Rush Limbaugh Finds Opposition to Owning NFL Franchise

The Rush Limbaugh attempt to purchase the St. Louis Rams could fall flat. The reason being that Rush Limbaugh has already tried to be a lightning rod for controversy, and will say anything that it takes to make money. Someone might look at this as Limbaugh making money off of being a racist, and they would definitely have the quotes to back up that assessment. Does that matter when it comes to someone buying part of an NFL franchise? Should the politics of a potential owner play a role in how an owner is perceived by the other owners in the NFL? These are just some of the questions coming to the forefront as Rush Limbaugh tried to become part of the NFL.

On Saturday, NFL Players Executive Director DeMaurise Smith sent an e-mail to the union's executive committee to address Rush Limbaugh's bid to own an NFL franchise. Though the big process is still in the early phases, he states that "I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages. But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred." He definitely looks to stand against Limbaugh getting into an ownership role, and with what Limbaugh has stated against other races and the NFL in the past, it's pretty hard to blame him.

So what exactly has Rush Limbaugh stated in the past that could rile up owners or executives to make them not want Limbaugh in the NFL? How about the fact that he stated the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. should be honored for his actions? Maybe someone would say that this one doesn't apply to the NFL, and shouldn't come into play. How about this one that Limbaugh stated: "Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it." Correlating players to being gang members isn't exactly something positive to say about people within the NFL.

The NFL is being put into a tough position here by someone who is against illegal drug purchases and sales, yet attained drugs illegally himself. They are going to have to look at a bid from someone who stated: "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." Rush Limbaugh is a very rich man for the hate that he passes on as politics through his radio show, and he has many supporters out there. That will make this an even harder issue for the NFL to deal with, and that is why executives are already trying to get the word out about him. Is it okay for someone to say these things and then want to own a team within the league he has chastised so often?

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DeMaurice Smith Sends E-mail

Rush Limbaugh Quotes