Posted on 01/08/2010 6:05:32 PM PST by MissesBush
ESPN analyst Craig James told a Dallas television station Thursday that he is considering a run for Kay Bailey Hutchison's Senate seat when she vacates it later this year.
"I'm a Texan. I'm concerned for our country," he said. "I disagree with the approach that we're having, things that are taking place, and so whatever door opens up, I'll look at it, if and when it opens up." He describes himself as a conservative and says he is worried about government involvement in business and health care. "Why does the government have to be involved in everything we do?"
James has deep roots in Texas, especially in Texas football, where he enjoyed an illustrious high school and college football career. He was the star running back of Stratford High School's class 4A championship team in 1978, setting the all-time Texas 4A record for rushing yards in a season (2,411). As a freshman at Southern Methodist University, he teamed with quarterback Eric Dickerson to form the "Pony Express" backfield. In 1982, he scored a 96-yard touchdown reception that set a record as the longest scoring play in Southwestern Conference history.
James went on to play for the NFL's New England Patriots, where he was the last white player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, earning him the nickname "The Great White Hope."
After his retirement from football, he began working in television as a college sports broadcaster. James currently appears on ESPN's Thursday night football package, as well as the Saturday afternoon program "ESPN on ABC." He has covered college basketball and the Winter Olympics, beginning with local affiliates in Dallas and working his way to network prominence.
But James' recent noteworthy involvement with football has been controversial, which could affect his political chances in Texas.
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was fired Dec. 30 after James and his wife filed a complaint with the university amid allegations the coach mistreated their son, receiver Adam James, after the player suffered a concussion. Leach has denied he mistreated Adam James.
The controversy still hangs in the air. Sports Illustrated columnist Stewart Mandel wrote that the showdown between Craig James and Leach puts both mens' "considerable reputations on the line," and that it is "going to get ugly." Get the new PD toolbar!
Got a bad taste in my mouth over what the James family did to Mike Leach.
Perry has done lots wrong, and this is coming from another Aggie.
SMU guy? What’s his opinion on the death penalty?
Who?
People who are snickered at when their name is mentioned should not run for high public office. Being a helicopter parent and providing the “any lame excuse” the TT administration needed to toss Leach would drive away the big $$ and endorsements. No matter what James thought he was doing for his family, he is damaged goods.
You betcha! I’m sure many other Texans feel the same way.
After what happened between Coach Leach and Craig’s son at Texas Tech, I doubt that he has much of a chance in Texas. The man sounds like a real horse’s a$$, regardless of what was going on with his son and the coach.
Well, he’s already shown that he’s willing to lie and use other’s lies to get what he wants, so he should be fine in office. Just the type of repub we need in Texas.
Where is Sam Houston?
Craig James is a legend in his own mind.
Get Craig James to run for the House or something. We already have a conservative for US Senate.
Michael Williams
That’s a big 10-04..
Now if only Kay Bailey actually resigns.
Well, he is the best player in the history of the SWC to back up someone who took money that lead to the NCAA death penalty for his team, so ya know, he has something going...
He’s never run for any office at any level of government. Why should he be given a US senate seat as an entry level position? There’s already a long list of candidates and potential candidates for this job including Michael Williams (Commissioner Texas Railroad Commission), Elizabeth Ames Jones (Commissioner Texas Railroad Commission), Gregg Abbot (Texas Attorney General).
That makes two of us!
Ping
I'm still not sure where she got the idea that those of us who are sometimes disappointed with Perry would be inclined to turn to her for improvement?!?!
I think under the best of circumstances most Republicans would consider it a sideways move. And I'm not really sure giving up a safe senate seat is worth the risk that a smart, conservative sounding Democrat could sneak his way into the senate.
I don't think she seriously has a chance, but I do think that with the wrong Republican candidate and the right Democratic candidate, it will be a closer senate race than it should ever be for Texas.
And I don't think a bruising primary will be helpful either (although, watching theses 2 try to out conservative each other will be entertaining...look for lots of hunting and horseback riding photos...and some secession talk.)
The only place that Craig James will run in Texas is away.
“Why should he be given a US senate seat as an entry level position?”
It’s the Craig James attitude of entitlement. This same attitude led him to harass Mike Leach by appearing at 70+ practices to attempt to push his spoiled-brat son into the starting lineup at Tech, after he had washed out on his baseball scholarship. Leach’s big mistake was in not banning both father and son from the practice field, but Daddy James’s ESPN microphone was a threat.
I wouldn’t vote for Craig James to clean latrines in the drunk tank at the Lubbock jail.
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