It's over for Rush Limbaugh and his dream of owning an NFL franchise.  Yesterday, NFL Commish Roger Goodell faced the cameras and said that "past divisive comments" made by the broadcaster were enough to keep him out of the NFL. 

Oh really, Mr. Commissioner? 

"Divisive" is code for "racist" and Rush is being painted with that brush even though you probably could have a healthy debate as to whether there is any truth to it.  In our politically correct society, any one who says something negative about African-Americans is branded a racist. The flames are fanned by the media and gasoline is dumped on the fire by grand standers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Rush has no defense, because no opportunity is offered for it.

Perhaps, Goodell could have met with Rush privately and then formed an opinion.  Rather, he just said no, washing his and the league's hands of another potential controversy.

Others, including owner Jim Irsay, have already decided. Irsay said ""I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him. When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it's something that we don't need."

Inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive?  Like the reaction you get when you move a beloved team out of town in the middle of the night to a corn field in the middle of a state not known for being race friendly? Is that what you mean, Jim? Oh and thanks for the life lesson.  Who is "we" Jim?  You still have that mouse in your pocket?

Irsay says he wouldn't vote for Limbaugh because he has made a career of "demoralizing individuals."  This from a man whose late father demoralized the entire city of Baltimore in 1983.

While the liberals slap themselves high fives, other, more sensible people take Rush's rebuff as the loss of a man's dream.  Brooks from Sports By Brooks posted eloquently:

Though in his treatment of Limbaugh today, it was a mistake for Goodell to eliminate an upstanding member of our society’s right to try to buy into an NFL team. Limbaugh didn't’t get to his position in life by being a dummy, and I actually think he would’ve been a terrific owner who would’ve treated his players like gold. I really do.

White, black, purple, whatever. Limbaugh knows he wouldn’t be able to win without black players. It’s absurd to think that he would not go out of his way to reach out to black players to make sure they knew he supported them.

Goodell’s rebuke is especially ironic because Limbaugh has been such an (unsolicited) supporter of the NFL over the years - providing the league millions in free publicity on his show. Framed against the questionable character and conduct of too many NFL owners, reading Goodell’s comments today almost elicited a chuckle. I don’t know how most well-meaning souls can come to any other conclusion than there’s at least a hint of hypocrisy in the pronouncement.

And our hero and role model wrote that Rush's accusers should not judge lest they themselves wish to be:

Jackson and Sharpton, by the way,quickly raced down to North Carolina to convict three members of the Duke lacrosse team of rape --- three white members --- as claimed by an African-American woman working for an escort service. Charges were dropped and the players were declared innocent, but I don’t recall Jackson and Sharpton racing down to North Carolina just as quickly to apologize. Nice credibility, huh?

And let’s not forget when Jackson referred to Jews as “Hymies’’ and New York as “Hymietown’’ in a conversation with a Washington Post reporter. Before finally admitting his use of an anti-Semitic phrase, Jackson accused Jews of conspiring against him. Nice credibility, huh?

In the final analysis,  this is clearly a case of guilt by reputation.  Limbaugh is a controversial radio personality and the NFL somehow felt that his comments will somehow reflect on them if he were associated with them. Never mind that one of the anchors of the league's showcase broadcast on Sunday night's is a liberal instigator, know for spreading half truths and innuendo.  Never mind one of the coaches in the NFL is about to be arrested for brutally assaulting an assistant.  Never mind an NFL player was involved in dog fighting (and reinstated) and another in a drunk driving hit and run which resulted in a homicide. Rush Limbaugh is apparently too hot for the NFL to handle.

It's a sad day in this country when someone who has achieved is denied access because his views are controversial.  And it's even sadder that his enemies win.