Letter

Rush's comments shouldn't have surprisedESPN

To the editor:

If Rush Limbaugh didn't know exactly what he was doing (igniting controversy) he's not as smart as I think he is. Surely he expected the media firestorm his comments about Donovan McNabb created; if not, he should have.

I agree with the assertion that ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Limbaugh; the question is why they did it anyway. If the network didn't want someone whose comments would be "insensitive and inappropriate," they hired the wrong guy.

This is Rush Limbaugh we're talking about. The man thrives on controversy and attention. He's never been accused of being Mr. Sensitivity -- more like Mr. Warmth in the tradition of Don Rickles (only Limbaugh's remarks usually aren't in jest). Nor could it have been due to his expertise or insight on football, judging by his earlier statement that the Rams have never been to a Super Bowl under coach Mike Martz.

ESPN's hiring of Limbaugh reminds me of the same kind of publicity stunt Fox News pulled with Geraldo Rivera. What were they thinking? JEFF JERNIGAN

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