Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick, coaches who attack other coaches, Fergie as an owner, Pacman Jones, Dante Stallworth, shootings in bars, body guards for players,  tortured dogs, pedestrian run over by drunk player, Chris Henry, Terrell Owens, ridiculous ticket prices, blacked out games, the Irsay family, owners who sneak their teams out of town under the cover of darkness, owners who extort taxpayers into funding new stadiums, the Viking's love boat cruise, condoned gambling on games.  Rush was absolutely wrong using a gang analogy to describe the NFL.  It's more like the Sopranos.  And you're afraid of having a conservative talk show host as a part owner of a lousy team?    

An open letter to Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (and apparently other players, Al Sharpton and the head of the NFL players union):

 

Dear Chad,

 

First let me say that I'm a huge fan of the Bengals and of you.  Your play on the field is inspiring and your offbeat sense of humor is great.  I particularly have enjoyed a couple of your stunts:  using an end zone pylon as a putter, giving CPR to a football.  And I nearly split my gut when you jumped into the seats at an opposing team's stadium (I think it was Cleveland) and got pummeled by their fans. I have indeed enjoyed you career.

 

But, I've got to tell you.  I heard your comments that Rush Limbaugh being part owner of the Rams would be a bad idea because he makes racially heated comments.  I've read many of the alleged quotes and I guarantee I've listened to him more than you ever have.  I've never heard him say anything remotely like any of the so-called quotes I've seen.  Yes, I heard what he said about Donovan McNabb.  No it wasn't brilliant, but it was truthful.  You and I know full well that many in the media can be almost patronizing in their zeal to act as though they're open minded and the best friend a black man could ever have.  I'm not really here to argue about that, though.

 

I'm hear to say that you're daffy if you think black fans wouldn't attend a Rams game knowing that Limbaugh is a part owner.  I heard you say that in your interview so don't backpedal on me now.  Most people I know (be they white or black) have thicker skins than that and wouldn't think twice about whether he was an owner or not.  They love the NFL and if they're Rams fans they love the team.  Are they going to let the fact they disagree with Limbaugh keep them from being fans.  Maybe a few, but not everyone of them.  I'll give you a prime example.  I loved Bengals founder Paul Brown.  Mike Brown's a different matter.  I don't like the way he runs the team.  I don't like the way he politicked and threatened his way into a new taxpayer funded stadium.  I don't like the years and years of being the laughingstock of the NFL under his tenure.  Does that stop me from being a Bengals fan?  No. I'm pretty sure most Rams fans wouldn't blink at Limbaugh being a part owner.

 

I'm hear to say you're daffy if you think black players wouldn't work for Limbaugh.  As sportswriter Stephen Smith said you're all liars.  If team x offers you $100 million and the Limbaugh owned Rams offered you $200 million (or whatever ridiculous amount you guys make nowadays), I don't think you and your agent would have to think too long about which contract you're going to take.

 

The preening and posturing that you and other players have engaged in recently is nothing more than your own prejudice in action.  You don't like a large, conservative white man entering your world.  Just because you and a few others disagree with him doesn't mean he should be kept out of NFL ownership. 

 

I'm still a fan.  Still like to watch you play--even though I strongly disagree with the stance you've taken about Limbaugh.  See there's more proof that fans can overlook stuff about their favorite teams and players and just enjoy the game.  You and a few other players could learn a few things from those of us who help pay your salaries.

Regards,

 

Mark B.

 

Bengals fan since 1981

 

It's not surprising that in this age where we feel that everything is a "right"--healthcare, home ownership, a job, credit, etc.--that the government has come up with a new one to add to the list--cash for clunkers.  I was amazed to read yesterday that the program had burned through almost a billion dollars in only its first week of existence, but even more astounded to hear that within a matter of hours the House of Representatives had voted to pump $2 billion more into the gas tank of this ill fated jalopy.  I bet they've never moved that quickly on anything in their lives, but it's not a shock when you consider how grossly the Obama administration underestimated the level of demand. As I heard one man say on a radio show, "Why not?  If they're crazy enough to offer it, I'm going to take advantage of it."  He, by the way, was headed to his neighborhood car dealership.

 

That sadly is becoming more and more the attitude of many of America's citizens and businesses .  If my government is crazy enough to offer me healthcare, I'm going to take it.  If  I'm a big bank and the government offers me bailout bucks, I'm going to grab the money and run.  GM has no problem taking a handout, even if it means becoming a government entity.  Our country is rapidly shifting from the home of the rugged individual to the home of the wimpy collectivist. 

 

I have many other problems with what the media calls a "wildly popular" program.  If car dealers need this kind of bailout to drive their sales, what happens when the program expires?  Surely the government won't keep renewing it as some kind of new entitlement?  But then again, what's a few billion here or a few trillion there?  Treasury will just print more.  Meantime, we continue to saddle future generations with a debt that becomes ever more crushing each day.

 

Do you hear that giant clunking sound (as opposed to Ross Perot's giant sucking sound)?  It's the sound of an ever growing federal government that will grind our children's chances at prosperity into a feeble stump--all so we can have our cash for clunkers, our government subsidized healthcare and the other things we feel we are entitled to right NOW.  Shame on us.