College football analyst Craig James is learning the hard way that politics and sports do not mix well. The former ESPN star has reportedly been fired from his most recent job at FOX Sports Southwest after alleged anti-gay comments he made during a run for Texas' U.S. Senate seat last year resurfaced. According to the Dallas Morning News, James joined the network in late August but was fired after just one appearance.
During a debate in February 2012, James allegedly said that homosexuals will have to "answer to the Lord for their actions" and argued that being gay was "a choice." He also chastised his opponent for attending a gay pride parade.
The former ESPN analyst also caused controversy while with that network. He had highly criticized former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach for an incident involving James' son Adam James, who had played for Texas Tech under Leach. Earlier this year, Leach lost a lawsuit against ESPN and James alleging libel and slander for the James' comments on the way the coach handled Adam James' recovery from a concussion.
James quit his job at ESPN in 2012 to make the unsuccessful Senate run as a conservative Republican candidate. He has so far not been able to secure another high-profile broadcast job.
