ESPN responds (RE: Limbaugh)

[a_random_joel]

Here is the string from me to them, their reply(bold), and my response.

Thank you for your response. I must disagree with your assessment on two major points:
1. You state that Rush is an excellent communicator. This is a fallacy. Limbaugh has been debunked numerous times for any number of misstatements and misrepresentations he makes. I can point you to a number of links that can validate this. If he skews or misrepresents NFL statisitics the way he skews socio-political statistics then there is ample reason to suggeest that he is not appropriate for a forum in which complete objectivity is requisite, such as sports.

2. You state that Rush is a big sports fan. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but there are a lot of "big sports fans", myself included. The fact is that he is a partisan hack that proliferates an extreme perspective that is quite volatile and divisive. There is no room for this in the NFL.

I am offended that you have chosen to qualify his hiring in this manner. As such I will no longer be viewing ESPN for football analysis. I will share this opinion with as many of your advertisers, activists and sports fans as I can. For many of us, football is an escape from the political garbage that injects itself into so many aspects of our lives. Rush's entry into this area is a poison pill that a great many people will not be able to stomach. To put it quite simply, ESPN dropped the ball. Big time.


Thank you for your e-mail.

Rush is an excellent communicator and a big sports fan. He was hired
for those two reasons, not his politics. His role will be, not as an
analyst, but as someone who will provide the fans perspective and to
create discussion and debate.

Sincerely,
ESPN Viewer Response

Original Message Follows:
------------------------

subject = Rush Limbaugh?!
message = I have just received word that Rush Limbaugh has been hired
as an NFL commentator for ESPN. I must ensure you that this is a slap in the face to many football fans, and will have a very negative impact. Football should be untainted by political affiliation, and particularly such extreme partisan messengers, from either side of the political spectrum, simply have no place in sports.
Please confirm this information - and if this is indeed true I must
inform you that there is a very vocal network of activists that will be notified that such a decision has been made by ESPN.

[quilp]

1. Being a good talker is not the same as being a good communicator

It is surprising a news network can't tell the difference. But this is America.

[VOX]

2. So, Rush was hired for only two reasons?

That he "is an excellent communicator and a big sports fan?"

Well, hell, if I knew ESPN was hiring, I would have thrown my hat in the ring. 'Cause if those are the only two reasons that they hired Rush, I sure as hell qualify for the job, too!!!!

FU, ESPN...

[scrutineer]

8. Me too

I’m qualified for this job, and I’d work a whole lot cheaper than Rush.

As an added bonus, like just about everybody else I know, I’m damn sight more telegenic than Roosh. Whew! Remember that ghastly TV show of his? :oUCH!!!

[Paragon]

3. You got the Rush Boycott form letter

The same one I'm sure I'll get from them.

[Lengsel]

4. what

what the **** does rush have to do with football?

[salin]

5. er... they say: "to create discussion and debate" HAHAHAHAHA

they clearly are not fans and do not listen to his show. Discussion? Only if it is callers echoing his current statement. Debate? He cuts people off and keeps talking on and on and on to give the impression that folks are still on the line and are "debating". :eyes:

[Gin]

6. Rush does all the talking...everyone else listens to him..

praise himself.

[jiacinto]

7. ESPN should NOT be bringing politics into their sports coverage

What does politics have to do with sports?

[nolabels]

9. Who counldn't agree with that statement?

nothing and everything, It looks like B-ball is going to be so much better now I will be boycotting ESPN and only listening to the Lakers games on my local clear channel station :puke:

[DrGonzoLives]

12. Absolutely nothing

Apparently, though, the freeper dipshits have been spamming ESPN and some equally dipshit executive decided that it would be a good idea to hire this limpnut windbag to do "analysis."

They are going to find out that people, once El Rushfuck starts spewing his disgusting, bigoted hate speech that viewers are going to start turning the channel. I have already made the decision to do so myself.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. May they have as much success with Limbaugh as ABC had with Miller

[jiacinto]

18. I won't watch ESPN any more except when they have

their Sunday night games. I have a similiar situation with the Redskins. The only place where I can watch their games is on Fox and even they subtly inject their right wing viewpoints into their sports coverage.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Well, I hate and ignore all professional sports, so I probly

wouldn't qualify for this job, but maybe they could give me Rush's old gig now that he's found something better to do.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. Write them back and ask them why he cuts callers off who want to

debate

[sandnsea]

13. Write the NFL???

I don't know how all this stuff works. But when the baseball thingie happened, they changed their tune in a hurry. Maybe ESPN is the wrong one to write, maybe the NFL would respond because having Rush Limbaugh associated with football might not be something they really want. What do you think football fans?

[Jaybird]

14. espn WAS my favorite.....

place to catch all the pre-game chatter...i wont be watching anymore

[Ksec]

15. Bingo

Great Email Random. Ive also emailed them and ABC and let them know in clear fashion that they with Limbaugh comes a slap to the face to half of America. I added that the genuis who dreamed this up should be demoted .

[Rebellious Republican]

17. Sent my email in can't wait see if I get a reply....

Mine was not as eloquent as yours, I took a more to the point route!

I have heard that you have hired Rush Limbaugh. I have one question, are going to be bringing Jimmy the Greek on as his sidekick. I am so glad I have other sports sources to get my football fix. I will certainly not be wacthing it on ESPN if I have to stare at his racist face. I amy be only one veiwer but I suspect I am not the only one!

:kick: