Sharpton asks NFL to block Limbaugh bid for St. Louis Rams

Sharpton made his sentiments known in a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. In the letter, released to the media on Monday, Sharpton said that Limbaugh had a record of making "divisive," "anti-NFL" comments in the past and requested a meeting with Goodell to discuss "the myriad of reasons" why Limbaugh should be denied the chance to own an NFL franchise.

vLimbaugh's short-lived career as a commentator on the NFL for ESPN came to a quick end in 2003, after he said on the air that he considered Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb overrated and said he benefited from a media desire to see a black quarterback succeed.

Four years later, Limbaugh said on his radio show, "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

Sharpton's protest is the latest in a string of objections to a proposed bid by Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues hockey team owner Dave Checketts to buy the 60 percent of the Rams currently owned by the estate of owner Georgia Frontiere, who died in January 2008. NFL Players Association President DeMaurice Smith urged his fellow players to voice their objections to the bid when news of the proposal broke on Sunday. For his part, McNabb responded when asked about the bid, "If he's rewarded to buy them, congratulations to him. But I won't be in St. Louis any time soon."

Rev. Jesse Jackson also urged the NFL to reject the bid yesterday. In a telephone interview, the head of the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition said that Limbaugh became rich and successful by "appealing to the fears of whites" with insulting comments about blacks and other minorities.

Limbaugh responded with dismay and a potshot in reaction to Sharpton's letter on his radio show yesterday.

"Now, this saddens me as well this disappoints me," he said. "I know Rev. Sharpton. Sharpton is better than this.... You know, I didn't judge Al Sharpton's fitness to be in radio when he wanted to earn an honest living for once, given his well-documented past as the author of the Tawana Brawley hoax. I believe in freedom and I also don't discriminate."

Checketts declined to comment on the controversy, citing a confidentiality agreement with his financial advisers at Goldman Sachs. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league was aware of the concerns raised by Sharpton and Jackson but noted that the league had not yet received any formal proposals to buy the Rams. Any bid to buy an NFL franchise must be approved by 60 percent of the current team owners.

By Sandy Smith
Exclusive to HULIQ.com