Coach Les going to Bat for his players

[Majik45]

This was over on the Bradley board, but thought it might be of interest to people over here. Gary Parrish put out some lists last week of the best PG/SG, Shooters/Wings, etc. for the coming year. Yesterday in his blog he wrote an update about a call he got from Coach Les about leaving Ruffin and Crouch out of the lists. I know some people will probably accuse him of crying that his players weren't on the lists, but it's interesting that he would take note of this and call the guy on it. It should be the 2nd blog entry here:

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/weblogs/entry/parri****houghts

[btisu22]

Who cares what others think about Les's comments. It is what those people think inside his locker room! I am sure his players will play harder for him after this! I'm not saying they didn't before, but now there is even more respect on both sides now.
:clap:

[kevinmitchell]

Im not a huge fan of this but if Les feels it will help the team--great.

I only find it odd that on numerous occasions I've heard coach Les say he doesn't read the papers, message boards, etc. yet he's very well versed in what is written about his team.

He isnt the only coach who says this, BTW. Why do coaches insist that they "don't read the papers"? Of course they do. When you are in an ego driven profession you ALWAYS know what is said or written about you.

Its ok to admit it.

[smsandmsuson]

This was over on the Bradley board, but thought it might be of interest to people over here. Gary Parrish put out some lists last week of the best PG/SG, Shooters/Wings, etc. for the coming year. Yesterday in his blog he wrote an update about a call he got from Coach Les about leaving Ruffin and Crouch out of the lists. I know some people will probably accuse him of crying that his players weren't on the lists, but it's interesting that he would take note of this and call the guy on it. It should be the 2nd blog entry here:

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/weblogs/entry/parri****houghts


I dont get anything to open up. Just a blank page with Sportline's traditional headlining up top.

[tBU]

Im not a huge fan of this but if Les feels it will help the team--great.

I only find it odd that on numerous occasions I've heard coach Les say he doesn't read the papers, message boards, etc. yet he's very well versed in what is written about his team.

He isnt the only coach who says this, BTW. Why do coaches insist that they "don't read the papers"? Of course they do. When you are in an ego driven profession you ALWAYS know what is said or written about you.

Its ok to admit it.

Not saying some coaches don't read some articles but I would guess many coaches hear about this stuff through second hand reports....BU has a very good sports info dept. and I would bet money that is where he caught wind of this.

JL admits this stuff IS INDEED "importaint" and its what he told Parrish...I hope the article can be accessed because it was well worded by coach Les.

[Majik45]

It won't let me post the link because the link at the end is Parrish thoughts and it's taking the sh underscore t as if I'm trying to say a naughty word. Here's the text of the article:


Bradley coach thinks two merit mention ... here it is

The notes and phone calls about the position rankings are still coming daily, and later this week I'll put together a mailbag designed to allow me to further explain my rationale while also making fun of people for suggesting I missed on certain players.

It'll be easy.

Because I received a lot of stupid notes and phone calls.

But not all of them were stupid.

Let's be clear about that.

Some were thoughtful and passionate and well-reasoned, among them a call from Bradley's Jim Les, who was refreshing in his acknowledgement of two things that many coaches regularly deny.

1. Right or wrong, such lists matter to players and schools.

2. He wants his players to be recognized for their accomplishments.

"I understand there are a lot of good players, but I just had to go to bat for my guys," Les said. "I'm just like any other coach who thinks he's got the biggest and the best, and I know you've got a tough job when you've got to put a list together and cut somebody off. But I just want somebody to hear my case. I want to be able to look at my guys and have them know I'm battling for them."

In other words, it's the Mike Gundy approach.

Just with intelligence and composure.

But in all seriousness, Les had a legitimate gripe with my omission of Daniel Ruffin (from the points/combos list) and Jeremy Crouch (from the shooters/wings list), and that's something I wanted to mention here.

They are the Missouri Valley Conference's top returning scorers.

Both averaged 13.8 points per game last season.

Ruffin is the nation's active leader in assists with 475.

Crouch shot 50 percent (83-of-166) from 3-point range in 2006-07.

Clearly, those are strong credentials worth pointing out, particularly from guys who have helped Bradley enjoy back-to-back 22-win seasons. And so that's the idea behind this post, to highlight a couple of players who deserve to be highlighted, and if it took their coach going to bat for them to make it happen, well, then they should be thankful they’re backed by somebody willing to argue on their behalf.

[kevinmitchell]

Not saying some coaches don't read some articles but I would guess many coaches hear about this stuff through second hand reports....BU has a very good sports info dept. and I would bet money that is where he caught wind of this.

JL admits this stuff IS INDEED "importaint" and its what he told Parrish...I hope the article can be accessed because it was well worded by coach Les.

All coaches read this stuff--coach Les included. Don't let anyone tell you they dont. Again, if Les felt it was important--thats his call.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I've got no problem with it and I'm sure it endears him to his team even more.

I agree with btisu - who cares what others say. Its what your players think that really matters.

[MSNSaluki]

I hate to be the fly in the ointment here, and I'm not trying to start any ******, but if Les called or wrote CBSportsline to complain they didn't mention a couple of his kids then it's a amateur move.

Is he coaching a third-grade team?

[tgcshock]

Les has always gone to bat for the whole MVC when he has had interviews with the national media. I have always appreciated his willingness to challenge the national media's perception of the Valley so I certainly won't complain about him sticking up for his own players.