| Show RADIO ANNOUNCER AMID CONTROVERSY Ron Nichols Contributing Writer Theres There's no rush to pull the plug on Rush Limbaugh's radio talk show Although the program director of local radio station AM which airs the show weekdays from 1000 am to I 00 pm was unable to be reached for comment the station has continued to syndicate Limbaugh's talk show Limbaugh stirred up controversy sy after he made some comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback quarterback quarterback Donovan McNabb The comments were perceived by many people to be racist Limbaugh was hired by to be a commentator for Sunday NFL Countdown Before the Eagles 20 13 victory victo victo- ry over the Buffalo Bills on September Limbaugh said saidon on show that McNabb wasn't as good as people people people peo peo- claimed he wasI wasI wasI was I think what weve we've had here is isa isa isa 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 See Limbaugh on Limbaugh continued from page 1 Limbaugh's explanations of the comments were that they were not meant to be racist but were meant to bash the media After initially supported him and took no action politicians politicians politicians and African American leaders leaders leaders lead lead- ers began denouncing the talk show host At the same time some employees at began to let their discomfort be known to management Three days after the incident Rush Limbaugh resigned from saying that he didn't want to drag his fellow workers into the unwanted atten atten- tion In response to the criticism they had received the other commentators commentators commentators com com- of the show Chris Berman Tom Jackson Steve Young and Michael Irvin spent a segment of the show apologizing analyzing what had happened and why they did nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing at the time the comments were made Do I wish that I had caught it itin itin itin in hindsight Absolutely Jackson said Do I regret that I didn't Yes But Im I'm human Mostly I regret that I missed it for Donovan McNabb's sake I regret that Jackson also made clear that it was not the choice of the commentators commentators commentators com com- to hire Limbaugh to work on the show It was clear that the commentators didn't want to further alienate their audience Chris Berman Bennan said I have been kicking myself all week On Thursday October 2nd the morning after his resignation the ENQUIRER magazine broke a story that Limbaugh was addicted to painkillers According to Limbaugh is now in the middle of a drug investigation by Florida authorities Supposedly his former fonner housekeeper housekeeper housekeeper house house- keeper of eight years was his connection for obtaining the drugs Limbaugh says he is un-aware un of any investigation involving him but he did admit to being addicted to painkillers during his show on Friday October He also announced during the show he would immediately voluntarily voluntarily voluntarily vol vol- vol- vol check himself into a 30 day treatment center He has been to rehab twice before this but has been unable to kick his addiction Limbaugh's radio talk show is syndicated across the nation on Premiere Radio Networks The record- record company signed him to a breaking contract two years ago worth million over eight years The company says that they completely back Limbaugh 0 |
