11/21/24
October 06, 2009
Limbaugh, Blues Owner Make Bid to Buy St. Louis Rams: Rush Limbaugh has teamed up with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts to make a bid to purchase the St. Louis Rams and keep them from moving. "Dave and I are part of a bid to buy the Rams, and we are continuing the process," said Limbaugh. "But I can say no more because of a confidentiality clause in our agreement with Goldman Sachs."
Rush Limbaugh had a 19 percent approval rating in a poll earlier this year. I wonder if it would cost an NFL team to be associated with someone who is such a well-known and polarizing figure. I know that if I was a Rams fan, I'd have trouble putting any money in his pocket. (And for those on the other side, how would you feel if Michael Moore bought your team?)
posted by rcade at 03:17 PM on October 06, 2009
I know that if I was a Rams fan, I'd have trouble putting any money in his pocket. (And for those on the other side, how would you feel if Michael Moore bought your team?)
I'm no Rams fan but I just felt a cold shill run down my spine after reading that comment. Ugh.
posted by BornIcon at 03:20 PM on October 06, 2009
An owner who's all opinion and hot air and who profoundly doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks? Yeah, that's a recipe for success all right.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:36 PM on October 06, 2009
So Rams home games will then be played in the Oxycodome?
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:50 PM on October 06, 2009
I've listened to Rush, and he's seems to have a lot of football knowledge and the desire to see his (sort of) hometown succeed. Of course, football knowledge does not equal management success (see: the Ford family, Detroit Lions, and Matt Millen).
As for the beliefs of an owner/manager/team president/etc., if they can put a winning team together, then who cares. I'm no Michael Moore fan, but if he wanted to buy a sports team (maybe the Flint Tropics?) and wanted to do what it takes to win, why not?
posted by jdefauw at 05:00 PM on October 06, 2009
Because of this thread, I decided to look up the political leanings of the owners or majority owners based on campaign contributions. 14 Rs, 8 Ds, the other 10 either gave to both, no one, or had too common of a name for me to find them.
posted by bperk at 05:03 PM on October 06, 2009
LOL, Ufez, LOL!
posted by billsaysthis at 05:07 PM on October 06, 2009
First, I don't like investment groups owning teams. Second, I'm guessing the Limbaugh-owned Rams would never have a black quarterback.
posted by bperk at 03:11 PM on October 06
WTF? Why would you guess that? That comment in itself is about as racist as you can get. Who cares what color a player or person is other than the local race baiters? I'd prefer to judge the player and owner on their merits while holding the position. You don't see anyone saying they will or won't hire Vick because he's black, you hear them say they will because he can play or they won't because of what he did. I'm tired of this if a white owner fires a white player, nothing is ever said, if a white owner fires a black player, they're fired because they're black, not because they sucked at their job..... GET OVER IT.
As for Limbaugh, he can't be worse than any of the other owners. They're all either big fat cats or holding companies with big fat cats at the head.
posted by stalnakerz at 05:27 PM on October 06, 2009
I wonder if it would cost an NFL team to be associated with someone who is such a well-known and polarizing figure
Rcade, they'd probably double attendance just to see Rush's team lose a game. Sometimes the most polarizing personalities bring in big money. Just look at Rodman in the NBA. A lot of "conservatives" didn't like his opinions or looks, but they went in droves to watch him play.
posted by stalnakerz at 05:33 PM on October 06, 2009
WTF? Why would you guess that? That comment in itself is about as racist as you can get.
I think that was in:re Limbaugh's comments about Donovan F. McNabb.
posted by yerfatma at 05:41 PM on October 06, 2009
I am divisionally driven to hate the Rams so this looks like a great move to me.
Oxycodome. That's hilarious!
posted by THX-1138 at 05:53 PM on October 06, 2009
Top 10 Reasons To Hope Rush Limbaugh Lands The Rams
10. Chants of "Rush! Rush!" might get the Rams to give Steven Jackson the ball 30 times like they should be doing.
9. Concession sales of nachos and chili cheese dogs guaranteed to skyrocket.
8. Ready-made promotion: "Husky Narrow-Minded Bigot" Night.
7. Might drive Al Franken to buy the Chiefs.
6. He can't be any worse at owning a sports franchise than George W. Bush.
5. Leftover Green Bay Cheeseheads easily convertible to Dittoheads.
4. Budweiser theme song replaced on PA system by "Barack The Magic Negro."
3. Offensive linemen won't feel so fat around him.
2. Players will have access to OxyContin right in the owner's box.
1. Maybe it will get him off the radio.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:58 PM on October 06, 2009
The great thing about America is that if you have money you can buy a team, and run it the way you want.
I am not sure Limbaugh's comments were racially motivated or not, but I tend to agree with his assessment of Donovan McNab as a QB.
posted by Atheist at 06:04 PM on October 06, 2009
Read #4 in my list and then think about the McNabb comment.
Hmmmm ...
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:07 PM on October 06, 2009
Read #4 in my list and then think about the McNabb comment.
Limbaugh didn't come up with the idea of "Barack the magic negro." He was responding to a column by a left-leaning journalist at LA Times that referred to Obama as the mythical "magic negro." As a matter of fact, Limbaugh's producer for over 20 years is a black man. He's not a racist.
posted by jdefauw at 06:28 PM on October 06, 2009
I'm tired of this if a white owner fires a white player, nothing is ever said, if a white owner fires a black player, they're fired because they're black, not because they sucked at their job..... GET OVER IT.
Yeah, I mean, racism doesn't even exist anymore, so quit whining, black people.
/sarcasm
posted by dfleming at 06:28 PM on October 06, 2009
I'm tired of this if a white owner fires a white player, nothing is ever said, if a white owner fires a black player, they're fired because they're black, not because they sucked at their job..... GET OVER IT.
I challenge you to show me one example of a white owner firing a black player, underperforming or not, where anyone has called the owner a racist. Then read yerfatma's link to the statements made by Limbaugh and rethink why someone might think he is a bigot. And in the future kindly refrain from that bullshit all-cap demand that someone get over their opinion.
posted by tahoemoj at 06:29 PM on October 06, 2009
Poor Rush Limbaugh, it's getting harder and harder to be a conservative white guy in America these days.
Conservative white males are the new minority, a maligned group with little or no sympathy from the masses.
posted by Atheist at 06:47 PM on October 06, 2009
Back when Rush made his McNabb statement, I knew he'd get a lot of heat for it, but the man was just stating his opinion. He thinks McNabb is over-rated and he believes some of it is due to a biased media...that makes him racist??? I have read many sports columns in the Minneapolis and Dallas papers that were written by black reporters that clearly gave Culpepper, T-Jack and Quincy Carter way too much credit, and tried to make it seem like they didn't get a fair shake when they were benched. Just because I feel that way doesn't make me a racist, it just makes me opinionated.
Anyway, I'd take Rush as the owner of my team, he has an interest in football, has money, and seems willing to spend it.
As to An owner who's all opinion and hot air and who profoundly doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks? Yeah, that's a recipe for success all right Yea, because Al Davis and Jerry Jones already own that category.
posted by dviking at 08:12 PM on October 06, 2009
Why would you guess that? That comment in itself is about as racist as you can get.
Maybe it was because Limbaugh once told a black radio-show caller, "take that bone out of your nose and call me back."
Or perhaps it was because he said, "the NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."
Or maybe it was the fact that he played the Jeffersons theme whenever discussing Carole Mosley-Braun, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
Then again, it could be because he said, "have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
So hard to choose.
posted by rcade at 08:15 PM on October 06, 2009
I've listened to Rush, and he's seems to have a lot of football knowledge
Gotta give you props on your iron ears. When I'm at a stoplight next to somebody with Rush on and I overhear him for more than 30 seconds, it makes my brain bleed.
posted by outonleave at 08:24 PM on October 06, 2009
You think he might do Rams' promos on the air?
posted by jjzucal at 08:52 PM on October 06, 2009
The great thing about America is that if you have money you can buy a team, and run it the way you want.
Yeah, I think that's in the constitution.
posted by justgary at 10:21 PM on October 06, 2009
Dave Checketts has always seemed pretty slimy to me, so I guess they deserve each other.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:39 PM on October 06, 2009
Conservative white males are the new minority, a maligned group with little or no sympathy from the masses.
Yeah, those guys got it bad. It's gotta be a tough life for them.
posted by THX-1138 at 12:23 AM on October 07, 2009
pass
posted by tselson at 01:05 AM on October 07, 2009
I am a life long Ram fan, still a fan even after they left LA and the last few years. If rush owns any part of the Rams, I am no longer a fan.
posted by kbmusic at 04:34 AM on October 07, 2009
Conservative white males are the new minority
I really laughed long and hard at this. When it was a joke in Bloom County. In 1982.
posted by yerfatma at 09:54 AM on October 07, 2009
Of course you did, back in '82 it was a joke, now it is reality.
posted by Atheist at 11:31 AM on October 07, 2009
back in '82 it was a joke, now it is reality Let's do some math. I'll try to keep it simple:
Male: The US Female/Male ratio in 2000 was approximately 51/49, so males as a whole are a minority. The 51/49 ratio has been true for a while.
White: I'm assuming you're talking about those who identify themselves as white alone. In 2000, that was 75% of the population. 75% of 49% is approximately 36%. The preponderance of whites in the US population also has not changed enough over the last few decades to make a difference in the calculations we're performing here. (Anything less than 100% white makes that 49% shrink; there is no number outside of Glenn Beck's head that would make it grow.)
Conservative: A little bit harder to pin down. We'll be generous and call it a 50/50 split. 50% of 36% is 18%.
So, conservative white males make up roughly 18% of the population. I did not see any indications that the CWM segment dropped from 51% to 18% in the last 50 years, so the "new" minority claim is just hyperbole. What's new is the tendency of the extremists on either side of the spectrum to portray themselves as an oppressed minority.
posted by joaquim at 12:03 PM on October 07, 2009
Binkley: Well, dad, I guess it's safe to say we aren't exactly a couple of short, Hispanic, Hindu, French-speaking physically handicapped Communist gay black women.
Binkley: Nope, in every regard, we're hopelessly in the majority. Ethnically, religiously, physically, economically, politically, educationally, sexually and gender-wise... we're in the solid majority.
Binkley: For crying out loud, we're not even in the "Moral Majority" minority.
Binkley: [shouting] In fact, we're as majority as you can get! And there's darn few of us left! Do you realize what that makes us?
Binkley's Dad: A minority.
Binkley: Right. I'm going to bed. Power, brother. [raises fist in air]
posted by yerfatma at 12:39 PM on October 07, 2009
9. Concession sales of nachos and chili cheese dogs guaranteed to skyrocket.
Since when do owners pay for food at games? This will actually drive the food concession into bankruptcy.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:05 PM on October 07, 2009
Conservative white males are the new minority, a maligned group with little or no sympathy from the masses.
Yep. Man, are those guys suffering.
No one does rich, fat, and entitled quite as good as Rush.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:34 PM on October 07, 2009
Rush Limbaugh: The Other White Meat
posted by tahoemoj at 12:40 AM on October 08, 2009
it's getting harder and harder to be a conservative white guy in America these days.
That's a good thing. The smaller the Archie Bunker contingent gets, the better off our country is.
Back when Rush made his McNabb statement, I knew he'd get a lot of heat for it, but the man was just stating his opinion.
"Black people should go back to Africa" is also an opinion.
posted by dirigibleman at 01:35 AM on October 08, 2009
These types of threads are almost always frustrating to read, b/c there is a general unwillingness to engage in serious conversation, on all sides. Everyone thinks, deep down, that they are right, and are so convinced of their rightness that it useless to even have the conversation. Few if any really want to consider opinions different from their own. They just want to make semi-snarky comments to demonstrate their intellectual/moral superiority.
Before someone writes "well then don't read/contribute to it," I have often done so. I would love it if people really wanted to engage others in a constructive manner, hence my comments above.
Of course, this is sportsfilter, not a political forum, so maybe we should just talk sports, like rcade asked for elsewhere recently.
Lastly, i am in no way above being close-minded myself at times, though i do try. Just trying to note a tendency i observe when certain topics come up here.
posted by brainofdtrain at 08:19 AM on October 08, 2009
Whoops, i should have checked the locker room, where there is a more appropriate forum for this comment (The one about the HS baptism link). Rcade, could you mabye move my above comments there?
Sorry everyone, should have check there 1st.
posted by brainofdtrain at 08:21 AM on October 08, 2009
The smaller the Archie Bunker contingent gets, the better off our country is.
Ok, meathead.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:10 AM on October 08, 2009
Isn't it extremely prejudicial to assume all conservative white guys are Archie Bunker types? For your information Archie Bunker was a character representing a negative stereotype and was no more representative of conservative white males than Jimmie Walker in the Jeffersons was of young black men.
posted by Atheist at 10:53 AM on October 08, 2009
Jimmie Walker in the Jeffersons
I love how he used to say, "What you talking about, Willis?"
posted by bperk at 11:49 AM on October 08, 2009
And then there was that unfortunate nipple slip Penny had in the comeback special.
posted by yerfatma at 11:58 AM on October 08, 2009
Black people should go back to Africa" is also an opinion
Which, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but thanks for clearing that up.
posted by dviking at 04:58 PM on October 08, 2009
Sharpton, Jackson attack Limbaugh's Rams bid.
posted by cletus7777 at 10:47 AM on October 12, 2009
Didn't we just have this discussion like three days ago?
Anyways, if Sharpton and Jackson are against it, then I'm probably for it, those two drive me nuts...a couple of photo op scavengers.
posted by dviking at 12:37 AM on October 13, 2009
They must be worried that Rush Limbaugh will get the whole team hooked on painkillers or something. I share this concern.
posted by Hugh Janus at 01:02 AM on October 13, 2009
Ya know, the NFL should be able to sell it to whomever they want. And players, coaches and fans should have the right to choose not to support them if they do.
Of course, if the debacle with Washington is teaching us anything, its that fans will keep giving even the lousiest of owners some of their money.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:23 AM on October 13, 2009
Like we didn't see this one coming... one media w**** makes a move and the rest of the scavengers all gather 'round. The world would be a better place without Al Sharpton and Rush Limbaugh.
posted by Goyoucolts at 03:22 AM on October 13, 2009
First, I don't like investment groups owning teams. Second, I'm guessing the Limbaugh-owned Rams would never have a black quarterback.