The thought of Rush Limbaugh owning a part of an NFL team makes my
skin crawl. Thank goodness others feel similarly.

After he claimed Donovan McNabb was only a quarterback because of
affirmative action, McNabb went on to lead his team to the Superbowl
Championship the following year.

The players union has already begun lobbying against Limbaugh. No one
should have any doubt about why...



NFL Players executive director DeMaurice Smith on Saturday made a move
to solidify the union against a bid by conservative talk show radio
host Rush Limbaugh as part of a group that aims to purchase the St.
Louis Rams.

“
I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that
this ownership consideration is in the early stages. But sport in
America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to
cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it
overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred.

” -- DeMaurice Smith, in e-mail to union's executive committee

In an e-mail to the union's executive committee on Saturday
specifically addressing Limbaugh's bid, Smith said, "I've spoken to
the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership
consideration is in the early stages. But sport in America is at its
best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it
transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and
rejects discrimination and hatred."

Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts are among six
potential ownership groups that have discussed buying the Rams. League
sources say the current sale price has ranged from $700-to-$750
million but that there did not appear to be an imminent transaction.

On Sunday, Smith briefly elaborated, "This communication is more about
what we stand for than the reality of our role in any franchise sale.
While it's true the subject matter was related [to Limbaugh's bid], I
do understand that the NFL does not present ownership bids to me or
the NFLPA. I encourage our players to express their views."

At least seven NFL players have publicly opposed Limbaugh's interest
in purchasing the Rams with Checketts. In Smith's communication
Saturday with his executive committee, the union leader encouraged
players to speak their mind on all matters, including Limbaugh's bid.

"I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game
of football but also as players and partners in the business of the
NFL," said Smith in the e-mail. "They risk everything to play this
game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its
consequences for the rest of their life. We also know that there is an
ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up,
giving in or lying down to it.

"Our men are strong and proud sons, fathers, spouses and I am proud
when they stand up, understand this is their profession and speak with
candor and blunt honesty about how they feel."

Limbaugh has expressed a number of controversial racial ideas in the
past. For example, he suggested that Gen. Colin Powell supported
Barack Obama's presidential candidacy simply because he was black, and
he also stated that the media wants black quarterbacks to do well and
that Donovan McNabb doesn't deserve much of the credit he has received
for the Eagles' success.

Among the half-dozen interested buyers of the Rams, there are strong
African-American ownership groups interested in buying the Rams,
including businessmen Donald Watkins and Dave Steward.

The league has maintained it does not publicly address potential
franchise sales. All transactions, when formally presented after a
thorough background check, are decided by the 32 owners by vote.