Bradley preseason banquet

[Da Coach]

Just got back from the 2006 preseason banquet. It was a great event put on the the Bradley staff. There was a large crowd that was entertained by video tributes to last year's team and season, and introductions to this years men's and women's teams.

[MacabreMob]

Nobody in the "dress" - right?

[Da Coach]

Maybe there was a "dress code" of some sort issued for this year's team. There was nothing similar to "the dress" that you are referring to.
All the ladies looked beautiful. But they all wore conservative dresses.

[MacabreMob]

I hear Devin has changed her hair color.

I think she is a fighter. She can drive/dribble/pass/score.

[BIG_BU_Fan]

Let's not make the dress thing more than it was. Their dresses were a coincidence. There was no dress code. Let's not beat a dead horse.

Let's comment on the evening though. Jim Les is a phenominal public speaker. Of course that's no surprise though. I thought the guys Q&A left a little to be desired. I thought ZA was funny, but both he AND J.J. totally missed the "homerun question" Snell gave them to close with. When asked how the 8 seed on Media day affected them and the team, BOTH of them answered with, "It didn't really affect me"?!?! Don't get me wrong, I think they're both stand up guys, but everyone knows the answer to that question. Just thought they whiffed. The one thing that saved ZA a little on that question was that he said, "Hey, they did the same thing last year"...or something to that effect.

Like I said though, ZA was funny. When asked what it was like to see all those people at the airport hangar when they got back he replies with, "I felt like I was the President." Then puts both hands in the air as if to welcome the masses...absolutely hilarious. If you know ZA, that's the kind of guy he is, very funny and charming. Also noticed him talking with people after the event and he was very well spoken.

I thought the COOLEST thing of the whole night was when they played the video with Jim's "opening adress." He was talking of his vision of USA Today and Sports Illustrated. While his speech was playing they showed clips of his "prophecy" being fulfilled. AWESOME!

[Da Coach]

Her new "do" has a little bit of a "punk" look-- short and spikey.

[BIG_BU_Fan]

Almost forgot to mention the "Robertson" award going to "Buzz" Ott tonight. He was also funny and a huge congratulations to him.

[MacabreMob]

Let's not make the dress thing more than it was. Their dresses were a coincidence. There was no dress code. Let's not beat a dead horse.

Let's comment on the evening though. Jim Les is a phenominal public speaker. Of course that's no surprise though. I thought the guys Q&A left a little to be desired. I thought ZA was funny, but both he AND J.J. totally missed the "homerun question" Snell gave them to close with. When asked how the 8 seed on Media day affected them and the team, BOTH of them answered with, "It didn't really affect me"?!?! Don't get me wrong, I think they're both stand up guys, but everyone knows the answer to that question. Just thought they whiffed. The one thing that saved ZA a little on that question was that he said, "Hey, they did the same thing last year"...or something to that effect.

Like I said though, ZA was funny. When asked what it was like to see all those people at the airport hangar when they got back he replies with, "I felt like I was the President." Then puts both hands in the air as if to welcome the masses...absolutely hilarious. If you know ZA, that's the kind of guys he is, very funny and charming. Also noticed him talking with people after the event and he was very well spoken.

I thought the COOLEST thing of the whole night was when they played the video with Jim's "opening adress." He was talking of his vision of USA Today and Sports Illustrated. While his speech was playing they showed clips of his "prophecy" being fulfilled. AWESOME!

Beating a dead horse - give me a break.

My take on "the dress" shows how these student-athletes can also be very attractive individuals aside from what they do on the court and in the classroom.

Frame that and sue me.

'Homerun Question'? That's the 'Homerun Question'? And you wanted to hear... what??? (chests puffed out, 'We ARE the MVC team to beat this year')

I really don't know what you wanted to hear.

Are you part of the media? This sounds like a 'drive-by' analysis to me.

But the last part of your post is right... each time I have heard JLes' predictions coupled with the video footage... CHILLING!

[BIG_BU_Fan]

Didn't mean to offend you, Macabre. I was just offering my opinion that I didn't think their answer was that great. I always thought the answer to that question is..."That's nothing but motivation for us. We know what we've got and we know we can be a great team, but we just have to work hard at it. We're putting in the time and we're going to prove a lot of people wrong." Or something like that.

Maybe I'm in the vast minority in thinking that's the best answer for that question, but it seems to me that it's a much better answer than, "It didn't affect me."

And all I'm saying about the dress thing is that almost everytime the banquet comes up, that dress comes up. I can not disagree, Alex looked very good in it. But to suggest that the girls were given a dress code this year is a little ridiculous. Especially with all the great things that have been said about that dress and how she looked that evening. That dress may have been the most press the ladies got all year (I know, major exaggeration, but I'm assuming people get my point).

Didn't mean to get you ticked.

[tornado]

The ladies were indeed dressed nicely. There were no controversies however.
It was indeed a very fine evening, and we enjoyed the fine company with over 500 of Bradley's great fans.
Bradley is deep in tradition like no other mid-size school.
It is great that the tradition as well as the present can be celebrated.
Thanks to the folks at BU for the fine job of putting on the gala.

For those reading who don't know what were talking about with the comments about Jim Les' prophecy, let me recount.

Buried deep in the archives of the local news stations was the video tape from April of 2002, when Jim Les gave the first public speech at a press conference when he was initially announced as the selection for new head coach at Bradley.

In that speech, he made some predictions which came eerily true last year, and that piece of video tape has now surfaced and has been played quite a few times.

In that speech, Jim talks about several things that he sees coming back to happen at Bradley just as these things also happened to Bradley back in his era when he was a player.

Jim said he sees Bradley getting good enough that they will be covered by the national media.

He says they will win lots of games and not only get a bid to the NCAA they will win GAMES in the NCAA tournament

He foresaw the team returning to the airport where a thousand fans would be waiting

He foresaw Bradley getting coverage by Sports Illustrated as well as the media is Chicago

He foresaw Bradley rising to the top echelon of all of college basketball and basking in the glow of attention from coast to coast.

These comments were almost fulfilled to the letter by last season.

But as Jim said, he's not into wearing "bling" (the Sweet Sixteen ring), he's into collecting it, so let's go get some more. I agree.

[Braves4Life]

And all I'm saying about the dress thing is that almost everytime the banquet comes up, that dress comes up. I can not disagree, Alex looked very good in it.

I'd love to see that picture if anyone has it . Sounds like it would make a great Flipper avatar

[phyneous_j_whoopie]

Let's not make the dress thing more than it was. Their dresses were a coincidence. There was no dress code. Let's not beat a dead horse.

Let's comment on the evening though. Jim Les is a phenominal public speaker. Of course that's no surprise though. I thought the guys Q&A left a little to be desired. I thought ZA was funny, but both he AND J.J. totally missed the "homerun question" Snell gave them to close with. When asked how the 8 seed on Media day affected them and the team, BOTH of them answered with, "It didn't really affect me"?!?! Don't get me wrong, I think they're both stand up guys, but everyone knows the answer to that question. Just thought they whiffed. The one thing that saved ZA a little on that question was that he said, "Hey, they did the same thing last year"...or something to that effect.

Like I said though, ZA was funny. When asked what it was like to see all those people at the airport hangar when they got back he replies with, "I felt like I was the President." Then puts both hands in the air as if to welcome the masses...absolutely hilarious. If you know ZA, that's the kind of guys he is, very funny and charming. Also noticed him talking with people after the event and he was very well spoken.

I thought the COOLEST thing of the whole night was when they played the video with Jim's "opening adress." He was talking of his vision of USA Today and Sports Illustrated. While his speech was playing they showed clips of his "prophecy" being fulfilled. AWESOME!

Beating a dead horse - give me a break.

My take on "the dress" shows how these student-athletes can also be very attractive individuals aside from what they do on the court and in the classroom.

Frame that and sue me.

'Homerun Question'? That's the 'Homerun Question'? And you wanted to hear... what??? (chests puffed out, 'We ARE the MVC team to beat this year')

I really don't know what you wanted to hear.

Are you part of the media? This sounds like a 'drive-by' analysis to me.

But the last part of your post is right... each time I have heard JLes' predictions coupled with the video footage... CHILLING!

I agree MM, I don't want the players worrying too much about where they're picked to finish...I'd rather they worry about knowing their offensive and defensive sets and inbounds plays. I'm sure the boys have a sense of "we'll show them" but you don't say that publicly. Nobody likes the team that is constantly complaining about lack of respect. Besides, that's not how respect is earned.

[flipper]

bu does great job of marketing bu basketball.