Bucks beat reporters a bunch of "yes sir" soft shoes

Why hasn't anyone in the media taken the Bucks to task for their obvious shortcomings? I mean, the Bucks just got blown away once again and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel puts out a puff piece extoling Terri Stotts for his "new" emphasis on defense. That's great, but how about addressing the team's myriad of flaws?

There's so much fertile ground to cover. For instance:

Where's the offense? The Bucks have no offense, and have been lacking it since the first of the year. What's causing this drought? What is being done about it?

What about the shoddy ballhandling? The Bucks have the Association's worst turnover margin, and its killing them. Is anyone at all paying the price for this sloppiness?

What about the shooting? The team ranks amongst the worst of the worst when it comes to field goal percentage. Has the team explored any trades to bring in some real shooters? If not, why not?

What about the team's declining level of play? They can't compete against quality opponents. In games against playoff worthy teams, the Bucks have been generally noncompetitive for the last two months. The awful truth is the team is really just skating by, squeaking out harder-than-they-ought-to-be victories against the doormats of the NBA.

Where's the fast break? It was supposed to be the singular identity of the team, is nonexistent. What happened and why?

What about the problem at point guard? Mo Williams injury lingers, and TJ Ford, the team's lone point guard and floor leader can't shoot, is reckless with the ball, and never bothers to defend anyone.

What about the lack of bench scoring? Jiri Welsch, the guy they traded for last off-season to provide scoring off the bench must now be considered a lost cause.

What about the failure of leadership? The team has had these obvious problems throughout the season and Coach Terri Stotts hasn't done a thing to fix them. Yet if you read the Bucks beat writers he's a shoe-in for coach of the year (if you read most Bucks forums its obvious the rank-and-file fans feel otherwise.) Why haven't these problems been brought to light and analyzed thoroughly by those who are in a position to publicly pressure the Bucks into fixing them?

What I don't understand is why no one will step up and address these issues. Why is it left to this stupid blog (and the various Bucks forums found around the Net) to provide any sort of critical analysis of the team? I mean, I just don't think my seven reader audience will carry much weight at the Bucks Corporate Headquarters. The Journal-Sentinel is in the best position to do the job but for some reason they won't do it; they just eat the Bucks line-of-the-day. Even Gary Woeful, the most interesting and informational Bucks insider, is mashed potatoes when it comes to analyzing the team. He seems to view everything as perpetually sunny side up. He writes as though the road ahead is devoid of any obstacles, when even the most casual fan watching any Bucks game can see that it is simply not so.

It doesn't have to be this way. Look at the reporting done locally on the Packers. The reporters on that beat are outstanding. Even in victory they will illuminate the Packers shortcomings for their readers. They pull no punches and it makes for fascinating reading. You feel as though you know where the team really stands at all times. It makes it easier to follow the team because you get a clear picture from which to form your own opinion's about the team's fortunes.

Why can't the Bucks get the same treatment? Can't we have just one Bob McGinn covering the Bucks? That's all I'm asking. Can't Bucks fans have just one guy or girl giving us the hard truth rather than spoonfeeding us the corporate oatmeal dished out on 4th and Kilbourn? Would that be so hard?