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 ([email protected]) is a senior
majoring in journalism and political science.