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Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh said Thursday he resigned as an ESPN sports analyst to protect network employees from the uproar over critical comments he made about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Limbaugh stepped down from the sports network's "Sunday NFL Countdown'' late Wednesday, three days after saying on the show that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
"The great people at ESPN did not want to deal with this kind of reaction,'' Limbaugh told the National Association of Broadcasters at its convention in Philadelphia on Thursday. "The path of least resistance became for me to resign.''
Limbaugh did not directly address media reports that began surfacing Wednesday that said the talk show host was under investigation in Florida into whether he illegally obtained and abused prescription painkillers.
Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show,'' issued a statement from Limbaugh earlier Thursday saying: "I am unaware of any investigation by any authority involving me. No government representative has contacted me directly or indirectly. If my assistance is required, I will, of course, cooperate fully.''
The Daily News, without identifying its source, reported Thursday that Limbaugh was being investigated by the Palm Beach County state attorney's office. The newspaper said it had confirmed the allegations, first reported by the National Enquirer. CNN reported Thursday that sources close to the investigation said Limbaugh had turned up as a buyer of powerful painkillers but that he was not the target of the investigation.
Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County state attorney's office, told The Associated Press his office could neither confirm nor deny that an investigation was under way.
The Enquirer had interviewed Wilma Cline, who said she became Limbaugh's drug connection after working as his maid, according to the Daily News. She said that Limbaugh had abused OxyContin and other painkillers.
A Miami lawyer for the Clines, Ed Shohat, said Thursday, "The Clines stand by the story.'' Shohat said neither he nor his clients would comment further.
Limbaugh is the radio host of the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show,'' syndicated in more than 650 markets. He had surgery two years ago to have an electronic device placed in his skull to restore his hearing.
Talking about his comments about McNabb on ESPN, Limbaugh said Thursday that he had thought about the issue the night before making the comments and wanted to write an essay on it.
"It's something I have believed for quite a while,'' Limbaugh said. "I don't mean it to hurt anybody ... it's just an opinion.''
Limbaugh has denied that his comments were racially motivated.
"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 on Sunday's show. "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.''
McNabb on Wednesday said he didn't mind criticism of his performance but was upset that Limbaugh made his race an issue. He said it was too late for an apology.
About a half-dozen people protested outside the convention as Limbaugh was speaking Thursday.
Limbaugh told the broadcasters that he was used to scrutiny after 15 years in radio and expects to get attention.
To draw in listeners, "we want controversy,'' he told the broadcasters meeting. "Nobody tells me what I can and can't say'' on the radio, he said.
George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, accepted Limbaugh's resignation Wednesday. ABC and ESPN are owned by Walt Disney Co.
"We regret the circumstances surrounding this,'' Bodenheimer said. "We believe that he took the appropriate action to resolve this matter expeditiously.''
Source: The AP
Limbaugh stepped down from the sports network's "Sunday NFL Countdown'' late Wednesday, three days after saying on the show that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
"The great people at ESPN did not want to deal with this kind of reaction,'' Limbaugh told the National Association of Broadcasters at its convention in Philadelphia on Thursday. "The path of least resistance became for me to resign.''
Limbaugh did not directly address media reports that began surfacing Wednesday that said the talk show host was under investigation in Florida into whether he illegally obtained and abused prescription painkillers.
Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show,'' issued a statement from Limbaugh earlier Thursday saying: "I am unaware of any investigation by any authority involving me. No government representative has contacted me directly or indirectly. If my assistance is required, I will, of course, cooperate fully.''
The Daily News, without identifying its source, reported Thursday that Limbaugh was being investigated by the Palm Beach County state attorney's office. The newspaper said it had confirmed the allegations, first reported by the National Enquirer. CNN reported Thursday that sources close to the investigation said Limbaugh had turned up as a buyer of powerful painkillers but that he was not the target of the investigation.
Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County state attorney's office, told The Associated Press his office could neither confirm nor deny that an investigation was under way.
The Enquirer had interviewed Wilma Cline, who said she became Limbaugh's drug connection after working as his maid, according to the Daily News. She said that Limbaugh had abused OxyContin and other painkillers.
A Miami lawyer for the Clines, Ed Shohat, said Thursday, "The Clines stand by the story.'' Shohat said neither he nor his clients would comment further.
Limbaugh is the radio host of the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show,'' syndicated in more than 650 markets. He had surgery two years ago to have an electronic device placed in his skull to restore his hearing.
Talking about his comments about McNabb on ESPN, Limbaugh said Thursday that he had thought about the issue the night before making the comments and wanted to write an essay on it.
"It's something I have believed for quite a while,'' Limbaugh said. "I don't mean it to hurt anybody ... it's just an opinion.''
Limbaugh has denied that his comments were racially motivated.
"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 on Sunday's show. "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.''
McNabb on Wednesday said he didn't mind criticism of his performance but was upset that Limbaugh made his race an issue. He said it was too late for an apology.
About a half-dozen people protested outside the convention as Limbaugh was speaking Thursday.
Limbaugh told the broadcasters that he was used to scrutiny after 15 years in radio and expects to get attention.
To draw in listeners, "we want controversy,'' he told the broadcasters meeting. "Nobody tells me what I can and can't say'' on the radio, he said.
George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, accepted Limbaugh's resignation Wednesday. ABC and ESPN are owned by Walt Disney Co.
"We regret the circumstances surrounding this,'' Bodenheimer said. "We believe that he took the appropriate action to resolve this matter expeditiously.''
Source: The AP
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