ESPN's Berman: "Feets Don't Fail Me Now"

December 31st, 2005 7:48 PM

When in 2003 Rush Limbaugh suggested that the media, hoping for a black-quarterback success story, had over-rated Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, he was subjected to a firestorm of criticism and ultimately resigned his post on an ESPN pre-game football show.

Can you imagine what the media would have done to Rush had he dared to employ the classically racial "feets don't fail me now" line, immortalized by black actor Mantan Moreland in the '30s-'50s?

Yet that is exactly what major ESPN personality Chris Berman did a few minutes ago in introducing coverage of this afternoon's Denver Broncos game.

He apparently said it vis a vis white Denver Broncos QB Jake Plummer.

Berman's co-host, black former Denver linebacker Tom Jackson, gave what seemed a rather forced laugh in response.

Odds that Berman, who has described himself as a "New England Democrat," will face any discipline? Slim, in my opinion, and I'm not suggesting he should.  But is there a double-standard at work at ESPN?