Forget race, or made-up quotes, Mark Cuban hits the nail on the head:

The problem with Rush is that its his job to take on all of life’s partisan issues and problems. Not only is it his job to take on these issues and problems, its key to his success that he be very opinionated about whichever issues he feels are important to him and/or will cause his very large audience to tune in. 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.

Exactly. Especially since there is little doubt that an owner/ownership group will materialize without Limbaugh’s involvement.

Cuban, who is far, far, far less controversial than Limbaugh knows whereof he speaks (via ESPN): Report: ‘Zero chance’ for Mark Cuban to own Chicago Cubs.

8 Responses to “The Best Explanation for Why Limbaugh was Never Going to be Even a Minority Owner”

1. Hal Says:
   October 15th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

   Being “very opinionated” isn’t the issue. It’s being inflammatory and offending large segments of the population with those opinions that is the problem. Having strong opinions is part and parcel of being powerful. Plenty of very opinionated people own football teams and other corporations that are sensitive to such things. See the Whole Foods CEO John Mackey for a perfectly fine example of such.

   Again, “very opinionated” isn’t even remotely the reason. It’s the actual *content* of these opinions which scares the living begeezus out of his fellow investors. He’s a polarizing figure and uses his strong opinions to polarize to serve his ratings.

   Effective treatment of the disease requires correct analysis of the symptoms. Rush is a disease, dude. He’s eating your party alive.

2. Steven L. Taylor Says:
   October 15th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

   I don’t disagree in general–mostly the issue is one of word choice.

   And at the moment, I don’t have a party, to be honest.

3. Ratoe Says:
   October 15th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

   Well, if this whole escapade results in the Rams going back to LA or Cleveland where they belong, I’ll be happy.

   My opposition to Rush was that he was going to keep the team in St. Louis–a mistake.

4. B. Minich Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 10:15 am

   Indeed. Plus, the Rams need to wear the colors they won the super bowl in – the nice looking blue and yellow. I don’t like the shiny blue and gold.

5. Links of the Day - 10/16/2009 | Heretical Ideas Blog Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 11:59 am

   [...] Why Rush Limbaugh was never going be be part-owner of an NFL Team. Related: Rush Limbaugh’s persistent [...]

6. Buckland Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

   Forget race, or made-up quotes, Mark Cuban hits the nail on the head:

   I thought the made up quotes were the most interesting part of this whole episode.

   According to the link, at least one of the quotes came from a prank rewriting of Rush’s Wikipedia page. No news organization would have run with quotes like those about anybody but a conservative. But if it confirms the idea that conservatives are soulless bigots then it must be true.

   I especially liked the way Sanchez backed off using the quote — first he brings up Rush’s denial as a way to call him a bigot once more. Later he backed off via twitter (with one more opportunity to editorialize):

   i’ve know rush. in person,i like him. his rhetoric,however is inexcusably divisive. he’s right tho. we didn’t confirm quote. our bad.

   So, calling somebody a bigot using a fake quote isn’t divisive?

7. Steven L. Taylor Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

   I, in no way. defend the fake quotes. However, I have listened to enough Rush to know that he has said more than enough to create the needed controversy for things to have played out like they did. No fake quotes were needed.

8. Dashing Limbaugh’s Dream | One Fine Jay Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

   [...] than able to turn Rush away on their own. Rush’s chances at being a minority NFL team were almost non-existent in the first place, but by turning this into a personal crusade, they have made Rush our Conservative martyr. We now [...]