What's with the ESPN NFL Countdown show today? They did everything but burn Rush Limbaugh in effigy. What is really sickening is that all the announcers, starting with Chris Berman are claiming that they never look at QBs as black or white. Tom Jackson trashed Limbaugh and his "divisive" radio show like he'd been called Uncle Tom Jackson by his buddies in the press.

Topping it all off, they claimed that Rush was hired for his football expertise, and not just to raise the ratings. Rush does know football, but lets be honest, we all know why he was there. Each announcer also individually claimed that he was angered and hurt by Limbaugh's comments, and that the NFL has come a long way in 20 years. Race is no longer a factor. Berman might has well have said, "Donovan McNabb is black? I had no idea."

All this brings me to wonder if they are watching the same NFL that I'm watching. Are they watching the NFL that fined the Detroit Lions $200,000 for not interviewing any black candidates for the head coaching spot? So much for a color blind NFL.

Most likely, the response was highly coordinated and scripted. The ESPN announcers appeared to have either been pushed by the NFL, or Disney (the owner of ABC/ESPN), or perhaps by their own desire to squelch the negative press they've received over the past week. Either way, they seemed to be parroting the same script, that what Rush said was racist, and that they are glad he's gone.

Now, I can accept that they may not like what Rush says or stands for. I can even accept that being a bunch of dumb jocks, they mistook Rush's comments as racist. But trashing someone (anyone) after they've left the show is in poor taste. It's as if they hope to elevate themselves back up by attacking a guy that's not even there to defend himself. They were chastised for not reacting last week, so they made up for it with over-reaction this week. None of them had the courage to debate the statement.

Maybe their shock and awe campaign will get them back in favor with Clark, Dean, Sharpton, and the rest of the liberal elitists. It didn't work on me, so I'll just change the channel.

UPDATE: FOX reacted to the hoopla by airing a puff piece defending McNabb's stellar quarterbacking like ability. (Which ironically serves to bolster Rush's point that the media is over-rating him.)

UPDATE2: FOX announcers also weighed in against Rush. Jimmy Johnson disagreed with Rush's opinion, but hit it right on the head that, Rush was "doing exactly what the people that hired him wanted him to do, be controversial."

Howie Long responded that, "you make the team and if you're fortunate you can attain a certain level of greatness based solely on your performance on the field... regardless of color." Tell that to the NFL, Howie, which issues fines if you don't at least play lip service to minorities, instead of hiring the best available candidate for the job.

Meanwhile, James Brown had this to say: "Considering what the prevailing attitude was not to long ago, about the inability of a black quarterback to handle the job, lacking the cerebral qualities to do so, maybe a little media pandering wouldn't be so bad." Brown then went on to say that he'd never witnessed the media coddling McNabb or any other black players.

Editor's Note: I should note that I've never liked Donovan McNabb. As a Hokie fan, I hated Syracuse, and as a Redskins fan, I hate Philly. Perhaps my bias affects my thinking that 71 TDs and 41 interceptions in 57 games is mediocre.

Related articles:
Throwing politics at a bunch of jocks -- 10/02/2003.