Several years ago, Rush Limbaugh's short stint as a football "Expert" came to a close with the purportedly racist remarks he made on air. I forget the actual remarks he made but vividly recall the firestorm of overblown, politically correct diatribe that followed. One thing that stood out to me was a radio interview done with ESPN's John Saunders to get his expert analysis on Limbaugh's remarks.
Saunders ripped into Limbaugh like no one else I'd heard to that point and the guy interviewing him asked Saunders, "How are Rush Limbaugh's comments any different from those made by people like Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin etc." The interviewer proceeded to quote Sanders and others where they had joked at different times about players' ability or lack thereof, because they were white. Although these were well documented remarks, Saunders' only reaction was to say, "I can only comment on what I know about and I haven't heard those remarks." He further refused to even speculate.
This was not the first time that I had heard Saunders play the race card in his commentary and today, he throws out another needless shot. This morning, he comes on with the Sports Reporters segment from Daytona and he and the panel start discussing the biggest story going, Roger Clemens and his testimony before Congress. All agreed that Clemens had hurt himself badly but then out of the blue, here comes good ole' John Saunders.
"Yes, but don't they have an obligation to go after Clemens now after the way they've pursued an African American, Barry Bonds?"
He turns to the next guy on the panel who gives him a quick look like, "Yeah...whatever you dumb fucker" and immediately moves the topic to Clemens wife and her role in the whole thing. Probably 3 people were actually watching that show and I'm sure I'm the only one that noticed this. I may be in the "Minority" here but I'm of the opinion that racism will never die out until folks like John Saunders, Jessie Jackson, Alvin Holmes and many others let it die. To consistently bring up racism where there clearly is none just keeps it alive and well in people's minds.
Rant off.
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