According to Jeff Gordon’s Tipsheet, Michael Vick said this in Maxim magazine (the interview’s not available online):
“Yeah, some people think blacks can’t make good QBs. It’s that Rush Limbaugh (stuff). But it doesn’t matter – black, white, or purple – all I wanted was a chance to prove them wrong.”
But that’s not what Rush said:
“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,” 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.”
Let’s break it down. Limbaugh said:
- The media wants black quarterbacks to do well.
- They hope McNabb will do well, so they gave him more credit than he deserves.
- The Philadelphia Eagles defense contributes more to the team’s success than McNabb.
Rush Limbaugh did not say that blacks cannot make good quarterbacks. But since he’s Rush Limbaugh, other people can put whatever racist words they want into his mouth, and everyone should simply nod and cluck, I guess.
You are absolutely right. Rush Limbaugh never said that blacks can’t be good quarterbacks.
He does say a hundred things a day that are more ridiculous.
Enumerate the hundred things that he says that are ridiculous and that he doesn’t mean tongue in cheek.
At least the media had the imagination to mischaracterize something he actually said.