OPINION & EDITORIAL
Where did free speech go?
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Matt Modell:
- Taking responsibility for your decisions (April 24, 2003)
- An honorable and just battle (November 20, 2003)
- Fixing the problems of ASM (November 25, 2003)
- The key word is 'illegal' (December 4, 2003)
- A fond farewell to UW (December 11, 2003)
Related Stories:
- Limgaugh's success prevails despite another obstacle (October 6, 2003)
- Limbaugh's success prevails despite another obstacle (October 6, 2003)
- Only part of the problem (October 14, 2003)
- Not quite a Vermont teddy bear (October 9, 2003)
- Defining discourse (October 6, 2003)
by Matt Modell
Thursday, October 9, 2003
This may come as a surprise to some readers, but I have never listened to Rush Limbaugh’s radio program. I know he is conservative, and about 30 million people tune in each day, but I have never been one of them.
On ESPN’s Sept. 28 "Sunday NFL Countdown" Limbaugh, discussing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb said, "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."
Following these comments, a firestorm of attacks against Limbaugh ensued. Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and Al Sharpton all gave America a preview of what life and free speech would mean in the United States if any of them were elected president in 2004.
All three candidates called for Limbaugh to be fired immediately by ESPN. Clark called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech." Dean said the comments were "absurd and offensive." And Sharpton, never one to be outdone, scheduled a news conference for the Thursday morning after the comments in front of ABC headquarters in New York to urge ESPN to fire Limbaugh, or he would organize a boycott against ABC.
The comments made by Limbaugh were not the least bit racist. His criticisms were more against the media and the NFL, not against McNabb. He said McNabb was overrated, not that he was a bad quarterback. Did Limbaugh have a right to say what he did and question whether McNabb is overrated? Absolutely — fans and sports commentators question whether an athlete or coach is overrated all the time, for all sorts of reasons.
Was Limbaugh’s opinion correct? It would be a hard argument for him to make. In only his fourth year as the Eagles’ No. 1 quarterback, McNabb has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice, been league MVP runner-up, named the Eagles’ "offensive player of the year" twice and helped lead Philadelphia to its first NFC Championship game in over 20 years. Impressive numbers for a guy only 27 years old — regardless of his skin color.
Certainly people can disagree with Limbaugh’s comments and would likely win that debate based on McNabb’s past performance.
ESPN Sportscaster Chris Berman was right when he said he saw McNabb as a quarterback, not a black quarterback. Indeed, people need to move past skin color and make judgments on individuals, not the color of a person’s skin.
But Limbaugh’s point raises an important issue: there is a double standard that exists in the media and in sports. Shannon Sharpe, a Pro-Bowl tight end who happens to be black, said in a 1997 interview that when he goes up against a white cornerback, he assumes he will be able to beat him, because the white guy will not be as quick. No outrage by the African-American community, the media or Democratic Party leaders was heard. Why should it be acceptable for a black person to make a judgment based on skin color but wrong for a white person?
Moreover, if the NFL is not race-conscious, as Limbaugh claims the league is, then why did the Detroit Lions get fined $200,000 for failing to adhere to the league’s Committee on Diversity Hiring’s newly-instituted policy by hiring Steve Mariucci as their football coach without interviewing a single minority candidate?
If the Lions knew whom they wanted from the moment the 49ers fired Mariucci, why should they interview anyone else? Clearly, the NFL has had more to do with making race an issue when discussing pro-football than Rush Limbaugh.
McNabb should be looked at and judged by his skill, as should Mariucci and Sharpe. Does UW keep Barry Alvarez around because he happens to be Hispanic, or could it maybe have something to do with the fact he is the Badgers’ winningest football coach of all time? Did the Chicago Cubs hire Dusty Baker to be their manager because he was black, or did it maybe have something to do with his success as a manager with the San Francisco Giants?
Coaches, athletes and all people should be judged not by the color of their skin, but for their successes and failures and who they are as human beings. The Democratic presidential candidates and everyone who called for Limbaugh’s resignation from ESPN should be ashamed. The problems of race did not begin and will not end with Limbaugh’s departure, and freedom of expression should prevail.
Despite its controversial nature, and actually because of its controversial nature, discussions about race and racial politics should be encouraged without fear of an all-out assault against a person who may hold a controversial position. Discussion and dialogue on contentious issues, not the suppression of opinions, is free speech, and it is what makes a nation stronger.
Matt Modell (mmodell@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
Anonymous (November 28, 2005 @ 12:00am):
Meassage for Berman: A complete idiot IMO who obviously doens't have his fact straight as far as the Canadian Football League goes. Now I've always been fully aware when it comes to his sarcasm regarding the Coupe Grey (Grey Cup) as he likes to call the Canadian Championship football game, but when he calls the Edmonton Eskimoe winning coach (Danny Maciocia) Tom Higginson, who has since departed the Edmonton ranks and is currently the head man in Calgary, that simply displays his lack of quality jornalism as a credible sportscaster. Oh and by the way Berman, if and when the Nutty Football League (NFL) can ever provide the national TV audience with one, just one, exciting calibre of championship game in 20 years for each and every exciting game the Grey Cup provides it's viewers with year after year, then we here in Canada might allow you to describe our game again---that is if you can ever get your facts straight for once. And I thought you were a solid broadcaster!
