Mike Leach Sues ESPN for Slander

Mike Leach is back in the media, but not for wins or losses and not for his unquestioned desire to be a pirate.  Coach Leach has sued ESPN for slander surrounding comments during the Alamo Bowl by an ESPN television personality that seemed to indicate that Coach Leach required a student-athlete to practice while having a concussion or face harsh treatment.  Several comments made during the Alamo Bowl game drew the concern of the ESPN ombudsman in which the statement was made that some of the commentary was not neutral. 

In Texas, a party has one (1) year from the date of the action in question to file suit on a slander claim.  As such, Coach Leach recently filed suit against ESPN and a PR firm for libel and slander seeking unreported monetary damages.  Although Coach Leach may have a justiciable claim, the question remains why continue to bring up the negativity nearly one (1) year after the incident?  The national media has moved on to Cam Newton and the agents paying student-athletes.  Coach Leach’s story is long over, but this brings it up again.  Coach Leach needs a coaching job and this does not seem like the best way to secure a job going into the coaching hiring season.

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