Sharpton The Latest Vocalizing Opposition To Limbaugh's Rams Bid

Sharpton Says Limbaugh Has Been "Anti-NFL"

Rev. Al Sharpton asked the NFL yesterday to "deny conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the opportunity to buy" the Rams, according to Andy Barr of POLITICO. Sharpton in a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote he was "disturbed" to hear about Limbaugh's interest in the Rams, and asked to meet with Goodell "to discuss the myriad of reasons as to why (Limbaugh) should not be given an opportunity to do so." Sharpton contends Limbaugh has been "anti-NFL" in comments about several players, including Eagles QBs Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick (POLITICO.com, 10/12). In N.Y., Judy Battista notes Sharpton in the letter said that the NFL "should reject the bid by Limbaugh because he would be bad for the league." NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello noted that Goodell will respond to Sharpton after this week's NFL owners meetings in Boston. Goodell thus far has "said nothing about Limbaugh's bid, although an outcry has built since Limbaugh went public last week with his involvement." Current and former players, who "rarely take an interest in ownership transactions, have said that they would not be interested in playing for a Limbaugh-owned team and that the Rams would have trouble attracting free agents." Former NFLer Roman Oben: "If you start letting a guy like Rush Limbaugh in, he would assert himself into one of these committees and he will start to talk about policy. That will affect all NFL players. It's not a black-and-white thing" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/13).

LIMBAUGH WELCOMES DETRACTORS: Limbaugh said that the media attention surrounding his role in a Rams bid group "demonstrates the animosity of detractors." Limbaugh in an interview with NBC's Jamie Gangel said, "They're just gonna go nuts. … I just keep tiptoeing into the mainstream. And it just irritates them." Excerpts from the interview aired both today and yesterday on NBC's "Today" (MSNBC.com, 10/12). Meanwhile, BLOOMBERG NEWS' Scott Soshnick noted Blues and Real Salt Lake Owner Dave Checketts, who jointly fronts the bid with Limbaugh, brings a "wealth of sports industry contacts, know-how and credibility" to the bid group. He also brings "big-time backers like George Soros, who financed the duo's failed attempt" to buy the Dodgers in '03 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/12).

JUST SAY NO: FOXSPORTS.com's Jason Whitlock wrote under the header, "Goodell Should Say No To Limbaugh." Goodell to date has "stood motionless" regarding Limbaugh's bid, which "would be devastating to the NFL brand." Whitlock: "I assumed that Goodell would quickly put an end to this lunacy. ... It's unfortunate and troubling that Roger Goodell needs time to think about this." But Goodell "primarily represents a consortium of rich white men who apparently can't quite muster the courage to stand up to one of their own" (FOXSPORTS.com, 10/12). CBSSPORTS.com's Ray Ratto wrote while Limbaugh may "squawk, and progressives may howl, all at each other and all within their First Amendment rights, Goodell will be the guy who makes this go away, one way or another." There is "nothing more debilitating to any sports organization than meddlesome/stupid/underfunded/gasbag owners, and Limbaugh is at least one of those." Limbaugh's bid for the Rams, jointly fronted by Checketts, "will all boil down to, 'His history isn't worth the public dung storm,' or he is approved but only as a silent partner" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/12). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said he would be "absolutely stunned" if Limbaugh became an NFL owner. Greenberg: "The National Football League is one of the very few businesses in America that does not need to subscribe to the 'any publicity is good publicity' theorem" ("Good Morning America," ABC, 10/13).

COULD DELIVER A BAD SIGN: In N.Y., George Vecsey notes NFL owners "seem to have the power to turn down somebody just because they don't like the cut of his jib," and that is "reassuring given" Limbaugh's interest in the Rams. Owners are "entitled to their political beliefs but, because the NFL has made admirable steps in hiring minority coaches and general managers, letting a virulent exhibitionist like Limbaugh into the club would be a bad sign to players and fans." Limbaugh would "drag the whole league down toward his level," and it is "hard to understand why Checketts would want to sully his clean image" by partnering with Limbaugh (N.Y. TIMES, 10/13). Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp said the NFL "should pass" on the ownership offer from Limbaugh's group. The NFL "can stand up and say no, and I have a hard time believing why the NFL would cater such potential controversy from such a lightning rod figure." However, the Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes said, "It's dangerous when you get the NFL into the business of deciding whose political speech is acceptable and whose political speech isn't acceptable" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 10/12). SI's Damon Hack said, "The league will have to take a close look at it. Even if the players don't have a seat at the table, they'll have to wonder if the players will boycott, will they make a mess of this situation and make some noise about it" ("Street Signs," CNBC, 10/12).

BID SHOULD BE DISCUSSED: In Chicago, Carol Slezak writes of Limbaugh's bid for the team, "Does his bid deserve to be considered? Of course it does.” Slezak added, “I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be the only NFL owner to hold some dubious political and social views. Should he be subjected to a higher level of scrutiny simply because he airs his thoughts publicly?” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/13). ESPN's Mike Golic: "This is America, and if you have the want to do something and you are given the right to do that and you want to it, then that's great." He added there likely are a "lot of players in the league who probably don't even know Rush Limbaugh ... or they don't care what he does" ("GMA," ABC, 10/13). CBSNEWS.com’s Charles Cooper writes of Limbaugh’s bid, “What the critics overlook is what a weekly spectacle this could turn into if the sale ever went through.” Cooper: “How could you beat this one for pure entertainment value. The prospect of Limbaugh taking his seat alongside Al Davis … would be more than enough to get our minds off of the economy and Afghanistan” (CBSNEWS.com, 10/13).

Davis Not Opposed To Playing For Limbaugh-Owned Franchise

TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY? Several players have come out and said they would not play for the Rams if the team is sold to Limbaugh's group, and Sharp said, "One thing that bothers me a lot about professional athletes is that their level of social consciousness usually ends by the time they get paid. If they feel strong about this -- against it or for it -- than they should come out and say it" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 10/12). However, Bears WR Rashied Davis said of Limbaugh's interest, "He's probably not the only one that has questionable beliefs that owns a team. Would I go to his team? If they were paying me, yeah. If they're paying me the money, I'm going. If he said stuff that was questionable to me, that's a different thing." Davis added, "I wouldn't prefer that Rush Limbaugh own a team. I don't want him to have one. It's America. I can't stop him. If people want to stop him, then they will" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/13).