James may be the most hated sports figure on the web. It started with the firing of Mike Leach, the former Texas Tech football coach. James’ son, Adam, played for Leach until the James family accused the coach of abuse, saying the younger James was locked in a supply shed by Leach as punishment.
Leach was fired, which led to questions that James had manipulated the story by hiring a public relations firm. Leach, who is suing James and ESPN, has said in interviews that Adam James admitted in testimony he was never locked in a shed.
James continued to work at ESPN despite all the questions about his role in the firing, which drew the ire of college fans on the Internet, who proceeded to “Google bomb” James in retaliation.
The Leach scandal isn’t the only hit to his credibility. James played at SMU when it was the only major college football program to get the death penalty from the NCAA. But if there was trouble afoot, don’t ask James. He denies he was ever aware of the activities at his school, despite being the team’s biggest star (along with Eric Dickerson) and despite teammates being lavished with checks and cars.
Despite the ire, don’t be surprised if James wins and ends up in Washington. With a resume like this, politics is a job he was born for.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2250 or bjbethel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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