Rush Limbaugh Wouldn’t Be The First Politically Involved NFL Owner
People always gripe when there’s the slightest intersection of politics and sports, because sports is supposed to be their refuge from the bickering and banalities of the political spectrum. So it’s not a shock that Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to purchase the St. Louis Rams would raise some hackles. He’s a divisive guy. But to act as though he would be the first is a little ridiculous.↵↵Consider that Dan Rooney actively campaigned for Barack Obama in the last presidential election, and it was for that support that he was awarded an ambassadorship to Ireland. By the way, who was the first person Rooney thanked when he was handed the Steelers’ sixth Lombardi Trophy in February? Was it his family? Steelers fans? The city of Pittsburgh? Nope. It was the recently sworn-in President Obama. There’s plenty of company on the right as well: the Jets’ Woody Johnson and the Chargers’ Alex Spanos are both leading donors to the Republican Party.↵
↵↵After all, Condoleezza Rice was once discussed as a replacement for Paul Tagliabue as commissioner. Political figures are occasionally able to enter the realm of football without everything necessarily going to hell.↵
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↵Limbaugh, admittedly, is a slightly different case. For most, the glaring difference between these figures and him is that these people aren't outspoken demagogues with a history of making a living from incendiary statements. Which is what Limbaugh himself has done, even in regards to the NFL itself. Many will recall his comments regarding black quarterbacks in general and Donovan McNabb in particular. Not to mention that he's referred to many players as the equivalent of thugs. That's a potential obstacle to him being an attractive member of the ownership group around the league. And even if he is able to buy the team, will he encounter players not signed with the Rams for that reason? ↵
↵↵So the irony is that it’s not because he’s a political animal that Limbaugh may not be considered, but actually the views he’s aired about the game itself. ↵
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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