell a svete and beautiful woman. Would James Golden (aka Bo Snerdley) work with Rush if Rush were a racist? Would Walter Williams guest host Rush's show if Rush were a racist? Would Clarence Thomas be a close friend of Rush's if Rush were a racist?

Make no mistake about it. Zirin's beef with Limbaugh is his politics, not his alleged racism. Note the title of his book, “A People’s History of Sports in the United States." That's obviously a take off on Howard Zinn's "“A People’s History of the United States.” Zinn is a Marxist historian who the lispy Zirin apparently admires.

NEWS FLASH white people. Claiming to know somebody black doesn't mean you're not a racist. You might in fact not be racist, but it's not because you have a relationship with a black person. Almost all racists have a relationship with someone black for one reason or another. It's one's heart, mind, attitude and behavior that determines whether they're racist or not and Rush Limbaugh's very public beliefs and feelings make it clear what he is.

P.S. Clarence Thomas and Walter Williams are racists too.

If Rush did own the team, and a white man was gonna tackle the colored Rams running back, would he hope that the Rams running back would lose yards or fumble?

I have added this to my favorites, just to see if there are more than 6 posts per day.
Weren't you just on TV? Oh maybe it was CNN

Well, of course, Kevin. What do you expect!!!!!?????

Of course, he is going to speak highly of blacks such as Clarance Thomas and Walter Williams, precisely because they are the kind of black folks Rush delights in: black conservatives!!!!!!!!!!

That, however, does NOT absolve Rush from some of the henious things he has said about blacks all throughout the years!!!!! I even remember what he said in lieu of the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 when he described the destruction as a rap concert out there!!!!! Or how about when he advocated mayhem and chaos later that very year when Spike Lee came out with his epic joint, Malcolm X.

Rush, in all of his foolery, called El Hajj Malik Shabbazz by describing him as Malcolm "Ten" (X being the Roman Numeral for 10) and calling for people to riot in the theater and set it on fire as a fitting tribute to Malcolm "Ten".

As if blacks are nothing more than riotous savages to him!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the crap he spews about President Obama is nothing less than deplorable.

So, unless you are his kind of black person--i.e., conservative--that not only does not mean Rush is not a racist...but he also has no use for you at all!!!!!!!!!

Which, in turn, is a primary reason as to why sane-minded black players--and likely those of other races as well--throughout the league want nothing to do with ANY team owned by a Rush Limbaugh!!!!!!!!

Keep on telling it like it is, Dave!!!!!! And your voice is just fine as is--both written and verbal!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NFL needs role models and Rush has a history with drugs. What about the little Johnny and Jill Appleseeds who have to watch the game and learn about the owners? My god society would just go to heck and a handbasket.
Oh and any history writer who uses real, everyday people as his sources, must be a filthy commie swine!

Oh yeah, Rush is a racist but you liberal dipshits are above the fray; give me a break. What is the result of years of liberal policies in our major cities? War zones that no one is safe to enter; a black person can visit any predominately white area and no one even takes notice, how safe would I be in a predominately black area of a major city?

Oh yeah, Rush is a racist but you liberal dipshits are above the fray; give me a break. What is the result of years of liberal policies in our major cities? War zones that no one is safe to enter; a black person can visit any predominately white area and no one even takes notice, how safe would I be in a predominately black area of a major city?

funny how conservatives bitch and moan about crime, lack of education, the plight of the cities, etc. yet when it comes down to doing something about it -- read: paying taxes, investing in people and education, not war and tyranny -- all they do is bitch louder. pathetic.

Ray, great argument, totally lacking in facts or substance but plenty of blame. Doesn't a lack of education condemn a person to poverty, how much money is being spent with no results? Public education in low income areas receives a disproportionate amount of money and educates no one. As for taxes I am sure you receive more than you pay based on your comments. Nice try though, ha ha ha.

For your sake you better be able to substantiate the statements you atttribute to Rush Limbaugh.Otherwise, you are,to quote a well worn phrase "in a heap of trouble boy". You may be able to defeat a defamation claim because of Rush's celebrity status.However his celebrity status is no defense to a claim for intentional interference with a prospective business advantage.You might want to lawyer up or better yet start drafting your retaction lewtter.

For your sake you better be able to substantiate the statements you atttribute to Rush Limbaugh.Otherwise, you are,to quote a well worn phrase "in a heap of trouble boy". You may be able to defeat a defamation claim because of Rush's celebrity status.However his celebrity status is no defense to a claim for intentional interference with a prospective business advantage.You might want to lawyer up or better yet start drafting your retaction lewtter.

how safe would I be in a predominately black area of a major city?

Posted by bill in Montana
--------------------------------------------------

-You'd be as safe as a black man in Montana

Character sums it up. Rush is a vile tub-o-hate and if he is allowed to buy a team the hypocrisy would be staggering (but not unexpected).

BTW, Dave, you seem to be attracting a lot of bizzaro complainers lately. Keep up the good work.

Kevin, I've actually read both Zirin's book and Zinn's. Have you (besides the titles)?

Cheers

It's you and all the liberal scum that preach hatred in this country...I'm 100% Hispanic from El Salvador and in my 18 years fo listening to Rush, I have never heard the man utter anything racist. Get your facts straight because you and Jesse Jackson and that a-hole Sharpton are so full of shit.........Go Rush and bring the Rams back from obscurity.

"If Rush did own the team, and a white man was gonna tackle the colored Rams running back, would he hope that the Rams running back would lose yards or fumble? "
-Bill Stephens

The argument that a particular thing can't be racist because it doesn't make sense always amuses me. That's precisely the point about racism: IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE! You think some Falcons fans weren't rooting for Michael Vick to fail? SENSELESS! Listen to some Eagles fans and tell me they're behind their QB. DUMB! Isn't it hard to imagine that MTV at one time refused to play Michael Jackson videos, before being forced to rake in those hundreds of millions. Why? Because they didn't play black videos. STUPID!

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

I figured there would be a response to this mess called "Rush wants to buy a team". I also shouldn't be surprised with the flock of pro-Rush'ers coming in (they're everywhere!). Maybe, the only difference between Rush and some of the owners in the NFL is that he has a mouth in front of a hot mic. If the league can't take the cue from the ESPiNners debacle (wtf?!), then we need a courtesy flush!

Hopefully, Mr. Zirin will not only lose his job, but have his assets liquidated for committing libel against Rush. Obviously, Mr. Zirin cannot backup his libelous slavery statement against Rush. In fact, shouldn't Mr. Zirin go to jail for this? Hopefully, this article can be put in the sportswriter's Hall of Shame and Mr. Zirin can be put into a prison for his made up quotes for the sole purpose of destroying a political enemy.

If anyone has bothered to fact check Zirin's column they would find that his Rush quote is ficticious and that Zirin nothing but a lyin' sack of sh-t.

Actually it doesn't mean anything, just Trolls running around.

Note to all those interested in racial, economic, gender justice:
Keep your eyes on the prize with respect to this issue of Rush buying a team. Instead of harping on a clearly anti-black white supremist attention whore potentially becoming a member of the NFL's old, rich, white men's club, use this as an opportunity to push athletes to speak out against institutional and personal racism and poverty. F*** Rush Limbaugh, let's re-focus on raising the critical consciousness of those whose labor enjoy so much (including white plyrs). Push the discussion past 1 bigot and into the injustice of hundreds of thousands of poor, young, black men desperately attempting to gain the social and economic access of a few hundred spots largely because of a systematic lack of social, educational and economic opportunties for advancement with its roots in African slavery in this country.

I actually LISTEN to Rush or read his entire show on a daily basis and I can guarantee that this man is no racist. On the contrary, he wants success and prosperity for every American. You are an irresponsible liar. I hope and pray that Rush and his team of lawyers sues the living hell out of you and forces you to appologize for spreading slanderous, malicious, trash.

The sad truth is, that whether rush owns a team or not, the NFL is systemically racist, and fundamentally bad for the poor (and largely minority) communities of this country that the player pool is mostly drawn from. The NFL and it's team owners steal from the public trust, reaping billions in profits and do nothing for the long term interest of this country, as long as this continues, then to me Rush is no better and ,sadly, no worse than any other NFL owner. As for you pro-Rush guys, why don't you go somewhere else, you are convincing no one who enjoys Dave's work, we can actually read and have cognitive skills that go beyond the third grade level. Go back and discuss with the other dead enders how your taking back America for the straight-white-conservative-middle class-Christian-real Americans, but that doesn't mean your racist. Leave that trash off of our website please.

Well if Rush buys the team, here's to his investment being a complete and utter failure, and hopefully most players with a conscious refuse to play for a pill popping racist.

Again, another one on the left making up lies. Dave, try just a little to get your facts straight. Those comments you quote are "FAKE" Do you ever check anything you write?

If someone can listen to Rush "all the time" and say that he's not a neo-fascist racist, then I would have to conclude that that person is a liar or that person has a serious inability to digest evidence and reach a logical conclusion. Okay...even if you take away the "slavery" and the "James Earl Ray" quotes (for the moment, I don't - let's see Rush's proof), WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF RACIST AND SEXIST STATEMENTS HE'S MADE?!?!?

Do you people on the right think that we're stupid?

Write your letters to the appropriate NFL and media people, including the NFL Commissioner, all the NFL owners, the NFLPA, and your local media, AND THEIR CORPORATE SPONSORS. Be sure to include all of Rush's racist and sexist comments (and their sources) along with your letter (don't just send an e-mail or call - learn from the right - a letter is very effective). Don't put it off - do it today. Okay...maybe you can wait until Sunday...

You lefties are so pathetic.....keep kissing Jacksons, Obama, Sharpton's ass.....anything to you is deemed racist. Let me guess, so if I call Obama a negro or black man I'm a racist....I have to be politically correct and call them African American....how many times did you see Sharpton or Jesse Jackson apologize for the lies they spewed on the Duke Lacrosse players, how about the many times they have use pejorative terms towards hispanics, jews. You people make me laugh...Zirin is jealous of the sucess that Rush and other Capitalist have towards real sucess. Rather than Zirin writing "We cited the Rush Limbaugh quote on slavery after it appeared in columns...", why not GET YOUR DAMN FACTS RIGHT and than let your readers read those facts. We're not in the dark ages you bunch of whiners..Racism does exists, BUT not to the extent that libs portray it. I live in LA, I'm hispanic what you would deem a minority, yet, I have never experienced racism from any black, or white individual, i have experienced racism from of all people "HISPANICS" mainly the mexican community, yet, I have many hispanic and black friends, who are open minded and don's shield themselves on the excuse that everything said to them is deem racist....stop with all the double standars, have you no shame when you hear your colleagues at ESPN or other news speak joyfully about their wife beaters, rapists, drug users, ALL IN THE NFL.....

Wow Roberto you must be high off a 24hr Rush inspired circle-jerkathon....lot of CAP LOCK action there. You come across as an angry fat impotant man...just like.....your boy

29 blue pills baby!!!

The article is great but most of the comments read like a youtube reaction to someone who filmed their own nuts being electrocuted. Real intelligent stuff.

The internet is great because I get to read Zirin's ingenious and obviously thought provoking articles.

The internet sucks because it gives everyone a voice, a B-level forum to show off their ignorance. It's all very Limbaugh-esque. And sure I'm being hypocritical by doing the same but I couldn't resist pointing out the left v. right cockfight.

So many loose screws in the machine, man.
I don't burn crosses or pachuli so back off with any left/right jabs. You'd just be shadowboxing. I'm just stating the obvious.

The Rams have a terrible defense and an underachieving offense and possibly soon an obese hatemonger as an owner. Way to go.

Keep doing your thing Dave. Apparently even rightwingers can't get enough.

As a litigation expert, now that Rush's bid was dropped as a direct result of Zirin's libel and slander, Rush has major legal damages he can bring against the people who published false statements, resulting in his inability to continue with his desired business activity. I think you people have gone too far this time. I strongly urge Rush to use his intended investment in the Rams, on lawyers to sue the living hell out of every one of these idiots who don't know who they're f***ing with.

Don't be fooled, this action WILL come back to bite liberals in the ass big time in the near future. It is only a matter of time when some liberal will want to invest in something. These people have thrown stones when their own character and hands are unclear. It is going to be really ugly, really fast. I thought the era of Obama was going to "unite" us; it has instead caused the largest divide in our history.

I don't know what's more absurd: Claiming Dave Zirin alone wields the power to convince the potential ownership group to drop Limbaugh or the assertion that Zirin is a liberal.

Yeah Rush being dropped is a direct result of Dave's article and all 37 comments.....

Congrats Dave you've made it!

I'd love to be in the room when depositions are taken in this case. There would never be a trial as Rush would settle out of court to protect his "reputation." One FAKE allegation among dozens of documentable ones? Bring It On!

Rush: Transcribed from his show: 

Holocaust? Ninetly million Indians, only 4 million left? They all have casinos…what’s to complain about?

Maybe he should buy the Redskins. 

Also:
 
It seems that a majority of the Black population has remained angry, frustrated and behind. They’ve been left behind… We’ve heard that this is because of racism, natural, systemic, institutional racism in America, that we are unfair, that this country is just horrible and rotten… Did you ever ask yourself how it is that people not even born here can come here and in a few short years and begin prospering…? Yet people who were born in this country somehow have been raised to hate it, to think they’re still back in the days of slavery…

So Zirin libels a man by falsely claiming he made a hateful comment and then defends himself by saying Limbaugh doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Well how can anyone trust anything Zirin ever says or writes now that he is a proven liar? He doesn't even have the balls to admit he made a mistake. We'll see how Zirin reacts when someone makes a false charge against Barack Obama or some other lefty.

Zirin, you are a disgrace to journalism and a lying coward.

You obviously don't know much about American history. There was this little thing called the Civil War.

Keep doing your thing Dave!

Doug - you don't think Dave Zirin has balls?!?!? The dude took on Limbaugh. What have you ever done?

And Rush said that he is "combing his archives" and didn't find evidence that he said slavery was good. What does it say that the tubby fool doesn't even know?!?!

Doug sucks. Life knows it.

Evidence of your brain having been well washed by Plutocrats, Corportists, and the sludge and slime also known as the American mainstream media can be glimpsed in your comical line defining Obama as a "lefty." (You even spit back the juvenile name calling of Limbaugh, Hannity, and the rest of the asylum - you're very well trained)

Mr. Obama is not a "lefty" as you propose. He's no more a "lefty" than Lefty Gomez, Lefty Grove, or Lefty Frizzell.

Your lack of political wherewithal is embarrassing.