I guess ESPN got what it wanted: a jump in ratings by hiring Rush Limbaugh.  Mission accomplished, but at what price?  My family and I began an immediate boycott of ESPN as soon as we heard that Limbaugh, a non-football analyzing, racist, misogynist, big fat idiot (as described by humorist, Al Franken), was hired to provide “color commentary” on my favorite sports show, NFL Countdown.  Oh, it got color commentary all right!  Limbaugh just could not hold back his racist views, though I am sure he tried.  When he decided to criticize Donovan McNabb’s performance this season based on race, implying that the National Football League had an affirmative action program for quarterbacks, he went too far.  Was it his jealousy that a Black man made so much more money than he or that McNabb disrupted the natural order of things by being a Black quarterback in a predominately and historically white position?

The National Football League, traditionally, has had an affirmative action program for white quarterbacks.  Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other major universities have produced NFL-caliber quarterbacks (Doug Williams, Joe Gilliam, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Tommy Frazier, James Harris, Jeff Blake, and countless others) for decades.  However, there have been innumerable black quarterbacks that wanted to play in the NFL as a quarterback, only to be encouraged to play wide receiver or defensive back because of their “athleticism,” the code word for black athletes that are deemed as bigger, stronger, faster, and more instinctive due to natural abilities, instead of intellect, hard work, or drive.  Consider the plight of Warren Moon and former U. S. Congressman J. C. Watts, excellent college quarterbacks that ended up starting their professional careers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) because it was more progressive and willing to give black quarterbacks a chance.

What Mr. Limbaugh failed to realize is the black quarterback in the NFL or any other professional football league is in a precarious position.  He is one play, or one game, one season, or one injury to losing his position – permanently.  Let us consider his plight even further; the black quarterback must be good enough to start and start only – when we look at the bench of many professional football leagues we do not see many black quarterbacks (or head coaches, but that is another discussion).  The black quarterback has few opportunities to be developed slowly, as many white quarterbacks are afforded.  Black quarterbacks and, for that matter, black athletes have to justify their large salaries as opposed to white players that receive less scrutiny and are allowed to develop their skills more slowly.

I must say that I do appreciate Mr. Limbaugh; he speaks his mind and does not sugarcoat his feelings, no matter how ignorant, critically challenged, and simple his statements tend to be.  I say if the hood fits, then wear it.  I am glad Mr. Limbaugh left NFL Countdown.  That way, he can devote more time to his right wing, extremist radio show and to the minions that love him.  Good riddance and “peace out” (as we say in the “hood”) to him.

Ok, ESPN, back to your leadership.  You have had your day in the sun, with increased ratings; despite the clear disrespect you have shown your somewhat diverse on-air talent (that has few, if any, Asians, Latinos, or Native Americans—but I digress) and viewers by hiring Rush Limbaugh.  You knew what you were getting with Limbaugh, and you got it.  You pimped him to get more money.  He was a willing “ho.”  However, if you hire someone like that again (like Michael Savage – sorry, I did not mean to give you any ideas) not only will I not look at any of your programs or any other programs affiliated with the Disney conglomerate, you will probably lose hundreds of thousands, if not millions of fans that just want to enjoy quality sports programming (ok, cut the log chopping competition programs) that you create.  Don’t do it again!

Reynard Blake, Jr. is a freelance writer, and President of Community Development Associates, an East Lansing, Michigan-based nonprofit and faith-based organization consulting firm.  He has written and co-authored articles in the book, Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods, the Journal of Urban Youth Culture, and the Michigan Family Review.  He is presently writing a book on Hip-Hop, Black Leadership, and the Black Church: Implications for Positive Youth Development.  He is also a researcher at the Disproportionate Minority Confinement/Minority Over-Representation Project, housed at Michigan State University.

October 9, 2003
Issue 59

is published every Thursday.