Wessler: Will Bradley players buy-in this season?

[AZ BU Fan]

Just didn't need AW saying this right before the season kicks off. Could have been addressed by the Coach, and not the players, right after the season ended last year. It was obvious something went off track last year, and, the team got over it toward the end of the season when they started playing harder.

It would have blown over during the summer, particularly if a number of BU players had commented at the same time, and let all of us know it wasn't going to happen again this season.

This way the slate would have been clean starting off this year. No need to relive the past....

BU Athletic Dept could use additional PR people advising the team and staff re how to better handle/manipulate the media and fans...

How about it BU Journalism Majors, any takers?

 

[Bravesfan]

First of all... I actually CLICKED the link and READ the article. :-o And I didn't really have a problem with any of it. :-o :-o :-o

How's that for all you jack-wagons? :lol:

But for filling in the missing names, I'll play along:

"When one guy (McCain?) won??™t commit to playing defense, and another (Roberts?) is worried about how many points he scores, and another (Taylor Brown?) starts thinking he doesn??™t have to abide by all the rules because he??™s irreplaceable, and another guy (Milos?) sits the bench wondering how the hell these talented slackers stay on the floor in front of him..."

I didn't have a problem with much of it either. But I guess a lot of us don't trust KW for some of the garbage he has written in the past. Was this truly only an article about AW, or did he interview others and just write about the most "juicy" tidbit he could find? This is my problem with the media in general, most of whom I don't trust either.

Again, I'm with you and others that at least we now know at least somewhat why this team played inconsistently last year. As others have said, I'm sure Les has addressed this with the team and has put the pressure on the players to perform. But I just don't know what KW's motives were for writing this now, just when the team is ready to put last year behind them and focus on what could be a great year this year.

You tick people off enough times and people start to distrust you even if your intentions are good.

 

[Braves4Life]

BU Athletic Dept could use additional PR people advising the team and staff re how to better handle/manipulate the media and fans...

I totally agree with you again on this AZ BU Fan. What's wrong with me? I suddenly seem to be finding more and more common ground with you . God, I hope I'm not turning into a "negative nellie". :lol:

You'd think with President Glasser being a control freak and a master at using the media to her (and BU's) benefit that she would be on top of this kind of negative PR. If I was a conspiracy theorist I'd almost think this stuff was intentionally being done to make Les look bad.......

 

[Bravesfan]

Of course it is...its BU...they can do no wrong and if they do its KW's or the PJ Stars fault. If our guys get in trouble its all lies....if there is disention among the team, its fabricated.

Just glad this story didn't come out about SIU or ISU becuase SOMEONE would have let us know "something is wrong at ISU"...Janks got problems.

I agree...this DOESN'T have to be a big issue as it happened last year and like I stated I imagine its pretty prevalent to almost ANY team that doesn't live up to expectations and struggled losing so many home games, WINNABLE home games, like we did. Probably KW's fault also....

I just look at it as a fixable problem......and like KW said fix it, buy in and this team can be pretty good.

Dogsrus, stop with this assumption that people who disagree with KW feel that "it's BU....they can do no wrong and if they do it's KW's or the PJ Stars fault"! That's NOT what people are saying here!

No one on this board, including the mods are satisfied about how things have gone recently. The issue here is KW's motives and his apparent disdain for Les and how (to paraphrase in a similar manner here) "everything is Les's fault and he can do nothing right"!

I'll say it again. This was not a bad KW blog. But considering how many times he has stabbed the team and the coaches in the back in the past, I don't trust his motives here.

Case in point. Last year he wrote at least two or three columns basically writing off the season in January after a slow start. The team ultimately finished 9-9 in the Valley. Okay. Fine. The team did falter and finished with a mediocre record, making KW look like a genius. The problem was....he wasn't. If the team finished in second or third place, KW would have been the first one to write about how he expected the team to perform well....AND he probably would have even tried to take credit for the whole season!

My point is why write those columns writing off the team in January? You NEVER write off a team until they are mathematically eliminated from contention! Why didn't KW write this column in late February or March when it became apparent this team was not going anywhere? Very simple. He is not a Les fan, and even if Les has a chance to turn things around, he just doesn't trust him to do the job. Now he may have every right to believe he's not the right coach for this team, but why write a "hatchet job" of a column that does NOTHING but put undue pressure on the whole team?!

Again, there are some here who believe that there are people who think BU can do no wrong. But I believe there are also many people here who believe that KW thinks he can do no wrong either! And that's not good for a team that has the potential to do very well this year. Les does not need this distraction, and KW needs to understand this. If this team underachieves this year, then KW can have at it, but he should be considerate enough to wait until the end of the season to do this.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I just want the season to begin and progress without a lot of distractions. Hopefully we're all on the same page here.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

I totally agree with you again on this AZ BU Fan. What's wrong with me? I suddenly seem to be finding more and more common ground with you . God, I hope I'm not turning into a "negative nellie". :lol:

B4L - Plenty of Room at The Negative Nellie Hotel! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

We even have our own theme song!

(I'm A) Negative Nellie

They continue to finish no better than 4th
They continue to finish no better than 4th
They continue to finish no better than 4th
No
This is getting to be
This is getting to be
This is getting to be
Frustrating

I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
And I'm frustrated with the Braves
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
I'm a negative Nellie
And I'm

a Negative Nellie whose trying
not to be negative no more!

;-);-)

Apologies to Nirvana....(Negative Creep)

 

[Future Walk-On]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

 

[Da Coach]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

B4L, the only people "freaking out" are the Kirk Wessler defenders. It seems that everyone associated with Bradley is fair game for criticism, but to some posters, Kirk Wessler is off-limits. From what I see, a number of posters have comments, both pro and con, about the latest Wessler blog. But those who have been critical of it have been attacked by the defenders as if they have no right to criticize KW.
Let's just allow everyone to register their opinion, and leave it at that.
I am sure KW can defend himself.

 

[dogsrus]

Excellent!

I said the same thing. The articles themselves weren't that bad, just suspect timing like you said BNC. The "chemistry" article might have been more acceptable if he seeked out other players, which he either did not do, or did but chose not to include since they were probably not as "controversial" as AW's statement was.

He DID indicate it was just a blurb from a bigger piece to be released. While I hope he he didn't dig deeper (he'll be chastized by some as going on a witch hunt if he did) he just MIGHT have more to add later.

 

[dogsrus]

Dogsrus, stop with this assumption that people who disagree with KW feel that "it's BU....they can do no wrong and if they do it's KW's or the PJ Stars fault"! That's NOT what people are saying here!

No one on this board, including the mods are satisfied about how things have gone recently. The issue here is KW's motives and his apparent disdain for Les and how (to paraphrase in a similar manner here) "everything is Les's fault and he can do nothing right"!

I'll say it again. This was not a bad KW blog. But considering how many times he has stabbed the team and the coaches in the back in the past, I don't trust his motives here.

Case in point. Last year he wrote at least two or three columns basically writing off the season in January after a slow start. The team ultimately finished 9-9 in the Valley. Okay. Fine. The team did falter and finished with a mediocre record, making KW look like a genius. The problem was....he wasn't. If the team finished in second or third place, KW would have been the first one to write about how he expected the team to perform well....AND he probably would have even tried to take credit for the whole season!

My point is why write those columns writing off the team in January? You NEVER write off a team until they are mathematically eliminated from contention! Why didn't KW write this column in late February or March when it became apparent this team was not going anywhere? Very simple. He is not a Les fan, and even if Les has a chance to turn things around, he just doesn't trust him to do the job. Now he may have every right to believe he's not the right coach for this team, but why write a "hatchet job" of a column that does NOTHING but put undue pressure on the whole team?!

Again, there are some here who believe that there are people who think BU can do no wrong. But I believe there are also many people here who believe that KW thinks he can do no wrong either! And that's not good for a team that has the potential to do very well this year. Les does not need this distraction, and KW needs to understand this. If this team underachieves this year, then KW can have at it, but he should be considerate enough to wait until the end of the season to do this.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I just want the season to begin and progress without a lot of distractions. Hopefully we're all on the same page here.

Its not KW's job to worry about if he's a distraction. Again I ask....is what he wrote not the truth? These guys write start of the season articles every year.....part of that is to report on what went on LAST year. Last year wasn't pretty....and now we no some reasons and often the truth hurts.

He summed up, in HIS opinion, what he thought based on AW's comment. AW...not KW told us/him the team wasn't on the same page. He simply opined based of AW's comment and says exactly what you, me and all other good BU fans believe and thats this team CAN be good and better then last year IF they change some things....one being selfish play.

Almost EVERYONE ripping KW on here has indicated that everything he says has some truth to it yet they rip him for saying what we basically allready knew.

Timing...can timing for somethng like this EVER be good. And he can't really release something if it hadn't been said until now.

Someone said BU needs a better or a good PR dept. How about winning......that cures most everything. This team underperformed last year and had some personel issues. Sorry but with that comes some less then pleasant revelations.

I ask you to speak with KW some time....go directly to the source. I have and I trust him when he says he does NOT hate JL. He does NOT want him fired. IF he ever thinks that its time he won't hesitate to say so.

He wants BU to win and be successful....like all of us. Again, when you are about .500 with some horrible home meltdowns and some player issues you are going to here about it and it won't always be pretty....thats just what comes with losing/struggling.

 

[dogsrus]

B4L, the only people "freaking out" are the designated and loyal Kirk Wessler defenders. .

Go back to the start of the thread.....the first 6 posts or so were simply about the MESSAGE not the messenger. Then, per usual, the message gets devalued and its messenger is made the issue by a KW hater. I'm not defending KW but what he said.

 

[tornado]

Wow tornado. That's a pretty impressive list of stuff with great detail. What do you have, a folder on your computer with all of KW's negative articles with all of the "bad stuff" highlighted in bold? You should have been in the CIA. :lol:

I wouldn't want to get on your bad side. :lol:

geez-- those are just easily remembered ones--
I can also easily recall the falsehood about Jordan Prosser being forced to redshirt and the erroneous report about Cellus being tampered with at Iowa and
all the facts changing every day when they were reporting the incident with DRuff...
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7184

then the different stories they reported in this incident, never really getting to the truth..
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8438

 

[Bravesfan]

Its not KW's job to worry about if he's a distraction. Again I ask....is what he wrote not the truth? These guys write start of the season articles every year.....part of that is to report on what went on LAST year. Last year wasn't pretty....and now we no some reasons and often the truth hurts.

He summed up, in HIS opinion, what he thought based on AW's comment. AW...not KW told us/him the team wasn't on the same page. He simply opined based of AW's comment and says exactly what you, me and all other good BU fans believe and thats this team CAN be good and better then last year IF they change some things....one being selfish play.

Almost EVERYONE ripping KW on here has indicated that everything he says has some truth to it yet they rip him for saying what we basically allready knew.

Timing...can timing for somethng like this EVER be good. And he can't really release something if it hadn't been said until now.

Someone said BU needs a better or a good PR dept. How about winning......that cures most everything. This team underperformed last year and had some personel issues. Sorry but with that comes some less then pleasant revelations.

I ask you to speak with KW some time....go directly to the source. I have and I trust him when he says he does NOT hate JL. He does NOT want him fired. IF he ever thinks that its time he won't hesitate to say so.

He wants BU to win and be successful....like all of us. Again, when you are about .500 with some horrible home meltdowns and some player issues you are going to here about it and it won't always be pretty....thats just what comes with losing/struggling.

I understand your points dogsrus. I was just trying to indicate why I have had issues with KW's past columns, and I was trying to illustrate this using that example of some of the trash he wrote during the middle last season. When someone is looking to be critical all the time (at least in my opinion), it's hard to trust this person even if the said current article had no ill intentions with it.

Personally, if I were in KW's shoes, I would have run with the AW quote myself as well. However, I would have spun it in a completely different direction. I probably would have said something to the effect of this:

"AW illustrated a very important variable on how last season transpired, that many of the players on the team were not focused on the ultimate goal of winning the Valley championship. That said, I'm sure Les has already addressed this issue ad nauseum this summer and has his team focused on what could very well be a special season on the Hilltop. The great thing about the type of adversity and maturing issues that the team went through last season is that it almost always leads to the type of team chemistry and growth that wins championships. Therefore I have no reason to believe that Les has this team moving towards the next level that will lead to a very memorable season this year. And I for one believe that Les needs to be given every chance to see this team through."

Now why can't KW give Les the benefit of the doubt on this one? Les's previous eight years don't matter now. What matters is how he does this year, and a great season will quickly heal all animosity that many have towards Les. That's all that really matters at this point.

 

[Braves4Life]

I probably would have said something to the effect of this:

"AW illustrated a very important variable on how last season transpired, that many of the players on the team were not focused on the ultimate goal of winning the Valley championship. That said, I'm sure Les has already addressed this issue ad nauseum this summer and has his team focused on what could very well be a special season on the Hilltop. The great thing about the type of adversity and maturing issues that the team went through last season is that it almost always leads to the type of team chemistry and growth that wins championships. Therefore I have no reason to believe that Les has this team moving towards the next level that will lead to a very memorable season this year. And I for one believe that Les needs to be given every chance to see this team through."

Was what KW said really much different? --

"If every BU player looks at himself and acknowledges where he was that ???one guy,??? even if it was only once or twice, and then resolves not to allow that to happen this season, then Bradley has a chance to be pretty darn good. But it will take every player, not simply to acknowledge and pay lip service, but to live it. They also must hold each other accountable. When one begins to stray, he needs to be snapped back into the team line.

We??™re talking buy-in. The result of 100 percent buy-in will be reflected in better defense, stronger rebounding, smarter and more efficient offense, a better won-lost ledger ??¦ and a sense of accomplishment, rather than frustration, when the season is over."

 

[AZ BU Fan]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

Posters obsessing over the AW comments in the blog by KW...

I'm shocked...shocked to find senseless posting going on in this Forum!;-)

What else is there to do on this Forum in this dead time before the season actually starts?

Read and respond to threads on UFO's???;-)

 

[Future Walk-On]

Posters obsessing over the AW comments in the blog by KW...

I'm shocked...shocked to find senseless posting going on in this Forum!;-)

What else is there to do on this Forum in this dead time before the season actually starts?

Read and respond to threads on UFO's???;-)

lolol.

 

[Bravesfan]

Was what KW said really much different? --

"If every BU player looks at himself and acknowledges where he was that ???one guy,??? even if it was only once or twice, and then resolves not to allow that to happen this season, then Bradley has a chance to be pretty darn good. But it will take every player, not simply to acknowledge and pay lip service, but to live it. They also must hold each other accountable. When one begins to stray, he needs to be snapped back into the team line.

I don't know. It's similar, but the tone of his analysis seems like he is far less trustworthy that the team will be able to do just what he said, that is hold each other accountable. Plus he doesn't give Les any positive feedback like I would have.

Again, it's more about trusting KW and his motives than the column itself, which as I have said was not that bad. It's just that, as a poster mentioned earlier, that this is already the second time this preseason that he has rehashed some issues from last year that I'm sure have already been addressed by the coaching staff.

 

[Beninator]

Posters obsessing over the AW comments in the blog by KW...

I'm shocked...shocked to find senseless posting going on in this Forum!;-)

What else is there to do on this Forum in this dead time before the season actually starts?

Read and respond to threads on UFO's???;-)

So do you want me to round up the usual suspects? (myself included):lol:

 

[bigdaddystuck]

B4L, the only people "freaking out" are the Kirk Wessler defenders.

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[SFP]

So do you want me to round up the usual suspects? (myself included):lol:

I'm afraid you may like the flogging! ;-)

 

[Bradleyguy10]

This might be the most hilarious thread I have ever read.

Everyone is freaking out like a 14 year girl whose "boyfriend" talked to this other 14 year old girl and then was talking crap to her friends about this one girl who was her friend.

This obviously happens with pretty much every other team in the nation...and we act like its the apocalypse....

I am not worried. If we had to come out and say something about it...we are obviously trying to fix it.

Go Braves.

Agreed.

This is much ado about nothing.