New Wessler piece

[Chico]

DING DING DING DING DING

I love all the protectionism surrounding JL. Let's not forget this is his dream job. . .a job he wanted. He knew going in (or at least any reasonable person should know) that with the job goes constant criticism, certain expectations (the same expectations he shared with us at his introductory press conference), and a responsibility for his performance.

Only 2 coaches in BU history (in the tournament era) did not have that noose around their neck: Robertson and Orsborn.

It could be argued every coach since Orsborn got a "raw deal" at the end of their tenure (except maybe Albeck). So it would be awful arrogant not to mention ridiculously stupid for any one to expect any different for any coach that didn't even win a league championship.

JL knows that critisism comes with the job, but I've don't remember readng where he complains about it. IMO, JS didn't get a "raw deal" when he was let go.

[tornado]

No doubt our staff expects and can handle their deserved share of criticism.....
But -- I believe there has been some sentiment that some in the basketball program and some in the athletic department
feel they are not treated fairly and that some coverage has an unfair negative slant...thus we even saw a demand for a retraction/correction and PJS complied with the stories about the details of the DR arrest, the wording of the comments about JP, and other stories like the BU expansion project - although no correction or...in other words -- they report first, then when confronted with the real facts, they back down and re-word their reports, but never really apologize for damage done...

I read the press in every other MVC city (Cedar Falls/Des Moines, Spfld, MO, Omaha, Wichita, Bloomington, Terre Haute, Evansville, C-dale) and I have never seen their press do the same thing.
Even when there have been very serious negative issues with ISU players, SIU players, etc...I think they cover it from an objective standpoint or just let it go and sometimes don't even report it......

There have been a number of other topics that some feel are covered exclusively from a negative viewpoint...but I have lived in Peoria for 40 of my years and I really can't recall it ever being any other way..
So as long as "stirring the pot" is really all they wish to do, I have to concede, this morning's "Hot seat" column didn't stir anything that hasn't already been stirred a number of times already.

[Out of Balance]

there is not one person on this board who could even in the tiniest way exert anything that would or could "protect" Jim Les...
Any decision that might have any influence on who is our head coach is in the hands of a very few individuals and
I can assure that none of them post on this board or have even spoken publicly on the topic.
surely you noted that very fact in KW's column...
"It wouldn’t be appropriate for BU athletics director Michael Cross to answer the question."
...that question being..."How hot is the seat under Jim Les?"

I agree with you T My opinion below from a earlier post, still stands Jimmy, hoping you have a great year and watch your back

Viewing Pres. Glasser's road map with athletic departments, ADs and coach's, Jimmys destination may not be in his hands, no matter how good this season turns out! As for KW, I don't think he is a BU or JL hater and no matter what he writes,who he plays golf with, will have a direct input to Jimmy's future, good or bad

[tornado]

I amend my statement -- if there is anyone or anything that can have at least some influence on who our coach is....it might be
the local paper who can drum up a lot of sympathy with their negativity...they did it with Mo and they're capable of doing it
again since "the pen is mightier than..." and "you don't want to get on the opposite side of someone who buys ink by the barrel"
(although as fast as my morning paper is shrinking and how tiny the print is -- they might now be buying ink by the pint!)

BTW -- I know there's been a lot of turnover on MVC coaches but...
which coaches are kinda immune no matter how bad they do this year?
Jake, Jank, obviously Lansing & Mac is since they're going to get at least a couple years' grace...
But what if CLo has a terrible year, or Phelps, or Cuonzo, or Marty, or even Marshall....
I'm not saying it's likely, but if the Shockers finish 10th does GM get a pass?

[Out of Balance]

I amend my statement -- if there is anyone or anything that can have at least some influence on who our coach is....it might be
the local paper who can drum up a lot of sympathy with their negativity...they did it with Mo and they're capable of doing it
again since "the pen is mightier than..." and "you don't want to get on the opposite side of someone who buys ink by the barrel"

If the above is true, then they failed in their attempt to influence BU to hire the local guy, WM, when they hired JL
It's NOT the size of the print or the ink, it's called getting OLD But I do agree

[squirrelgotdead]

If the above is true, then they failed in their attempt to influence BU to hire the local guy, WM, when they hired JL
It's NOT the size of the print or the ink, it's called getting OLD But I do agree

Again I ask about this revisionist history. . .when did the PJS or any of its writers endorse WM?

I love all the "well the other option was Wayne McClain" nonsense. Most people didn't want either, and even most who were less than ecstatic with JL, DID NOT want McClain. That includes the local paper. There may have been "well, given the druthers. . .McClain is the obvious choice" type piece written, but that's because nobody thought BU, well, I'll just stop.

It simply can't be painted that all non-JL supporters wanted McClain. That's just not true.

[srw]

Again I ask about this revisionist history. . .when did the PJS or any of its writers endorse WM?

I love all the "well the other option was Wayne McClain" nonsense. Most people didn't want either, and even most who were less than ecstatic with JL, DID NOT want McClain. That includes the local paper. There may have been "well, given the druthers. . .McClain is the obvious choice" type piece written, but that's because nobody thought BU, well, I'll just stop.

It simply can't be painted that all non-JL supporters wanted McClain. That's just not true.

Certain people have been painting it this way since the outset. it is certainly silly.

I have always said of my 8

WM was 7 and JL was 8.

I hope JL wins big this year.

Those of us who don't believe he has done a good job, can point to the new assistants, those who love him can say "we told ya so"

If he does the norm (Friday at 2:30)

Which person is going to say "He wasn't given enough time with the new facility"

[houstontxbrave]

I have serious doubts that anything negative from Wessler has anything to do with Wayne McClain. Most all of the decision makers from that time are gone.

I doubt Wessler takes out any grudge from 9 years ago on Les, who had nothing to do with the decision other then he was the one chosen.

But, alot of this from Wessler and the PJstar has accumulated over Les's tenure.

But regardless of the reason, all will be well and good if Bradley competes for a conference championship. If not, well then likely something will occur that probably will lead to a new head coach.

Then again, there could be such a disconnect between Glasser and Les, nothing he does could change her view point. She seems pretty shrewd, that I do not put it past her to have Wessler plant negative views and have his words stir the pot, giving her complete justification when she makes a change through her new AD.

But, I believe Les lives in the today and does not really worry to deeply about Glasser, Wessler or anyone outside of his program. Whatever happens, happens but his team will be prepared and focused on trying to be as successful as possible this season. Chips will fall where chips will fall.

[srw]

I have serious doubts that anything negative from Wessler has anything to do with Wayne McClain. Most all of the decision makers from that time are gone.

I doubt Wessler takes out any grudge from 9 years ago on Les, who had nothing to do with the decision other then he was the one chosen.

But, alot of this from Wessler and the PJstar has accumulated over Les's tenure.

But regardless of the reason, all will be well and good if Bradley competes for a conference championship. If not, well then likely something will occur that probably will lead to a new head coach.

Then again, there could be such a disconnect between Glasser and Les, nothing he does could change her view point. She seems pretty shrewd, that I do not put it past her to have Wessler plant negative views and have his words stir the pot, giving her complete justification when she makes a change through her new AD.

But, I believe Les lives in the today and does not really worry to deeply about Glasser, Wessler or anyone outside of his program. Whatever happens, happens but his team will be prepared and focused on trying to be as successful as possible this season. Chips will fall where chips will fall.

I dont think JG is having much contact with the sports department at a local paper.

Besides if thats the case...why not simply focus on the poor record in conference, and the certain player transgressions?

I think Kirk speaks for himself.

[houstontxbrave]

I dont think JG is having much contact with the sports department at a local paper.

Besides if thats the case...why not simply focus on the poor record in conference, and the certain player transgressions?

I think Kirk speaks for himself.

I should have wrote, me just speculating. I though would not put something like that past a person, whos strikes me as very much a Politician type and no Politician is beyond attempting to plant stories. Black coptiers type of logic

You Im sure are right Wessler speaks for himself, but deep inside of his speak he is grinding an axe. I dont though mind it, because I think Les is way beyond giving a crap what Kirk Wessler writes or thinks. Likely the same for anything coming from the PJStar.

Its very obvious Wessler, Reynolds and Les have virtually no relationship. I would be very curious to know the relationship between Les and Glasser.

[tornado]

sorry -- but I remain unconvinced ...

PJSTAR April 6, 2002, editorial by PJS staff...
"Off the Beat -- Les is not more when McClain could be had"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

PJSTAR April 9,2002, column
"Les brings back memories, but peers feel for McClain"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

then numerous negative opinions were also posted --

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

and a column by Kirk Wessler April 27, 2003...
"He (Wayne McClain) applied for the head coaching job at Bradley, his alma mater.
And these people unleashed the fury of hell upon him, questioning his coaching ability
and assassinating his character..."
"I know who McClain is.
He's a good and decent man. An honest man. A successful man.
A man who made something great - yes, great - of himself after a dicey childhood.
A man who gave a big part of himself to this community and its children.
A man who still loves this city and wants to feel a bond with the university from which he graduated.
But he feels betrayed. Not because he wasn't hired to coach Bradley's basketball team.
Hell, no. That's not it.
He has been betrayed by fellow Peorians, by fellow BU alums. And for what reason?
Simply because he applied for a job?


(all are subscription if you want them)

[Future Walk-On]

bingo -- plus - almost any other choice that might have been made back in 2002 would still have our guys practicing in a 60 year old airplane hangar...

I would much rather be a good team with success and practice in a 600 year old dungeon.

Time will tell if 8 years of suck will be a worthy sacrifice for new facilities.

[squirrelgotdead]

sorry -- but I remain unconvinced ...

PJSTAR April 6, 2002, editorial by PJS staff...
"Off the Beat -- Les is not more when McClain could be had"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

PJSTAR April 9,2002, column
"Les brings back memories, but peers feel for McClain"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

then numerous negative opinions were also posted --

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

and a column by Kirk Wessler April 27, 2003...
"He (Wayne McClain) applied for the head coaching job at Bradley, his alma mater.
And these people unleashed the fury of hell upon him, questioning his coaching ability
and assassinating his character..."
"I know who McClain is.
He's a good and decent man. An honest man. A successful man.
A man who made something great - yes, great - of himself after a dicey childhood.
A man who gave a big part of himself to this community and its children.
A man who still loves this city and wants to feel a bond with the university from which he graduated.
But he feels betrayed. Not because he wasn't hired to coach Bradley's basketball team.
Hell, no. That's not it.
He has been betrayed by fellow Peorians, by fellow BU alums. And for what reason?
Simply because he applied for a job?


(all are subscription if you want them)

I am well acquainted with those articles. If you choose to look at it through a one-or-the-other lens which is disingenuous and the only way the argument holds up, but the truth is, there was no good option. The vast majority of fans did and would have supported whoever got the job.

And the last part you even quoted has nothing to do with support one way or another for WM getting the job, but rather was in part an indictment of the way the process played out and further in part calling out all the anti-WM folks who are still around making snarky comments about him being the choice for everyone else.

I even stated there was likely the "given the druthers article" which obviously there was and you proved my point. That doesn't mean anything and belies the truth that neither candidate had much support at the time of the decision from the truly loyal BU fan base.

[srw]

Tornado, to me the point of the article, especially the last one,
was to point out that many felt the whole hiring process was a sham for the person that got the job.

To bring WM to that point in the interview process was disnigenuous because at the time he wasnt qualified, and had 0 chance to get the job. (Thats my opinion)

Now age not being a factor, and I believe it is...

You could totally make the article he is very qualified 8 years later...

[houstontxbrave]

sorry -- but I remain unconvinced ...

PJSTAR April 6, 2002, editorial by PJS staff...
"Off the Beat -- Les is not more when McClain could be had"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

PJSTAR April 9,2002, column
"Les brings back memories, but peers feel for McClain"

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

then numerous negative opinions were also posted --

http://nl.newsbank.com/nojavascript.html

and a column by Kirk Wessler April 27, 2003...
"He (Wayne McClain) applied for the head coaching job at Bradley, his alma mater.
And these people unleashed the fury of hell upon him, questioning his coaching ability
and assassinating his character..."
"I know who McClain is.
He's a good and decent man. An honest man. A successful man.
A man who made something great - yes, great - of himself after a dicey childhood.
A man who gave a big part of himself to this community and its children.
A man who still loves this city and wants to feel a bond with the university from which he graduated.
But he feels betrayed. Not because he wasn't hired to coach Bradley's basketball team.
Hell, no. That's not it.
He has been betrayed by fellow Peorians, by fellow BU alums. And for what reason?
Simply because he applied for a job?


(all are subscription if you want them)

But why in Oct 2010 would Wessler take out his frustrations of WM not being named head coach on Jim Les? What did Les have to do with the decision not to hire WM other then he was the candidate chosen?

There likely is resentment but to continue to grind an axe towards Les because of a decision made 9 years ago is silly. There is a much deeper divide between these two then just who was or wasnt hired 9 years ago. A lot of friction has been built up over that time.

Now its obvious Wessler does not care for Les and that extends all the way back to the hiring date, but now I think the distain is regarding other things, rather then the person hired. I think he is still chapped because Les didnt tell him the "truth" about Ruffins injury.