RUSH WON'T BACK DOWN: 'IT'S JUST AN OPINION'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -(AP)- Rush Limbaugh refused to back down Thursday from
disparaging comments he made about a black quarterback, and authorities
confirmed he is being investigated after a former maid alleged he was illegally
buying prescription drugs.

The conservative commentator gave up his job as an ESPN sports analyst late
Wednesday, three days after saying on the sports network's ''Sunday NFL
Countdown'' that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated
because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

''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 the
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.''

Law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that
Limbaugh is being investigated by the Palm Beach County state attorney's
office.

The drug allegations were 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 pain-killers but that he was not the target of the
investigation.

Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates the politically focused ''Rush
Limbaugh Show'' to more than 650 markets, issued a statement from Limbaugh on
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.''

Limbaugh announced his departure from ESPN late Wednesday. He said Thursday
that he was leaving so network employees would be spared the uproar over his
comments.

''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. ''The path of least resistance became for me to resign.''

George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, accepted Limbaugh's
resignation, saying: ''We believe that he took the appropriate action to
resolve this matter expeditiously.''

McNabb said he didn't mind criticism of his performance but was upset that
Limbaugh made his race an issue. Democratic presidential candidates and the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People criticized
Limbaugh's remark, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Thursday called Limbaugh's
comments ''despicable.''

Limbaugh has denied that his comments were racially motivated. He said at the
convention 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 told the broadcasters that he was used to scrutiny and expects to get
attention, saying that to draw in listeners, ''we want controversy.''

Limbaugh did not address the drug investigation reports in his speech.

The Enquirer had interviewed Wilma Cline, who said she became Limbaugh's drug
connection after working as his maid. She said Limbaugh had abused OxyContin
and other pain-killers. Ed Shohat, a Miami lawyer for Cline and her husband,
said Thursday, ''The Clines stand by the story.''

National Enquirer Editor in Chief David Perel declined to say whether the
Clines were paid for their interview, but said the tabloid does ''pay for
interviews, photographs and exclusives -- as long as they can be proven to be
true.'' Referring to media reports saying the Clines were paid six figures for
their story, Perel said, ''People are just making things up.''

Limbaugh skipped his radio show Thursday to attend the broadcasters convention.
He was scheduled to be back on the air today.