Jim Les Radio Show

[tornado]

I don't really understand the ...

if you had listened to the show this question would have been answered.
The local paper went with a story that was a NON-story.
They dug for facts that didn't exist, tried to fabricate hurt feelings and issues that don't exist, and when they were told those facts were totally incorrect, they went with the story anyway, misquoting the very people who had asked the PJS not to print stuff they were just making up.

Note the words quoted from the coaches in the article:
"emotion on both sides"
"deeper attachment"
"our players like him and have a lot of respect for him (six current Aces were recruited by and played for Merfeld)," said UE coach Marty Simmons."

those aren't the least bit negative in tone but then the story comes right out and fabricates this statement:

--Unseen and likely unsaid will be any evidence of the hurt feelings caused by Merfeld's firing from the southern Indiana school last spring with two years remaining on his contract.--

Then they recount the negatives in Merf's record as the justification for why he was so unceremoniously canned and quote some things he said way back last summer as if it is relevant to this story!
Truly, this is a complete NON-story....made up out of a bunch of unrelated Frankenstein-like parts of other stories and then stitched together even thought they don't belong together.. The BU staff went as far as they could to be sure there wasn't even the false appearance of such animosity, and didn't want the Merfeld twist to even be a tiny part of this story, but as you can see, if there isn't a story, then why not just make one up and go with it??
I am sure there will be defenders saying it is the job of a journalist to create the story if one isn't there.

[MacabreMob]

I don't really understand the "controversy".

I read the PJS story on Merf and E-Ville and I didn't see how it put anyone in a bad light.

Hey, if the paper wants to write about it I don't see how Bradley has veto authority over a journalistic decision.

Just my gut impression as I didn't hear Jim's comments...

I can agree with that VroFan.

And that is why I defended JL when he "lied" about DR being a game-time decision. He can say (not say) whatever he wants and doesn't have to answer to the media.

[lefty]

So they wrote a story...big deal...it was a story Merf coached there...
heck if you asked 99% of the people today they wouldn't even recall it...
that's why there is news everyday...yesterday's news is over..this is the only place where it continues....I don't see anything wrong with the article at all.

[Scouter]

The local paper went with a story that was a NON-story.
They dug for facts that didn't exist, tried to fabricate hurt feelings and issues that don't exist, and when they were told those facts were totally incorrect, they went with the story anyway, misquoting the very people who had asked the PJS not to print stuff they were just making up.

Those are some pretty strong accusations, tornado.

those aren't the least bit negative in tone but then the story comes right out and fabricates this statement:

--Unseen and likely unsaid will be any evidence of the hurt feelings caused by Merfeld's firing from the southern Indiana school last spring with two years remaining on his contract.--

How do you know that to be fabricated?

[tornado]

again.......for those who may have missed it the first two times...
the answer is because I am citing what the very people on the radio show said....take it up with them.

And, lefty, if the PJS wrote an article that you found personally false and offensive to yourself, then what difference would it make if I thought it was no big deal and nothing wrong? Wouldn't my feelings be totally irrelevant? And if you found it offensive, then wouldn't you find it silly and doubly offensive if I said it doesn't bother me?

[Bravesfan]

To those who may have been offended by my post, I was merely pointing out how journalists have a responsibility to write stories that are factually accurate. Les may need time to turn his team around, but he has absolutely every right to call out the media if they are inaccurate in their reporting. I'm not defending Les as a "rah rah" BU fan. I am defending him because he needs to set straight an inaccurate story, and because I believe he is doing everything possible to get this team going. Is he perfect? No. But what coach is?

And back to the media. I think some people are confused as to what freedom of the press is. I know for sure that it does not mean it is allowable to make up stories! I don't know if this column did that, but it sure comes across like it did!

[lefty]

again.......for those who may have missed it the first two times...
the answer is because I am citing what the very people on the radio show said....take it up with them.

And, lefty, if the PJS wrote an article that you found personally false and offensive to yourself, then what difference would it make if I thought it was no big deal and nothing wrong? Wouldn't my feelings be totally irrelevant? And if you found it offensive, then wouldn't you find it silly and doubly offensive if I said it doesn't bother me?

Maybe I need to reread the article and try to pick out all the things may be offensive..I don't know...that's alot of questions for me T...but in response to your last question...why would I found it doubly offensive if it didn't bother you? How you take something written about me is out of my control...I would also forget about it because I got better things to do.

I don't have a problem with the article and I don't have a problem with how JL handled it...that's his perrogitive

[BradleyBrave]

I think Jim, KW, and DR need a pow-wow to air some grievances and bury the hatchet (feats of strength are optional). Regardless of who said what or who's fault it is or isn't, enough is enough. They both have a job to do, but I think that if there are things to be said, they should be said face to face rather than through the newspaper or the airwaves.

[Dubl R 1]

I think Jim, KW, and DR need a pow-wow to air some grievances and bury the hatchet (feats of strength are optional). Regardless of who said what or who's fault it is or isn't, enough is enough. They both have a job to do, but I think that if there are things to be said, they should be said face to face rather than through the newspaper or the airwaves.

A Pow-Wow? I thought we were REDIFINING Brave.

[tornado]

It is hardly anything new, and I kinda wonder why it is that there has been obvious antagonism between the local press and whoever is head coach at BU.
I know it was true during Versace (DL), Molinari (PT), and now Les' (KW) reign, and suspect it might have been during Albeck's but can't really recall.
I quite often read the Chicago press and the press of other Valley cities, and Champaign & other Big Ten cities, and can say with conviction that no other city's local press that I have seen among those that I read often, is as regularly negative, critical, personal, and at times petty. (often dragging up decades-old gripes about things that happened under past coaches and stuff that has little to do with sports- such as campus expansion, etc.). I know where I believe the majority of the fault lies for the ill-will, but I guess everyone will make their own minds up.

[BradleyBrave]

A Pow-Wow? I thought we were REDIFINING Brave.

I don't like the way we have defined it this year. I don't think anyone does. Time to go back with what works.

[longtimelistener]

Lesson learned: Some people can't think for themselves. This wasn't a problem for 48 hours. Then JL says he took exception to it. Now certain posters have a problem with it too.

[braves12]

I support the program and Jim Les. In all honesty though, I rarely listen to the Monday night show, because I learn very little from it. Most everything is positive, positive, positive, blah, blah, blah even when the season has been a huge disappointment. Kudos to everyone for the Sweet 16 year and the NIT last year, but as someone else mentioned, this program has not seen the top of the Valley for a long, long time. We have not competed for Valley championships and I think Coach Les promised that. The lack of any bigs who can contribute what is needed is killing this team. Coach Les has been here long enough that this shouldn't be an issue. I am not saying Coach Les should be gone, and I truly don't expect to hear anything from Coach Les or Dave Snell that will be anything different from the always positive, blah blah spin. So, I go to the games and cheer, contribute my money, turn the radio off, and hope it gets better next year. As far as the PJS goes, it's a newspaper, I hope they get the information correct, but it means far, far less to me than my fear that we will not get to being consistently in the top 3 of the Valley every year and post season every year.

[tornado]

I don't see where posters have any issue, and you confirm it yourself by
saying nobody even mentioned it.
But it was made an issue because it was discussed on last night's radio show.
Should we not talk about it because people don't want to?
And I think everyone on this board can and do think for themselves.

[Scouter]

I don't see where posters have any issue, and you confirm it yourself by
saying nobody even mentioned it.
But it was made an issue because it was discussed on last night's radio show.
Should we not talk about it because people don't want to?
And I think everyone on this board can and do think for themselves.

You totally missed LTL's point, which is a very good one. Nobody had a problem with it until Les had a problem with it. Now it seems like some people get up in arms about it just because Les did. Following the leader, if you will...

FYI: the audio archive from the show is now available on bubraves.com.

http://www.bubraves.com/AudioArchives.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400