It seems youÂ’ve come out against allowing an American patriot, a US citizen who makes a livening by commenting on our nationÂ’s politics, to own a minority stake in an NFL franchise. Why? Because you donÂ’t like what he has said in the course of exercising his constitutional rights. Frankly, this season ticketholder is concerned by the decision to, in effect, impose a blacklist based upon the political utterances of this potential owner, a successful entrepreneur who is truly a self-made man whose daily radio show garners some 20 million listeners.

Now I could argue that there is something unseemly – indeed, un-American – about a McCarthyite political blacklist like that used in the 1950s to prevent those whose politics were deemed unacceptable from earning a living in many occupations, including the entertainment industry. I won’t, because unlike your target, Rush Limbaugh, many of those Americans were not patriots and were treasonously in the thrall of an enemy regime that was out to destroy the US Constitution, American liberties, and our entire way of life. Limbaugh, whether you love him or hate him, is not such an individual – he is an all-American individual with a strong belief in the US Constitution, individual freedom, and the liberty of each American citizen to improve his or her lot in life through hard work and enterprising spirit. That makes your blacklist infinitely worse.

But if a history of controversial political comments is to be the basis for excluding individuals from close association with the NFL on the basis that their words offend a segment of the population (and therefore the potential fan base of the league), why does the NFL allow Keith Olbermann to be a part of the lineup of commentators for NBC? After all, Olbermann is equally as offensive if not more so, especially in light of his nightly rants and insulting language directed towards national leaders and political opponents. Do you mean to tell me that Olbermann’s recent statement that a prominent minority blogger, columnist, and author is a “a big mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it” who espouses “total[ly] mindless, morally bankrupt, knee-jerk, fascistic hatred”? If statements attributed (many of them falsely) to Rush Limbaugh are the sort of “divisive comments” that “are not what the NFL is all about”, then is it your position that Olbermann’s statements are what the NFL is all about? Or are you planning to take immediate action to have Keith Olbermann removed from his position as a commentator on NBC’s NFL programming? In short, on what basis do you exclude Limbaugh but include Olbermannn – and is the difference principled or hypocritical?

And if we are going to get into the issue of what is and is not acceptable language and conduct for those associated with the NFL, can we consider the following situations?

• One minority owner of the Miami Dolphins is about to appear nude in a pornographic publication. Is this the sort of thing that the NFL is all about?
  
• This same minority owner has recently faced sanctions from the professional athletic body that governs her sport for cursing an official and threatening that official with physical violence during an athletic competition? Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• This same minority owner recently defended the exclusion of Jews from some competions in her sport based upon their religion. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• A pop music star known for her sexually explicit lyrics and dancing is about to become a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• The Checketts group reportedly includes an individual who admittedly collaborated with the Nazis in the deportation of Jews during the Holocaust. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• A number of players in the NFL are members of the Nation of Islam, an anti-Semitic black supremacist group with a history of violence. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• You recently reinstated a convicted felon who had engaged in wanton acts of animal cruelty. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• An NFL player recently killed a man in a drunk driving incident and was quickly reinstated by the league. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?

I guess what I am asking, Commissioner Goodell, is whether or not the NFL has any standards at all – beyond objecting to political and social views held by a large segment of the American people, and seeking to exclude those who hold such views from active involvement in the NFL.

While I certainly do not share all of the views held or articulated by Rush Limbaugh, we have many in common. As a blogger, IÂ’m concerned any time there is an attempt to stifle political speech. And since the suppression of political views similar to my own seems to be what the NFL is all about, IÂ’m left wondering if there is any longer a place in my budget for my season tickets to the Houston Texans if the NFL is to be the No Freedom League. WhatÂ’s more, I suspect IÂ’m not the only person in an NFL city who is asking that question. Is it really your intent to alienate us?

I look forward to your response, Mr. Goodell. It will be a major factor in whether or not my wife and I will be occupying those seats in Section 541 of Reliant Stadium on ten game days next season. I will also forward this letter to Bob Mcnair of the Houston Texans, soliciting his answers to these questions as well as his opinion regarding your continued employment as commissioner of the NFL.

Posted by: Greg at 11:44 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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