Head Of NFL Players Union Writes Email Opposing Rush Limbaugh's Bid For Rams

[democracy1st]

New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka:
"...if it goes through, I can tell you where I am not going to play."


Mathias Kiwanuka loves his former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, but the Giants' defensive end says he will never play for Spagnuolo's Rams if Rush Limbaugh purchases the team.

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.

"All I know is from the last comment I heard, he said in (President) Obama's America, white kids are getting beat up on the bus while black kids are chanting 'right on,'" Kiwanuka told The Daily News. "I mean, I don't want anything to do with a team that he has any part of. He can do whatever he wants, it is a free country. But if it goes through, I can tell you where I am not going to play."

"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."



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/10/09/2009-10-09_black_nfl_players_crush_prospect_of_playing_for_a_rush_limbaughowned_st_louis_ra.html#ixzz0TgylsTVB


ESPN picks up NY Daily News article on NFL players refusing to play for Limbaugh(Video)

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200910090060









Smith sends e-mail detailing opposition

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.

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 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 , 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.

Chris Mortensen is ESPN's senior NFL analyst.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4551010

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/11/head-of-nfl-players-union_n_316882.html

[BumRushDaShow]

1. K&R

I hope these guys really make a fuss!!! :applause:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. "I can't respect him as a man."

A-men, Mr. Kiwanuka. I'd LOVE to see NFL players pitted against that anal cyst Limpballs.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

4. AS A MAN, I THINK HE IS SCUM

[Maru Kitteh]

3. Good! K & R

[WCGreen]

5. But here in Cleveland, Benched Brady Quinn would love to play for

a right ideologue...

[democracy1st]

6. does he get along with the team ?

[WCGreen]

8. The team is divided but I think they are sticking with Derek Anderson...

Quinn was a legand in his own mind. he can't throw down field with enough umphh to get it into the hands of a running wide reciever. The Browns should have wondered why none of the 21 teams above picked this can't miss quarterback...

[Enthusiast]

7. I'm disappointed that

more player aren't speaking out in opposition.

[spanone]

10. there are a lot of republicans in the nfl...rich young out of touch republicans

[gmoney]

12. But they're also in a UNION... they need to protect the union.

The NFL owners would love to be rid of the player's union. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if one season they just don't do a lockout and play the whole season with non-union players picked up from colleges, semi-pro, recent retirees, Canadian and arena leagues, etc.

[spanone]

9. i can't respect him as a slug

[MidwestRick]

11. Curious

about how many players with objections to him owning the team would change their tune if the Rames were offering the most money for their services. It seems silly to me, but if they don't want to play for his team (which it's not yet) then don't. I will bet there are plenty of players that don't care about the politics of their team's owner.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

13. "Silly"? You're cute.

I'll bet there are plenty of players who DO care about the "politics" of their team's owner. With Limpballs, though, this goes way beyond politics. Color of Change took a stand against Baby Beck; perhaps NFL players will have the same success against draft-dodging, anal cyst Limpballs. WTF knows.

[Enthusiast]

14. Silly? In light of the damage

Limbaugh has done to this country? Take it back to Freeperville.

[Toasterlad]

15. I'm Pretty Sure That the Majority of Black NFL Players Would Care About Playing For a Racist.

And I don't appreciate you categorizing said racist's racism as "politics". Bigotry is not "politics". It's a combination of ignorance and hate. Unlike politics, there's no "other side".

[bullwinkle428]

17. There are plenty of NFL owners that have poured countless thousands

into Republican campaign coffers. This goes way beyond that...shouldn't be too difficult to realize.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. Another slap in the freeper/Republican face, who surely think all sports players are rightwingers

and conservative.

Now, as their house of cards is slowly crumbling, one more ignorant myth is shown to be wrong and they have even less to grasp on to.