"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. 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. The defense carried this team." -- Rush Limbaugh voicing his opinion on Donovan McNabb.

Naturally, CNN is hoping to crucify Limbaugh and brand him as a racist. (Had a lefty said it, it would have been ignored, just like Rep. Jim Moran's anti-Jew comments.) McNabb said he isn't bothered by the comments, but that he is bothered by the comments. In one breath he brushed them off, and in another breath he voiced concern over how bad black Americans would feel about him being criticized.

"My worries were not about what was said, but just what about the people who were watching. What about them? What about the African-American homes ... the kids, the parents, when they hear something like that on national TV, on ESPN. What do they think?"

So McNabb isn't worried for himself, he's worried for his fans.

McNabb said that the comments "pinpoint" all black players in the league and those in other sports.

One of the things that bother McNabb was that others who were on the set of the show didn't challenge Limbaugh. "I kind of worry about that aspect of it," McNabb said. "Somebody should have said something to the race issue."

McNabb would have people believe that saying that he is not deserving of all the praise that he's received only serves to stigmatize all black players in all sports leagues. To me, he sounds just a little full of himself. Insulting Donovan McNabb does nothing to take away from the achievements of Michael Vick, Michael Jordan, or FloJo. Arthur Ashe is no less of a tennis player because Rush thinks some of the praise heaped on McNabb may just happen to be hollow.

Sure, Rush said something that is unpopular and inflammatory. But it wasn't racist, and it certainly shouldn't show disrespect for all black athletes everywhere.

UPDATE: Rush resigned from ESPN last night, after saying that McNabb wasn't as good as the media made him out to be.

I find it interesting that so many would call for Rush to resign as a mere sports commentator, but no such pressure was put on McKinney or Rep. Jim Moran (who currently still holds office) after they deliberately and publicly spoke out against Jews. As politicians, they are/were in a position of power to set national policy. It couldn't be because Rush was a conservative, now could it?

UPDATE: Neal Boortz analyzes Rush's statements piece by piece.