Letter to the Sports Editor in the PJ Star

[Da Coach]

I just said that the statement you made was incorrect. They did get in trouble.

And yes, I miscounted. It was 8. My mistake. You got me on that one! Massive stretch!

What? Please show where I said any of them did not get into trouble? I never said that. I only said the issues with most of them was minor, and with the others was years ago. Now you are misquoting me.

[BradleyBrave]

What? Please show where I said any of them did not get into trouble? I never said that. I only said the issues with most of them was minor, and with the others was years ago. Now you are misquoting me.

This is what you wrote -

"But give credit when it's due. JL's players are all good guys, and they have graduated at a higher rate than any other coach, and they stay out of trouble."

I guess I did slightly misquote you. Apologies.

[Da Coach]

Again, please don't paint people who would like to see a different coach at the BU MBB helm as wack jobs, jackwagons, crazies, or illiterate morons.

Please, now you are stretching things. Nobody has ever accused anyone of any of those things. If you are going to accuse people of such insults, post an example, but there aren't any.

But if you are for the firing of JL, then IMO, you are anti-JL.

And fans who are pro-JL, are not satisfied with losing, like some anti-JL people want to suggest and use as an insult. We want a winning team as much as you.

[dogsrus]

Never called them bad guys or bad kids. Please point out where I said that. I just said that the statement you made was incorrect. They did get in trouble.

And yes, I miscounted. It was 8. My mistake. You got me on that one! Massive stretch!

As long as we are counting didn't POB and Will also get in trouble allthough it wasn't with the State/Federal Law they DID violate NCAA rules.

What about Ray Brown......?

BU kids are NO different then the other 300+ institiutions.....they get into trouble (key word) from time to time but JL/staff does a good job of holding them accountable when they do and the graduation rates are impressive.

[real fan]

No doubt our last 2 coaches have brought in great kids that have done well in the class room and have behaved well off the court, now they need to figure out how to win championships because the Bradley fan base is tired of settling for middle and bottom of the pack seasons, what will expectations be for next season if Taylor and Sam are healthy and will there be consequences if we do not contend ?

[Da Coach]

So Bradley players are no different than those who are recruited and play for Huggins? I could name a lot of programs that recruit kids that Bradley would not recruit. There is a difference.

[dogsrus]

Both sides have equally relevant cases for their beliefs.

Yep...but instead of just debating those issues your labeled and asked "why can't we all see things the way I do."

[dogsrus]

Please, now you are stretching things. Nobody has ever accused anyone of any of those things. If you are going to accuse people of such insults, post an example, but there aren't any.

But if you are for the firing of JL, then IMO, you are anti-JL.

And fans who are pro-JL, are not satisfied with losing, like some anti-JL people want to suggest and use as an insult. We want a winning team as much as you.

Who uses the term "Pro JL" against someone in the same insulting manner the anti JL moniker is used as nauseum?

And whats sad is those that have been labeled "anti" JL have repeatedly stated this is an insulting/offensive label and yet it gets trotted out time and time again.

I thought the policy/rules of the baord were to NOT make discusions ABOUT the poster but I guess thats flexible depending on who the attack is made on.

[rsmit84]

8 is not 9. You stretched the truth.

Really?! Is this really what this site has come to? This used to be such a great place to come and in the last two years has just fallen off a cliff. Dont get me wrong I am still grateful for all the information everyone provides but jeez! Do you guys go back and read these threads and see how childish it all sounds?

-we run a good program
-since when

-give examples
-I'll give you 9...

-those arent good examples and it wasnt 9
-they are too

-you stretch the truth
-give examples

-it was 8 not 9
-8 is enough

-youre anti Les
-youre pro Les

-are not
-are too

PLEASE STOP WITH THE AGENDAS! PLEASE STOP WITH THE CHILDISH BACK AND FORTHS! PLEASE GO BACK TO WHAT MADE THIS A GREAT PLACE FOR ALL BRADLEY FANS!

[dogsrus]

So Bradley players are no different than those who are recruited and play for Huggins? I could name a lot of programs that recruit kids that Bradley would not recruit. There is a difference.

Jerry Tarkanian took in some of the most troubled kids out there....he tried to give these guys a second chance. I don't know about Huggins but I'd rather see these kids in a structured program with at least SOME hope at rehab vs being left to fend for themselves in the real world.

IF they take these guys in and sweep anything they do wrong under the rug in the name of winning I would agree that is less than admirable but I'm all for giving guys second chances like some gave Ray Brown.....Ed McCain....Jeremy Fears.....

[AZ BU Fan]

Please, now you are stretching things. Nobody has ever accused anyone of any of those things. If you are going to accuse people of such insults, post an example, but there aren't any.

But if you are for the firing of JL, then IMO, you are anti-JL.

And fans who are pro-JL, are not satisfied with losing, like some anti-JL people want to suggest and use as an insult. We want a winning team as much as you.

Do you really want me to pull up the post from a Forum Poster here who called out posts by "crazies" that don't like JL?

[BradleyBrave]

Jerry Tarkanian took in some of the most troubled kids out there....he tried to give these guys a second chance. I don't know about Huggins but I'd rather see these kids in a structured program with at least SOME hope at rehab vs being left to fend for themselves in the real world.

IF they take these guys in and sweep anything they do wrong under the rug in the name of winning I would agree that is less than admirable but I'm all for giving guys second chances like some gave Ray Brown.....Ed McCain....Jeremy Fears.....

Great point. How quickly we forget that Matt Salley was a troubled young man who had some issues in HS that scared off many programs. BU gave him another chance out of JUCO, and he made the most of it. So perhaps saying we don't go after guys like that is a stretch of the truth?

[SaintLouBrave22]

Wow I agree about the good kids portion, but cmon, will some of you ever get off your high horse?!


You do realize that if winning didn't matter, you could just as easily be on that bench?!


Heck, I want kids that represent the community and university as well as any other, but there's also a thing called representation ON the floor that matters...


Otherwise, we may as well just let the Prez coach the team if all you're looking for is fine gentlemen...

[electricmayhem]

I am not sure why I'm jumping in this one, but I am anyway.

This has turned into a high school fight between two people that want the same thing. We want a good, clean program that has some level of sustainable success. Everyone has a different standard of success. There are teams in our league who would kill to have the success that JL has had, on and off the court. There are other teams that wouldn't be satisfied with his program for the last nine years. It's all in the eye of the beholder.

Let's agree on one thing -- JL has had an excellent record of recruiting good kids. Have there been problems with some? Of course... but let's categorize the offenses and then analyze whether anyone cares. If someone got caught speeding, no big deal. If they got caught with a weapon, big deal. I think we can count on one hand how many kids had serious problems once they were on campus. The rest of this is meaningless.

If anybody wants to see JL fail, then you are anti-JL. I'm not implying that anyone said or typed that... but I do agree that if you want him fired, then you are anti-JL. I don't see it as an awful thing to be anti-JL, as long as you can justify your position. Being anti-JL isn't a horribly negative thing - to me, it means you think someone else would be better off running the program. That is anti-JL, but not necessarily awful.

It's only bad to me if someone isn't cheering for JL to do well. I'm in the boat that if things don't improve next season, the administration should weigh out all options. I don't think that's anti-JL... I think that's wanting the best for my program. I hope we are 28-3 next year with an auto bid to the dance, and I hope JL is our coach when it happens. I just agree with some that all options should be weighed out to see what the best direction of the program is.

This is similar to how I feel about our President - Obama, not Glasser. I didn't vote for the man, but he has my full support and respect. If things don't get better soon, I would be for looking at other options.

I'm proud to have graduated from BU, and I support all current staff, coaches, students, alumni, etc. I wish nothing but the best for our program.

Be well -- Joe

[tornado]

OK -- I'll bite on this one...

Jabbar Battle - now eight years ago -- a minor "he said/she said" issue that is now cleared from the record.

Saihou Jassey - I am unaware of a single legal issue Saihou had, can you cite a reference?

Tyrone Cole-Scott - what?? -- a citation for underage drinking that was since removed from the record?

Theron Wilson - ibid..

Dan Ruffin - again -- charges were reduced severely so as to give him something to plead to that would be removed from the record after 6 mo., which they were...

Will Egolf - again can you cite a reference, I am unaware of any documentation of a single incident

Taylor Brown -- minor scuffle, minor charges that were deferred then dropped and no longer on the record.

Eddren McCain - was already off the team when anything happened...so he was an ex-player when charged ...and again mioir charge already off the record.

Ray Brown -- you are wrong again -- never arrested and never a single issue with the law...he was a team-rules violation and then dismissed...case handled appropriately..but not a legal issue so stop making all this stuff up.

In the same time span almost every other Valley school -- certainly ISU, SIU, etc... have had major felony assaults, rapes, DUI's, thefts, and numerous other altercations, bar incidents, and arrests...

I think you have indeed confirmed the previous point that was stated...

"When was the last legal issue of any significance? .." there are none this decade