Curly Howard
10-02-2003, 12:08 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Donovan McNabb doesn't mind criticism of his performance. He's shocked and upset that Rush Limbaugh made his race an issue.
Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show Sunday that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
McNabb, in his fifth year with the Philadelphia Eagles, said Wednesday he didn't want an apology from Limbaugh but expressed concerned about the social impact of the commentator's statements.
"It's something that I've been going through since I was young," McNabb said. "You figure that it would have been over by now."
Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" show that he didn't think McNabb was as good as perceived from the start.
"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," Limbaugh said. "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."
Limbaugh didn't back down from his ESPN comments during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.
"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."
The NFL disclaimed any responsibility.
"ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," league vice president Joe Browne said. "ESPN selects its on-air talent, not the NFL."
Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, described himself as "a New England Democrat" but added "I don't think Rush was malicious in intent or in tone."
"As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," he said. "I probably should have looked to soften it. We're sorry we upset a guy who got off to a rough start. We don't need to be in the middle of his travails.
"As the quarterback of the show, I feel bad about it. I don't think it was meant the way it came out. I don't think that defines the way Rush feels about people."
McNabb said someone on the show should have challenged Limbaugh. Among the other panelists are former players Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson, both of whom are black.
"I'm not pointing at anyone but someone should have said it," McNabb said of the panelists, who also include former quarterback Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."
Limbaugh is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Thursday to speak at a broadcast convention. McNabb said he wouldn't be welcome at Eagles' practice.
"I really don't want to see him," McNabb said. "You can say you're sorry all you want, it doesn't matter. It's been said."
Several Democratic presidential candidates urged ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Wesley Clark, a retired Army general, called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech" while former Vermont governor Howard Dean's assessment was "absurd and offensive." The Rev. Al Sharpton scheduled a news conference Thursday morning in front of ABC headquarters in New York and said he would call for a national boycott of the network this weekend if Limbaugh isn't fired.
The NAACP also condemned Limbaugh's remarks, calling them "both bigoted and ignorant," and called for the network to fire Limbaugh or at least provide an opposing point of view on the show.
"It is appalling that ESPN has to go to this extent to try to increase viewership," NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said in a written statement.
ESPN issued a statement Wednesday night saying: "Although Mr. Limbaugh today stated that his comments 'had no racial intent whatsoever,' we have conveyed to Mr. Limbaugh that his comments were insensitive and inappropriate. Throughout his career he has been consistent in his criticism of the media's coverage of a myriad of issues."
McNabb, who was runner-up for the league MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight NFC championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability.
"I know I played badly the first two games," he said.
McNabb got off to the worst start of his career this season and was the NFL's lowest-rated starting quarterback after losses to Tampa Bay and New England. Still, the Eagles are 36-22 in games he has started, including 4-3 in the playoffs.
Limbaugh on Wednesday reiterated that he doesn't think McNabb is a bad player, just that he isn't as good as some media members think he is.
"This is such a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "There's no racism here, there's no racist intent whatsoever."
He said he had previously said on ESPN that he supports the NFL's policy that promotes the interviewing of black head coach candidates.
"An opinion is an opinion. If it's right in somebody's mind, fine. If it's wrong in somebody's mind, fine," Limbaugh said.
Seven black quarterbacks started games last weekend. Two other blacks who regularly start, Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota and Michael Vick of Atlanta, were out with injuries.
Asked about Limbaugh's comments, Eagles coach Andy Reid said, "Rush who?"
"He speaks well. He's well-read. But he's an idiot," Eagles defensive end N.D. Kalu said of Limbaugh. "That's dangerous."
Limbaugh is best known as the radio host of the conservative politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.
He spent most of the 1990s assailing then-President Clinton and now spends Sunday mornings talking football, a job he called "the fulfillment of a dream."
McNabb hopes Limbaugh's comments don't discourage young blacks from wanting to play quarterback.
"Now when you say that, do they feel, 'Well, if I go out there and say I'm a Donovan McNabb or a Daunte Culpepper or Michael Vick, I will be looked down upon because of the color of my skin,"' McNabb said
Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show Sunday that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
McNabb, in his fifth year with the Philadelphia Eagles, said Wednesday he didn't want an apology from Limbaugh but expressed concerned about the social impact of the commentator's statements.
"It's something that I've been going through since I was young," McNabb said. "You figure that it would have been over by now."
Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" show that he didn't think McNabb was as good as perceived from the start.
"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," Limbaugh said. "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."
Limbaugh didn't back down from his ESPN comments during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.
"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," Limbaugh said. "If I wasn't right, there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."
The NFL disclaimed any responsibility.
"ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," league vice president Joe Browne said. "ESPN selects its on-air talent, not the NFL."
Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, described himself as "a New England Democrat" but added "I don't think Rush was malicious in intent or in tone."
"As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," he said. "I probably should have looked to soften it. We're sorry we upset a guy who got off to a rough start. We don't need to be in the middle of his travails.
"As the quarterback of the show, I feel bad about it. I don't think it was meant the way it came out. I don't think that defines the way Rush feels about people."
McNabb said someone on the show should have challenged Limbaugh. Among the other panelists are former players Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson, both of whom are black.
"I'm not pointing at anyone but someone should have said it," McNabb said of the panelists, who also include former quarterback Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."
Limbaugh is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Thursday to speak at a broadcast convention. McNabb said he wouldn't be welcome at Eagles' practice.
"I really don't want to see him," McNabb said. "You can say you're sorry all you want, it doesn't matter. It's been said."
Several Democratic presidential candidates urged ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Wesley Clark, a retired Army general, called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech" while former Vermont governor Howard Dean's assessment was "absurd and offensive." The Rev. Al Sharpton scheduled a news conference Thursday morning in front of ABC headquarters in New York and said he would call for a national boycott of the network this weekend if Limbaugh isn't fired.
The NAACP also condemned Limbaugh's remarks, calling them "both bigoted and ignorant," and called for the network to fire Limbaugh or at least provide an opposing point of view on the show.
"It is appalling that ESPN has to go to this extent to try to increase viewership," NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said in a written statement.
ESPN issued a statement Wednesday night saying: "Although Mr. Limbaugh today stated that his comments 'had no racial intent whatsoever,' we have conveyed to Mr. Limbaugh that his comments were insensitive and inappropriate. Throughout his career he has been consistent in his criticism of the media's coverage of a myriad of issues."
McNabb, who was runner-up for the league MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight NFC championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability.
"I know I played badly the first two games," he said.
McNabb got off to the worst start of his career this season and was the NFL's lowest-rated starting quarterback after losses to Tampa Bay and New England. Still, the Eagles are 36-22 in games he has started, including 4-3 in the playoffs.
Limbaugh on Wednesday reiterated that he doesn't think McNabb is a bad player, just that he isn't as good as some media members think he is.
"This is such a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "There's no racism here, there's no racist intent whatsoever."
He said he had previously said on ESPN that he supports the NFL's policy that promotes the interviewing of black head coach candidates.
"An opinion is an opinion. If it's right in somebody's mind, fine. If it's wrong in somebody's mind, fine," Limbaugh said.
Seven black quarterbacks started games last weekend. Two other blacks who regularly start, Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota and Michael Vick of Atlanta, were out with injuries.
Asked about Limbaugh's comments, Eagles coach Andy Reid said, "Rush who?"
"He speaks well. He's well-read. But he's an idiot," Eagles defensive end N.D. Kalu said of Limbaugh. "That's dangerous."
Limbaugh is best known as the radio host of the conservative politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.
He spent most of the 1990s assailing then-President Clinton and now spends Sunday mornings talking football, a job he called "the fulfillment of a dream."
McNabb hopes Limbaugh's comments don't discourage young blacks from wanting to play quarterback.
"Now when you say that, do they feel, 'Well, if I go out there and say I'm a Donovan McNabb or a Daunte Culpepper or Michael Vick, I will be looked down upon because of the color of my skin,"' McNabb said