Black NFL Players Upset Rush Limbaugh Wants to Buy Rams

(Oct. 12) News of conservative talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh’s intentions of buying the NFL’s worst performing team, the St. Louis Rams, has sparked anger from black NFL player who say they would not play for the team if he owned it.

"I don't want anything to do with a team that [Limbaugh] has any part of," New York Giants star linemen Mathias Kiwanuka said in a recent interview. "All I know is I heard he said in Obama's America white kids are getting beat up on the bus while black kids are chanting 'right on.' He can do whatever he wants, but if it goes through I can tell you where I am not going to play."

New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott said he felt the same way.

"He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... My principles are greater and I can't be bought."

The NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith wrote an email to the association’s executive committee to detail his opposition to Limbaugh purchasing the team.

"I've spoken to the [NFL] Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages,” DeMaurice wrote.  “But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."

Any potential buyer of a NFL team needs a 75% approval vote, 24 of 32, from the executive committee, which consists of the current owners.

The Rev. Al Sharpton joined the public outcry against Limbaugh’s intentions to purchase the NFL franchise and wrote a letter to Goodell citing what he called “divisive and anti-NFL comments.”

"Rush Limbaugh has been divisive and anti-NFL on several occasions with comments about NFL Players including Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb," Sharpton wrote. "[Limbaugh’s] recent statement that the ‘NFL was beginning to look like a fight between the Crips and the Bloods without the weapons,’ was disturbing."

Limbaugh had a brief stint as a NFL commentator on ESPN’ NFL Countdown in 2003.  He was forced to resign after making controversial comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well,'' Limbaugh said. "There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Limbaugh has been known to make controversial statements regarding race on his show in the past:

Of President Obama: "Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, ruled by dictate."

Of a black caller to his radio show: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back."

Of the NAACP: "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

Of the NFL: "Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons."

Limbaugh first mention his interest in owning the Rams in spring and teamed up with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts to submit a bid.  They among six potential bidders according to ESPN.

While Forbes list the franchise to be worth more than $900 million the St. Louis Business Journal estimate the Rams value at $700 million to $750 million, citing the state of the economy the team’s on-field performance.