How much do you think Joshua Smith is limited by his conditioning issues?
"He's very limited. If you get a team that's going to run up and down that floor, he's not going to be out there that long. ... I don't know his exact weight, but he looks about the same as last season. It's very disappointing. You know, coming through the Bruin program and knowing that everybody in the past has come in disciplined, in shape and ready to go, it's kind of a disrespect for the program, the coach and your team when you don't do your responsibility during the offseason."
7 months ago
Nestor
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Without having followed him around all summer
I’m not quite prepared to blame his conditioning on lack of effort. It’s hard for someone who does not have a weight problem to fully appreciate how difficult it may be for him. But it is a real shame as, at 280 pounds, he’d be astoundingly good — and no longer vertically challenged. Sadly, I suspect it’s too late now as dieting during the season would probably sap whatever energy might be picked up from weight loss. Maybe not. I’m no expert. The one thing that is obvious, though, is that he’s leaving a lot of his potential on the scale.
"...knowing that everybody in the past has come in disciplined, in shape and ready to go, it's kind of a disrespect for the program..."
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re not talking about ordinary people. We’re talking about an elite class of individuals who make their living with their bodies. Please appreciate the difference. Imagine a life guard who is not a strong swimmer by lifeguard standards. Or a fireman (fire person) who cannot scale ladders by firefighter standards. Or a cop who does not learn the law, does not drive very well, shies from confrontation, or cannot shoot a gun by cop standards.
Tracy Murray, former elite athlete knows a thing or two about being a bigger guy who was challenged to stay in shape, and is well qualified to render an opinion here. In fact, better Tracy saying this, in some ways, than Ben (who really doesn’t like to call out his players publically). While I was never an elite athlete, I did spend significant time hanging around that “fraternity”. I remember FreeMac pumping iron in combat boots. I’ve witnessed Bruin basketball and football players give fellow teammates grief (almost to the point of fisticuffs) for not being in shape, knowing plays, etc.. All I’m saying is: Gain Insights and Learn from Bruin Greats when it comes to athletic comments. (Don Maclean, and Troy Aikman are superb with this). Appreciate life from an athlete’s perspective. My point is not directed at any poster in particular. I’m just against quickly dismissing comments and insights directly from our own athletes, in general.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Murray Is Right
This shows disrespect for the program and for his teammates.
Josh is not your “usual” big young man trying to get and stay in shape. He is a full ride scholarship athelete in a well-funded and supported program at a major university with a virtually unmatched medical school. He has vast resources at UCLA to assist and support him—resources to which those “usual” big kids struggling with their weight and physical conditioning simply don’t have access. IMHO Josh just has no reasonable excuse for this. Not at this point.
Love My Bruins
Would be interesting
to hear Tracy expand on the matter after last night’s debacle – actually, would be great to have him sit down with Joshua and (verbally) smack him around.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
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