In short, I seriously doubt it.
So why are we even considering this? Because news.google.com is reporting 11 stories on the news wire alleging that Rush is trying to purchase the Rams. Some of these reports are just standard preseason news bits about the Rams, with footnotes referencing the main story.
So how the hell did this rumor even get started? Evidently it all began with a quote from Limbaugh in the St. Louis Business Journal. The quote is as follows: "The Rams would be a great team to have. I have a lot of friends in ownership of the NFL, and my desire to get involved has not been a secret."
The SLBJ writer covering this story speculates that Limbaugh is consorting with Dave Checkett of the Blues to make this deal happen. There is no confirmation, corroboration, or proof this speculation. We do not know that Limbaugh is working Checkett at all... not that such an alliance would matter much anyhow.
My reaction was simple: "Great, so their are now two figures--without money--supposedly teaming up to buy a controlling position they cannot afford to purchase. Why should I believe or be impressed by this speculation?"
Most of the other 'news' reports are just blog editorials full of emotional (pro or con) reaction to the 'news' that Rush Limbaugh wants to own the Rams. There are no new facts reported in these entries at all. They did not say anything like:
- Sources close to Limbaugh indicate that Rush can raise over $132 in immediate capital from his substantial personal wealth.
- Rush Limbaugh has acquired another $430 in financial backing from famed Republican Entrepreneur Daddy Warbucks John Johnson.
- Limbaugh has retained the services of Walter Vexa's famous real estate law firm to pass a formal purchase offer to Dale Rosenbloom via Goldman Sachs.
- Limbaugh is scheduled to meet with his future business partner Stan Kroenke later this week to establish good relations.
- Limbaugh is scheduled to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodel next week to schmooze and grease the wheels of progress so that he may enter the sacred club of NFL owners.
If any of these bullshit laden pieces said anything of this variety, I would be more inclined to take the Limbaugh story seriously. In the absence of any significant facts, I have no reason to take these 'reports' seriously.
So why has anyone written on this subject at all? Because it makes sensational copy. Because this is a slow news cycle. Because we are in the deep off-season for NFL Football. There is not much to say about the NFL right now. This worthless tidbit is as good an NFL story as we have in June of 2009. Rush is a divisive figure. Liberals & Democrats utterly hate him. You can stick a grain of sand in the Clam's mouth pretty quickly with this story.
The fact is Limbaugh doesn't have a lot of money. He is not a poor man or a middle-class citizen by any stretch. Yet he is a very far-cry from the billionaire status you must enjoy to buy and run an NFL franchise these days. Checkett is in the same category. I would love to own the Rams. The fact is that I cannot. I do not have the money. I wish I did. I would buy my team in a second.
There is no factual basis for the claim that Limbaugh is trying to buy the Rams. These reports are without legal or journalistic merit. These are trumped up reports of little or no significance.
