Rush Discussion Proves We Have a Way to Go
by Ram Nation's Don Ackerman
In the end, I agreed with one thing I heard this morning. Like Chris Berman,
I never thought of Donovan McNabb as a black quarterback. I always thought of
McNabb as a talented player, a quarterback, and a damn Eagle. I do not care
about his color but I am petty - I judge him by the color of his jersey. But
this week's story did nothing to help us improve. All it did was prove Rush
might have a point.
Before I say anything, I want to let you know where I'm coming from. I look
at people as people. I grew up in the U.S. Army. My Dad served for our country
with many other people from all over the world. I lived and worked with people
from all over this great nation including Puerto Rico. I lived overseas with
people from other lands with other beliefs. My friends from high school and
college are American, German, Canadian, Dominican, and Japanese. I think you
get my point.
When I went to middle school and college in the U.S., I would tell people I
lived in Germany. Some people asked me if I was a Nazi. Yes, they were serious.
I couldn't believe it. I have lived and do live with people of every color and
every nationality. They are and were always people. They are not whites, blacks,
Hispanics, men, or women to me. They are all people.
Let me add one more thing. Years ago, I was asked at work what it was like
to be the only man in my department. It blew me away. The thought had never
occurred to me. I was working with coworkers, not female coworkers. They were
writers, managers, and artists, not men or women.
So that's my background and my point of view. Now on to this story.
This week I am severely disappointed by the Rush Limbaugh story. At the highest
level, I'm lost by the frenzy. One position is that Rush is an idiot. Why do
we bother giving an idiot any credit and any validity? Why give the comments
any press? If what he said is untrue, dismiss it and move on. The fact that
we dwell on it tells me people are still focused on race and thus, are as bad
as Rush. That's my opinion.
But I want to look into the comments a little. Rush said, "The media has
been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." I can't argue with
that. I think the media wants a white quarterback to do well, too. After all,
who didn't latch onto the Kurt Warner story in 1999 when a stockboy won a Super
Bowl for the Saint Louis Rams. I don't know what the media wants but I can tell
you this: they focused on Rush the racist this week. They completely sidestepped
the intent of Rush's comments this week. For that, I am saddened.
McNabb will tell you that Rush is not welcome and he won't accept an apology.
The NAACP (http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/espn10103.shtml) says that "ESPN
should remove Rush Limbaugh from its program “Sunday NFL Countdown”
or at the very least, provide an opposing point of view." ESPN couldn't
"step up to the plate" as they took the coward's way out by letting
Rush resign and not taking on the issue.
This morning I watched Chris Berman and Tom Jackson talk about the "ESPN
family" and how Rush violated their trust to talk about football. They
all regretted missing the comment. They where THERE! Live! They didn't think
the comment was exceptional or noteworthy at the time, it took the media frenzy
to get them worked up. For shame, ESPN!
So have we fixed anything by letting Limbaugh resign? No. In fact, one story
about the incident proves my point that we have a far way to go.
In an Associated Press article (I found it on the Sacramento Bee at http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/entertainment/story/1017181p-7137163c.html)
called "Rush Limbaugh resigns from ESPN after remarks criticized",
the story reads "Seven black quarterbacks started games last weekend. Two
other black quarterbacks who regularly start, Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota
and Michael Vick of Atlanta, were out with injuries." Where do you track
black quarterbacks starting or injured?
I checked NFL's statistics on the web (http://www.nfl.com/stats) and see passing
yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, and touchdown passes. The fact that
someone knew that 7 black quarterbacks started is pathetic! Until we move past
keeping track of such garbage, we will never move forward as a society. That
portion of the story PROVES that we do have a problem.
Think what you will of the commentator. Shoot the messenger. But don't forget
to look into the comments.
Ram on,
Don