Yesterday Craig James announced that he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in Texas if Kay Bailey Hutchinson vacates her Senate seat to take over as Governor of Texas. Assisting James in the release of the news was a Dallas company called Spaeth Communications.
(Did Leach get ’swiftboated’ by same firm that attacked Kerry?)
I’ve recently learned that Spaeth was also responsible for the release of the cellphone video Adam James took of himself in an attempt to damage the credibility of former Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach.
(Did Spaeth tell Adam James to record video after the fact?)
If you’re a political junkie, Spaeth Communications might ring a bell. More likely, you’ve heard the term “swiftboating,” which is derived from a p.r. campaign led by Spaeth CEO Merrie Spaeth to damage the 2004 presidential candidacy of John Kerry.
Prominent Texas Tech alumni and media sources have told me the past week that Spaeth Communications allegedly played an integral role in the firing of Mike Leach. In addition to the video of Adam James that Spaeth circulated to the media, I’ve heard growing sentiment that Spaeth was behind much of the anonymously-sourced information about Adam James’ alleged plight reported by the media.
I have contacted Spaeth Communications about those accusations and am awaiting a reply.
That sentiment though doesn’t necessarily jibe with what ultimately resulted from the James vs. Leach confrontation. Though the James family effectively got Leach fired, Craig James’ reputation was dragged through the mud during the ordeal, and it is now safe to assume that if he runs for office he won’t be getting many votes from Texas Tech fans.
James has been considering a political career for some time now, well before what happened at Texas Tech. For that reason, I personally believe Craig James called in Spaeth after the Tech situation blew up, to help damage control his reputation and help preserve his viability as a political candidate. As a conservative, it’s also a natural for James to have Spaeth represent him as he ponders a political career.
But with Spaeth now repping James, he’s not only alienated Texas Tech fans and many more West Texas residents, but democrats who objected to tactics used by Merrie Spaeth in the Swift Boat Veterans vs. John Kerry saga.
Of course, Texas is a solidly conservative state, but James has considerably less support today than he would’ve had just three weeks ago.
Again, I’ve contacted Spaeth Communications for a response on its role with the James Family and expect to have more to the story shortly. I’ve also contacted ESPN for a response from Craig James about the role of Spaeth in the James family complaint to Tech.
2:50 pm on January 8th, 2010
Let’s nor forget that everything said about Kerrey by the Swiftboat Vets was TRUE.
If it wasn’t Kerrey would have collected the money from the bet he made with T. Boone.
3:07 pm on January 8th, 2010
And bringing out the truth about the Swiftboat vets was a bad thing?
3:10 pm on January 8th, 2010
“I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crewmates have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam.” - John McCain on the Swift Boaters.
McCain didn’t endorse Kerry, voted for and endorsed Bush, and even he called out the characterization of Kerry’s career.
You might want to read some primary source documents and affidavits signed by the swift boaters before you say silly things like EVERYTHING they said was true.
3:17 pm on January 8th, 2010
Brooks, love your reporting. Tiger news brought me here, but the scoops on all things sports keep me coming back.
Now, on to my fellow readers…
Are you guys serious? Do you now now know that the attacks were baseless?? Do you not see the depravity of attacking a war veteran? Yeah, I remember when Democrats snidely wore purple band-aids to the convention. Oh, wait, that was the GOP.
And I remember the Democrats wishing for a terrorist attack on this country to score political points. Oh, wait. That was McCain’s adviser Phil Gramm in Sept 2008.
I would love to call you names and go about my day, but I’ll refrain. If you want to have an honest debate about real issues, we can talk.
3:19 pm on January 8th, 2010
Stick to sports. John Kerry “swiftboated” himself by testifying against Americans men and women in uniform. The infamous ad was mostly Kerry’s own words. He fragged himself
3:38 pm on January 8th, 2010
If there was any doubt that James is a sleezeball, his retention of that firm of PR hatchetmen to slander a coach proves it.
Henry is “right on”. At least Kerry served our country in Vietnam — unlike baby George who hid behind his family’s money.
3:58 pm on January 8th, 2010
a horse is a horse a horse, have you ever heard of a talking horse?
3:59 pm on January 8th, 2010
The James situation was the straw that broke the camels back. It’s obvious the Texas Tech administration was looking for any feasible excuse to let Leach go. I just don’t understand why they bothered to extend his contract earlier in the year.
4:03 pm on January 8th, 2010
James comes across as a complete douchebag, and having these scumbags represent him is icing on the cake.
4:04 pm on January 8th, 2010
Why do Republicans love “chickenhawks” like Bush, Cheney, etc.. and then have the nerve to swiftboat Kerry who was only speaking the hard truth about Vietnam ??
4:05 pm on January 8th, 2010
The Swift boat attack ads were among the dirtiest, most despicable ads ever. My uncle and grandfather served at war time and I would cut someones head off if they defamed my relatives in such a way.
I don’t like John Kerry and I sure as hell didn’t vote for him, but he put his life on the line and served honorably when W was MIA somewhere goofing off.
4:25 pm on January 8th, 2010
Brooks …. we’re kind of getting bored without your normal TMZish reports….can we get at least a tid bit of who Craig James is sleeping with and pics of her throwing a javelin?
4:27 pm on January 8th, 2010
James and Leach both f’d up . Hopefully Leach becomes the winning coach in Div II.
Also, T Boone Pickens welched on his bet about the Swifties. All those who participated in the 2004 SBVFT smear should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/t-boone-pickens-says-no-deal/
So many disgraceful characters, so little time.
5:05 pm on January 8th, 2010
T. Boone Pickens welched on his bet. He was presented with irrefutable evidence and just decided he wasnt going to pay.
5:24 pm on January 8th, 2010
It has been proven, all the swiftboat ads were LIES or misrepresentations of the facts. Whether you agree with Kerry’s politics or not, at least he went over there and served. Where was W?
One further little known point, of those serving in the US Navy’s riverine forces during Vietnam, they suffered approx 75% casualty rates (wounded or killed in action). Yes they were a small proportion of the US Navy’s efforts during Vietnam, but they were the Navy’s tip of the spear.
5:38 pm on January 8th, 2010
From Jack…
“Stick to sports. John Kerry “swiftboated” himself by testifying against Americans men and women in uniform. The infamous ad was mostly Kerry’s own words. He fragged himself”
Hey Jack,
You’re an idiot!
5:46 pm on January 8th, 2010
Bush didn’t even show up for National Guard duty. What a patriot, him and that chickenhawk Cheney.
Tech fired Leach only months after welcoming Alberto Gonzales, the besieged attorney general for Bush, who did such a wonderful job as AG, he couldn’t get a gig any law firm, not even in Texas.
5:58 pm on January 8th, 2010
Demeaning anyone who received a Purple Heart strictly for political gain was the most cowardly act I’ve ever seen in American politics. And all those on this board who say Kerry deserved it is just as cowardly. You didn’t end up attacking Kerry but instead had to destroy the process for which many honorable Veterans received their Purple Hearts. Luckily swiftboaters and their supporters will go down in history as the cowards they remain.
6:54 pm on January 8th, 2010
craiggyboi james you are a liar—-you want to get elected then repent of your sins then force your son adamina james to repent. do it of your own free will or we will know. come on craiggyboi james yyou are a liar and a loser and you are proliferating the evil ones cause.
dr. dean
6:56 pm on January 8th, 2010
come on craiggyboi–have your lackies go for this computor. you craiggyboi james are a liar and spaethg is done done done.
8:11 pm on January 8th, 2010
JOJO and Jack
You are both idiots. Leach should have never been fired. They just didn’t like the idea of having to pay a decent coach. Tech is going down the tubes now.
You all suck ass.
8:27 pm on January 8th, 2010
John Kerry VOLUNTEERED twice to go to Viet Nam to serve our country. Craig James was part of the SMU crowd that got the Death Penalty for the SMU football program….because of their illegal undertakings. George W., when our nation was attacked got on his plane in Florida and while our capital was under attack he gave his pilot the command……..get me to Omaha Nebraska. Mitt Romey when asked why his sons were not fighting in Iraq for our country, he responded that they were serving their country by trying to get him elected to the White House.
Kerry heads to the war zone…………do we see a pattern as to what the Repubs do when the battle starts?
8:56 pm on January 8th, 2010
at least bush trained to and flew jets…clinton never did a thing and lied about the draft…also gore was exposed when it turned out he was not a combat soldier but rather an information hq guy who never went near anything… mccain also said kerrys later exposed lying testimony about war crimes he never saw and didn’t occur…did great harm to troops
9:10 pm on January 8th, 2010
Is Craig James going to be running as a log cabin republican?
9:13 pm on January 8th, 2010
The Republican Party has been taken over by morons and chickenhawks like that piece of #@$% Dick Cheney, who doesn’t even have the decency to respect the office of the Presidency, irregardless of his feelings about the current man in the White House. That Craig James would hire the same firm that slimed a REAL MAN who put his actual life on the line - not like five deferments Cheney - is just a clear statement about Craig James personal character and the level to which the once GOP has sunk.
9:13 pm on January 8th, 2010
Remember, politics results in strange bed-fellows. And, Tech’s chancellor is the ultimate politician on both a state and national level as well as former lobbyist. Keep digging.
9:20 pm on January 8th, 2010
Lest all you finger pointers at W forget that there was a certain Clinton draft dodging in Canada some years back?
9:20 pm on January 8th, 2010
Just curious; should the swiftboat vet who was a medal of honor winner be “ashamed of himself” for saying he knew Kerry and that he was not being truthful? Does that not square with your prejudiced viewpoint? No man does what John Kerry did (lying about abuse he never saw) and retains any honor. Spin it however your sick minds want, but that is the unrefutable truth. Now shut the hell up and go back to mama’s tit.
9:29 pm on January 8th, 2010
Leach’s intent was to intimidate players who are injured, e.g., with a concussion, to play regardless of the pain or possibility of serious injury. This disregard for his player’s welfare made his firing necessary. As far as hitting or grabbing a player/student, it is not allowed–ask Bobby Knight. Players for the top coaches put the full effort into the game because they wnat to–not because they are afraid of being humiliated. After the three coaches who have been terminated, it is hoped that the others learn and follow the rules just like they expect their players to do.
10:32 pm on January 8th, 2010
I’m with fultzy–what Kerry did was dishonorable, incl. throwing away his medals!
10:49 pm on January 8th, 2010
Thanks for the info on James’ connection with “swiftboat” firm. Leach was dead even without it. It makes sense that James was thinking ahead to his political career.
Having coached several sports at both HS and collegiate levels I want to say Leach did absolutely nothing wrong. Its not a coaches job to keep players from being embarrassed. Plus many athletic trainers recommend isolation away from load noise and bright lights as part of treatment for concussions. Leach was probably choosing between kicking the kid off the team or just getting him off the field so that the athletes less encumbered by entitlement (My daddy is Craig James) or strutting around (as reported) with a false sense of worth could practice.
11:01 pm on January 8th, 2010
fultzy and bill - just curious because I don’t know…where either of you present when he was doing this? What we do know as fact is he served his country, honorably.
ab - W to Kerry is germane because they 1. ran against one another and 2. military experience was being called into question during the campaign. Where does Slick Willy fit into the equation?
truthiness (noun) = the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true.
11:04 pm on January 8th, 2010
Hey JR: check your fuc#ing facts, a$$hole. The Swifties were thoroughly discredited and were exposed as liars.
Or do you only read right-wing blogs and listen to right-wing radio?
JR, you are a fuc#ing tool.
11:16 pm on January 8th, 2010
Mike Leach won round 1 against TTU during negotiations for his contract last year.
Unfortunately, for Leach, he agreed to take Adam James into the football program at TTU…….probably had more than a little pressure from “baby daddy” James at the front office and that turned into pressure for the coach from the administration.
Adam James got a “concussion” and after malingering as long as he possibly could, he strutted out to practice in street clothes and sunglasses.
The coach sent him out of the sun. Adam is p.o.ed and calls daddy. Daddy is already furious about the lack of playing time for his baby boy and Adam volunteers that there is an electrical closet that he could always get in and photograph it to show how mistreated he was. Daddy was elated!
Adam did the video with help from a friend who was dumb enough to whisper about turning on the lights..unless it was the security guard that was there to keep Adam from hurting himself.
The deal snowballed and TTU saw the chance for a quick strike against the coach and used the Jame’s backs to ride in on.
Mike Leach is going to get a good job and a good amount of money from TTU…….
Go, Pirates!
11:27 pm on January 8th, 2010
In watching that funny little video by Adam the Delicate, we couldn’t help but feel all of the talk about James The Younger acting liking an entitled soft little brat seemed to be confirmed.
How is it someone who is at football practice, and happens to be sent to a garage-sized room, is so intent on making himself a better player that he happens to be carrying his phone with him, shooting video, sending texts.
He’s a punk. His Dad is a grown up punk, and after Bush I and Bush II, Texas seems the right place for both of them.
12:18 am on January 9th, 2010
Swiftboaters are so patriotic- spreading BS about a guy that volunteered to go to Vietnam on behalf of a coked up, drunken, spoiled, rich boy who went AWOL from the “No chance of seeing action” Air National Guard and a 5 deferment Dick.
Says a lot about James.
2:57 am on January 9th, 2010
chickenhawk is a term invented by lefties who never served and who despise the mititary…kerry war challenged to disprove the claims…he never did and everything war sourced…kerry went in with the intent to get out and go into politics…when the war became a negative he engaged in steps to get out and then phony up testimony that parroted the enemy claims…he got caught…he couldn’t even pronounce ghengis khan correctly “jengis”with his later revealed “D+” college average…bush even did better
5:38 am on January 9th, 2010
This is damn fine reporting on your part, Brooks. I’ve read your website since the very beginning and remember you and some of your comments at Fark.com.
Craig James, his almost 22 year old ‘kid’, and the Swiftboat liars call all shove it as far as I’m concerned.
7:55 am on January 9th, 2010
you realize that Kerry volunteered for Vietnam? that he served his country and then after he got back he worked to end the war? an unjust war that killed millions of civilians? an unjust war that killed 50,000 soldiers? speaking against that war was wrong? so you obviously think any soldiers coming back from Iraq shouldn’t try to stop another unjust war, they should just shut the hell up?
9:57 am on January 9th, 2010
Chickenhawk was originally given to the Huey Slicks that flew our brave soldiers into harms way.
10:06 am on January 9th, 2010
Who could blame anyone for wanting out of Richard Nixon’s sh#tty little southeast asian experiment.
The war was run by McNamara Boobs. Vectoring a solid line of b-52’s from Japan to Hanoi! Thirty seconds spacing! Shoot at the first one and you can shoot at the next 200.
That’s one giant step for mankind, one giant step for dumbass Chickenhawk, Ivy league, Corporate welfare-ism.
Swiftboating was bullsh#t from start to finish. Vietnam was bullsh#t from start to finish. George Babybottle Bush was bullsh@t from start to finish.
Hell, the guys in the 101st were glad about the protests. You guys were getting them out of that goofy SOB of a war.
10:06 am on January 9th, 2010
Why be surprised by what type of puppet-master Craig James truly is? Craig James is now partially responsible for ruining 2 college football programs. Being part of the “pay-for-play” at SMU that caused that university receive the NCAA “death penalty” The death penalty that not only ruined the progtam at SMU but caused decimation of the Southwest Conference’s reputation and finances, contributing to the collapse of the entire conference in 1996.
The following is relating to his son Adam’s mysterious inclusion to an All-American team comprised of the best 90 to 100 high scholl players in the nation.
http://13psi.com/craig-james-puppetmaster/
Craig James, Puppetmaster | January 7th, 2010
“On January 9th, the U.S. Army All American Bowl will play its annual game in San Antonio, Texas. The game is a who’s who of division I prospects. The game’s public relations manager, Amy Sorrells, told 13psi that the game’s roster is annually ‘comprised of the top 90 to 100 high school players in the nation.”’ A look at previous rosters would back that statement up. The 2006 game included the likes of Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, and C.J. Spiller. An impressive group of players being sought by every football powerhouse in the nation. With the exception of one player. Adam James was a senior tight end playing for tiny Celina (TX) Bobcats, a school comprised of 474 students. Competing in Texas’ next to smallest division, Adam James not only wasn’t being recruited, he wasn’t selected to the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State team. Not first team. Not second team. Not third team. So a kid that isn’t considered All-State is suspicously put on the roster of an All-American team? An All-American team comprised of the best 90 to 100 players in the nation? He not only wasn’t listed in the top 250 players in the nation according to Rivals, he wasn’t listed as a top 100 player in his own state. While Rivals is listed as a scouting partner for the U.S. Army game, so is Tom Lemming. . . who happened to work with Craig James at ESPN.
It was only after he was added to the U.S. Army Bowl roster that Adam James was recruited. And while Adam claimed several scholarship offers from different schools, the only offer recognized by Rivals was the ‘grey shirt’ offer from Texas Tech. It was Adams’ mysterious placement on an All-American team and resulting interest from homestate Texas Tech that led us to where we are now. A football player in over his head athletically, a father that refuses to accept that fact, and a coach looking for a new job.”
link: http://13psi.com/craig-james-puppetmaster/
~Red_Raider_Ghost~
10:14 am on January 9th, 2010
I agree that Leach did nothing wrong. Let’s keep that clear. And I was one of the first to say James was overprotective and wrong. But that’s a different subject from the Swiftboaters.
10:32 am on January 9th, 2010
“Richard Nixon’s sh#tty little southeast asian experiment”? Eisenhower/JFK sent advisors, and Johnson got us in DEEP dodo.
12:51 pm on January 9th, 2010
QUOTE FROM BUTCH FORD
“When Adam went to high school here, there were two coaches, me and Craig James, Craig James coached Adam and I coached the rest of the team. I was NEVER so happy to see one boy graduate!”
Butch Ford
Athletic Director/head coach
Celina High School Bobcats
Celina Texas
1:20 pm on January 9th, 2010
The Swiftboat stories were brought by those who served in Vietnam with John Kerry. Those who served with him aggressively pushed the facts. The facts were not created by the PR company. The term “swiftboated” was created by Kerry’s PR spin doctors to try to discredit the Swiftboat veterans who despised Kerry for his traitorous actions after his time in Vietnam. The vast majority of his fellow Swiftboat sailors spoke against Kerry. It wasn’t that he did act at times with courage, but that he grossly embellished his stories and feigned wounds to get combat decorations. He then betrayed his comrades by lying about his service for political gain with the liberal, anti war crowd in Mass.
Shame on Fox Sports and Brooks for such a dishonest and deceitful article. I certainly will not trust Brooks for sports reporting. It also taints what I think of Fox Sports.
3:02 am on January 10th, 2010
I agree that it is pathetic for a PR firm to run a campaign to slim Leach and get him fired but you are equally PATHETIC by comparing “swiftboaters” who were telling the truth about Kerry to a slimball like Craig James. You are about the third blogger that I have seen to make this exact comparison. Do you guys just copy each others stuff or is this just a blogger group think? You lose a lot of credibiltiy when you just report what others are stating. If you dont know, almost ALL the vets that were part of the swiftboat campaign are honorable veterans that needed to get the truth out about Kerry and his lying PR campaign.
- stick to sports
12:55 pm on January 11th, 2010
Looks like sportsbybrooks ought to stay out of politics.
2:06 pm on March 23rd, 2010
Jason - “I just don’t understand why they bothered to extend his contract earlier in the year.”
I think that is the entire point… they weren’t expecting to have a difficult negotiation with Leach the year before and when it happened they weren’t prepared to replace him. One year and many conversations later, they were ready to get rid of him, and be it by slander, by unlawful termination, by any means necessary, they were getting rid of him without fulfilling their end of the deal. TTU administration has absolutely no regard for the man’s reputation, or his future. All they cared about was getting their way and too bad for anyone who get’s in their way.
8:08 pm on June 4th, 2011
My computor hard drive was fried by Spaeth! The justice dept. has it!
Dr. Dean