Craig James’ Senate Run: Will Texas take one for the team?

Craig James is running for the US Senate and will run in the March Texas primary.

No, not the James Bond Craig James. The ESPN College Football Analyst Craig James. The one who couldn’t fill out an AP College Football Top 25 Poll any better than my 10-year old daughter.

The Craig James who hired a public relations firm to smear a head football coach that his son happened to play for. Adam James complained to daddy that then Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was a meanie and made him do things he didn’t want to do. Like workout with the team.

Like father, like son. The Craig James who passed out after a workout.

From the Dallas Morning News:

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Former SMU standout Craig James will file his candidacy for the U.S. Senate by Thursday's deadline, according to sources close to his developing campaign.

James, an ESPN college football analyst, is hoping that his name recognition and fresh face makes him the alternative to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz are the other major contenders.

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Fortunately, election law prevents him from being on the air while he is a candidate for federal office or while he is serving in any capacity.

Texas voters, please take one for the team, here. Swing your sword! The talk about “Constitution, Free Markets and American Exceptionalism” sounds good on the surface, but this blowhard has about as much business affecting US economic and foreign policy as he does voting in the AP Top 25. Which is none.

For the love of God and all that is good for Texas and this country, don’t let this guy get elected. Five Dead Hookers and Americans everywhere will thank you.

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I’m the Ole Miss coaching search committee, and I’m trimming the “short list”

I’m Archie Manning, FedEx Vice President Mike Glenn, and an as-yet-to be named committee of Ole Miss Yes Men. I haven’t met yet, but I’ve already put together this list of coaches I’m going after. I’ve also put together a list of coaches that have no chance of moving to Oxford.

Here are the coaches that WILL NOT be on the “short list” to take over the Ole Miss Rebels at the end of the season.

Mike Leach. Sure, he’s interested. He did something with almost nothing in the middle of nowhere (nee, Lubbock) Texas. He’s coached and recruited in the SEC and his wide open offense was exciting to watch. But Coach Arrgghh is involved in a bitter contract dispute with his former employer and is also suing ESPN for defamation of character. ESPN pours billions in the the SEC and what conservative, business-oriented members of a search committee want to interview a guy who sues his former employers?

Rich Rodriguez. Another offensive guru with a history of litigation with former employers. There’s a reason why this guy hasn’t been seriously considered as a legitimate candidate for other profiled coaching jobs since being dismissed from Michigan. But the real knock on RichRod is that in his last football game, Mississippi State shellacked him 52-14. Wouldn’t you rather have somebody who’s at least beaten your in-state rival?

Gus Malzahn. Here’s a candidate that the search committee is drooling over. But alas, we recognize that there are other, much better opportunities for a hot name assistant coach than Ole Miss. Name one? Ok. North Carolina. More populous state. More fertile recruiting territory. Less brutal competition than the SEC West. Deeper pockets and less pressure.

Kirby Smart. See the entry for Gus Malzahn. If Malzahn inexplicably turns down the North Carolina opportunity, Smart is the next best option on the table and, being that he’s at least as smart as Malzie, he sees a better opportunity at Carolina, too.

Urban Meyer. I’m a very deliberate, very intelligent search committee. I’m going to make this process last a little bit longer than the last one did, and I’m going to be reasonably sure I’m getting the best guy I can afford. Which means I’m not wasting the going after a $3.0 to $5.0 million man after paying millions to buy out Houston Nutt.

Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy or Jon Gruden. Name one successful NFL head coach who transitioned down to the college ranks and succeeded in recruiting and managing a college program. Name one who was financially set for life, repeatedly said he was happy doing what he was doing, and made the move anyway.

Names missing from this cut sheet are Houston’s Kevin Summerlin, Texas DC Manny Diaz, Southern Miss’ Larry Fedora and former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

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Feldman suspension prompts internet backlash against ESPN (UPDATE: The suits respond)

Scroll down for update.

Late Thursday afternoon, SPORTSbyBROOKS reported that the worldwide leader in asshattery, douchebaggery and backstabbery had indefinitely suspended the well-respected and highly regarded Bruce Feldman. Feldman wrote extensively for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN.com and used his official Twitter account to provide a fantastic mix of opinion, observation and hard news.

The reason? Feldman has provided key editorial assistance to former Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach in the preparation of his new book, Swing your Sword. Leach details his ugly divorce from the Lubbock, Texas Red Raiders in the book, and Leach describes in damning detail how and why things went down the way they did. Leach was accused of mistreating former player Adam James, which happens to be the Daddy’s Little Girl of Craig James, ESPN’s second worst color analyst. Leach comes out swinging against the ‘meddling’ of the elder James, which apparently hurt the feelings of  ESPN Vice President Vince Doria, ESPN the Magazine Editor-in-Chief and ESPN Books Editorial Director Gary Hoenig, and ESPN.com Editor-in-Chief Pat Stiegman. Brooks reports that in a conference call, the three above swung their swords and axed Feldman.

Despite Feldman having been granted prior approval from ESPN to work with Leach on the book.

This backstabbing is unconscionable. Feldman specifically sought his employers’ clearance before beginning work with Leach and got it, despite the latter knowing full well that Leach was going to be harshly critical of Crybaby Craig and his Daddy’s Little Girl.

Appropriately, the public is swinging its sword and unleashing a swashbuckling dismemberment of the sports media giant. As of 11:00 am CDT, #FreeBruce was one of the Top Three trending topics on Twitter. Thousands of ESPN.com Insider subscribers are calling to cancel their subscriptions. Bloggers, sportswriters and radio talk show hosts are leading a charge to convince users to cancel subscriptions to fantasy leagues.

ESPN refuses to comment on the matter, but the damage is being done.

To do my part, I’m promoting Mike Leach’s book. Readers should take the time to hear Leach’s side of the story, especially the revelations regarding James’ hiring of a PR firm to conduct a smear campaign against him and turn public opinion against him the way a sleazy politician uses push polls and anonymous flyers and mailings. James and ESPN are beneath contempt and no justice would be more poetic than having them watch Leach’s book hit bestseller lists.

So, let’s have some fun and swing our sword. Click the link. Order the book. Any commissions IBCR receives will be donated to Tornado Relief in Alabama.

UPDATE: Was this a false alarm, or did ESPN back down?  In a three sentence press release, the network had this in response to the firestorm: “There was never any suspension or any other form of disciplinary action. We took the time to review his upcoming work assignments in light of the book to which he contributed and will manage any conflicts or other issues as needed.   Bruce has resumed his assignments."

Resumed? How do you resume something that was never stopped to begin with? 

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