Anything I say is of little significance

[Tulsa Brave]

That's what I gather from the locked thread. Because I live in Tulsa these days and thus am not a BU season ticket holder. Didn't know I had to commute 575 miles each way to BU home games to be a fan and/or have an opinion, but oh well, now I know...


Da Coach Da Coach is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Everyone can have their own opinion. That's what message boards are for. But for anyone to suggest that a single letter printed by a newspaper is a fair representation of the public opinion on this subject is ludicrous.

For me, I would be a lot more impressed if it was from someone who supported Bradley or at least was a season-ticket holder. Apparently it is not. I personally give it little significance.
__________________

[Da Coach]

Complete BS- why do the negative fans try to alter what the others say, so it becomes easier to refute them or put them down?

Nobody has ever said that you or anyone can't have an opinion. Feel free.
But if you cannot express an opinion without attacking someone else for their opinion, it will not be allowed. Posts that were removed crossed the line in attacking other posters personally. When that happens repeatedly, threads will be locked or removed.

Here is my opinion: Notice that in virtually every post I have made, I have reaffirmed that the letter writer is fully entitled to his opinion. That is something that I apparently am not allowed by some of the negative fans here.
If someone is going to write a letter to a newspaper attacking a decent man who has done a good job, and he or the newspaper is doing so to try to get that coach fired, then it is my opinion that supporters of Bradley have the right to ask who such attackers are, and what their agendas are.

It's simple- if people don't like the Bradley Braves, they can follow other teams, or choose not to follow or support Bradley. Nobody if forcing them to be fans. But when peripheral fans start to demand coaches be fired, and newspapers selectively publish attack letters like today's then it's obvious they have an agenda.

And finally- anyone who doesn't think this site allows enough negative opinions, or enough bitching and complaining, they are free to post elsewhere. We have seen an inordinate amount of negative rumors, and none of them have been proven true yet.
But please don't cry about censorship here.

[DeltaBrave03]

I've been on other boards that are monitored very little, and it can be difficult to even have a discussion about something trying to get around all of the personal attacks against posters for their opinions. I've posted numerous times about bad games by players or questionable coaching decisions, and none have ever been deleted. Take the board for what it is a good place for discussion, there are other boards that allow rumors that don't appear on here.

[TheAsianSensation]

If someone is going to write a letter to a newspaper attacking a decent man who has done a good job, and he or the newspaper is doing so to try to get that coach fired, then it is my opinion that supporters of Bradley have the right to ask who such attackers are, and what their agendas are.

Allow me to interject as sort of a medium to this argument.

When you say "decent man who has done a good job", no one will argue against the decent man part. However, to be fair, it seems like people are debating the "good job" part, so if someone wants to question that, then that's there opinion. And a well-reasoned argument about it is reasonable. So if someone writes a well-reasoned opinion on why firing JL would be beneficial for the program, it's fine.

The specific letter as written in the pjstar was a bit over the top, though. On this much, I agree with you. However, the agenda he has may be as simple as "I want to win". Not, "I want Bradley to fail", which is how I feel some are interpreting it. The agenda doesn't have to be complex. Also, whoever the guy is, is one guy. He represents a minority, and the true way to dismiss his opinion is to counter all the points he wrongly, IMO, made in the argument.

Now, as far as the paper itself, their decision to publish that particular letter, yes, it's curious at best. I wonder what other letters they were getting. I wonder whether they chose an inflammatory opinion to spike interest in the program, whether it was a non-sports fan that knew any better that chose to print that letter, or whatever. I do think there is a better way to write an "anti-JL" letter, so to speak.



And once again, I repeat to everyone: Everyone wants what's best for the program. For some, that means firing JL and hiring a new coach they feel can do a better job.

Maybe the "anti-JL" side should realize that when they argue against keeping JL, they need to focus on how they think the program will be better off in the long run with a new coach. Discuss JL's shortcomings, but describe how a new coach improves upon his shortcomings. Don't just bash for the sake of bashing, because that looks bad.

Maybe the "pro-JL" side should realize that the people that want JL fired want so for the betterment of the program. Not to see it in flames. An understanding of how the other side feels, and why you feel JL is the right guy and why they disagree with your opinion of JL.



I'm sick and tired of hearing the word "agenda". Everyone's agenda for Bradley is to win conference championships and national championships. Everyone's. Some of the arguments for and against may be unconventional and unreasonable, but don't confuse weird opinions or anger with everyone's one simple agenda: winning.


And thus ends my monthly appearance in one of these threads.

[bert notorius]

I've never been attacked here.

I must be doing something wrong

but

I've never really said anything significant.

[mexicobufan]

I dont think anyone on here lives farther away than I do and I have been on this board from almost day one. I have never had a post deleted or have ever been attacked. I appreciate the fact that negativity is not allowed to get out of control.

GO BU!!!!

[AE Braves Fan]

Why not just accept the fact that this board will be a place that doesn't descend into the pits of negativity and constant personal attacks?

The rules have been stated many times and the owners do a tremendous job of promoting positive BU discussion. There are plenty of other places to go if you don't like the rules!

[Da Coach]

Allow me to interject as sort of a medium to this argument.

When you say "decent man who has done a good job", no one will argue against the decent man part. However, to be fair, it seems like people are debating the "good job" part, so if someone wants to question that, then that's there opinion. And a well-reasoned argument about it is reasonable. So if someone writes a well-reasoned opinion on why firing JL would be beneficial for the program, it's fine.

The specific letter as written in the pjstar was a bit over the top, though. On this much, I agree with you. However, the agenda he has may be as simple as "I want to win". Not, "I want Bradley to fail", which is how I feel some are interpreting it. The agenda doesn't have to be complex. Also, whoever the guy is, is one guy. He represents a minority, and the true way to dismiss his opinion is to counter all the points he wrongly, IMO, made in the argument.

Now, as far as the paper itself, their decision to publish that particular letter, yes, it's curious at best. I wonder what other letters they were getting. I wonder whether they chose an inflammatory opinion to spike interest in the program, whether it was a non-sports fan that knew any better that chose to print that letter, or whatever. I do think there is a better way to write an "anti-JL" letter, so to speak.



And once again, I repeat to everyone: Everyone wants what's best for the program. For some, that means firing JL and hiring a new coach they feel can do a better job.

Maybe the "anti-JL" side should realize that when they argue against keeping JL, they need to focus on how they think the program will be better off in the long run with a new coach. Discuss JL's shortcomings, but describe how a new coach improves upon his shortcomings. Don't just bash for the sake of bashing, because that looks bad.

Maybe the "pro-JL" side should realize that the people that want JL fired want so for the betterment of the program. Not to see it in flames. An understanding of how the other side feels, and why you feel JL is the right guy and why they disagree with your opinion of JL.



I'm sick and tired of hearing the word "agenda". Everyone's agenda for Bradley is to win conference championships and national championships. Everyone's. Some of the arguments for and against may be unconventional and unreasonable, but don't confuse weird opinions or anger with everyone's one simple agenda: winning.


And thus ends my monthly appearance in one of these threads.

Thanks for your usually cogent point of view, TAS-

Just a couple things more-
I said JL has done a good job, because though the detractors will acknowledge nothing more than a "lucky 6 week" period in 2006, Bradley has played the strongest schedule over the past 5 years of any MVC team. They have won 102 games in the last 5 years, they have never finished in the lower half of the conference, they have as many NCAA wins as all but maybe 1 other school, they have far more post-season wins than any MVC school, and I could go on with listing the positives, but I think any rational fan will admit that the last 5 years have not been the disaster than a few people try to portray. Nobody is totally satisfied, and I would like to see better finishes. But considering the serious injuries to key players, I can understand why some of the teams have underachieved. There are some who aren't willing to be reasonable about those intangibles.

The Letter- I have been informed by a reliable source that the person who wrote the letter is a former long-time Peoria Journal Star employee.
Maybe that doesn't mean anything to most readers, but, IMO if this is true, that should have been disclosed, and leads many readers to suspect a potential conflict of interest, and possible a lack of integrity.

And one more thing regarding the anti-JL crowd, and my use of the term "agenda". There are some who have specific agendas, and it is not always to see Bradley win.
Without going into greater detail, I have saved several long PMs and emails sent by a couple former posters on this site, who no longer post (not by their own choice), and forwarded to me. In these messages, these self anointed Jim Les-haters list incidents that they detail to try to convince others that Jim Les is a bad guy, and to support their admitted hatred of him.
They felt that if they decribed their issues with Jim Les enough, they would convince others what an awful man, and terrible coach he was.
But many of us know Coach Les, and he is nothing like what those couple haters described. So when I use the term "agenda", I mean it to describe a type of person, like these I am referring to, who have an irrational hatred for a decent man, and who admit they are dedicated to trying to bring him down in any way they can. I have the proof I need to show that there are irrational JL-haters out there, and there are still others around who masquerade as Bradley "fans", and they are not going to be allowed to poison this site.

[BU_EMT128]

So when I use the term "agenda", I mean it to describe a type of person, like these I am referring to, who have an irrational hatred for a decent man, and who admit they are dedicated to trying to bring him down in any way they can.

I am glad you have cleared this one up. As I was becoming rather irritated at being lumped into a "JL-Hater" group, when I have nothing against the guy. I am sure he is a great guy, and obviously has significant basketball knowledge. I just feel that the program could possibly be more successful under a new coaching system. But being a FAN, I will support my coach... Whomever that coach is.

[tornado]

I'm sick and tired of hearing the word "agenda"...

then seriously - if they print letters that are from long time Journal Star employees, would it be too much that they reveal that??
..instead of acting like the letter came innocently in the mail from a complete and objective stranger to the folks at the PJS?

[amckillip]

I dont think anyone on here lives farther away than I do and I have been on this board from almost day one. I have never had a post deleted or have ever been attacked. I appreciate the fact that negativity is not allowed to get out of control.

GO BU!!!!

I HAVE had posts deleted, but this is by far the best DISCUSSION board I've been on. Think about it like a debate, there are rules and regulation to make it more productive.

[BUfan14]

I HAVE had posts deleted, but this is by far the best DISCUSSION board I've been on. Think about it like a debate, there are rules and regulation to make ti more productive.

Yep I agree with this and everything DC said. I'm fine with how this board is run, in fact I like it that way.

[amettrick]

I am glad you have cleared this one up. As I was becoming rather irritated at being lumped into a "JL-Hater" group, when I have nothing against the guy. I am sure he is a great guy, and obviously has significant basketball knowledge. I just feel that the program could possibly be more successful under a new coaching system. But being a FAN, I will support my coach... Whomever that coach is.

I agree completely. I have no problem with Jim Les as a person. I've talked to him on a number of occasions and he's always been polite and friendly. I also believe that he's done some fine things for this program. He got us a Sweet 16 appearance, brought in some very talentled players, and raised the overall status of the program. Those are all positives.

However, I also have some serious questions about his coaching ability. I feel he often takes too long to make in-game adjustments, I think there have been too many players off-the-court problems, and I think he's fallen short when it comes to the ultimate goal: winning conference regular season and tournament titles and making it to the NCAA tournament. One NCAA appearance and 0 MVC titles of any kind in 8 years is simply not good enough in my opinion. Under Les, the Braves have never finished higher than 4th in the MVC and his overall MVC record is 70-74.

I don't know whether Les is the right man to lead this program or not. If the BU administration believes he is, then I'll support that decision.

My question is simply this: how many years of average finishes do you allow any coach before that kind of result in no longer acceptable?

[tornado]

Yep I agree with this and everything DC said. I'm fine with how this board is run, in fact I like it that way.

in 2002 the only forums that existed were not only populated by 100% bubashers, they were even run and moderated by them...and look what it and the letters to the PJS led to...
running a decent man and coach (Jim Molinari) out of town and here's where we are now, yet the bashers want to do it all over again..

[lefty]

While I think we are making way too much out of a letter to the Star...some people agreeing and others tearing down the validity which I don't get really, I still like this board regarding in regards to BU.

I don't agree with some all the time but that's ok. We know the rules and that's the way it is.