The National Review's breezily brilliant Jay Nordlinger recently described the way sports reporters are increasingly injecting their liberal politics into their work.
To the list of sports scribes who should supposedly be concerned with balls and strikes but instead use their gigs as platforms to let their liberal flags fly, add Fred Roggin, who does a regular sports spot on Morning Joe.
On today's show, Roggin's report on Rush Limbaugh's effort to acquire an interest in the NFL's St. Louis Rams was one long lambasting of Limbaugh that included this glaring misstatement of fact: that Rush was "canned from ESPN for racist remarks about Eagle's quarterback Donovan McNabb."
"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."People can debate the accuracy of Rush's assessment [though it's interesting that even a columnist at the liberal Slate wrote at the time that Rush was right]. But there's no denying that there was absolutely nothing racist about Rush's remark. He was simply saying that the liberal media had, for its own political purposes, overrated McNabb.
Roggin's inaccurate shot about Rush's departure from ESPN [from which he resigned rather than being "canned," by the way], was far from the only jibe Roggin aimed Rush's way.
FRED ROGGIN: All right, Al Davis, step aside. Jerry Jones, you too. The NFL could soon have a new owner the fans love to hate --"The fans" would love to hate Rush? If Rush does become an owner, there will be millions of fans who like and love Rush who will suddenly start rooting for the Rams.
ROGGIN: Controversial radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is teaming up with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts to bid on a portion of the St. Louis Rams. The avid football fan was canned from ESPN for racist remarks about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Interested in purchasing the team back in May. From a buy-low-sell-high standpoint, it's a no-brainer. The Rams are the worst team in the league. Many think that Limbaugh is a horrible man. So it's only fitting he buys a horrible team.Observed the affable Willie Geist "Wow! Guess Fred's not a fan of Rush, huh?"
I'll say. Why doesn't Roggin go back to reporting the scores and leave the political opining to Joe and Mika?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Revisionist History
October 7, 2009 - 06:50 ET by BlondeSame old, same old. They think if they repeat the canard x number of times, the lie becomes truth, and a generally accepted fact.
The left is going to blow a gourd when Maha Rushie turns this team around and makes it a profitable concern. And when he does that, even the liberals in St. Louis will love him, for returning their football team to contention. Win/Win for Rush......and as always, when the liberal media goes up against him, Lose/Lose.
Life is sweet.
I hope he fails, too.
Ditto, Blonde!
October 7, 2009 - 07:13 ET by motherbeltIn fact, you used the same words I was going to!
Good Grief! Are they going to drag out this old canard again!
It will never become the truth or a fact, but obviously it has already become "generally accepted" among libs.
Ditto, MB!
October 7, 2009 - 07:36 ET by BlondeDon't worry....be happy.
And let's corner the duct tape market, mi amiga. Because there's going to be a gigantic run on the stuff when Rush turns that ship around. You think they're gnashing their teeth now? This is going to be better than Obama's EPIC FAIL in Copenhagen.
Oh, and the other silver lining (sorry)....we now have easily found links to disprove the liberal lie every time they toss it out there. Don't you just love the word "canard"? I also like "assuage", but I digress.
I hope he fails, too.
Re turnaround
October 7, 2009 - 11:07 ET by slickwillie2001Re "turns this team around and makes it a profitable concern", that sounds like the President George W. Bush plan.
I'll say. Why doesn't
October 7, 2009 - 06:55 ET by FirmwormI'll say. Why doesn't Roggin go back to reporting the scores and leave the political opining to Joe and Mika?
For the same reason all these no name liberals mention Rush in a story. They need attention and will probably listen to Rush's show all day today just hoping he mentions their name. I hope he ignores the idiot.
Just added Roggin...
October 7, 2009 - 06:58 ET by Red Jeep...to my list of people to pay no attention to.
So I am a Racist?
October 7, 2009 - 07:11 ET by richb313I guess I am a racist if I say anything about someone of color or who is different from me? That is the message I am recieving out here. It will soon be impossible to say anything at all without subjecting yourself to litigation. Maybe we should all just lear sign language, it will be quieter and a lot harder to take someone out of context.
Little Does He Know
October 7, 2009 - 07:11 ET by GeneralAlRush is in the mode of Eddie DeBartalo [Sorry Eddie if I butchered the spelling!]. He will spend whatever money it takes to make the Rams a winning team because he HATES to lose! Rogue Roggin will be eating his words in a couple of years!
Rush Resigned
October 7, 2009 - 07:18 ET by MoreCowbellRush was not fired, he resigned. Might be a trivial point, but facts are facts. Also, don't forget that Michael Irvin followed Rush's comments with "Rush has a point." Was Irvin racist, too?
Another Ted Baxter
October 7, 2009 - 07:54 ET by KC MulvilleMy wife is addicted to game shows, and I happened to see this guy hosting a genuinely lame show where contestants competed about "lists." I remember him only because he struck me as being utterly lost.
A journalist who becomes a "quiz-master" ... that's an actual episode from the old Mary Tyler Moore show. Ted Baxter.
This guy is lost.
Hey, KC...
October 7, 2009 - 12:27 ET by sshuffield70it was called "The Money List" which got 8X more play on GSN than "The Rich List" did on FOX. Then again, there were only 9 eps of Roggin and 1 ep of "Rich List". In other words, it doesn't say very much. Saw "Money List" as well online. He was okay on it. Some of the material was hard, and some very easy.
Growing up in the Los
October 7, 2009 - 12:47 ET by fitzfongGrowing up in the Los Angeles area, I've known Fred Roggin's work for something approaching 30 years. He's been to LA what Mike Francesa's been to New York, the local NBC sports guy who does a late Sunday night wrap-up show (though Francesa is more serious, Roggin has a fixation for bloopers and pranks). He had a bit of a battle with the nose candy and had to take a leave-of-absence to rehab...a history the local media was only too happy to sweep under the rug while running Limbaugh's painkiller addiction story into the ground. Strangely, LA news/sports/weather guys have a tendency either to become national anchors/reporters (Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumbel, Ann Curry, Bill Weir, Paula Zahn, Keith Olbermann) or comedians/game show hosts (Fritz Coleman, Fred Roggin, Pat Sajak).
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Yet
October 7, 2009 - 07:55 ET by jed58Yet there he is buying a team and there you are.
Hey, Fred.......
October 7, 2009 - 07:57 ET by sshuffield70You left Game Show Network for this.....?
More people saw you over there.
Drop the political schtick. You were better as a game show host.
They Will Always Let You Know
October 7, 2009 - 08:14 ET by Wildcatter1980The lefties will always let us know who they fear the most by noticing who the "attack". And, you can gauge their level of fear by how vicious and personal those attacks are.
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We need to stop calling them "Progressives" when in reality they are big government "Socialists" who no longer value the individual's rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Players...
October 7, 2009 - 08:19 ET by rjwest21Athletes in general would LOVE to work for someone like Rush, who will reward them handsomly if their efforts result in success. Pro athletes will be champing at the bit to sign with the Rams in order to receive their just reward (capitalism) for achieving success.
The problem will be for black NFL players, while being less Democratic than the nation as a whole, still represent a segment of society that votes in lockstep >90% of the time. Unless they're a stalwart liberal Dem, in the Lebron James mold, I'm guessing that green will be the only color that matters. Still, I'm guessing that the pros will weigh out the cons & be a plus for the Rams.
On the downside, it'd mean less football insight from El Rushbo, since he'd have a vested interest in one team & therefore wouldn't be able to give his insights on the games in general as he's done in the past.
It's interesting that MSNBC
October 7, 2009 - 09:46 ET by fitzfongIt's interesting that MSNBC would use a former junkie like Fred Roggin to take deceptive shots at a man whose former drug addiction is the source of great entertainment to the network...without the slightest hint of irony.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Wow here we go again with a
October 7, 2009 - 10:14 ET by wiwfWow here we go again with a subject that's been settled for a long time...
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Fred Roggin?
October 7, 2009 - 10:29 ET by R D HelmNever heard of him.
-Dave