Is NFL Players Association Chief DeMaurice Smith being forthright when he contends he wants to protect the sport from "discrimination and hatred" as he has claims, or is he engaging in partisan hackery, with the benefit of having the ear of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell? If you look at Smith's past, you might come to that conclusion.
As NewsBusters Noel Sheppard pointed out Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen shared Smith's concerns on the network's Web site Oct. 11 based on an e-mail Smith had sent which said the following:
"I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages," Smith wrote. "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."
But, one look at Smith's political contributions suggests another motive. According to data compiled by OpenSecrets.org, since 2004 Smith has contributed nearly $7,000 - all to Democratic candidates.
Smith is also connected to President Barack Obama. According to his bio, Smith served in the Clinton administration as Counsel to then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, now Obama's attorney general, in the Justice Department.
A look at Smith's media appearances through Nexis also shows Smith appeared regularly on the left-of-center network MSNBC, mostly on the now-defunct shows hosted by NBC News and MSNBC chief legal correspondent Dan Abrams.
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Since when is being a
October 12, 2009 - 15:07 ET by bse5150Since when is being a Conservative a detriment to owning a football team? Leftists can't stand anyone thinking different than them, can they?
bse5150
October 12, 2009 - 15:08 ET by MrShyNope, they can't.... :p
This reaction to Rush is
October 12, 2009 - 15:43 ET by mattmThis reaction to Rush is either part of a smear campaign, or the result of previous smear campaigns.
"What about Donovan McNabb?" "What about Donovan McNabb?" "What about Donovan McNabb?" "What about Donovan McNabb?"
All Rush said was that the league gave McNabb more credit than he deserved because they want a Black QB to succeed.
Whether he was right or wrong about that - what Rush was pointing out was the racial motivations of the NFL, he was NOT making any racial remark of his own about anyone or anything.
But that doesn't matter, Rush mentions something that has a racial component to it and BAM - He's a racist. But the Prez can refer to his White Grandma as a "typical white person" and that's OK.
I'm so sick of this bullcrap that the whining cries of "racism" are falling on deaf ears with me.
Anybody who thinks, let
October 12, 2009 - 15:42 ET by criticalthinkingAnybody who thinks, let alone says out loud, let alone says outloud on the radio, that Big 5, McNabb is somehow only respected or considered a star because he is black is a) an idiot, b)sees the world through racial glasses and thinks black people are getting over on whites, c) should not be allowed anywhere near a football stadium.
Hey wise shrewd intelligent conservatives, hears a tip, McNabb is only respected because he is black. now take all your money and go to vegas and bet against the eagles.
→ Wrong again
October 12, 2009 - 15:46 ET by Cool ArrowYou're still not addressing what Rush actually said.
Until you do that, you're just a troll with a talking points agenda.
You need to prove you can think for yourself. You've demonstrated no such ability as yet.
He didn't say that. He
October 12, 2009 - 15:48 ET by mattmHe didn't say that. He said the league, including the broadcasters, were over-rating McNabb because they wanted a Black QB to succeed.
He was referring to the racial motivations of the league and those associated with it. It was not a racist statement.
But people like you will never let the facts get in the way of a perfect opportunity to smear someone you can't argue with.
the problem is, if
October 12, 2009 - 16:10 ET by criticalthinkingthe problem is, if anything, McNabb is underatted...how could you possible say that mcnabb was being over hyped? do you watch the NFL? before TO, the eagles had nobody but McNabb on offense, and they went to three straight NFC title games. He's underatted because he loses those title games, and everyone blames him, which i disagree with, but that's opinion...was marino overhyped because he was white? either way, the comments injected rase into an issue that mcnabb didnt create...a racial fight that rush picked. thats the last thing we need in the NFL.
mattm, just so you
October 12, 2009 - 16:13 ET by criticalthinkingmattm, just so you understand, for you to defend your point, you would have to argue that McNabb is over hyped. i understand that this is a catch 22 for you because to argue that he is overhyped would make you look like a football novice. Like i said, 5 is in the top five of the decade, probablly number three behind Peyton and Brady. i've never heard anyone say he was better then either of these two, and to put him below top five would be to underhype him.
No I wouldn't. It's not
October 12, 2009 - 16:25 ET by mattmNo I wouldn't. It's not about McNabb or whether Limbaugh was right or wrong. Read my other responses.
In order for you to argue your point you would have to demonstrate that Rush said something racist. So far, nobody has been able to do that - ever.
Just ask Bo Snerdly - and if you don't know who that is, you haven't listened to Rush, and therefore your opinions are based on hearsay and rumor.
Gotta run....
Whether Limbaugh was right
October 12, 2009 - 16:22 ET by mattmWhether Limbaugh was right or wrong about McNabb being overrated because certain people wanted a black QB to succeed is irrelevant. It was not a racist statement - he was pointing out the racial motivations of others.
Nor was it a racial fight that Rush picked. The Rush-Haters are the ones who picked the fight.
The NFL, like most sports, is rife with political correctness. Rush's problem is he doesn't play the PC game, and he got burned for it, and now he's getting smeared for it.
He won't get aced out for racism because he's not a racist, he'll get aced out because the League is bigoted, and is an organization that will not tolerate free expression - only "company-men" are allowed in the NFLclique - independent thinkers are banned.
If Mc5 was not overhyped,
October 12, 2009 - 17:30 ET by criticalthinkingIf Mc5 was not overhyped, then there were no " racial motivations of others." how could you not understand this?
Hey, critical idiot, don't go near a football stadium.
October 12, 2009 - 17:21 ET by acaiguanaIt was the Left who turned the racist card on Rush. Same as when they said his reference to the 'Magic Negro' was racially motivated. In reality, the same thing applies there as here.
All Rush did was point out the racially based behavior of Leftists. He himself was not being nor is he, racist.
Only people like you would like to see this protrayed as another Conservative Racist Issue.
Go away.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Check the facts.
October 12, 2009 - 16:29 ET by valveboneLimbaugh did not say that the NFL was going easy on McNabb, he said the media were going easy on McNabb. Limbaugh was criticizing the media, not the league or the team.
Also, consider the context of the comments. This was 2003. McNabb had a lot of injury problems at that time. His durability was certainly a question at the time. It doesn't matter how good he is, if he's on the sideline in civvies and a cast, he's not the quarterback. He's had 6 more years of experience since then (not all on the field, though). I admit that I admire his performance this past Sunday, coming back from the broken rib. He's more durable than I thought he was 6 years ago.
Smith calls sports "unifying". He really is a Democrat, the way he uses that word. Like the president is "unifying". Let me list some examples of the unifying power of sports:
Redskins vs. Cowboys (no love lost there)
Yankees vs Red Sox (ditto)
Steelers vs Browns (in the late 70s/early 80s)
Ohio State vs Michigan (football: back when the "Big Ten" was these two and 8 others, especially in the days of Woody Hayes & Bo Schembechler)
I'm sure there are others, like in the NHL (but I'm not a hockey fan, so I don't know any), but my point is that it's the rivalries that make sports their best. Only 1 team wins the championship, in any sport.
did you guys see the cartoon
October 12, 2009 - 17:31 ET by criticalthinkingdid you guys see the cartoon where the Rush buys the team and he walks into the locker room and the coach is telling the squad "we all need to work together." and rush says, "fire the socialist." brilliant