Tank's Take October 5, 2003

Losing Our Right To Speak

The uproar of Rush Limbaugh's comments about Donovan McNabb, and his subsequent resignation from ESPN Sunday Countdown is the latest example of how our rights to speak freely in America are fading away.

The most important amendment of them all the first amendment has now become a matter of debate, where if a words, or speech are determined by arbitrary panel of oversensitive liberals, which control the mainstream media determine it to be racist you are forever censored and branded a racist. Which usually means you will lose your on air job and shunned from society.

Obviously some words are off limits, but now they have expanded, what is off limits and what is ok. If you giving a viewpoint that is not in favor f minorities you at risk of being labeled a racist. They have even come up with a phrase for it called Politically Correct.

Who has the right in the first place to determine what is correct or not?

The policy is also full of double standards minorities such as Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton can go out and say anything they want, and not risk being called a racist. Sharpton, once called white storeowners in Harlem "White interloafers", but there was no consequence. In fact those who point out this fact are usually considered racist themselves.

A double standard is a double standard no matter who it benefits it's wrong. There is still a perception by the civil rights leaders are far left media that this is still a racist country and minorities are getting the short end of the stick. However, reality will show that is far from the case, with policies from affirmative action, to minority business loans, to illegal aliens getting drivers licenses in California show that this country bends over backwards for those who are considered to be the disadvantaged.

Weather or not you agree with these programs is another story, but people who do disagree, should be allowed to speak their minds freely, without being called names, and having their reputations soiled. This is a subject open to debate and if one side can't speak it's side freely then we are in serious trouble as a nation.

This where Rush Limbaugh's comments on McNabb come in all he was commenting on was how he is covered in the press. What he said is partly right, any black Quarterback that has any success at all ends up getting more hype as the press wants him to succeed, feeling it is some victory over past injustice. Although this injustice dose not exist anymore with 10 teams starting a black QB in at least 1 game this year, there is still a feeling that the cause of black quarterbacks must still be advance. That is all Rush said, and that cannot be denied. He did not say it was wrong, he just said the condition exists.

Weather he is wrong or right is a debatable issue not racial issue, Rush Limbaugh should have the right to say it without the whole world crashing down on him for being a racist, and the fact he was forced to resign, is a defeat for free speech everywhere.

An example of the double standard which Rush is facing is that his comments come just days after Harold Reynolds on ESPN complained about the New York Mets giving Bob Murphy a jersey with #42 on it for 42 years with the club, as announcer. The jersey was not going anywhere in the stadium it was going to Murphy's house, but Reynolds called it a slap in the face of Jackie Robinson.

No team has been a bigger stalwart in honoring the memory of Jackie Robinson then the Mets; they hosted the 50th anniversary celebration where his number 42 was retired throughout baseball. They hung his number on the wall with their other 3 retired numbers. Giving Murphy a jersey with the number 42 has no reflection; it is a nice gift for 42 years of service that Bob Murphy can look upon fondly in his den or study. What number should the Mets have given Murphy any way?

However, was Reynolds blasted for being a racist? Hardly, although several New York columnists ripped him, many on ESPN, including his white on air partner agreed with him, adding it made them feel queasy.

The double standard in sports goes back to the Al Campanis comments on Nightline in 1987, where he said, "Blacks lacked the necessities to be managers in baseball." Naturally he was fired, and perhaps rightful so, his comments were very insensitive. However if a black man had made similar comments about white people there would be no issue of racism.

The Campanis comments led to a large furor over Jimmy The Greek who was fired from CBS for saying that black people were bread to have strong thighs by slave owners. He did not disparage anyone he was stating what he thought was a fact. Maybe it sounded a little insensitive, but was it any different then Cubs Manager Dusty Baker's comments that Blacks were brought over because they could handle the heat of working hard labor in the south. Hardly an eyebrow was raised with Baker's statements this summer.

Both statements on the surface were stupid, but hardly should result in anyone losing their job, or getting fired. All they said was an opinion, and right or wrong unless it injures anybody, it is not racist. Which goes the same for Rush Limbaugh's comments on ESPN, you could think he is way off with what he said, but that's where you step in a debate the issue, and present, your side.

To take away Rush Limbaugh's freedom of speech because you disagree with him is total wrong and dangerous. If a stand is not taken soon on the first amendment we may lose it forever, and that's a loss none of us can afford. All speech should, be allowed, if you choose to tune it out because you disagree with it that's fine, but if your objections lead to censorship then there are problems, because one day your views too could be censored and when you try to get them back you will discover if its too late, and the freedom we cherish most will be gone forever.

While controversy late in the week swirled around Rush Limbaugh and Donovan McNabb it overshadowed the problems in San Francisco with star WR Terrell Owens. Owens, who threw a tantrum on the sideline during a 35-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings questioned his team's heart, and called for the benching of QB Jeff Garcia after the game.

This presented a huge test for new Coach Dennis Erickson who failed miserably. In a large part T.O. was responsible for the firing of former Coach Steve Mariucci. This has led to the 49ers getting a substandard NFL coach, who despite immense success in the NCAA has already failed as Coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and could likely set the franchise back several years. Erickson could have grabbed control of the team and sent a message to everyone by fining and or suspending Owens, but he chose the gutless way out and did nothing.

This will lead to players who according to several reports wanted to see Terrell Owens disciplined, losing respect for their new coach, and will in turn cause Erickson to lose creditability to his team and the rest of the league.

At 1-3 the 49ers need all the credibility they can get at this point. It is ironic that today they will be facing their old Coach Steve Mariucci and the Detroit Lions. A loss here and the 49ers will be finished for the season. Although considering what T.O. did to get him fired it would be poetic justice. Imagine the uproar in San Fran if the Lions manage to win this game, it could tear the team apart, especially if Owens is allowed to make another post game tirade, and the 49ers would have no one to blame but themselves.

In a sad case of following in his father's footsteps Dwight Gooden Jr., 17, was arrested Wednesday after he and 19-year-old Kendon Davis sold 2.4 grams crack cocaine to undercover deputies, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Lt. Rod Reder told the Tampa Tribune. The amount was valued at $200. He was charged with possession and delivery of crack cocaine.

This news should not surprise anyone, as parents set an example for their children, if Gooden's troubles which ruined his career don't already server as a deterrent for young players not to make the same mistake the arrest of Gooden Jr, should serve notice that the bad habits can be passed on through your children like any other gene.

Hero of the Week: Ivan Rodriguez. When Pudge signed a 1-year contract with the Florida Marlins earlier this season it was out of desperation, as he had no long term offers from other teams. When he goes out on the market this year he will not have such a problem especially after leading the Marlins to a shocking upset over the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS. Not only did Pudge deliver all 4 RBI in a dramatic win in Game 3 he scored the winning run in Game 4 and prevented the tying run from scoring with 2 dramatic plays at the plate. Perhaps he should try to get comfortable in South Florid, because if the Marlins want long term success for the franchise they must do all they can to make sure he is kept for the long-term as the Marlins can't afford to jilt the fan base again after this year's playoff run the way they did after the 1997 World Championship.

Geek of the Week: To Presidential Candidates Howard Dean and Wesley Clark who were among a number of politicians demanding that Rush Limbaugh be fired. With important issues like national security, and the war on terrorism on the table these two geniuses feel that the firing of Rush is of vital nation interest. One can only imagine if they carry this policy into the White House if they are elected. Would they call for the firing of anyone on air that criticizes them? I guess the term support and defend the constitution don't have the same meaning to those that desire to be president.