Wessler: Will Bradley players buy-in this season?

[lefty]

1st off this was a short blog...not a column. KW opens it up saying he was talking to AW about a column he is writing for the HOOPS section later in November.

2nd....AW is quoted making a comment about the team not all being on the same page last year. KW then responds to that quote. It was pretty clear to me that is was KW responding to the quote. I didn't think it was AW or another player responding to the quote.

My take from it was simple. Last year, some guys were more worried about the "ME" and not the "WE". That is a wasted year. You have the talent to accomplish some things and guys chose to be selfish. AW is did the right thing. He didn't call anyone out by name, he didn't point fingers, he didn't do during the season. He is saying, we have the chance to be good, but "We" have to buy into what the coaches want.

Exactly.....again 99.5% of the BU fans have already forgotten this...if they read it in the first place

[amettrick]

-ligature marks
-battered with hands and feet

You should remove those from your list because those weren't fabricated. As I've stated before (and been ignored before) those two things appeared WORD FOR WORD in the police report. I held it in my hands and read the entire thing. I promise you they were there.

[Bravesfan]

Cut AW some slack guys! I like it that he called his team out. What's wrong with a guy stating what he feels. I bet they have talked about this face to face. If a player can't handle the truth then why bother. He did not call out any one player. Get this out of the way now and cut the cancer if there is one. Read the book From Good to Great. It say to be a great team you are either on the bus or off! There is no in between. The UNI team last year had everyone on their bus.

I know you weren't talking about me SFP, but just to clarify to anyone else, it wasn't me. I for one am glad he called his team out. He did it the right way by not singling anyone out in public, while at the same getting this off of his chest. I only stated that some may disagree that he did this in the first place, but I'm glad AW made it public so there are no distractions amongst the players later on.

Hopefully the team can now begin their run towards a Valley championship without any distractions!

[Bravesfan]

Unfortunately, I blame KW for the timing of both the "hot seat" article and this one. Things for this season are very optimistic, and this is twice now that KW has tried to poop on that parade with an article that is negative, or at least tends negative towards Les and his program. I'm not saying the articles aren't valid, but a better time to write about the hot seat would be the beginning of the off season, and a better time to write about team chemistry issues might be in that season, and not at the start of the next. Just my opinion.

Excellent!

I said the same thing. The articles themselves weren't that bad, just suspect timing like you said BNC. The "chemistry" article might have been more acceptable if he seeked out other players, which he either did not do, or did but chose not to include since they were probably not as "controversial" as AW's statement was.

[Braves4Life]

I really didn't have a problem with this article. It was about last year and was about stuff that most everyone "in the know" already knew.

My problem is that I think it makes AW look like a snitch..... and I wonder how it will play with his teammates. If he's the respected leader of the team it will probably play well. If not...... ?????

[AZ BU Fan]

Just didn't need AW saying this right before the season kicks off. Could have been addressed by the Coach, and not the players, right after the season ended last year. It was obvious something went off track last year, and, the team got over it toward the end of the season when they started playing harder.

It would have blown over during the summer, particularly if a number of BU players had commented at the same time, and let all of us know it wasn't going to happen again this season.

This way the slate would have been clean starting off this year. No need to relive the past....

BU Athletic Dept could use additional PR people advising the team and staff re how to better handle/manipulate the media and fans...

How about it BU Journalism Majors, any takers?

[Bravesfan]

First of all... I actually CLICKED the link and READ the article. And I didn't really have a problem with any of it.

How's that for all you jack-wagons?

But for filling in the missing names, I'll play along:

"When one guy (McCain?) won??™t commit to playing defense, and another (Roberts?) is worried about how many points he scores, and another (Taylor Brown?) starts thinking he doesn??™t have to abide by all the rules because he??™s irreplaceable, and another guy (Milos?) sits the bench wondering how the hell these talented slackers stay on the floor in front of him..."

I didn't have a problem with much of it either. But I guess a lot of us don't trust KW for some of the garbage he has written in the past. Was this truly only an article about AW, or did he interview others and just write about the most "juicy" tidbit he could find? This is my problem with the media in general, most of whom I don't trust either.

Again, I'm with you and others that at least we now know at least somewhat why this team played inconsistently last year. As others have said, I'm sure Les has addressed this with the team and has put the pressure on the players to perform. But I just don't know what KW's motives were for writing this now, just when the team is ready to put last year behind them and focus on what could be a great year this year.

You tick people off enough times and people start to distrust you even if your intentions are good.

[Braves4Life]

BU Athletic Dept could use additional PR people advising the team and staff re how to better handle/manipulate the media and fans...

I totally agree with you again on this AZ BU Fan. What's wrong with me? I suddenly seem to be finding more and more common ground with you . God, I hope I'm not turning into a "negative nellie".

You'd think with President Glasser being a control freak and a master at using the media to her (and BU's) benefit that she would be on top of this kind of negative PR. If I was a conspiracy theorist I'd almost think this stuff was intentionally being done to make Les look bad.......

[Bravesfan]

Of course it is...its BU...they can do no wrong and if they do its KW's or the PJ Stars fault. If our guys get in trouble its all lies....if there is disention among the team, its fabricated.

Just glad this story didn't come out about SIU or ISU becuase SOMEONE would have let us know "something is wrong at ISU"...Janks got problems.

I agree...this DOESN'T have to be a big issue as it happened last year and like I stated I imagine its pretty prevalent to almost ANY team that doesn't live up to expectations and struggled losing so many home games, WINNABLE home games, like we did. Probably KW's fault also....

I just look at it as a fixable problem......and like KW said fix it, buy in and this team can be pretty good.

Dogsrus, stop with this assumption that people who disagree with KW feel that "it's BU....they can do no wrong and if they do it's KW's or the PJ Stars fault"! That's NOT what people are saying here!

No one on this board, including the mods are satisfied about how things have gone recently. The issue here is KW's motives and his apparent disdain for Les and how (to paraphrase in a similar manner here) "everything is Les's fault and he can do nothing right"!

I'll say it again. This was not a bad KW blog. But considering how many times he has stabbed the team and the coaches in the back in the past, I don't trust his motives here.

Case in point. Last year he wrote at least two or three columns basically writing off the season in January after a slow start. The team ultimately finished 9-9 in the Valley. Okay. Fine. The team did falter and finished with a mediocre record, making KW look like a genius. The problem was....he wasn't. If the team finished in second or third place, KW would have been the first one to write about how he expected the team to perform well....AND he probably would have even tried to take credit for the whole season!

My point is why write those columns writing off the team in January? You NEVER write off a team until they are mathematically eliminated from contention! Why didn't KW write this column in late February or March when it became apparent this team was not going anywhere? Very simple. He is not a Les fan, and even if Les has a chance to turn things around, he just doesn't trust him to do the job. Now he may have every right to believe he's not the right coach for this team, but why write a "hatchet job" of a column that does NOTHING but put undue pressure on the whole team?!

Again, there are some here who believe that there are people who think BU can do no wrong. But I believe there are also many people here who believe that KW thinks he can do no wrong either! And that's not good for a team that has the potential to do very well this year. Les does not need this distraction, and KW needs to understand this. If this team underachieves this year, then KW can have at it, but he should be considerate enough to wait until the end of the season to do this.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I just want the season to begin and progress without a lot of distractions. Hopefully we're all on the same page here.

[AZ BU Fan]

I totally agree with you again on this AZ BU Fan. What's wrong with me? I suddenly seem to be finding more and more common ground with you . God, I hope I'm not turning into a "negative nellie".

B4L - Plenty of Room at The Negative Nellie Hotel!

We even have our own theme song!

(I'm A) Negative Nellie

They continue to finish no better than 4th
They continue to finish no better than 4th
They continue to finish no better than 4th
No
This is getting to be
This is getting to be
This is getting to be
Frustrating

I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
And I'm frustrated with the Braves
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
And I'm

a Negative Nellie whose trying
not to be negative no more!



Apologies to Nirvana....(Negative Creep)

[Future Walk-On]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

[Da Coach]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

B4L, the only people "freaking out" are the Kirk Wessler defenders. It seems that everyone associated with Bradley is fair game for criticism, but to some posters, Kirk Wessler is off-limits. From what I see, a number of posters have comments, both pro and con, about the latest Wessler blog. But those who have been critical of it have been attacked by the defenders as if they have no right to criticize KW.
Let's just allow everyone to register their opinion, and leave it at that.
I am sure KW can defend himself.

[dogsrus]

Excellent!

I said the same thing. The articles themselves weren't that bad, just suspect timing like you said BNC. The "chemistry" article might have been more acceptable if he seeked out other players, which he either did not do, or did but chose not to include since they were probably not as "controversial" as AW's statement was.

He DID indicate it was just a blurb from a bigger piece to be released. While I hope he he didn't dig deeper (he'll be chastized by some as going on a witch hunt if he did) he just MIGHT have more to add later.

[dogsrus]

Dogsrus, stop with this assumption that people who disagree with KW feel that "it's BU....they can do no wrong and if they do it's KW's or the PJ Stars fault"! That's NOT what people are saying here!

No one on this board, including the mods are satisfied about how things have gone recently. The issue here is KW's motives and his apparent disdain for Les and how (to paraphrase in a similar manner here) "everything is Les's fault and he can do nothing right"!

I'll say it again. This was not a bad KW blog. But considering how many times he has stabbed the team and the coaches in the back in the past, I don't trust his motives here.

Case in point. Last year he wrote at least two or three columns basically writing off the season in January after a slow start. The team ultimately finished 9-9 in the Valley. Okay. Fine. The team did falter and finished with a mediocre record, making KW look like a genius. The problem was....he wasn't. If the team finished in second or third place, KW would have been the first one to write about how he expected the team to perform well....AND he probably would have even tried to take credit for the whole season!

My point is why write those columns writing off the team in January? You NEVER write off a team until they are mathematically eliminated from contention! Why didn't KW write this column in late February or March when it became apparent this team was not going anywhere? Very simple. He is not a Les fan, and even if Les has a chance to turn things around, he just doesn't trust him to do the job. Now he may have every right to believe he's not the right coach for this team, but why write a "hatchet job" of a column that does NOTHING but put undue pressure on the whole team?!

Again, there are some here who believe that there are people who think BU can do no wrong. But I believe there are also many people here who believe that KW thinks he can do no wrong either! And that's not good for a team that has the potential to do very well this year. Les does not need this distraction, and KW needs to understand this. If this team underachieves this year, then KW can have at it, but he should be considerate enough to wait until the end of the season to do this.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I just want the season to begin and progress without a lot of distractions. Hopefully we're all on the same page here.

Its not KW's job to worry about if he's a distraction. Again I ask....is what he wrote not the truth? These guys write start of the season articles every year.....part of that is to report on what went on LAST year. Last year wasn't pretty....and now we no some reasons and often the truth hurts.

He summed up, in HIS opinion, what he thought based on AW's comment. AW...not KW told us/him the team wasn't on the same page. He simply opined based of AW's comment and says exactly what you, me and all other good BU fans believe and thats this team CAN be good and better then last year IF they change some things....one being selfish play.

Almost EVERYONE ripping KW on here has indicated that everything he says has some truth to it yet they rip him for saying what we basically allready knew.

Timing...can timing for somethng like this EVER be good. And he can't really release something if it hadn't been said until now.

Someone said BU needs a better or a good PR dept. How about winning......that cures most everything. This team underperformed last year and had some personel issues. Sorry but with that comes some less then pleasant revelations.

I ask you to speak with KW some time....go directly to the source. I have and I trust him when he says he does NOT hate JL. He does NOT want him fired. IF he ever thinks that its time he won't hesitate to say so.

He wants BU to win and be successful....like all of us. Again, when you are about .500 with some horrible home meltdowns and some player issues you are going to here about it and it won't always be pretty....thats just what comes with losing/struggling.

[dogsrus]

B4L, the only people "freaking out" are the designated and loyal Kirk Wessler defenders. .

Go back to the start of the thread.....the first 6 posts or so were simply about the MESSAGE not the messenger. Then, per usual, the message gets devalued and its messenger is made the issue by a KW hater. I'm not defending KW but what he said.