From the News-Sentinel

Is it the distinct possibility of a “Manning Bowl,” as both Peyton (Indianapolis Colts) and Eli (the New York football Giants) have their teams playing perfect - at least record-wise - football?

Is it the ode to geriatrics everywhere that Minnesota's Brett Favre could possibly be a 40-year-old Super Bowl-winning quarterback?

Is it that Purdue alums Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) and Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) could meet in the year's biggest sporting event?

No, Americans are obsessed with talk about a guy who possibly - certainly not probably - could own a minor piece of what is arguably the worst team in the NFL this year. As in, he'll have little say in prominent matters regarding the franchise.

Rush Limbaugh, America's highest-rated talk-radio host, is exploring the opportunity to join some other wealthy guys in buying the St. Louis Rams. Judging from the outcry, you would believe Satan himself is somehow involved.

The controversy stems from Limbaugh's comments six years ago pertaining to his evaluation of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. At the time, Limbaugh was part of a Sunday-morning pre-game show on ESPN. A show that has grown to include 128 analysts, most of whom have nothing insightful to provide.

But I digress. Limbaugh was quoted as saying, “The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. 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.”

Well, let's break this quote down. As far as McNabb goes, the media - particularly in Philadelphia - has done anything but be “very desirous” to build this guy up. McNabb has been lambasted by many journalists - wrongfully so, in my opinion - since the day he was drafted by the Eagles out of Syracuse. As a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, I can say that anytime Philadelphia wants to get rid of McNabb, I will happily pay his moving expenses to Florida.

I'm serious.

So Limbaugh was dead wrong on that account.

Is his statement accurate that at times the media can build someone or something up based on its own desires, not necessarily on his/her merits? Well, Barack Obama is our president, isn't he?

Many are saying Limbaugh and his obvious racist beliefs have no place in the NFL. In Limbaugh's defense, if he is a racist, I find it peculiar he includes prominent African-Americans (and conservatives) Walter E. Williams and Clarence Thomas among his best friends.

So were his words regarding McNabb an incorrect assessment? Yes. Were they racially motivated? No.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday he would never vote for a group that included Limbaugh to join the NFL ownership ranks, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also stated he would not be in favor of such an investor.

Goodell seemingly has no tolerance for Limbaugh. Yet Goodell doesn't have a problem allowing a player to be a part of the league if he choked a dog to death because it lost a fight with another animal, which is what current NFL employee Michael Vick has been found guilty of.

Irsay is not going to associate with Limbaugh. Yet he employs players who run afoul of the law and get arrested (Darrell Reid, Ed Johnson, Nick Harper, Kenton Keith, Dominic Rhodes, to name a few).

To be fair, Irsay is not alone in this regard. Through April of this year, more than 450 NFL players have been arrested for a variety of crimes during this decade alone. So obviously the NFL ownership group can demonstrate tolerance as long as you can tackle well.

It's ironic that the people (Irsay, Goodell and others in the NFL leadership) that criticize intolerance by others are often the most guilty of such behavior.

It's also ironic that for a guy (Limbaugh) who tells 30 million people daily that their best course of action in life is to be self-reliant, work hard and strive for excellence - qualities that not only the Rams organization, but everyone in this country should strive for - is being scorned with such fervor.