“Dave and I are part of a bid to buy the Rams and we are continuing the process. But I can say no more because of a confidentiality clause in our agreement with Goldman Sachs. We cannot and will not talk about our partners. But if we prevail we will be the operators of the team.” – Rush Limbaugh

Mr. Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro” was the crescendo of his over the top rhetoric over race, but there was much that preceded it. Of course, racism isn’t his only problem. Has he ever given respect to any professional woman on the left? But do either of these issues have anything whatsoever to do with Rush Limbaugh joining Dave Checketts, owner of the NHL St. Louis Blues, to buy the Rams?

No, they don’t.

It also didn’t help when Limbaugh imploded on ESPN for saying Donovan McNabb was overrated, but no one would say so because the league wanted an African American qb to do well in the NFL. It forced a resignation from Rush.

Now, I’m not a fan of Rush, having been one of his harshest critics, long before blogging was the way on the web. His sexism is legendary and nothing for which to be proud. His comments about Hillary Clinton wanting to join the military, with Rush saying her keister was too big to fit into the uniforms, with “feminazis” and “info-babes” regular slurs he uses against women representing Rush’s testosterone Turrets when it comes to his inability to handle strong women equal to him. The concept itself making him uncomfortable.

However, anyone who has listened to Rush over the 20 years he’s been around has heard his passion for football. That doesn’t mean he’d be a good owner of a football team, but should his political commentary matter?

Bryan Burwell, of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, thinks so. But he doesn’t go after Rush on his ability to operate the franchise. Burwell attacks Rush playing the race card.

[...] … So Rush Limbaugh wants to own the Rams. Well good for him. That’s his right as an American. But I just wonder if the NFL has learned its lesson from the last little dance with him. Dancing with Limbaugh is like dancing with a snake. Eventually, the snake will bite you. That’s his nature.

You just might want to consider this while everyone is conveniently forgetting (or perhaps even quietly agreeing with) all the polarizing racial politics that comes along with Limbaugh:

In this modern age of the NFL, where free agents have the right to pick where they play, how many will turn their nose up at the Rams once they get a whiff of Limbaugh’s “Bloods vs. Crips” sensibilities?

I grew up in St. Louis, spending a lot of time watching the St. Louis Cardinals, football and baseball teams, the latter my absolute favorite. I’ve written about Missouri’s tortured legacy on race, including my big bro’s legal work on the matter, as well as my own experiences. Race in St. Louis is not something to take lightly, not even today.

Maybe it’s fair of Burwell considering Rush’s political commentary, especially on Obama. But racism is racism and Mr. Burwell would do well to check himself on this one. (Same with Robert Littal.)

Besides, what all this has to do with Rush’s bid to buy the Rams (who have 5-31 record since 2007) is beyond me.

Unless you actually believe Rush Limbaugh as Rams owner would keep a black player down, vaulting a less talented white player in his place. Something that simply is not believable. As Rams owner, if you really want to factor in his political style, Rush would want to win, likely at all costs. Think Jerry Jones firing Tom Landry.

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