Woelfel calls out the Cronies

[bango_the_buck]

What are the Bucks waiting for?

The Milwaukee Bucks are in a major tailspin, having lost seven of their last 10 games. One of them was a thoroughly embarrassing 112-69 loss to the woeful Philadelphia 76ers.

Yet, despite an angry and dwindling fan base, Bucks management has inexplicably sat on its hands and refused to make a single trade.

On the surface, the blame for the Bucks

[bigdog34]

There you go Woeffel. Damn the Man!!!!

[OzzyInTheLake]

As much as I appreciate Woelfel finally calling out Kohl, Walker and Co... I think in the grand scheme of things, this changes very little... so its hard to be excited...

"there are some NBA officials who are convinced Harris

[Durbanfish4]

Herb Kohl is probably going to be pressured to make some changes because of the media attention that his dysfunctional front-office is getting. This info is leaking out into popular media, which ultimately means that more 'lay' people will be clued in as to what exactly is going on within the organization. Herb Kohl is too concerned about his perception in the eyes of the public to not do anything about all of this info that is surfacing. This is great! The more places this info comes out on the better! I am optimistic that something will be done, either before this trade deadline or after the season is over, that will actually be of some benefit to this organization. At least...I hope some positive changes are made. Dammit...if only I had a way to run this ball club...too bad I don't have millions of dollars to throw around.

[75totheMACCfund]

As much as I appreciate Woelfel finally calling out Kohl, Walker and Co... I think in the grand scheme of things, this changes very little... so its hard to be excited...

"there are some NBA officials who are convinced Harris

[OzzyInTheLake]

Unless this is the first sign of a prolonged media war (read Woelfel war... cause the JS is not going to dirty its hands with any such prolonged attack... despite that article earlier this year/late last year attacking the front office) I really don't think anything will come of this.

A few paragraphs won't spark a fire amongst the 'lay' fans.

[NeedsMoreCheese]

Bout time. Weird that he referenced this board as NBA officials though. Thats probably due to GADs fancy work

[Andrew34r]

Larry Harris will be in studio tommorrow on the Pro Hoops show. Somebody needs to call in and ask him why he cant do his job and why Herb Kohl and his inner circle are the real GM's of the team. It will be funny to hear his reaction or for Harris to pretend like he didnt understand what the caller was saying.

[CBUCK06]

I like the fact that it is quiet right now, that's when Harris makes a move.... I think that he won't this year.....

[MickeyDavis]

Woelfel is the only media guy making any noise. Too bad he works for a rag that has a circulation of about 10.

[unklchuk]

I'd be more encouraged by this media pressure if I was reasonably persuaded that any Kohl move would be good for the team on the court and not just superficial change for PR purposes.

[Licensed to Il]

The Bucks will never win until they have a full time GM with the power to draft, trade, and spend (within the allocated budget) as he sees fit.

The fact that Kohl continually thinks otherwise, is a prideful display of ignorance and arrogance.

[miggs0721]

I lived in Racine for the majority of my younger years, we call that p.o.s paper, the Racine urinal times. I love having Gary though, he is better than any mjs bucks reporter

[unklchuk]

Adding: or if I had confidence that the Kohl group could make a major move that was savvy, that would lead toward a contender.

My refrain, more or less, has lately been: Shake up the team? Sure if you want. It's unbalanced. But shake up management first. The team, as a team, isn't very smart right now - but management has been dumb for a very long time.

If pressed, I'd back off a bit to: management seems to make a genuine effort, seems to be in some ways pretty smart, but building a winner in a small market requires basketball wisdom that our amateur owner doesn't have, struggles to bring on board, and can't keep because of his meddling.

Organizations inevitably exhibit the strengths and weaknesses of the person at the top. Herb Kohl is a private man, but he shows himself in the continuing futility of his team.

[Matt Foley]

Larry Harris will be in studio tommorrow on the Pro Hoops show. Somebody needs to call in and ask him why he cant do his job and why Herb Kohl and his inner circle are the real GM's of the team. It will be funny to hear his reaction or for Harris to pretend like he didnt understand what the caller was saying.

I bet Harris doesn't even show up and blames the snow.

[fam3381]

I'm glad to see this, but Woelfel hasn't written nearly enough about the Bucks to be the best Bucks writer IMO. Seemed like he was writing more about them this summer than during the season.

[old skool]

It's easy to blame management, but even competent management with a reasonable amount of independence does not guarantee that the team will be a success.

Look at the Celtics. A success? Yes, if you look at this season. But no, if you look at last year, or the year before or the year before.

Look at the Lakers. A success? Not in Kobe Bryant's eyes for the last few years. Kobe wanted out, because management was not doing "enough". Was Kobe right? Looks like Kobe was wrong, even before the trade for Gasol.

Look at the Knicks. Lots of trades, lots of dollars spent, lots of hands-off management. What a mess they are.

Look at the Grizzlies. They had a certified genius running the show. Jerry West was the man in charge. Hubie Brown was in total control on the court. What happened?

Look at the T-Wolves. Kevin McHale has had the chance to build the team his way. He had a superstar in KG, and was allowed to acquire solid supporting players like Trenton Hassell, Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and Wally S. Overall, they have underachieved. They have been considered to be disappointments most of the past ten years.

Look at the Bulls. Paxson is in charge. He has been given the money to sign players and the authority to make trades, catapulting the Bulls to a full game ahead of the hapless Bucks in the latest standings.

If management is the problem in Milwaukee, it would not appear that

Jerry West, Kevin McHale, Isaiah Thomas, and John Paxson have all turned the managerial autonomy so many here wish for the Bucks, into a mountain of self-doubt and frustration. It is convenient to scapegoat management, but other franchises struggle as well.

oLd sKool

[unklchuk]

I've never sold the idea that good management = guaranteed success.

Success requires beating the odds.

The odds improve big time if the franchise can attract management with stand-out skills. It's like Mozart and Molieri - the gifted can achieve far more than the competent. The Bucks attracted quality with Nelson and Karl. But the relationships soured (our owner?) and the quality has been replaced by in-house promotions.

Create the atmosphere and the quality, and there'll be a play for success. Enough interest to hold/build a fan base. Do it the Bucks way and hope atrophies and failure follows everyone like a shadow.

[energee]

"NBA officials"

Someone should track how long it takes for some topics to be discussed on REALGM and then it finds its way into print behind some ambiguous inside source or sources. Some on this board should get a cut of their salary.

Hi Gery

[MickeyDavis]

Good management does not equal guaranteed sucess.

But bad management equals likely failure.