A Letter To Jerel McNeal

[bradforster]

Dear Jerel,

Over the past four years I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you play the game.  Your defensive tenacity and indomitable spirit are greatly appreciated by MU fans from coast to coast.  With an unparalleled work ethic, you've improved your game exponentially since lacing up the sneakers as a freshman.  That being said, I have a few simple requests heading in to the most important time of your highly decorated career.  I've listed them, in no particular order, in this note of both gratitude and friendly advice. 

1) When you draw two or three defenders, the immutable laws of basketball physics state someone else must be unguarded, and therefore in a greatly enhanced position to put the ball through the cylinder.  Please think about passing the ball to said unguarded teammate for a higher percentage opportunity. 

2) Please consider letting another member of your team feel the finely made round leather object before settling for a contested 22 foot jumper with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  Other guys like to touch the ball too, and there should be four of them standing in fairly close proximity to you.   

3) When an opposing player releases a three point attempt, put your hand in his face, but don't hit him like Ike Turner after a bad meal.   

4) I haven't measured you personally, but the program says you stand six feet three inches tall.  Please don't drive to the rim like a 6'10 whirling dervish against really lengthy people who patrol the interior. There is a high probability the ball will come back with tremendous force and lead to a fast break for the other team.     

5) If you miss a shot, it doesn't necessarily mean you were fouled.  Please refrain from wallowing in self pity, holding a conference with the officials, and meandering to the other end of the floor.  Your teammates need your help on the defensive side even when you fail to put the ball through the basket.  As of late, this has been especially important.   

I hope you take this advice into consideration before hitting the court next week.  I feel confident these words of wisdom will serve you much better than any Bernie Madoff or Jim Cramer could have dispensed. 

Thank you for your time, and best of luck in the NCAA tournament.

Sincerely,

Brad Forster
Ardent Marquette BB supporter

[Norm]

That was awfully sarcastic for a letter written in both "gratitude and friendly advice."

[MarquetteBallin]

I'm sure Jerel, who is a first team BIG EAST player and almost assuredly an NBA draft pick will take time to read a letter written by some bozo on a message board. Get a life.

[mviale]

Show a little respect to our seniors. 

[reinko]

Dear Brad,
Shut up.

Warmest regards,
Adam

[MUCam]

Brad,

Where was the:

PS. I have done absolutely nothing in life to indicate that I have any qualifications whatsoever to counsel a college basketball player in the nuances of college basketball. Therefore, my "letter to Jerel" is absolutely worthless.

You can't be serious? Ridiculous.

[warriorfred]

Awesome letter.  Well-written, honest, and a nice summation of McNeal's recent level of play.  Thank you for summarizing what most of us have been saying to each other for the past few games.

[CAINMUTINY]

+1,000,000

Could Buzz sit JMac down and read this?

I would hope Jmac would understand that if he looked for assists, that his offense will come to him.

[KC_Warrior]

I've read some incredibly stupid things on this board over the years but this post takes the cake.

Well done.

[romey]

Not sure why this is a "stupid" post, or ridiculous.  Which of these points does not have some truth to it?

[LON]

Maybe not the best format, but are any of those things untrue?

[LON]

Not sure why this is a "stupid" post, or ridiculous.  Which of these points does not have some truth to it?

Beat me to it

[romey]

Yeah, I don't think anyone is saying we're better off without him, or he's a bad player.  He's just done some things recently on the court that show there's room for improvement going into the tourney.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

Dear Brad

In all honesty and support of you....Shut up

Thanks

[warriormom]

Dear Brad,
I am sure Jerel has never heard any of these things before.  Thank God you were able to figure things out.  You should probably send that letter to Buzz and the coaches too as they haven't been able to see any of those things yet.
Thanks for your time

[Markusquette]

"Ardent Marquette BB supporter" 

[romey]

Can someone tell me what has been said in this "letter" that hasn't been said in other threads, that doesn't have some truth to it.  Gees, the guy uses a little creativity, puts in a letter format, and he's attacked as if he's spewing untruths.

[warriorfred]

I have yet to read any posts demonstrating the falsity in his Brad's letter.  I'd allow the letter is sarcastic, and not necessarily nice, but it is has the benefit of truth.  If you feel the letter is a lie, stop attacking Brad and point out the falsehoods.

[reinko]

I aplogize Fred Forster for attacking your son. 
I understand that you are just protecting your son.

With sincerest gratitude,
Adam

[Wade for President]

With all due respect to McNeal...I thought Brad was pretty damn funny....and remarkable right on. 

[MU_Warrior44]

+100000

I thought the letter was very nicely done and (sadly) it was right on the money.

[g0lden3agle]

Why is this post any different than the multiple threads that were up about McNeal immediately following the game against Nova? All he did was basically summarize all those posts and put it into one Jerel flame-full thread.  You guys should be happy he's consolidating everything to one thread so we don't have to wade through countless threads on the subject.

[Norm]

I think that besides being sarcastic, the letter came off as quite condescending, treating McNeal as if he was in elementary school. I know I thought the author came off as a wisenheimer.

[The Lens]

I would suggest an email or posting on his FB wall.  No one reads the mail anymore, too much direct mail junk.

[Markusquette]

While he makes some bad decisions, without McNeal we are nowhere near as good.  So we have to expect some bad games and bad decisions.  For all the big shots he's made, and games he has won, I can take some losses.