Give Me A Break

[Beninator]

the problem i have is that these types of things have been happening for years under this administration, yet it only seems like people give a **** now because the head basketball coach was fired.

exactly!!!!

[Buesch N Chips]

anti-JL(which I think were very very few on this board)

There are very very few now. Thank goodness.

My problem with the dismissal was, if you are going to fire somebody for their body of work, in JL's case, do it after year 8. Or year 10 if he fails with a full roster. If he was good enough to be retained after year 8, then you really are firing him for year 9, which is unfair, in my opinion.

[Da Coach]

Change is hard for some to deal with...

O&B, if you really think anyone here is upset about what has happened in the last 2 weeks because "Change is hard for some to deal with", then that is about the shallowest analysis I can imagine. I suspect that is not what you intended to mean.

I think most fans, even the most ardent JL supporters, knew this was likely going to happen. So nobody is surprised. Nobody is having trouble dealing with this change just because "change is hard for some to deal with". There are the much deeper issues of how it was handled, how Jim Les and his contract were treated, how the players were informed, how the school dealt with the players' and their familes' concerns, how the school dealt with the concerns of the boosters and donors who's money helped build a lot of new facilities based on certain promises, how they are now dealing with the players who are unhappy and looking to leave, and the way they dealt with the recruits. There is a lot going on, much of it is behind the scenes and may never be made public, but it's not pretty.

It's not about being upset by change. It's about an intelligent approach to change, not change just for the sake of change, nor for the sake of forcing one person's version of change on everyone else.

[afan]

People are entitled to be upset about what happened. Please let's not minimize that. I agree we need to remain respectful, and we will. But many people believe Jim did not deserve to be fired after a year when he lost 2 starters, and 2 preseason All-MVC players, and when we had our best recruiting class in many years.

What shaped up to be a very good year next year is now the start of a long rebuilding process, with no guarantee it will lead to anything as good as what we just threw away. Some fans saw that coming and others were jubilant for it and called it "scare tactics".

Da Coach...I agree with you. I feel that even with the mediocre record, JL deserved one more year to show what he could do with a healthy team and a good recruiting class. He did pretty good in 2006 with a healthy team, didn't he (even with the POB and WF suspensions)? Also, how many years did he have to deal with injuries to key players? I also have a real problem with the way he was let go. They did it right in North Carolina State. Was JL given the opportunity to resign (why wouldn't we have the right to know if he was given that opportunity)? Why did he have to leave immediately with security guards accompanying him off the campus? Could he have been given at least a 3 day notice? As far as President Glasser and Dr. Cross getting our respect...are they immune from having to earn respect as the rest of us have to do. They are both new to Bradley. Do they have the same history as Jim Les? No! Do fans have the right to be upset when Dr. Cross is seen jogging with his Princeton appearl on? Yes! That doesn't sound like the behavior of a true Bradley fan to me? I think the whole firing process was handled poorly and in bad taste.

[tornado]

Give Me A Break...I am really sick and tired ...

...wait a minute....
I am on this board about as much as anyone and I have seen very little criticism of Dr. G & Dr. C...mostly just fair discussion of the events that transpired...
PLUS there's been VERY little that's of a true personal nature or over the top -- and that's all been deleted anyway...

YET -- even tiny little moves that Coach Les would make in a game like calling a time out or picking up a technical were subject to
multiple entire threads of intense criticism and attacks -- a lot of which was fairly personal, demeaning, and over the top...
...so where were the same "sick and tired" people when our head coach was repeated reamed here and in the press....

I think it's a little hypocritical that we are being asked to use different standards ..... fair is fair....we are in the situaiton we are in because of actions people are unhappy with...

Wonder if anyone recalls the warning that was issued several times even on this board...
"be careful -- consider the costs of the moves you're about to make..."

[OrangeandBlack74]

O&B, if you really think anyone here is upset about what has happened in the last 2 weeks because "Change is hard for some to deal with", then that is about the shallowest analysis I can imagine. I suspect that is not what you intended to mean.

I think most fans, even the most ardent JL supporters, knew this was likely going to happen. So nobody is surprised. Nobody is having trouble dealing with this change just because "change is hard for some to deal with". There are the much deeper issues of how it was handled, how Jim Les and his contract were treated, how the players were informed, how the school dealt with the players' and their familes' concerns, how the school dealt with the concerns of the boosters and donors who's money helped build a lot of new facilities based on certain promises, how they are now dealing with the players who are unhappy and looking to leave, and the way they dealt with the recruits. There is a lot going on, much of it is behind the scenes and may never be made public, but it's not pretty.

It's not about being upset by change. It's about an intelligent approach to change, not change just for the sake of change, nor for the sake of forcing one person's version of change on everyone else.

DC...I was not being mean-spirited when I made this comment. And I certainly don't know about all the behind-the-scenes stuff that you describe. But, I think it's fair to say that some on here prefer to look at what has happened in the past 2 weeks with an eye to the future, and not continually dwell on the past. Could things have been handled differently...perhaps. But what's done is done, and I'm ready to move forward.

[BU RICK]

I guess we'll know more about the change a year from now.

If the majority of the players stay and say 50-75% of the recruits stay and we get two or three late commitments or JC players we'll see how the record next season compares to this season, then we can judge.

If the new coach loses close games which were obviously winnable, loses 4-5 games with a lead going into the last 5 minutes, loses home games to lesser teams, is a fan of the 4 guard offense, refuses to even try once during the season to play 3 bigs in a game at the same time, gets technical fouls at the wrong time, and has the same coaching philosophy....

Then we'll know the change wasn't necessary.

Go Braves

[Fetz86]

...so where were the same "sick and tired" people when our head coach was repeated reamed here and in the press....

You're right where you've always been, here posting.

[BradleyJD]

There are always going to be people upset when there is a dismissal, no question. It comes with the territory. But I agree the ripping of Glasser and Cross has really been a bit over the top. They're not immune to criticism, it also comes with the territory. But there's no good way to remove a coach, and I think it's a bit premature to be saying some of thing harsh things about them that some have said. There will be plenty of time to rip and criticize if they make a bad hire.

Read the other thread about Fife. He is being ripped already and he hasn't even interviewed yet.

This is good for recruits and players to be reading.

[jrish12]

People are entitled to be upset about what happened. Please let's not minimize that. I agree we need to remain respectful, and we will. But many people believe Jim did not deserve to be fired after a year when he lost 2 starters, and 2 preseason All-MVC players, and when we had our best recruiting class in many years.

What shaped up to be a very good year next year is now the start of a long rebuilding process, with no guarantee it will lead to anything as good as what we just threw away. Some fans saw that coming and others were jubilant for it and called it "scare tactics"

But even with 3 all MVC players, we were picked 5th. What does that tell you?! If you have 3 all MVC caliber players, wouldnt you think you would at worst be picked 3rd?

Also who is to know if next year would have been as good? What if TB never plays basketball again because of his heart? What if SM wasnt able to go as much because of his ankles? We will never know. And dont act like you know it would have been great, because if you absolutely knew next season would be so great then why dont you just give me the lottery numbers

Move on, whats done is done, need to embrace the future and not dwell on the past.

[mrcoachdude]

But even with 3 all MVC players, we were picked 5th. What does that tell you?! If you have 3 all MVC caliber players, wouldnt you think you would at worst be picked 3rd?

Also who is to know if next year would have been as good? What if TB never plays basketball again because of his heart? What if SM wasnt able to go as much because of his ankles? We will never know. And dont act like you know it would have been great, because if you absolutely knew next season would be so great then why dont you just give me the lottery numbers

Move on, whats done is done, need to embrace the future and not dwell on the past.

Ready to move on ...but where we are picked has ZERO to do with where we may have finished....was IND St picked to go to the NCAA? just sayin

[tornado]

Read the other thread about Fife. He is being ripped already and he hasn't even interviewed yet.

This is good for recruits and players to be reading.

this is weird...you appear more worried about posts that critique a guy who isn't and never has been head coach
than you ever were about posts that rip the guy who WAS the head coach...

[Beninator]

Read the other thread about Fife. He is being ripped already and he hasn't even interviewed yet.

This is good for recruits and players to be reading.

I am one of the people on that thread ripping the interview of Fife! I am not ripping Fife the person, I am ripping the ineptitude of the Administration for bringing a guy in town who should not be near the top of our hiring list!
This hire should be about the Administration committing to win and selecting a Head Coach who will give us instant credibility and a clear indication as to where this program is going in the future.

[afan]

I am one of the people on that thread ripping the interview of Fife! I am not ripping Fife the person, I am ripping the ineptitude of the Administration for bringing a guy in town who should not be near the top of our hiring list!
This hire should be about the Administration committing to win and selecting a Head Coach who will give us instant credibility and a clear indication as to where this program is going in the future.

Ben...I completely agree with you...why in the world is this guy even being considered...I am very worried....very worried. One of Cross' criteria was that the coach would consistently provide an atmosphere of competing for conference titles and participation in the Ncaa tourney. This guy has not done that??????????

[Buesch N Chips]

The land of 10,000 athletic directors.......