Jim Les Radio Show

[tornado]

Wow.....really interesting comments.....

first...Jim talked a little about the final 10 seconds vs. Evansville, Sam Maniscalco's NOW award, and a few other topics, then kinda really ripped into a certain column in "the local newspaper" that tried to make a huge issue out of the Merfeld/fired at Evansville/had to play against the players he recruited.

When in fact the whole BU staff did just about everything possible and conceivable to avoid making any such issue at all out of those things, and even asked the local paper not to make a story out of it and blow it way out of proportion, which they went ahead and did anyway with an entire column about the subject.
Some pretty strong words and disappointed feelings apparent towards the "local paper" and their disregard for people's feelings.
(these are not my words...but the words used on-air...so don't take it up with me...)
Sounds like Merf and JL have every right to be a bit upset at the way things were handled.
It's been a while since hearing such strong words about something in the local press!

 

[MacabreMob]

"...and even asked the local paper not to make a story out of it and blow it way out of proportion, which they went ahead and did anyway with an entire column about the subject."

So did the newspaper say they were gonna go ahead with the story or did they lie to JL and Bradley?

 

[Beninator]

"...and even asked the local paper not to make a story out of it and blow it way out of proportion, which they went ahead and did anyway with an entire column about the subject."

So did the newspaper say they were gonna go ahead with the story or did they lie to JL and Bradley?

Wow...The urinal star take a story and blow the story out of proportion? SHOCKING!!!!!!!
We all know that reporters from the local tabloid never lie dont we?

 

[jasonpeoria911]

The PJS also was asked by Danny Dahlquist's family to not take pictures at his funeral but they did anyways and published them in the paper. They publish what they want to publish and when they want to.

Jason

 

[MacabreMob]

Wow...The urinal star take a story and blow the story out of proportion? SHOCKING!!!!!!!
We all know that reporters from the local tabloid never lie dont we?

I guess I'm wondering if the story may have been more of a "game-time decision".

I doubt PJStar said they'd go with the story no matter what Bradley requested... Sure they understood the emotions and all ... Sure they understood how how it could have an effect on everyone. But they do have space to fill. And who knows... there coulda been a huge story that takes precedence... but if not, they need to go with the best stories available to fill the space and sell papers.

So was this a "game-time decision"? Or was this article intended knowing they could hide behind the guise of being a "game-time decision"? So did the editor know all along the story was gonna be run? Even with the request/plea of those involved in the story?

Is there a liar at the PJSTAR supposedly providing Central Illinois with unbiased news? Do we want liars providing the news?

 

[real fan]

The reason why some players in sports do not like to be interviewed as a lot of times they ask personal questions about things are none of their business.

 

[Braves4Life]

Wow.....really interesting comments.....

first...Jim talked a little about the final 10 seconds vs. Evansville,.... then kinda really ripped into a certain column in "the local newspaper" that tried to make a huge issue out of the Merfeld/fired at Evansville/had to play against the players he recruited......

Some pretty strong words and disappointed feelings apparent towards the "local paper" and their disregard for people's feelings.....It's been a while since hearing such strong words about something in the local press!

What would you expect? They basically called Les a worthless liar! If somebody wrote that kind of garbage about me they'd be "dead to me, Fredo".

 

[Bravesfan]

Apparently Les does not usually waste time discussing stuff like this unless it is warranted. I think he has every right to make a case if something is blown out of proportion.

Speaking of Les's priorities, do you by any chance have a rotation for our bigs that he might be able to use? You say Les does not have his priorities in the right place. Therefore, you must know better on how he should be coaching and developing his players. Please share your philosophies with us! Maybe Les will read this and he can get some ideas! 8-l

 

[BradleyBrave]

Apparently Les does not usually waste time discussing stuff like this unless it is warranted. I think he has every right to make a case if something is blown out of proportion.

Speaking of Les's priorities, do you by any chance have a rotation for our bigs that he might be able to use? You say Les does not have his priorities in the right place. Therefore, you must know better on how he should be coaching and developing his players. Please share your philosophies with us! Maybe Les will read this and he can get some ideas! 8-l

Again, just because someone has an opinion that isn't 'rah-rah BU', someone puts the words in their mouth that they could do a better job. Where did fanatic say that? Honestly, give me a freaking break. We're in year 6, have never finished higher than 4th in the league, and have a losing conference record in this regime. Don't give me injuries, everyone has 'em. People have a right to be upset. I have yet to see a poster say that they personally could do better, but there are plenty of examples of people who have done better under similar circumstances. The guy in Omaha is one of them.

 

[ER3]

Again, just because someone has an opinion that isn't 'rah-rah BU', someone puts the words in their mouth that they could do a better job. Where did fanatic say that? Honestly, give me a freaking break. We're in year 6, have never finished higher than 4th in the league, and have a losing conference record in this regime. Don't give me injuries, everyone has 'em. People have a right to be upset. I have yet to see a poster say that they personally could do better, but there are plenty of examples of people who have done better under similar circumstances. The guy in Omaha is one of them.

Outstanding post...My sentiments exactly. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that is getting tired of the ridiculous 'If you can't coach a D-I team, you aren't allowed to have an opinion about someone that does...If you can't dunk a basketball, you are not allowed to have an opinion on someone that can...etc." argument that keeps coming out from the 'rah-rah' gallery lately.

 

[Scouter]

The PJS also was asked by Danny Dahlquist's family to not take pictures at his funeral but they did anyways and published them in the paper. They publish what they want to publish and when they want to.

Jason

Not true. Here's the statement from the Dahlquist family that you're talking about.

http://www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1152097

"Based on the intrusive behavior we have experienced the past two days, we will be very disappointed to see television cameras and reporters at the visitation and funeral for our son, Danny."

The Journal Star did have a photographer at the visitation and funeral, and IIRC, they stayed well away from everything. I remember the picture of the funeral that appeared on the front page was taken from across the street.

As for Les' "rant," I'm anxious for the show to be archived so I can hear it. Personally, I didn't find the STORY (It's not a column, tornado. We've gone over this before.) very out of line, if at all. The fact that Merf was facing against him former team was an interesting storyline. Did it go too far? I'm not sure, but I think it speaks volumes that nobody on here had any issue with it.

I guess after hearing about all this, it's a good thing JL doesn't coach in New York or Boston and deals with that media circus every day. He seems to have enough trouble with that hard-hitting Peoria crowd.

 

[VromanFan]

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...

 

[chitown fanatic]

For the rah-rahs, as they will now be called, I can offer many options for our bigs, but you know what, I don't get paid to make those decisions. Our handsomely paid coach does...and instead gets flustered about what some podunk newspaper in Central Illinois has to say about one of his coaches, which as many have said, was nothing at all. It would be nice to see him put as much emotion into his players' poor play critiques on the post game, but all we get are the "positives". That's one of the many reasons we're as mediocre as we are. When you're too stubborn to see your faults and don't do anything to change them, you stay stagnant, and in Jim's case, stagnant is bad.

 

[Braves4Life]

The Rah-Rah Club

The Rah-Rah Club

For the rah-rahs, as they will now be called,....... That's one of the many reasons we're as mediocre as we are. When you're too stubborn to see your faults and don't do anything to change them, you stay stagnant, and in Jim's case, stagnant is bad.

If you say so "fanatic" (and I use that term loosely) .........................I guess I am, and always have been one of the "rah-rahs"

 

[it's boogie time]

I just reread the article to see what the problem could have been. I'm struggling to see where there is any substance. It was your basic bland 'ex-coach coaching against former players' article. For a coach that had no success at a school that was used to success, it almost seemed like too nice of an article. For all the problems that Merfeld had at Evansville, I'm sure there could have been a lot of dirt uncovered.

I would think any article that didn't focus on the fact that the two teams squaring off that night were the worst in the Valley would be a positive.

 

[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?