# Limbaugh's Bid to Buy the St. Louis Rams **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223 "2009-10-09T18:48:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/41 "2009-10-10T06:38:03Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Nope, I think RL should be able to buy into anything he wants. My comments were directed to those wringing their hands over his politics or whatever. The facts are that the NFL is full of bigger scumbags than Limbaugh. He should not be excluded simply because he rubs some the wrong way. Agree? No, I don’t agree. This is a free country with a free market. We don’t get to dictate who established businesses have to accept as partners. If Limbaugh would be bad for the NFL’s bottom line, why should they be forced to accept him as a partner? ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/42 "2009-10-10T07:09:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, I don’t agree. This is a free country with a free market. We don’t get to dictate who established businesses have to accept as partners. If Limbaugh would be bad for the NFL’s bottom line, why should they be forced to accept him as a partner? Who is claiming anyone should be forced into anything? My only point is that the NFL allows far worse a-holes than this guy. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/43 "2009-10-10T07:10:42Z")
They allow what’s good for business. It’s not a nursery school. They don’t have to be fair. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/44 "2009-10-10T07:46:14Z")
It’s a free country and presumably players can choose who to play for and who not to play for. I’d like to know which players would like to work for Rush, and which wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/45 "2009-10-10T08:12:03Z")
Maybe I’m missing something, but where exactly are all these left-wing pundits that are doing all this hand wringing over Rush Limbaugh? ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/46 "2009-10-10T13:50:57Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Vick has spent time in prison for the crimes he committed, and has expressed repentance for those crimes. Has Rush? > > I’ll add that Rush was fired from Monday Night Football due to racist comments. What crimes did Rush commit? Addiction to prescription drugs? From [The Washington Post:](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801692.html) The charge will be dropped in 18 months, said his attorney, Roy Black, provided that Limbaugh continues treatment for drug addiction, as he has for 2 1/2 years. According to an agreement with the Palm Beach County state’s attorney’s office, Limbaugh also must pay $30,000 to defray the costs of the investigation, as well as $30 a month for his supervision. \*\* The agreement is not an admission of guilt to the charge, which was fraud by concealing information to obtain a prescription\*\*. A spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office, Mike Edmondson, said the agreement dropping the charge is “standard for first-time offenders who admit their addiction.” I do not see a connection ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/47 "2009-10-10T14:24:50Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > And [Dante Stallworth](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3982263) killed someone and he is still allowed to play. Stallworth is suspended for the season. [Yahoo link](http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-browns-stallworthsuspended&prov=ap&type=lgns) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/48 "2009-10-10T17:34:00Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’ll add that Rush was fired from Monday Night Football due to racist comments. For the record, Rush was never fired from MNF. For that matter, he was never employed by MNF either. Rush had a job on ESPN’s pre-game show as the “Voice of the Fans” and was present on the show to challenge the convictions of the four hosts. His racist moment came when he claimed that Donovan McNabb was only considered a great quarterback because he was black and the NFL wanted a black quarterback to succeed. He subsequently resigned, because ESPN was no doubt going to shortly fire him. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/49 "2009-10-10T20:27:02Z")
Yeah, I tend to root for the (baseball) Cardinals. I was happy to welcome the Rams when they moved from L.A., but if Rusty’s involved, I’ll go back to rooting for the Chiefs. (What? There’s a football Cardinals? In the NFL? G’wan, pull the other one!) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/50 "2009-10-11T02:43:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Limbaugh is an unrepentant scumbag. You’re wrong about that, obviously. [Cite](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/limbaugh_apolog.html), [cite](http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rushlimbaughreturn.htm), etc. Not that reality is going to make any difference, of course - lefties aren’t ever going to let anything interfere with the hatefest. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/51 "2009-10-11T03:30:37Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You’re wrong about that, obviously. [Cite](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/limbaugh_apolog.html), [cite](http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rushlimbaughreturn.htm), etc. Not that reality is going to make any difference, of course - lefties aren’t ever going to let anything interfere with the hatefest. > > Regards, > Shodan Repenting isn’t apologizing over the latest racist thing you’ve said. Its apologizing and making appropriate changes to your life so the transgression doesn’t reoccur. Rush has continued to say racist things and he just apologizes to get the heat off of him for a little bit until he makes his next racist statement. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/52 "2009-10-11T12:11:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You’re wrong about that, obviously. [Cite](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/limbaugh_apolog.html), [cite](http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rushlimbaughreturn.htm), etc. Not that reality is going to make any difference, of course - lefties aren’t ever going to let anything interfere with the hatefest. What \*\*treis \*\*said. Jeez, you’re really off your game lately, **Shodan**. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/53 "2009-10-11T12:36:54Z")
FWIW, I’m in the midst of reading a book, Next Man Up, by John Feinstein, which chronicles the Baltimore Ravens season of '04 “from the inside”. One interesting notation by Feinstein is that the overwhelming majority of NFL players are conservative/republican (the book takes places, naturally, during GWB’s re-election campaign, and nearly every player supported Bush). Upon reflection, it’s not surprising. Players are very wealthy, and come from a background which emphasizes toughness, aggression, and simplistic platitudes that eschew nuance (anybody who’s heard a dosage of sports cliches or coach-speak knows from where I speak). Although a very superficial generalization, these are not generally liberal qualities. Thus, I actually don’t think that there would be that many players who truly oppose Rush on a political level. Admittedly, though, much of Rush’s “schtick” plays with the bounds of racist ideology (as an example is the OP’s quote about white kids getting beat up by black kids). As many of the players are Black, I can see some hand-wringing about that aspect. Ultimately, though, given how damn hard it is to make it in the league, and due to the potential to make a lot of money if you do stick around, I just can’t see how players would be able to justify walking away from their dream job because they don’t like one of the people who signs their check. From a player’s perspective, then, I consider the possibility of Rush owning the Rams a complete non-issue. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/54 "2009-10-11T14:14:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > This. > > Limbaugh is a private citizen and has a right to invest in businesses like anyone else. The idea that sports leagues have any standing to dismiss him on character when they already include the scum they do is laughable. That statement (and similar one’s from other posts) are flat out wrong and naive. These teams are not publicly traded companies. The ownership can be restricted under the rules of the League. They can restrict a sale to any individual or entity for any reason as long as they don’t violate discrimination laws. Take your statement to a housing Co-op and see how far you get. Some Boards will not allow sales to lawyers, celebrities, three-legged midgets or anyone they don’t like. They **never** state a reason, they just deny the sale and it is perfectly legal. By not stating a reason there can be no discrimination claim. If I own a family business I want to sell, and Joey the Mobster want’s to buy it, I don’t have to sell to him just because he shows me the money. If the NFL were to determine that a significant number of players would refuse to play for the Rams if Limbaugh was a part owner that could upset the competitive balance of the league, it would be good business to deny the sale. No reason would ever be given. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/55 "2009-10-11T14:21:14Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > His racist moment came when he claimed that Donovan McNabb was only considered a great quarterback because he was black and the NFL wanted a black quarterback to succeed. FTR, his criticism was of the sports media, not the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/56 "2009-10-11T16:30:03Z")
The NFL can do what it wants but I hardly think it would be a good PR and financial decision to sell it to that guy ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/57 "2009-10-11T17:34:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So the league that let Michael Vick back in is concerned because Rush Limbaugh wants to be a minority owner of one of its teams? > > And it seems a little funny that Bart Scott and Mathias Kiwanuka don’t express any hesitation about playing with [these guys](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nfl/longterm/2006/nfl_chart_12162006.html) - just Rush. > > Regards, > Shodan Several of the people on this list were charged with (not necessarily convicted of) a single misdemeanor. It takes some impressive moral and mental contortions to equate that with a lifetime of spreading lies and hate for fame and profit. Similarly, working in the same corporation as an asshole is not the same as working _for_ an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/58 "2009-10-13T18:51:38Z")
Well, Jim Irsa, Colts owner has said he would not approve Limbaugh as an owner of the St. Louis Rams. I have heard various commments (on radio and on the internet elseewhere) that Rush has the right to own an NFL team. But of course he doesn’t, no one has a right to own an NFL team. Pretty much everyone has a right to bid on an NFL team for sale, but there is no right to be accepted. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/59 "2009-10-14T14:51:35Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > The NFL can do what it wants but I hardly think it would be a good PR and financial decision to sell it to that guy That’s the key reason. Democrats like football and buy tickets, watch games on TV, patronize the sponsors, buy NFL licensed merchandise, etc, too. It isn’t good policy to alienate half your market when you don’t have to do so. ---
**Author:** ![shallora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@shallora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shallora)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223/60 "2009-10-14T14:59:32Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > That’s the key reason. Democrats like football and buy tickets, watch games on TV, patronize the sponsors, buy NFL licensed merchandise, etc, too. It isn’t good policy to alienate half your market when you don’t have to do so. This doesn’t prevent Republicans from tuning into TNT (owned by flamboyantly Liberal Ted Turner) Ted Turner also owned the Braves for many years, and I don’t recall either Republicans or Democrats being upset about that. This doesn’t prevent Republicans from watching CBS News (owned by flamboyantly Liberal b.o.d.'s) This doesn’t prevent Republicans from enjoying the movie “Bull Durham” (starring the flamboyantly Liberal actors and director) This hasn’t prevented Democrats from enjoying Schwarzenegger films. So … why the double standards, liberals? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaughs-bid-to-buy-the-st-louis-rams/513223.md?page=4)