With all the kerfuffle over the reported bid by Rush Limbaugh to become a minority owner of the St. Louis Rams, one thing has gotten lost — his political views would fit in well with the current owners of the 32 teams. Robert Schlesinger in U.S. News writes that NFL stands for “Not For Liberals.”
The [Center for Responsive Politics] combed through contributions to federal candidates and political committees from 1989 through 2009, and tallied all contributions from NFL team owners, executives, players, coaches, and so forth (the teams themselves are of course legally forbidden from making contributions). According to the center’s figures, NFLers contributed $6.9 million during that 20-year span, of which 78 percent ($5.45 million) went to Republicans and 21 percent to Democrats ($1.48 million).
Teams like the Chargers (98%), Texans and Bengals (99%) give virtually all their donations to Republicans. The Rams (98%), Eagles (85%), 49ers (84%) and Patriots (72%) favored Democrats. The Colts and Bucs gave about the same to each party (complete list).
This list is not a surprise since most businesspeople tilt Republican, as do I suspect a plurality of players (given their high salaries). Limbaugh, though, has gotten tons of attention for his bid more because of his inflammatory rhetoric than for how he votes. Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, says on his blog that the NFL can’t allow Limbaugh to own a piece of an NFL franchise.
What they should be terrified about , and why they should keep him out, is what he might say AFTER he was an approved investor in the St Louis Rams. …
Given that we will never know what the “next big issue ” in this world that Rush will be discussing on his show is, its impossible for the NFL to even try to predict or gauge the impact on the NFL’s business if something controversial, or even worse yet, something nationally polarizing happens. There is an unquantifiable risk that comes with the size of Rush’s audience. The wrong thing said on the show, even if its not spoken by Rush himself, about a sensitive national or world issue could turn into a Black Swan event for the NFL. Thats a huge risk that is not commensurate with the value a minority investment in a franchise brings.
This isnt about Free Speech. Its about the NFL protecting their business.
Limbaugh has every right to try and own part of the Rams. The NFL, being a private entity, has every right to reject him on virtually any grounds; that’s the way this business works. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already signaled his displeasure with a Limbaugh bid.
Ultimately, I don’t think fans care about the political views of their favorite teams. Will a Republican Patriots fan suddenly start rooting for the Chargers instead? Or a Democratic Cowboys fan start to wear Eagles green?
Hat tip to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk who has been all over this story.
on Oct 14th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
As an AZ Cardinal fan, I wanna know what the Bidwell family is doing giving this kind of money to political parties period!!! There too cheap to pay there own players, yet they contribute more money to politics than all but two teams in the NFL!!! Get Darnell Dockett a contract extension then you can give your money elsewhere Mr. Bidwell
on Oct 14th, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Seems Limbaugh got dropped. Sure other teams lean Republican, but they don’t spew divisive rhetoric on a daily talk show that may polarize potential players who are their employees. I wouldn’t work for this guy!
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Lot of those “donations” come indirectly from the huge tax breaks sports institutions get from taxpayers at every level of income and at every level of sports: from peewee sports to elite pros.
They may have “earned” that money but how they spend it affects all of us.
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Because the news media leans heavily Democrat, they were relentless about the Limbaugh purchase; Keith Olbermann is just as offensive and mean, but he is one of NBC’s NFL commentators and no one says boo. Rush is a long-time Rams fan and was born in Missouri. He would have been a good owner for that team.
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Cyd, the word is “Democratic.” Democrat is a noun, Democratic is an adjective.
on Oct 15th, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Rush has his right to speak his mind, but as with all things (including expressing opinions) there is a price. Freedom of speech is a two edged sword. Just ask the Dixie Chicks.
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Cyd, I’m not a Keith Olbermann fan. But let’s be fair here. If he ever said the same racist things Limbaugh has said, he’d be dumped immediately by NBC.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 11:36 AM
I’m still waiting for the NFL to drop Olbermann, for what filth he has spewed time and time again on his program watched by tens of people, it’d be good to give it to some up and coming commentators.
Unfortunately, this process was dragged into the mud by race hustler charlatans such as Sharpton and Jackson. Had they not gotten involved by producing false claims, I think the process would have gotten alot farther along. After all I do remember a MLB owner having some of her own problems for her views and quotes.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Uh, the NFL does not employ Olbermann, NBC does.