- Nov 16, 2005
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Rev. Al Sharpton wrote a letter to the NFL because he is "disturbed" by the prospect of Rush Limbaugh becoming an owner of the Rams.
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He wants to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "to discuss the myriad of reasons" why the conservative talk radio host should not be allowed to buy the Rams.
Limbaugh has a history of making derogatory comments about black players like Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb - and even said the league looks like a fight between the Crips and the Bloods street gangs.
DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, said over the weekend that the union is against Limbaugh's bid and will do whatever it can to block him.
"Sport in America is at its best when it unifies," he said. "Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."
A number of NFL players say they won't play for the Rams if Limbaugh buys the team, including Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and Jets linebacker Bart Scott
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Kiwanuka and the Jets' Bart Scott made it clear Thursday that they would never play for the Rams or any team owned by the controversial conservative radio host.
"I am not going to draw a conclusion from a person off of one comment, but when it is time after time after time and there's a consistent pattern of disrespect and just a complete misunderstanding of an entire culture that I am a part of, I can't respect him as a man."
Scott says players remember what Limbaugh said, and adds that the NFL would be wise not to allow the nationally syndicated host into the league. "It's an oxymoron that he criticized Donovan McNabb," Scott said. "A lot of us took it as more of a racial-type thing. I can only imagine how his players would feel. I know I wouldn't want to play for him. He's a jerk. He's an ---. What he said (about McNabb) was inappropriate and insensitive, totally off-base. He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... I wouldn't play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can't be bought."
Text
He wants to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "to discuss the myriad of reasons" why the conservative talk radio host should not be allowed to buy the Rams.
Limbaugh has a history of making derogatory comments about black players like Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb - and even said the league looks like a fight between the Crips and the Bloods street gangs.
DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, said over the weekend that the union is against Limbaugh's bid and will do whatever it can to block him.
"Sport in America is at its best when it unifies," he said. "Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."
A number of NFL players say they won't play for the Rams if Limbaugh buys the team, including Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and Jets linebacker Bart Scott
Text
Kiwanuka and the Jets' Bart Scott made it clear Thursday that they would never play for the Rams or any team owned by the controversial conservative radio host.
"I am not going to draw a conclusion from a person off of one comment, but when it is time after time after time and there's a consistent pattern of disrespect and just a complete misunderstanding of an entire culture that I am a part of, I can't respect him as a man."
Scott says players remember what Limbaugh said, and adds that the NFL would be wise not to allow the nationally syndicated host into the league. "It's an oxymoron that he criticized Donovan McNabb," Scott said. "A lot of us took it as more of a racial-type thing. I can only imagine how his players would feel. I know I wouldn't want to play for him. He's a jerk. He's an ---. What he said (about McNabb) was inappropriate and insensitive, totally off-base. He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... I wouldn't play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can't be bought."