Mike Leach Sues ESPN for Defamation

Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach gave ESPN an unpleasant Thanksgiving greeting on Wednesday, filing a lawsuit in Texas district court that accuses the sports-media giant of "willful and negligent defamation" of Leach in its coverage of the events leading up to and following the coach's firing late last year.

Leach was terminated last Dec. 30 in the wake of accusations that he mistreated injured wide receiver Adam James, the son of ESPN college football commentator Craig James. Among other allegations, Leach reportedly ordered Adam, who was recovering from a concussion, to stand alone in a dark closet on two occasions during the 2009 season. James shot video of his confinement, and the controversy came to a head when the footage was posted online.

Leach's lawsuit also names Spaeth Communications, a Dallas public-relations firm that Craig James hired when his son's complaints about Leach went public. The suit claims that Spaeth, which orchestrated the "Swift Boat" campaign against 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry, played a central role in leaking the video footage and accuses the firm of "creating public opinion hostile to Leach."

In an email to FanHouse, an ESPN spokesman said the company has "not seen the lawsuit and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment." Spaeth did not return calls or emails seeking comment. Rebecca Shaw, the firm's executive vice president, told the Associated Press that Leach's suit is "the predictable strategy of a man who is desperate to avoid accountability for his own behavior."

Ted Liggett, Leach's attorney, said the 49-year-old former coach simply wants to clear his name. "His reputation has taken a severe hit and been tarnished," Liggett told the Associated Press. "On a daily basis we're still seeing stories across the country with accounts Leach claims are counter to the truth."

Leach is already pursuing litigation against Texas Tech. His suit against the school, which charges the university with libel, slander, and breach of contract, is now in Texas appellate court after a lower-court judge ruled that the school does not have "sovereign immunity" from breach of contract claims. Last month, lawyers for Leach and Texas Tech appeared before a three-judge panel, which will decide whether Leach's suit can go to trial.

The 12-page complaint against ESPN and Spaeth includes a letter sent by Leach's lawyer to ESPN on Dec. 28 of last year -- two days before Leach was fired -- that paints an unflattering picture of Craig James, one of the network's top color commentators. The letter states that Craig James repeatedly called Texas Tech coaches because he was upset with his son's lack of playing time, and later sent emails to the school's "highest administrative officials" in an effort to get Leach fired. James' "vindictive" campaign, according to the letter, was particularly unprofessional because he served as an ESPN analyst on several Texas Tech games in 2009.

Leach was fired just before his team's appearance in the Alamo Bowl last Jan. 2. (Texas Tech won the game, 41-31, over Michigan State.) James was scheduled to work the game for ESPN, but was replaced by another broadcaster.

This season, Leach has had his media pulpit, working as a color commentator for CBS College Sports and appearing frequently on sports radio. He's scheduled to call the Tulane-Marshall game this Saturday for CBS. It's his final broadcast of the season for CBS, which signed him to a one-year contract. A CBS spokeswoman declined to comment on Leach's broadcasting future with the company.