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Colts owner Irsay "couldn't even think of" supporting Limbaugh's Rams bid due to his divisive rhetoric

October 13, 2009 2:41 pm ET by Media Matters staff

From an October 13 NBC Sports report:

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said this afternoon that the divisive rhetoric of prospective Rams minority owner Rush Limbaugh makes him unappealing.

"I myself couldn't even think of voting for him," said Irsay speaking from the NFL's fall ownership meetings in Boston.

Asked if he'd spoken to other owners about Limbaugh's candidacy, Irsay said, "I haven't and I don't think I would even go to the point of talking to Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Dwight Freeney, talking to those men and seeing what their positions are.  I'm very sensitive to know there are scars out there.  I think as a nation we need to stop it.  Our words do damage and it's something that we don't need.  We need to get to a higher level of humanity and we have.

"I come from a different era where Marvin Gaye and John Lennon were speaking about [certain things] and we've been doing a slow crawl to some of the things they talked about.  We don't need to go the other way," Irsay added.  "We can't go the other way where there isn't forgiveness and understanding but we gotta watch our words in this world and our thoughts because they can do damage."

Previously:

NFL players' union opposes Limbaugh's bid for Rams, says football "overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred"

NFL players reportedly say they "wouldn't play for" Limbaugh-owned team due to his "flat-out racist" comments

Sports media gang-tackle Limbaugh's bid to buy St. Louis Rams

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    • Author by IRONY 101 (October 13, 2009 2:49 pm ET)
      3  
      Jim Irsay sounds a lot more sober-minded and thoughtful than his father was. Nice to see that...
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    • Author by pros2pros2940 (October 13, 2009 3:03 pm ET)
      3  
      I love it.......somewhere that Rush can see the consequences of his actions/words.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by paul8616 (October 13, 2009 7:20 pm ET)
      2  
      I love that John Lennon and Marvin Gaye are the antidote to Rush Limbaugh. This makes me very happy.
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      • Author by jbraskin4786 (October 14, 2009 12:18 am ET)
        2  
        I think that John Lennon and Marvin Gaye are someplace enjoying this moment as well.
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    • Author by planesdrifter (October 13, 2009 8:07 pm ET)
         
      Oh, dare Rush attack the NFL, the owners, the players. Take your pick. I think this right wing whine is going to quietly die out in a remote corner of the blogosphere. And thank you Jim Irsay for speaking out, even if it was in your own interests.
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