Last Friday I reported the same firm that oversaw the p.r. campaign of the Swift Boat veterans against John Kerry in 2004 was also advising Craig James in his public complaint to the Texas Tech administration about the disciplinary methods of Red Raiders football coach Mike Leach.
(In hiring Swift Boat pr firm, ESPN’s James gave clue of fear over backlash)
Today I talked to the Founder of Spaeth Communications Merrie Spaeth about the company’s specific role with the James family.
Spaeth told me that she was initially contacted by Craig James before he went public with his complaints about Leach after a third party recommended the firm to the ESPN announcer.
“I’m pretty sure his first call was on Dec. 19. He reached out to us,” Spaeth said.
Spaeth said that James wanted her company to, “help (James family) with the first burst of attention.”
“Our first role with them was to think through what to say publicly. We advised him on the drafting of the family’s first statement that was distributed to reporters,” Spaeth said.
Spaeth also provided previously unreported details about the Adam James cellphone video. She said that James actually shot two videos during his separate confiments at Texas Tech practices and, “showed them to his parents.” Those videos were part of the impetus for Craig James taking the complaint against Leach public. Immediately after the second video was shot, Craig James contacted Spaeth to advise him.
Spaeth said the public release of the Adam James cellphone video was based on prior statements by Leach: “We came to a consensus that the video should be released to the public after Leach said some things that were at odds with adam’s story.”
She did not say who had the initial idea to release the video to the media, only that it was a consensus-driven decision by her and the James family.
About the second video uploaded to Youtube and distributed to media outlets that showed Leach shouting at Adam James during a Tech practice, Spaeth said, “I have not seen it and don’t know about it.”
Spaeth also clarified her role with James in the wake of his recent public announcement that he’s considering running for U.S. Senate.
She claimed James’ recent proclamation that he intended to explore the possibility of political career was, “news to me,” adding, “we’d be the last people to represent James. We’re already representing Michael Williams (for the possible Senate seat).”
Spaeth was co-Chair of Williams’ most recent re-election campaign for the Texas Railroad Commission in 2008.
As for the future, Spaeth said she was still advising the James family but that “it’s been quiet for the past five to six days.” Spaeth said, “I don’t know where the litigation is going,” and that she wasn’t working on anything specific for James at the moment.
I asked Spaeth if the backlash from Tech fans and West Texans James has suffered will harm his political aspirations. She said, while noting her representation of Williams, “I’ll decline to speculate.” She additionally stated that she had not talked politics with the James once during her advisory capacity with the family.
By hiring one of the most aggressive p.r. firms in Spaeth before he ever went public about Leach, Craig James possibly shows just how grave his concern was over the potentially negative public reaction. Because of the nature of James’ complaints and Leach’s popularity, there was no way James would’ve ever won a p.r. battle. In hiring Spaeth, it appears James had an inkling of that and also might show just how much he disliked Leach and the concerns he had for his son’s safety.
As an aside, Spaeth told me that the “third party” that recommended Spaeth’s firm to James was not in the Tech administration.
If there’s no settlement between the school and Leach and the matter goes to court, the James family could be dragged back into the public dispute, with more ugly consequences.
I would guess that if Leach doesn’t get a check for eight figures and attorney fees in a settlement with the school, the matter will go to court. So would think James would like to retain Spaeth in the future, but with the company’s potential conflict of interest in repping Williams in a future race for the U.S. Senate against James, I would think Spaeth won’t be in the picture much longer.
Good news for The Pirate as he wouldn’t have to worry about any more swabbies coming forwards.
9:18 pm on January 10th, 2010
I know the term “Swiftboating” is a leftist slur these days, but that pig won’t fly. When Ho Chi Kerry’s antics as an anti war activist were exposed, it was done by his peers, superiors, and subordinates who knew him intimately. No lies were conveyed about Ho Chi Kerry, because none were needed, his antics were part of the public record. I don’t know if anything untruthful was communicated concerning coach Leach, but just because a particular PR firm was used does not make anything ‘untowards’. If there is proof that something was done that meets that criteria, then that needs to be brought forward.Uuntil then, this is a non-story.
10:48 pm on January 10th, 2010
Oh, my! The right-winged nut jobs are out tonight in true form! It’s always nice to log on to read a sports story and see some troll come along and spew out what someone else fed them……
TEAMLEACH on Facebook! 60,000+ members!
I don’t think that Craig James will win a race for the Senate. I could go tacky and say “he’ll be too busy babysitting Adam”, but I’m going to take the high road and say that Texans don’t forget when you mess with their football.
10:51 pm on January 10th, 2010
Ouch ! Tough talk from a couple of Permanent War fans. If you were capable of logical thinking, you might realize that employing a Public Relations firm BEFORE you go public is designed to provide cover from whatever nonsense is to follow - strange for a sports announcer
12:10 am on January 11th, 2010
This is very good reporting. The next question, though, is who linked Craig James with Spaeth Communications and why. My guess is that it was someone in Governor Rick Perry’s administration. Why? It’s all about Texas A&M Aggie football. You see, in Texas, football runs deeper than politics.
12:21 am on January 11th, 2010
swiftboat v. 1. to tell the truth about democrats
12:41 am on January 11th, 2010
Trolls,unable to comprehend a very simple story?
I’ll sum up in as few words as possible:
Sportscaster wants to be in politics.
Son sucks at football
Son gets hurt at football
Coach sidelines Son.
Coach follows guidelines for head injury,no playing and confined to darkened place where there is no oppurtunity for rapid head/eye movement.
Father is outraged and leans on Coach and Administration.
Coach pushes back.
Father uses position of power to lean on Athletic Director and University administration.
Administration fires Coach.
Father hires public relations company(known liars) to spin the news so that senate run chances will be undiminished.
Less than honorable PR company is linked to the above circumstances.
The plot is revealed.
The plan backfires!
Senate run now almost impossible for father sportscaster.
Trolls in the neo-con thinktanks pop in to say that “everything is nonsense and that everyone who disagrees is just stupid”.
You understand?
12:44 am on January 11th, 2010
The bottom line is that this PR firm engaged in smearing a genuine war veteran who was legitimately awarded three Purple Hearts for his service, all so they could get a proven draft-dodger into office instead.
That about says it all about the Republicans. Biggest hypocrite organization in modern times.
1:42 am on January 11th, 2010
When all is said and done you may find that this is more about dollars than anything else and the Adam James situation was nothing more than a tool for Texas Tech who felt like they got strong armed by Leach and his agent and then Leach thought he was untouchable. This was about getting out of a bad contract for Tech and Craig James was a willing accomplice…when the whole story comes out, one might find that a prominent alumnus put James in contact with Spaeth
That being said, Leach was clown (albeit a very talented clown) and has walked the tightrope for the past few years in Lubbock. The administration put up with him because he was winning football games and beating UT and just about everyone else. Then he runs across Craig James and his kid , the kid is not as tough as Dad and dad was probably instrumental in getting the kid to walk on at Tech(College football is not like the old days when walk ons were somewhat welcome). Leach probably resented outside influences on whom he could have on his team(Adam is not very good) and he he was probably trying to ridicule and humiliate the kid so he would quit….it backfired.
But, as to James’ political ambitions… messing with the Texas Tech program would be of little consequence in Texas. It’s in way out Lubbock and it’s not like this was UT or Texas A & M, which in Texas could have HUGE reprecussions- Tech was/is the afterthought school in Texas- mostly kids out of the Dallas suburbs who could not get into the above named schools and did not have the money for places like TCU or Baylor. Besides, with the hire of Tuberville, all will be forgiven when he picks up where Leach left off and also improves the defense.
3:33 am on January 11th, 2010
chesapeakeguy, David C and Taylor … Ten-SHUN!
I’ll bet none of you fools have ever been within 500 miles of an active battlefield, let alone actual combat … Ho Chi Kerry? Are you kidding me? The man fought for his country and was brave enough to use his position as a public figure to call the Vietnam War what it was — a colossal mistake. He was defending his fellow soldiers, not attacking them. Quit watching FOX for a few minutes and pick up a history book — you might learn something, you ignorant cowards.
5:01 am on January 11th, 2010
So, just who was on the Swift Boaters’ list of press contacts? The slanderous version most people accept as the truth almost instantly shot onto wires via the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Dallas Morning News. A lot of people familiar with Texas politics found the timing too perfect too. Leach was blindsided as planned. He was completely tied up planning for a bowl game with the potential of vauting Texas Tech back into the final Top 25 college football polls.
I’ve written for both The Avalanche-Journal and The Morning News, and it comes as no surprise that they would be in collusion with the Swift Boaters.
5:17 am on January 11th, 2010
No doubt, the folks behind this effort are hoping Missouri ends up with a system where the Chamber of Commerce bankrolls Supreme Court campaigns and elects judges who will ensure that the interests of average citizens will no longer get a hearing in Missouri courts.
9:51 am on January 11th, 2010
TBone Pickens still owes Kerry $1000000 for losing his bet on veracity of the the not so swiftie charges. As a vet who spent time in Vietnam from 67 to 69 I can testify that Vietnam was corrupt government protecting the rich kids from having to fight. Sound familiar? Leach was trying to make a man out of a wimp. Craig has no chance in hell of winning a race for congress. He already established he took illegal money to play at SMU. Go Mike Leach. Stick em.
11:23 am on January 11th, 2010
Adam James is a tool.
Used by his father to get publicity, name recognition (may have backfired) and used by TTU Admin to get out of employment contract they never intended to honor.
12:37 pm on January 11th, 2010
To be fair to James the comment by Bill Han is incorrect. It wasn’t established he took money from SMU, but I agree he looks terrible in this case
11:41 am on January 12th, 2010
Trey, It was not established that Craig James took money from SMU or SMU Alumni, but at least 13 stars did while he was there. The best I can remember, few if any of the players were named. Wonder what the lie detector would say if he was asked about taking money during his SMU days?
12:31 am on January 13th, 2010
I never liked Craig James even when I played with him. I hope he goes down in flames, along with his worthless family. - Mr. 4Q
11:04 am on January 13th, 2010
A lie is as good as the truth if you can get someone to believe it. It worked with the swiftboat vets 5 years ago so I’m sure Mr. James assumes people are still just as ignorant today.
5:14 pm on November 24th, 2010
funny how RepubliNazis still say Kerry “blah blah”
when the truth is = he served
and the sheep they voted for, GW Bush, was huffing coke with Saudis while he laundered oil money between them and C.I.A. daddy as he dodged serving anything for his country
the same RepubliNazi’s who are going to vote Bush with a bush as the GOP candidate right after they failed to vote her white trash kid to victory on Dancing with the Stars