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Reality Test Results in Failure
By Thomas Boswell
Friday, October 3, 2003; Washington Post Page D01
*Emphaisis mine.
To locate Rush Limbaugh, we need to go to an unsavory neighborhood at the intersection of political agenda, sports stupidity and racist comment."
Limbaugh's remarks about Donovan McNabb, which led to his resignation from ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," were racist. What is unclear is the degree to which Limbaugh's views had their roots in his ingrained habit of reshaping reality to fit his political agenda, in his ignorance of pro football or in an actual racist point of view.
Since Limbaugh once told an African American caller to his radio show to "take that bone out of your nose and call me back," the third option might be true. But the first two factors are a certainty.
To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail, it is said. Rush brought his right-wing sledgehammer to a game where merit and facts, not political spinning, carry the day. Now look who's got the bloody thumb.
Sports is a world that is relentlessly reality-tested. If your coaching strategy or personal opinions are proven wrong on the playing field, you'd better look in the mirror and reevaluate while you still have a job. If you're in the media and analyze a daily stream of sports events with some political, religious or cultural "agenda," you are going to get undressed repeatedly by reality. Sports won't conform to your preferences.
For example, if you write, against the advice of wise editors, that "this is the Red Sox' year," you better not hold that opinion too tightly. Somebody may drop down a two-out, bases-loaded suicide-squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 12th inning in the first game of the playoffs. You can't claim it didn't happen or cop a plea by blaming the manager. As the Red Sox face getting swept by Oakland, prepare to step up and say, "I am a big, fat idiot."
In Limbaugh's realm, one inhabited by both liberal and conservative propagandists, there is little or no reality testing. In fact, reality is simply akin to clay that can be molded to conform to ideology. Depending on whom you pander to, all things Clinton or Bush are automatically bad or good.
The Limbaughs never admit, "I am a big, fat idiot." Instead, somebody in the other camp has to write a book with the title "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot."
When those like Limbaugh enter an arena where they are also ignorant, the fuse can reach the dynamite. In their own fields, they know how to speak to their constituencies in cultural or political code. They choose examples that push the envelope of controversy or inaccuracy, but because they know their racket they don't self-destruct.
On Sunday, two of Limbaugh's pet agendas, attacking "the media" and impugning any hint of affirmative action, got blitzed by his NFL illiteracy.
Once, no NFL team had a starting black quarterback. But, last week, seven started for the NFL's 32 teams. That doesn't count stars Daunte Culpepper and Michael Vick, who are hurt. With the NFL having nine starting African American quarterbacks, we're talking about a dead horse, a forgotten issue, something that any NFL fan -- much less member of the sports media -- digested long ago.
But Rush didn't get the memo.
"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go," Limbaugh said of McNabb. "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve. The defense carried this team [to the last two NFC title games]."
The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well? You mean, like Warren Moon, who starred for 16 years and retired long ago? Or one who wins the Super Bowl as Doug Williams did in 1988?
Earth to Rush, hire a clipping service.
African American quarterbacks now come and go, succeed or fail, and nobody notices. It's called progress. Two years ago, Tony Banks was the Redskins' starting quarterback. Did Redskins fans discuss or care that he was an African American? Did it seem that "the media" was invested in his success or failure, based on his race?
Limbaugh has functioned for years in a netherworld in which political activists, posing as celebrity "media commentators," pay little attention to the facts but have enormous concern for the liberal or conservative spin they can apply. Perhaps that's why, in the reality-tested arena of sports, it only took him a month to expose himself. If he hadn't been so dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks on NFL life, who knows how long he could have faked it?
In historical perspective, where does Limbaugh fit? Some will say with Jimmy the Greek or Al Campanis. But the real comparison is with Isiah Thomas.
The gold standard for making commentary was set by Zeke. In his Pistons days, after losing the seventh game of the '87 Eastern Conference finals by three points to the Celtics, Thomas said, "I'd have to agree with [Dennis] Rodman. If [Larry] Bird was black, he'd be just another good guy."
Hindsight adds humor. Then, Rodman's hair was only one color and agreeing with him didn't seen like prima facie evidence of insanity. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan (among many) mocked the comment, ripped Thomas and cited jealously as a more probable cause than racism.
If Thomas and Limbaugh had simply chosen less ridiculous examples, they could, perhaps, have hidden behind the First Amendment, as Limbaugh naturally did again yesterday saying, "I offered an opinion."
Unfortunately for them, America is, and has been, one huge sports bar for years. The level of sophistication that we should, perhaps, bring to politics, we do, in fact, bring to talk of power forwards and quarterbacks.
So, when Thomas says that Larry Bird would be "just another good guy" if he were black or Limbaugh says that McNabb has not "been that good from the get-go," but has been overrated because he is black, tens of millions of people know that a line has not only been crossed, but stomped. Both "offered opinions" that were also racist comments.
At such times, there's usually collateral damage. McNabb noted that "somebody" on the ESPN set, "even if it was the cameraman" should have challenged the racial component of Limbaugh's comments. No one did, including Chris ("I-went-to-Brown-but-don't-bother-me-'cause-I'm-busy-thinking-up-another-inane-nickname") Berman.
It must be great to live in Disneyland, where the problem is the "circumstances surrounding this," rather than the substance of Limbaugh's remarks. ESPN thinks Limbaugh's resignation is "appropriate" because it "resolves this matter expeditiously." Grab broom, lift rug, sweep hard.
At least the NFL came up big on third and long. "ESPN knew what they were getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," said a league spokesman.
Fortunately, McNabb has escaped the rubble without a scratch. He's been appropriately insulted, but remained classy. While Limbaugh still uses the mock dialect "ax" for "ask" when discussing black leaders on his syndicated radio show, some NFL players have been moved to eloquence by the incident.
"The athletic arena is the one thing that unites us. It takes away racial and religious affiliation," Eagles defensive tackle Corey Simon told The Post's Leonard Shapiro. "To bring this guy out of the political arena to the purity of football I think is uncalled for. . . . It kind of sickens you."
Despite its violence, the NFL does possess a purity. Merit is honored. Race, religion and origin are, largely, ignored. Best of all, like sports in general, every premise is measured against reality, not molded to ideology. On days like this, as Limbaugh leaves us, that sounds mighty pure.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
I know a lot of people on LJ probably don't care much about sports. And many of them won't care about Limbaugh. But, I do find this case relevant in real life. And I've certainly seen it in fandom. Limbaugh is a man so bent on his agenda that he remains willfully ignorant of reality, as borne out by this McNabb fiasco - to the point that he can't admit even the most assinine of comments are wrong. I've certainly seen it in fandom, with Spike fans hell-bent on defending the purity of Spike and Spuffy, despite the reality played out on screen. Now, not all Republicans are dittoheads. Not all Spike/Spuffy fans are dittoheads either. But, I'm bothered by folks who maintain ignorant views, scream them from the hilltop, and are unwilling to reconsider or admit to their flaws.
The great thing about sports, is that no matter how often or loudly one proclaims this the Red Sox year, when they invariably choke and lose, one cannot deny it.
By Thomas Boswell
Friday, October 3, 2003; Washington Post Page D01
*Emphaisis mine.
To locate Rush Limbaugh, we need to go to an unsavory neighborhood at the intersection of political agenda, sports stupidity and racist comment."
Limbaugh's remarks about Donovan McNabb, which led to his resignation from ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," were racist. What is unclear is the degree to which Limbaugh's views had their roots in his ingrained habit of reshaping reality to fit his political agenda, in his ignorance of pro football or in an actual racist point of view.
Since Limbaugh once told an African American caller to his radio show to "take that bone out of your nose and call me back," the third option might be true. But the first two factors are a certainty.
To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail, it is said. Rush brought his right-wing sledgehammer to a game where merit and facts, not political spinning, carry the day. Now look who's got the bloody thumb.
Sports is a world that is relentlessly reality-tested. If your coaching strategy or personal opinions are proven wrong on the playing field, you'd better look in the mirror and reevaluate while you still have a job. If you're in the media and analyze a daily stream of sports events with some political, religious or cultural "agenda," you are going to get undressed repeatedly by reality. Sports won't conform to your preferences.
For example, if you write, against the advice of wise editors, that "this is the Red Sox' year," you better not hold that opinion too tightly. Somebody may drop down a two-out, bases-loaded suicide-squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 12th inning in the first game of the playoffs. You can't claim it didn't happen or cop a plea by blaming the manager. As the Red Sox face getting swept by Oakland, prepare to step up and say, "I am a big, fat idiot."
In Limbaugh's realm, one inhabited by both liberal and conservative propagandists, there is little or no reality testing. In fact, reality is simply akin to clay that can be molded to conform to ideology. Depending on whom you pander to, all things Clinton or Bush are automatically bad or good.
The Limbaughs never admit, "I am a big, fat idiot." Instead, somebody in the other camp has to write a book with the title "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot."
When those like Limbaugh enter an arena where they are also ignorant, the fuse can reach the dynamite. In their own fields, they know how to speak to their constituencies in cultural or political code. They choose examples that push the envelope of controversy or inaccuracy, but because they know their racket they don't self-destruct.
On Sunday, two of Limbaugh's pet agendas, attacking "the media" and impugning any hint of affirmative action, got blitzed by his NFL illiteracy.
Once, no NFL team had a starting black quarterback. But, last week, seven started for the NFL's 32 teams. That doesn't count stars Daunte Culpepper and Michael Vick, who are hurt. With the NFL having nine starting African American quarterbacks, we're talking about a dead horse, a forgotten issue, something that any NFL fan -- much less member of the sports media -- digested long ago.
But Rush didn't get the memo.
"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go," Limbaugh said of McNabb. "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve. The defense carried this team [to the last two NFC title games]."
The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well? You mean, like Warren Moon, who starred for 16 years and retired long ago? Or one who wins the Super Bowl as Doug Williams did in 1988?
Earth to Rush, hire a clipping service.
African American quarterbacks now come and go, succeed or fail, and nobody notices. It's called progress. Two years ago, Tony Banks was the Redskins' starting quarterback. Did Redskins fans discuss or care that he was an African American? Did it seem that "the media" was invested in his success or failure, based on his race?
Limbaugh has functioned for years in a netherworld in which political activists, posing as celebrity "media commentators," pay little attention to the facts but have enormous concern for the liberal or conservative spin they can apply. Perhaps that's why, in the reality-tested arena of sports, it only took him a month to expose himself. If he hadn't been so dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks on NFL life, who knows how long he could have faked it?
In historical perspective, where does Limbaugh fit? Some will say with Jimmy the Greek or Al Campanis. But the real comparison is with Isiah Thomas.
The gold standard for making commentary was set by Zeke. In his Pistons days, after losing the seventh game of the '87 Eastern Conference finals by three points to the Celtics, Thomas said, "I'd have to agree with [Dennis] Rodman. If [Larry] Bird was black, he'd be just another good guy."
Hindsight adds humor. Then, Rodman's hair was only one color and agreeing with him didn't seen like prima facie evidence of insanity. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan (among many) mocked the comment, ripped Thomas and cited jealously as a more probable cause than racism.
If Thomas and Limbaugh had simply chosen less ridiculous examples, they could, perhaps, have hidden behind the First Amendment, as Limbaugh naturally did again yesterday saying, "I offered an opinion."
Unfortunately for them, America is, and has been, one huge sports bar for years. The level of sophistication that we should, perhaps, bring to politics, we do, in fact, bring to talk of power forwards and quarterbacks.
So, when Thomas says that Larry Bird would be "just another good guy" if he were black or Limbaugh says that McNabb has not "been that good from the get-go," but has been overrated because he is black, tens of millions of people know that a line has not only been crossed, but stomped. Both "offered opinions" that were also racist comments.
At such times, there's usually collateral damage. McNabb noted that "somebody" on the ESPN set, "even if it was the cameraman" should have challenged the racial component of Limbaugh's comments. No one did, including Chris ("I-went-to-Brown-but-don't-bother-me-'cause-I'm-busy-thinking-up-another-inane-nickname") Berman.
It must be great to live in Disneyland, where the problem is the "circumstances surrounding this," rather than the substance of Limbaugh's remarks. ESPN thinks Limbaugh's resignation is "appropriate" because it "resolves this matter expeditiously." Grab broom, lift rug, sweep hard.
At least the NFL came up big on third and long. "ESPN knew what they were getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," said a league spokesman.
Fortunately, McNabb has escaped the rubble without a scratch. He's been appropriately insulted, but remained classy. While Limbaugh still uses the mock dialect "ax" for "ask" when discussing black leaders on his syndicated radio show, some NFL players have been moved to eloquence by the incident.
"The athletic arena is the one thing that unites us. It takes away racial and religious affiliation," Eagles defensive tackle Corey Simon told The Post's Leonard Shapiro. "To bring this guy out of the political arena to the purity of football I think is uncalled for. . . . It kind of sickens you."
Despite its violence, the NFL does possess a purity. Merit is honored. Race, religion and origin are, largely, ignored. Best of all, like sports in general, every premise is measured against reality, not molded to ideology. On days like this, as Limbaugh leaves us, that sounds mighty pure.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
I know a lot of people on LJ probably don't care much about sports. And many of them won't care about Limbaugh. But, I do find this case relevant in real life. And I've certainly seen it in fandom. Limbaugh is a man so bent on his agenda that he remains willfully ignorant of reality, as borne out by this McNabb fiasco - to the point that he can't admit even the most assinine of comments are wrong. I've certainly seen it in fandom, with Spike fans hell-bent on defending the purity of Spike and Spuffy, despite the reality played out on screen. Now, not all Republicans are dittoheads. Not all Spike/Spuffy fans are dittoheads either. But, I'm bothered by folks who maintain ignorant views, scream them from the hilltop, and are unwilling to reconsider or admit to their flaws.
The great thing about sports, is that no matter how often or loudly one proclaims this the Red Sox year, when they invariably choke and lose, one cannot deny it.
no subject
Someone should let the Detroit Tigers in on that little fact. I've never heard so much denial in my life!
I hadn't realized Limbaugh was over at ESPN for awhile. (What idiot made that hiring decision?) Has there been much fallout from Limbaugh's remarks? Or, now that he's gone, are folks just moving on to the next burning question?
no subject
ESPN brought him in for the Sunday NFL pregame show this year. This was the first time he'd really gone axe-grinding, but the other studio folks had run mental circles around him. And there's been a pretty huge blowup over his remarks in Sports Media circles. To a lesser extent in the press, but here in DC the usual suspects have chimed in. (Kweisi M'fume of the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, Wesley Clark, Howard Dean) It'll blow over.
no subject
More like Tigers' management. The players have been trying hard, and no one's really whining. But management's been saying some really inane things along the lines of "We don't have the losingest team in history." Not yet they don't.
no subject
Rush strikes again
What I find most disturbing about Mr. Limbaugh is that it's pretty likely that he believes none of his most inflamatory statements and makes them simply because controoversy sells.
My brother (who defines "liberal Jew") wound up one summer working the radio boards as an intern. One of the shows he helped put on the air was Rush Limbaugh's talk show at the time. My brother was amazed the the man was polite, well spoken, well reasoned - basically the opposite of his talk show persona. (otoh, my brother confirmed that the two guys who do the Yankees broadcasts are indeed total idiots, but that's sort of off topic.)
If this is indeed the case, that he says these things solely for ratings, I am disgusted beyond all reason. People who believe the hate this man peddles are people who are not bright enough to reason things out for themselves. These people are the type who egged by people like Russ, went around beating up Arab-Americans after 9/11. I just find the guy reprehensible.
I'm sure I'll talk to you over on TWoP, but just in case, have an easy fast and get written in that big book of life for another year!
no subject
I will say though that due to the Hurricane and my location at the time in the "Land o' the Eagles" I was very aware of their crappy start to the season and McNabb taking the blame for it. Which is why I paid attention to this whole "controversy" in the first place.
Amazing. To quote Al Franken, Limbaugh really is a Big Fat Idiot. How he or anyone could possibly see that his statement was anything other than rascist is just... maybe it's the fact that I live in a very mixed-race place, but you don't say stuff like that. It's just rude and unnecessarily inflammatory and, in his position, a "look at me!" comment.
Since Limbaugh once told an African American caller to his radio show to "take that bone out of your nose and call me back," the third option might be true. But the first two factors are a certainty.
Fuck!
That's really all there is to say.