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Wessler- Better days are not ahead

B

BradleyJD

New member
Wessler's column today absolutely leaves no doubt about it.

I thought he really hit a few things on the head:

"But playing soft, physically or mentally, is unacceptable. Always."

"In reality, Les speaks loudly and carries a tiny stick."

and finally, and sadly,

"Bradley is not a good team."

You can debate a lot of things about this team, but I don't know if you can disagree with much in his column today.

There is just something wrong at BU.
 
In the end, it's just his opinions. Though there is a lot to agree about, I think most fans would not agree 100% with KW's anti-Jim Les tirade.
He seems to dismiss the effects of the injuries to DD and DSE, as if they should have no effect.
It seems Kirk Wessler is just trying a little too hard to attack Jim Les. Probably to get back at him because he isn't the top name on Jim's calling list.
 
Da Coach said:
In the end, it's just his opinions. Though there is a lot to agree about, I think most fans would not agree 100% with KW's anti-Jim Les tirade.
He seems to dismiss the effects of the injuries to DD and DSE, as if they should have no effect.
It seems Kirk Wessler is just trying a little too hard to attack Jim Les. Probably to get back at him because he isn't the top name on Jim's calling list.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am sure Kirk sits around hoping that Jim will be his facebook friend too.

As you said, there is a lot to agree with.
 
As I have said before- every newspaper columnist wants to be a Mike Royko-type, mean-spirted, kick-them-when-they're-down writer who writes hit pieces to prove they are independent thinkers.
KW did a nice job getting that done with this column.
 
Da Coach said:
KW did a nice job getting that done with this column.
Click to expand...
Who exactly are you supporting?

If you are a Bradley supporter, it has become exceedingly obvious you cannot be a supporter of this current staff; yet, you are Les' most ardent lieutenant.

So, I ask again, who exactly are you supporting? The irrational support of someone that doesn't deserve it is beyond odd if there is no financial (or other) incentive.
 
Kirk is FINALLY saying what has been obvious since after the Illini game. Kudos to him for exercising patience and giving JL and the team time to get the ship straightened out.

Sometimes the truth hurts.....OBVIOUSLY its his opinion but that opinion can be backed up with tons of facts.

Can we still turn it around.....yes....does it seem likely....no.
 
I don't think anyone disagrees with the central thesis of KW's article that BU plays soft and passive. Yesterday's game was a clear example of this. Love to have a nickel for every rebound that was taken away from us, or every shot that was eeked up to the basket in fear by one of our big men.

But....this team has proven that when it plays aggressively it can win against top 25 caliber teams. And, no, I'm not hanging my hat on the Illinois win alone as hope that this team can be better. How about we let the conference season play out and then make a judgement? We still have Drake once, Evansville twice and a very beatable Creighton team twice. We'll also get a look at this MoSt. team at home, where I'm pretty sure that Michael Jordan Weems won't have the same production.

At this point, though, through about half of the season, the trademark of this team is softness.
 
I read the article. It's very hard to disagree with any of it at this time. That being said, I think KW has been waiting for this. He took some heat a year ago for being anti-Les, and as a result backed off. Apparently the frustration of yesterdays game super ceded his attempt to prove people wrong about his opinions of Les, and he went into attack mode. It takes no guts to write an article like this at this time.

But like I said at the beginning, it is a very hard time to defend Les. Even though the article is harsh, and oozes of KW's personal issues with Les, it is not inappropriate.
 
It's pretty clear that this year's team is not a strong team ... as frustrating as that is, it was painfully obvious several games ago. This team is a 7th or 8th place conference team this year. We are going to see many, many more losses.

When you win, every move is brilliant and every player is all-american. When you lose, the coaches are *****s and the players are dogs.

It is easy to pile on when a team is doing bad ... especially in the press who has to come up with stories for the radio and for the newspapers. There might not be a better example than the Dallas Cowboys. A month ago, Wade Phillips was stupidity personified among Dallas Cowboy fans and local media ... now he is on the verge of being coach of the year, a recognized player coach, and a paragon of perseverence. Go figure.
 
dogsrus said:
Kirk is FINALLY saying what has been obvious since after the Illini game. Kudos to him for exercising patience and giving JL and the team time to get the ship straightened out.

Sometimes the truth hurts.....OBVIOUSLY its his opinion but that opinion can be backed up with tons of facts.

Can we still turn it around.....yes....does it seem likely....no.
Click to expand...

Yes exactly...and that is his point in the piece. He is not saying anything most of us had not already noticed
 
Indy_BB said:
Who exactly are you supporting?

If you are a Bradley supporter, it has become exceedingly obvious you cannot be a supporter of this current staff; yet, you are Les' most ardent lieutenant.

So, I ask again, who exactly are you supporting? The irrational support of someone that doesn't deserve it is beyond odd if there is no financial (or other) incentive.
Click to expand...

This seems like a silly question. I support Bradley. Who do you support?
Apparently, you are a supporter of:
Bradley when they win.

It may irk a few people, but the truth is that the administration supports Jim Les, so apparently you think they are irrational, too.
And so do a lot of fans.
 
BradleyBrave said:
I think Kirk, like many of us, are just tired of bad basketball and the rhetoric that's accompanied it.
Click to expand...
BB I respect your opinion but alot of the time I don't agree with you but this post tells it all. I think our expectations were to high for this team to deliver. Is there time to turn it around, yes but from what I've seen I have a better chance to be the Bulls Center next year. KW told it like it is but some people will blame it on an anti JL agenda. I for one do not . I was told a long time ago "sometimes the truth hurts."
 
Da Coach said:
This seems like a silly question. I support Bradley. Who do you support?
Apparently, you are a supporter of:
Bradley when they win.
Click to expand...

What????

So you can only be supporter if you like every coach??? WOW, thats a new one.

I AM A FAN....and i am losing faith in the coach. You can do both!
 
Unfortunately after the last several games I have to agree that things are really going downhill fast, I have always felt that every good head coach has great asst. coaches and BU does not have that which falls into Jims responsibility, the last time things got this bad we ended up having good players transfer out which in turn put this program back several seasons, that is a major concern as I think we all agree that we do not want to wait another 5 years to compete for a championship, an asst. coach that can teach better defensive techniques and schemes would be the answer to most of our problems .I think Jim had better find one soon or he may not be aroud much longer.
 
Wessler-Better Days are not Ahead

Wessler-Better Days are not Ahead

Coach---Whilw I usually agree with you and have respected your opinions, you are 100% wrong in your continual "Head-in-the-Sand" optimism and excuse rationales for the BU program under JL and our current situation.

For the record, I was a 100% JL supporter and lobbied strongly for his hiring. I now realize I was wrong. Except for a few bright days when we won 2 games in the NCAA against ranked opponents and our win over Illnois, the program when viewed over the past several years under JL has been very mediocre and is now doing a fast nose-dive into embarassment.

Whatever has happened to the once proud BU tradition and the fighting spirit of the Braves? I fear that it is gone. WE NEED A CHANGE AND WE NEED IT SOON.

I also must take issue with your personal attack on KW and your incorrect assumption on what motivates him. I know KW personally and he is a fine man, a very good sports writer, and a great BU supporter. He grew up near the campus and is very close to people like Chas. Osborn and Ron Ferguson.
His Father Max was a distingushed professor of Mechanical Engineering at Bradley and was one of my teachers.

Regarding your angry and not very well- thought- out comment that " EVERY NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST WANTS TO BE A MIKE ROYKO-TYPE, MEANSPIRITED,KICK-THEM-WHEN-THEY'RE DOWN WRITER" would you also include Max Siebel, Paul King, Allan Upton, and Dick Lien in this catagory?

Clearly Coach, you are dead wrong on this one and I fear your angry comments and blind support will cause you to lose credibility.

I hope you have the grace and courage to rethink your positions and come back into the real world regarding BU.

Sorry for the tirade but I felt your wrong position needed to be challanged.
I would be happy to meet with you personally to discuss this further. Give me a call. Thanks.
 
wizard said:
Coach---Whilw I usually agree with you and have respected your opinions, you are 100% wrong in your continual "Head-in-the-Sand" optimism and excuse rationales for the BU program under JL and our current situation.

For the record, I was a 100% JL supporter and lobbied strongly for his hiring. I now realize I was wrong. Except for a few bright days when we won 2 games in the NCAA against ranked opponents and our win over Illnois, the program when viewed over the past several years under JL has been very mediocre and is now doing a fast nose-dive into embarassment.

Whatever has happened to the once proud BU tradition and the fighting spirit of the Braves? I fear that it is gone. WE NEED A CHANGE AND WE NEED IT SOON.

I also must take issue with your personal attack on KW and your incorrect assumption on what motivates him. I know KW personally and he is a fine man, a very good sports writer, and a great BU supporter. He grew up near the campus and is very close to people like Chas. Osborn and Ron Ferguson.
His Father Max was a distingushed professor of Mechanical Engineering at Bradley and was one of my teachers.

Regarding your angry and not very well- thought- out comment that " EVERY NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST WANTS TO BE A MIKE ROYKO-TYPE, MEANSPIRITED,KICK-THEM-WHEN-THEY'RE DOWN WRITER" would you also include Max Siebel, Paul King, Allan Upton, and Dick Lien in this catagory?

Clearly Coach, you are dead wrong on this one and I fear your angry comments and blind support will cause you to lose credibility.

I hope you have the grace and courage to rethink your positions and come back into the real world regarding BU.

Sorry for the tirade but I felt your wrong position needed to be challanged.
I would be happy to meet with you personally to discuss this further. Give me a call. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Some good thoughts Wizard.

I would also add again....Everyone WANTS BU to win. If that is with Jim Les or without, it does not matter.

However, to continually say that none of this is Jim's fault is absurd.

Kirk is merely posting some items that he, and anyone else watching this team, can see.
 
wizard said:
I also must take issue with your personal attack on KW and your incorrect assumption on what motivates him. I know KW personally and he is a fine man, a very good sports writer, and a great BU supporter.
Click to expand...

How would you classify his relationship with Jim Les throughout Les' tenure?
 
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