As you’ve probably read elsewhere, former Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach, stung by allegations of mistreating TE Adam James, son of ESPN analyst Craig James, is suing the network and James’ public relations firm for defamation of character.  It’s a dopey move in the estimation of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Adam Zuvanich, who sneers, ‘I just hope he doesn’t take his legal fight to yet another level and file suit against Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman or the Easter Bunny.”

On one hand, I applaud the Pirate for taking on “the man”, so to speak. I think ESPN has gotten way too big for itself – it’s pretty much attempting to create a monopoly in the sports media market – and I don’t have much respect for PR firms. Their purpose is essentially to bend the truth for the benefit of their clients.

On the other hand, the whole thing makes Leach look pretty silly and, as Spaeth said in its statement to reporters, desperate.

Leach, who is currently working as a color analyst for CBS College Sports, apparently thinks this is the only way he can clear his name and be hired to coach again. But if prospective employers are turned off by the fact that he’s suing his former employer, which I imagine they are, they might think he’s gone off the deep end by suing a television network that has given him plenty of publicity over the last 10 years.