While NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was calling conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh too "divisive" to own a professional football team, rapper Snoop Dogg was appearing in television ads for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."
I guess Goodell and other higher-ups within the league weren't concerned with having a man possessing multiple felony charges against him including murder do commercials for the highly-watched Sunday pre-game show on the nation's leading sports cable network.
Maybe Goodell should have looked at Snoop's rap sheet before he derided Limbaugh right out of an ownership position with the St. Louis Rams (ESPN commercial embedded below the fold along with Wikipedia highlights of the rapper's legal issues, h/t NB reader Shekhar Jain):
While recording Doggystyle in August 1993, Snoop Dogg was arrested in connection with the death of Phillip Woldemariam, a member of a rival gang who was shot and killed by Snoop's bodyguard, McKinley Lee; Snoop was charged with murder along with Lee as he was driving the vehicle from which the shooting had commenced. Snoop was defended by Johnnie Cochran, with his bodyguard McKinley Lee.[46] Both Snoop and Lee were acquitted; Lee was acquitted on grounds of self-defense, but Snoop Dogg remained entangled in the legal battles around the case for three years.[47] In July 1993, Snoop was stopped for a traffic violation and a firearm was found by police while conducting a search of his car. In February 1997, he pled guilty to one count of being an ex-felon in possession of a handgun and was ordered to record three public service announcements, pay a $1,000 fine, and serve three years' probation.[48] Twice, in May 1998 and October 2001, Snoop Dogg was fined and arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession.[49] [...]
Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and The Game were sued for assaulting a fan on stage at a May 2005 concert at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. The accuser, Richard Monroe, Jr., claimed he was beaten by the artists' entourage while mounting the stage.[51] He alleged that he reacted to an "open invite" to come on stage. Before he could, Snoop's bodyguards grabbed him and he was beaten unconscious by crewmembers, including the rapper and producer Soopafly; Snoop and The Game were included in the suit for not intervening. The lawsuit focuses on a pecuniary claim of $22 million in punitive and compensatory damages, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.[52] The concerned parties appeared in court in April 2009.
On April 26, 2006, Snoop Dogg and members of his entourage were arrested after being turned away from British Airways' first class lounge at Heathrow Airport. Snoop and his party were not allowed to enter the lounge because some of the entourage were flying first class, other members in economy class. After the group was escorted outside, they vandalized a duty-free shop by throwing whiskey bottles. Seven police officers were injured in the midst of the disturbance. After a night in prison, Snoop and the other men were released on bail on April 27, but he was unable to perform at the Premier Foods People's Concert in Johannesburg on the same day. As part of his bail conditions, he had to return to the police station in May. The group has been banned by British Airways for "the foreseeable future."[53][54] When Snoop Dogg appeared at a London police station on May 11, he was cautioned for affray under Section 4 of the Public Order Act for use of threatening words or behavior.[55] On May 15, the Home Office decided that Snoop Dogg should be denied entry to the United Kingdom for the foreseeable future due to the incident at Heathrow as well as his previous convictions in the United States for drugs and firearms offenses.[56][57] [...]
Snoop Dogg was arrested again on October 26, 2006 at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California while parked in a passenger loading zone. Approached by airport security for a traffic infraction, he was found in possession of marijuana and a firearm, according to a police statement. He was transported to Burbank Police Department Jail, booked, and released on $35,000 bond. He faced firearm and drug possession charges on December 12 at Burbank Superior Court.[62] He was again arrested on November 29, 2006, after performing on The Tonight Show, for possession of marijuana and a firearm.[63] [...]
On April 26, 2007, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship banned him from entering the country on character grounds, citing his prior criminal convictions. He had been scheduled to appear at the MTV Australia Video Music Awards on April 29, 2007.[66] Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship lifted the ban in September 2008 and had granted him visa to tour Australia. DIAC said "In making this decision, the department weighed his criminal convictions against his previous behaviour while in Australia, recent conduct - including charity work - and any likely risk to the Australian community ... We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa."[67]
Snoop Dogg's many legal issues forced San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom to withdraw his plan to issue a proclamation to the rapper.[68]
Despite all this, Snoop does commercials for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."
But Rush Limbaugh is too "divisive" to be a minority owner of a team.
Any questions?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Boycott Espn.com and Nfl.com and stop buying NFL merchandise
October 29, 2009 - 23:22 ET by Daniel Baker-------------------------------------------
Good men want freedom, Evil men want license
Interesting boycott
October 30, 2009 - 09:36 ET by JasonCInteresting boycott strategy. I note with interest that it doesn't extend to actually boycotting the NFL entirely, i.e. not watching the games; you know, something that would actually make a statement.
I suppose no quantity of ideological indignation or desire to martyr Rush outweighs the need to watch football each Sunday.
I've watched about 45
October 30, 2009 - 09:52 ET by mattmI've watched about 45 minutes worth of NFL football this year. I started my personal boycott a few years ago when it became obvious to me that is almost as rigged as the WWF.
The NFL is a show. The games are not choreographed, but they are occasionally manipulated for a variety of reasons, chiefly whatever makes the most money for the league.
Still, I can't help watching sometimes...it's hard to break a life long addiction.....
BTW - Goodell is a PC moron with no guts and very little mental faculties. He was clearly informed that Limbaugh's comment was about the media, not about McNabb, yet that just went right on through the space between his ears.
last year i watched almost
October 30, 2009 - 12:15 ET by TruthMongerlast year i watched almost every Vikings game - this year it's been about 30 minutes - even with Farve kicking ass
my advice is don't even bother replying to these co** sucking nfl gangsta apologists
i'm getting my local congressmen to pick up on King's cause and hang goodell out to dry - we got one of these high profile PC bastards good and solid this time
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
Super Bowl
October 29, 2009 - 23:46 ET by azwildcatsLast year if I remember, he appeared on the NFL Network Total Access show pre-Super Bowl(on Friday). Snoop is a Steeler fan, why can't Rush appear on anything? He just loves football
Liberals don't care because
October 30, 2009 - 01:11 ET by mostlymoderateLiberals don't care because all they see is an overachieving, white-male that is also a conservative. All of those things are taboo in Obamaland.
Because liberals are
October 30, 2009 - 06:27 ET by motherbeltBecause liberals are world-class HYPOCRITES, that's why!
'Nuff said.
If you watch football, you
October 29, 2009 - 23:55 ET by bse5150If you watch football, you now support this crap. I don't watch football ever, so I'm free!
Careful, they might consider
October 30, 2009 - 09:53 ET by mattmCareful, they might consider you to be a racist....
Heck
October 30, 2009 - 00:16 ET by DoktorFrankenThat Dawg won't hunt calling the NFL players Hos.
Just thought I'd try some Leftist, Alinsky-kinda crapulance. Here's the part where, if I were a troll, we'd play ''Topic, Topic, Who's Got The Topic?'' for a few dozen pages.
JMHO, you understand.
If Saul Alinsky owned a news channel it would be MSNBC. ---- Me
For The Folks In RioLinda
October 30, 2009 - 00:19 ET by DoktorFrankenThe above was sarcasism and is the opinion of the poster and not that of NewsBusters or the Media Research Center. Besides, I spelled dog different from that Ho, Dogg.
JMHO, you understand.
If Saul Alinsky owned a news channel it would be MSNBC. ---- Me
This is getting more
October 30, 2009 - 01:40 ET by gmaniac1This is getting more laughable as these mind numbed libs have no defense to their hypocrisy, again! Snoop Dogg is less "divisive" than Rush? Let's see, a convicted felon, womanizer, unapologetic drug user, foul mouthed troll is more deserving than Rush? Goddell you may as well as eat crow and apologize to Rush publicly for your "divisive" comment.
I like how the libs cried about his so-called racist politics and then when he doesn't get the bid, they act like a bunch of cowards by hiding behind the excuse of it being a "business" decision. Man, the pure comedy over this would be great if it weren't so real.
gmaniac
October 30, 2009 - 06:08 ET by NorthCoasterYou got that right!
thanks northcoaster!
October 30, 2009 - 09:26 ET by gmaniac1thanks northcoaster!
ESPN commercial, Versus ownership of an NFL team=false equivalen
October 30, 2009 - 02:39 ET by 007memoESPN commercial, Versus ownership of an NFL team = false equivalence. There is no equivelence whatsoever between the two.
Snoop does a commercial for a sports network and the NFL is responsible for what?
Get a grip, sportsfans.
The NFL partners with and
October 30, 2009 - 03:34 ET by ckc1227The NFL partners with and allows ESPN to broadcast their football games. I thought they didn't want to be associated with divisive people?
As for ESPN, why are they hiring the likes of Snoop Dog considering they fired Limbaugh? Hypocrites much?
ten-Roger, ckc
October 30, 2009 - 05:31 ET by FranksamThe NFL is only about money, not that there's anything wrong with that. But the league should just admit it and say "We are whores and Snoop will help us sell more commercials. That way, guys who enjoy watching dogs kill each other can have a well-paid job playing a boy's game."
I'm tired of the chicken dance in the end zone anyway. I'll stick to college games at this point, and if I ever did have any J-lo, Fergie, or Snoop recordings, they would have been deleted by now.
OMG! How'd I ever turn into such an old crank?
Franksam
October 30, 2009 - 06:12 ET by NorthCoasterAfter a while you have a list of things that you just don't care to put up with. The older you get, the longer the list.
Any questions?
NorthCoaster....
October 30, 2009 - 06:34 ET by motherbeltRight you are! LOL
Brilliant!
Totally, as my kids
October 30, 2009 - 07:04 ET by FranksamTotally, as my kids say.
My short list (but I could go on):
BPH (I didn't even know what that was until my friends asked me why I took so long to catch up on a recent bike ride.)
LOUD MUSIC ( My dad used to ask me to turn it down when he came home. Now I have to turn it up just to hear it.)
Other drivers ( I was hell on wheels and scary myself, but I'm sure that it's worse now) I'm kidding. It's amazing I'm alive.
Liberals (This is where I have to stop, otherwise there's no end.)
Any questions? Yes
October 30, 2009 - 03:42 ET by Dragonsbreath"But Rush Limbaugh is too "divisive" to be a minority owner of a team."
The key word here is minority, Rush is not one so he can not do what other "equal" people in this country can do. Right? Or if he was a lefty it would be ok.
The best way would be not to buy any NFL tickets or game packages and see how they feel about the colour green.....
"1/20/2013 The end of a Error"
A black criminal who in all
October 30, 2009 - 04:47 ET by RR GOPA black criminal who in all probability supports The One and all things Libtard is preferable to a white guy who is a conservative.
The very core of PC logic.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Rolling, rolling, rolling
October 30, 2009 - 04:54 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsDon't you dare judge a man by the content of his character, judge him only by the color of his skin. That's the rule under the current bunch. M. L. King has been thrown under the 'O' bus that keeps tooling down the road. It's a new century!
D
Write your Congress and Senate and tell them what YOU think!
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Who they gonna get next?
October 30, 2009 - 05:48 ET by chessplayerWho they gonna get next? Charles Manson?
Yep
October 30, 2009 - 06:40 ET by helyanweOnly because Aileene Wuornos and Bundy are dead.
(edit)
naw
October 30, 2009 - 06:29 ET by jon_torlinNaw, not Manson, he be a cracker with a swaster tat on hi' hed.
Tookie was on da list, but he be dead.
-Jon
Double standard
October 30, 2009 - 06:26 ET by Blogger Guy00001That's because our liberal culture condones real crimes committed by members of victim groups and condemns conservatives for anything they say or do, or are accused of saying or doing by a member of a victim group.
Just more proof that Rush
October 30, 2009 - 07:16 ET by HockeyKidJust more proof that Rush was right. He compared an NFL game to the Crips and the Bloods without weapons. Now the NFL has a Crip doing ads for them.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Just more proof that Rush and HockeyKid are Racist, Race Baiters
October 30, 2009 - 11:33 ET by 007memoJust more proof that Rush and HockeyKid are Racist, Race Baiters.
But, racists aren't too self aware.
The Better Man
October 30, 2009 - 07:42 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorRUSH: "I stand for American core values and a society that is truly color blind"
SNOOP DOGG: "Fo Shizzle, check out my dime brizzle B!+ch. Rush is gunna' ball till ya fall no doubt. WTH does the NFL want with a crack-a-lackin' m*ther*ucker like Rush anyhows?"
I see Snoop is donning his Steeler's jersey they made custom for him with his I.Q. on the front. I always wondered if he has his name on his "kronk" of cavasier to remind himself of just exactly who he's trying to be.
We retort, you decide!
Goodell is endorsing gangsters-
October 30, 2009 - 08:16 ET by JIMMY1660while saying how he must protect the NFL from divisive folks like Rush- turning his back on Middle America who have supported the NFL
Turn your back on the NFL-do not support the NFL sponsors.
BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE
So why can't...
October 30, 2009 - 08:50 ET by stage9Rush sue for viewpoint discrimination? Does he have a case?
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will
be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for
pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner."
— Malcolm Muggeridge<
Roger's Revenge-Scroll Down to the Survivors
October 30, 2009 - 09:12 ET by CaringwhiteguyI present a link to the obituary of the late Charles Goodell, former Repubican US Senator from New York.
http://www.nytimes.c...
Note his rise, but particularly his fall. He was derailed from his Senate post by James Buckley, brother of William F., and conservative stalwart. Note also the names of the surviving children of the late Senator.
So Roger Goodell's dad turned left, was challenged from the right in New York and suffered a humiliating defeat. Is Roger trying to get back at those mean conservatives that were nasty to his daddy?
The nfl
October 30, 2009 - 09:18 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonAssorted groups of schoolyard bullies with multiple arrest records, no respect for society or even their adoring fans as long as they get to act any damned way they want and get paid for it.
From a societal point of view, most are functionally ineligible to participate in the human race.
goodell is intellectually ineligible to be much more than a rock in a desert in Asia.
http://gjresult.com
The
October 30, 2009 - 09:41 ET by jessieHThe guy is a punk. Why isn't he in jail? Is hollywood protecting him? Is the govt. protecting him? Is he the best the NFL can come up with? He's a gang banger. Why not just tell him to SIT! STAY! BAD DOG- NO BUSCUIT!
Reflection of Values...
October 30, 2009 - 10:12 ET by Meredith1966To my feeble mind, this actually reflects that the NFL honchos these days place more value on the stinking commercials than they do about the game. Face it, watching NFL games these days is becoming a pseudo Henny Youngman joke--"The other day I was watching commercials and a football game broke out."
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
The NFL just promoted the "Rollin 20 Crips"
October 30, 2009 - 10:54 ET by OxyConYou can't make this stuff up. Scroll up and take another look at that Snoop Dogg photo, especially the jersey he's wearing, then read this:
Rollin 20 Crips
The East Side (E/S) Rollin 20 Crips, sometimes also called the Eastside Rollin' 20 Crips, RTC, 'The Rollin 20's, The 20's or 20 Crip is a Los Angeles Crips gang located on the Eastside of Long Beach, California. They Claim 15th Street and 19th Street. They are rivals of the Insane Crips of Long Beach, also on the Eastside, as well as any Latino gang, particularly the Varrio Longo 13 gang. Members wear black and gold/yellow clothing, and the Pittsburgh Steelers logo imprinted designs to indicate their gang affiliation along with the traditional blue bandanas worn by most Crip gangs.
Rush resigned ESPN, not Fired, Illegal Drug purchases reported
October 30, 2009 - 11:00 ET by 007memoRush resigned ESPN, he was not fired. Shockingly, his Illegal Drug purchases of thousands of doses of hillbilly heroin (OxyContin) were simultaneously revealed at the time. Limbaugh had no choice but to resign.
From USA TODAY, 10-03-03
"Limbaugh offered his resignation, he said, out of concern for "the great people" at ESPN who didn't want to deal "with this kind of reaction."
"The National Enquirer, in allegations that almost simultaneously seeped into the mainstream media, said Limbaugh had since 1998 illegally bought thousands of doses of prescription drugs."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2003-10-02-limbaugh-controversy_x.htm
Being a victim of an
October 30, 2009 - 11:07 ET by mattmBeing a victim of an addiction to one of the most addictive prescription drugs on the market, brought on as a result of a medical procedure, is a bit different than being a sleaze merchant.
But in Liberallalaland, and in the journalistically pure world of the National Enquirer, moral equivalence and non sequitur arguments are useful tools in fooling one's self and others.
Rush a victim, mattm??? LOL!!!
October 30, 2009 - 11:26 ET by 007memoRush a victim, mattm??? LOL!!!
I seem to remember Rush giving no quarter to "victims" of drug addiction.
Than you very much for pointing out the hypocrisy.
"I seem to remember Rush
October 30, 2009 - 11:39 ET by mattm"I seem to remember Rush giving no quarter to "victims" of drug addiction." No you don't. That never happened.
The only thing he ever said that got close to that was referring to liberals as "long haired, maggott infested, dope-smoking FF types"...tongue-in-cheek humor... Rush was prescribed OxyCotin for back pain after surgery, he became addicted....
He didn't seek out a drug so he could "get high" and divorce himself from reality, like the lefties do....but then, as I said, moral equivalence and non-sequiturs....that's you.
Thank you for demonstrating your own hypocrisy, and ignorance.
You can go back to Liberallalaland now.
Rush a Drug Addict Victim-Lefties long haired maggots, LOL mattm
October 30, 2009 - 12:41 ET by 007memoRush is a Drug Addict "Victim" who honorably abused illegal drugs - but Lefties are long haired maggots, LOL mattm!
From FoxNews.com 7-05-06:
Limbaugh's opponents will likely call him a hypocrite after Friday's confession, since he has criticized crack addicts in the past and said drug offenders should be thrown in jail like any other criminals.
In the past, Limbaugh has decried drug use and abuse on his bluntly conservative show, mocking President Bill Clinton for not inhaling and often making the case that drug crimes deserve punishment.
"Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. ... And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up," Limbaugh said on his short-lived television show on Oct. 5, 1995.
During the same show, he commented that the statistics that show blacks go to prison more often than whites for the same drug offenses only illustrate that "too many whites are getting away with drug use."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202212,00.html
Here's another link to some more examples of that infamous Limbaugh tolerance:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1159
"But then, as" you said, mattm "moral equivalence and non-sequiturs....that's you" and Limbaugh and the king of non-sequiturs, Glenn Beck.
Give it up
October 30, 2009 - 14:38 ET by bassndudeGive it up 007moron...fair.org has already got the "news" media into trouble over the lies they have on their site. Most of what they have has never been said by Rush, and is the source of quotes that had lots of the left news media eating crow of late.
And your timing is somewhat off with the drugs and ESPN.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
You do realize that you are engaging a troll
October 30, 2009 - 15:36 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnsonon intelligent matters?
Stomping on his bridge and waking him up in the daytime only enrages one active brain cell, and that's the only thing he has to play with.
http://gjresult.com
wow
October 30, 2009 - 11:03 ET by American.PatriotAs a "WASP", if I had been arrested for the types of stuff this negro was arrested for, I'd be locked up for years.
Talk about a double standard, not only for Rushbo's situation, but for every law-abiding citizen.
Guess I should find MJ's doctor to have him change my skin color
Unaware of lopsided convictions of blacks versus whites, America
October 30, 2009 - 11:28 ET by 007memoUnaware of lopsided arrests and convictions of blacks versus whites, American patriot?
Blacks are more likely to be arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail time than whites are for equivelent crimes.
You don't read much do you, America?
But why bother, you already know all you care to about the "negro", don't you?
You seem to be "unaware" of
October 30, 2009 - 11:40 ET by mattmYou seem to be "unaware" of a lot.
Yes memo
October 30, 2009 - 11:49 ET by RESTLESS 1We're aware of the disparities between sentences for black and white criminals.
We are also aware of the crime rate disparities in primarily black and white neighborhoods. Don't seem to want to talk about that one.
Also, the disparity between rich and poor, no matter the color, is even bigger. So all in all, your post is worthless.
"If the man, with the power, can't keep it under control...some heads are gonna roll." -Judas Priest
Inform thy self
October 30, 2009 - 12:12 ET by jaywlI usually let ignorant comments go, as most members do. However, I get tired of reading crap like "Blacks are more likely to be arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail time than whites are for equivelent crimes" Think in simple terms, 007memo, replace "equivelent (sic) crimes" with, say, "robbery." Then you might claim blacks are more likely to get arrested for robbery than whites. Well, so what if that is true? As a matter of fact I believe it is true. In which case the black community, including our President, ought to be trying to get blacks to stop committing robberies. Instead, I wonder if people that say such thing want more whites to commit more crimes or if law enforcement should tell a certain number of black suspects to forget about it or what? I really think you intended to bring up the disparate sentencing for certain crimes, such as crack vs snorting? cocaine. That might be wrong, but I think even Obama isn't going there.
Inform thyself, jaywl, then get back to me.
October 30, 2009 - 15:38 ET by 007memoInform thyself, jaywl, then get back to me.
Read a newspaper, read a book, then get back to me about disparities in arrest, prosecution and incarceration rates of blacks versus whites for the same crimes. LOL!!!
The disparities in arrest and incarceration rates is simple
October 31, 2009 - 10:17 ET by ahusserBlacks commit more crime. Their neighborhoods are infested with crime if you don't believe me take a walk in their neighborhoods at night in fact I highly recommend it might cure some of your pompous sneering self-righteousness.
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
Rush and Beck offered redemption for drug abuse, how about Snoop
October 30, 2009 - 11:14 ET by 007memoRush and Beck are offered redemption for drug abuse and crimes, how about Snoop?
Rush and Beck were (are?) drug abusers and in Beck's case an alcoholic, perhaps the same charity should be offered Snoop.
Snoop, Beck, Limbaugh, pefect together.
Pop quiz. Which of these two substances are FDA approved:
October 30, 2009 - 11:31 ET by SickofLibsa) Cocaine
b) Oxycontin
Hey, but at least you got to imply that Rush and Beck are still addicts.
Facts won't help this
October 30, 2009 - 11:42 ET by mattmFacts won't help this troll....
RE: Pop quiz. Which of these two substances are FDA approved
October 30, 2009 - 12:08 ET by Mark L.Actually, both are. Cocaine is used with FDA approval as a local anesthetic in dental procedures. See here: http://www.rxlist.com/cocaine-drug.htm
SNOOP THE GANG BANGER-
October 30, 2009 - 12:11 ET by JIMMY1660AND MURDERER!!
WE CAN ALWAYS FORGIVE THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ISSUES.
THE NFL SUPPORTS GANG BANGERS-RAY LEWIS COMES TO MIND-I DO NOT THINK RUSH OR GLENN USED A CUTTING TOOL TO CUT OFF THE HEADS OF TWO YOUNG BLACK MEN IN ATLANTA ONE SUPR BOWL WEEKEND NOT TOO LONG AGO. SNOOP IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR THE NFL.
MURDER IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE
Gregory Kane: Snoop Dogg is a Crip
October 30, 2009 - 11:26 ET by OxyConBy: Gregory Kane
Examiner Staff Writer
August 24, 2009
You aim for the palace and get drowned in the sewer, Mark Twain once wittily wrote. But what can we do with people who consciously aim for the sewer, especially when American values are concerned?
The nation's entertainment industry seems determined to flush whatever is left of America's values and standards of morality straight down the nearest sewer. What's the latest example? The appearance of one Calvin Broadus as the "celebrity guest" on ABC's television show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
Broadus is better known as rapper Snoop Dogg. Make that gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg, and Broadus doesn't bother to deny that title. He embraces it; he revels in it. A careful reading of the lyrics from one of his biggest hits -- "Drop It Like It's Hot" -- proves that.
Just to make sure my ears didn't deceive me the innumerable times I heard them when the song was played on radio stations, I printed out those lyrics from the Web site elyrics.net. And, not to my surprise (or, I suspect, yours), they're worse than I thought.
Let's see now, the song starts off with a reference to pimps. Then there's a line calling police officers "pigs," and the dreaded "N" word is in there, of course. And it couldn't be a gangsta rap song without denigrating women, could it? Yes, the line "I'm a bad boy, with a lotta ho's" is in there.
Oh, and you'll love this one: "I got the rolly on my arm and I'm pouring Chandon and I roll the best weed cause I got it going on."
Remember the days when the country's record executives wouldn't dare sign a musician who made such a blatant reference to illegal drug use? You can bet executives at ABC don't.
I've saved the absolute worst for last: "I'm a gangsta, but y'all knew that. Da Big Bo$$ Dogg, yeah I had to do that. I keep a blue flag hanging out my backside. But only on the left side, yeah that's the Crip side."
Did everybody get that? Yes, the reference to "Crip" is about the notorious street gang whose members have terrorized the nation's law-abiding citizens for years. Broadus, in his younger days, was a member of the gang, whose colors are blue. What these lyrics tell us is that he's still a member of the Crips, and that he's proud of it.
Broadus is so proud of being a Crip, in fact, that several years ago he said of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, one of the gang's co-founders, "He's our Martin Luther King." You read that correctly: Broadus compared a convicted murderer (who's since been executed) and gangbanger with a history of violence to a man who was the nation's foremost advocate of peace and nonviolent social protest.
If Broadus' stupid remark were his worst offense, I'd still have a big problem with Hollywood trying to pass this character off as part of the American mainstream. But there's more. There are Broadus' frequent arrests for drug and gun possession. (Normally I'm an advocate of personal gun ownership, but not for convicted felons, which Broadus is.) There's this line from a 2006 USA Today story that gave a timeline of Broadus' more notorious run-ins with the law:
"August, 2003: Named by police in an affidavit claiming he lured underage girls in New Orleans to take off their shirts for a video by offering them marijuana and Ecstasy. Outcome: Settled (and sealed) in July 2004."
What hasn't been sealed are 1993 accessory to murder charges against Broadus in the death of Philip Woldemariam. Broadus drove the car when one of his fellow gangbangers fatally shot Woldemariam, also a gang member. A Los Angeles jury acquitted Broadus of murder charges but deadlocked on manslaughter charges.
Aren't television network honchos supposed to check this kind of stuff before they have people on their shows promoting them as "guest celebrities"? What's behind Hollywood's love affair with Snoop Dogg?
Maybe the late actor Robert Mitchum, no stranger himself to marijuana use, had it right. After he did time for a late 1940s possession of marijuana conviction, someone asked Mitchum what he thought of jail.
"Kind of like Hollywood," Mitchum answered, "only with a better class of people."
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Snoop-Dogg-is-a-Crip-8147056-54344722.html#
Police: 'Snoop Dogg Is a Crips Member'
October 30, 2009 - 11:28 ET by OxyConHOLLYWOOD - Los Angeles police suspect rapper Snoop Dogg is still a member of the city's notorious Crips street gang.
The star--real name Calvin Broadus--was released from police custody yesterday after marijuana, cocaine and a firearm were allegedly found in a false compartment in his car.
Snoop had been taping a guest spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday when he was stopped by Burbank police as he left the building.
Officers were waiting with warrants to search him, his vehicle and his home in Diamond Bar, California. The warrants stem from his arrest last month at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, where he was arrested on weapons and drugs charges.
And a police spokesman confirms cops believe the multi-millionaire is still a Crips member.
Sergeant Kevin Grandalski, says, "Information developed during this investigation confirmed that Mr. Broadus is both a convicted felon and an admitted 'Rollin' 20s Crips' criminal street gang member who continues to associate with other Crips criminal street gang members.
"Mr. Broadus was arrested again for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and for transportation of marijuana.
"In addition he was arrested for possession of a false compartment in his vehicle and for possession of cocaine."
Snoop posted $60,000 bail yesterday morning and had no comment as he walked out of the Burbank Police Department.
The rapper will face charges for Tuesday's arrest in January. He will also appear in court next month for his arrest at the Burbank airport in October.
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Police_Snoop_Dogg_Is_a_Crips_Member/3591655
I remember that
October 30, 2009 - 11:35 ET by SickofLibsThe arraignment was in the same courtroom, right after Beck was arraigned for alcoholism and Rush for prescription drug abuse.
I think I heard that from 000memo.
YESSIR!!!
October 30, 2009 - 15:38 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonIf'n I wuz the nfl commissioner, that's the kind of person I would want associated with my organization!
http://gjresult.com
Noel, are you being serious,
October 30, 2009 - 17:02 ET by 24enakNoel, are you being serious, or is this a Halloween trick? Roger Goodell doesn't oversee who does a commercial for ESPN's Sunday NFL countdown. Roger Goodell is commissioner of the NFL, not the commissioner of who does commercials for various NFL preview shows.
This is one of the most idiotic post and comparison's yet in regards to the Rush and the NFL. Rush was allowed to be on ESPN Sunday NFL countdown but couldn't last a year without offending many and putting his foot in his mouth. You really have outdone yourself on this one.
This Is Divisive How?
October 30, 2009 - 21:52 ET by The7SticksI don't like the hit job that was done to Rush anymore than you do, but why do you always instinctively pass the buck on society's ills towards entertainers? If they have some political message that is divisive, it would be different. Why didn't you mention the Rock the Vote campaign that Snoopy Dog was participating in? At least there you would have grounds at protesting because he was part of this Vote or Die campaign. On those grounds, it would be appropriate.
Being sexy and being political are completely separate issues. Some of us think that there is something honorable about being sexually explicit because they are sticking it to the "man". Sorry, but that's the way it goes. And based off of that disgraceful Rep. King's comments, I don't think King should be allowed within 500 ft. of buying a football team. Do not pass "Go", do not collect 200 dollars.