Prologue: What follows is the column I wrote Wednesday for publication on Friday. After I sent my column in to OnMilwaukee.com, the Bucks fired coach Terry Stotts. We discussed rewriting the column, but I maintain the advice within is still pertinent. It flies in the face of what normally happens, and clearly flies in the face of what actually happened. But I hope everyone reads it, including the three people to whom the memo is addressed. I also hope someone shows the column to new coach Larry Krystkowiak.

To: Senator Herb Kohl, General Manager Larry Harris, Vice President John Steinmiller

From: Dave Begel

Re: Your Basketball Team

The first game your team played that I covered was in 1969. Wayne Embry was the center, for God's sake. What that means, of course, is that I have followed your team for 37 years. And because I've been an off-again, on-again member of the press, I've had a chance to watch them more closely than the average fan.

And as you struggle to the end of what might be one of the most disappointing seasons in history, I've come to some conclusions about your team and what ought to happen once the season is finally over. You can throw these in the trash if you want, but I'd sure appreciate it if you hear me out.

Your team may end up being the fourth or fifth-worst in the entire league. And when a team finishes with a record like that, the temptation to make wholesale changes is great. But, that's the easy way out. I'm not sure what it would gain you to pull out your broom and sweep things clean.

I know it's going against popular wisdom, but I'd listen closely to the words of the Kenny Rogers lyric, "You've got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em."

As silly as it might look on the surface, I think it's time for you to hold ‘em.

In some respects, a basketball team is a lot like a television station. You get rewarded for stability. In television, longtime anchors get ratings. In basketball, steady teams earn fan loyalty and normally, on-court success.

I have spent the last month watching lots of basketball on television. I wanted to see if there were secrets out there that the Bucks seem to be missing. I talked to a few people I know who are real experts.

There are no secret schemes out there. All the coaches run pretty much the same kind of offense and defense. They may have some different matchups, but that's about it for coaching systems. Your coach, Terry Stotts, is probably not much better than the worst and not much worse than the best coach in the league. Ask yourself which coach in or out of the NBA would have achieved a significantly better record with this team than Stotts. The answer is nobody. So help Stotts' confidence and tell him he's coming back.

Another thing is that your team is pretty good and is probably going to be even better next year. Let's take a look.

Your center, Andrew Bogut, plays very hard and is learning the game. He has a variety of talents and probably moves his feet as well as any big man in the league. Give him some time and some help, and he will probably be an outstanding player, worthy of the first pick in the draft. Call me crazy, but a guy who has enough passion to give the fans the finger is a real plus in my book.

Your forwards, Reuben Patterson, Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons, who was out all year, have talent and some toughness. Patterson was a surprise, and it's a contract year for him. Keeping him will be a tough decision, but I'd vote in favor of doing so.

Your guards, Michael Redd, Mo Williams and Charlie Bell, can all play. You could probably use a backcourt stopper since none of them is an outstanding defender, but that may not be in the cards right now.

Watching the Bucks at the end of the season is clearly watching a team that is bedeviled by some uncertainty. Stotts is uncertain of his future. In a game against Cleveland last weekend, you could see him watching Mike Brown, the Cavs coach, to see what he was going to do and then making a decision on what the Bucks should do. That's uncertain.

The players are uncertain of where they will be and who will be with them. Even the fans are uncertain about who they should invest their love in, given that he may be gone next season.

This is a city that likes its basketball team. They don't love them the way they love the Packers or Brewers. But they like the Bucks a lot. And with success will come love.

Here's what I think you ought to say.

"We think we've got a good team and one that will grow to be better in the future and we think the way that will happen is if they all stay together. It would be easy to make changes for the sake of making changes. The tough decision is to stand pat, but that's what we are doing. There aren't going to be changes. Our coach stays. Our ticket prices stay where they are. The players stay. And we hope that our fans will stay with us as well. We think they will."

There's one other thing.

By standing pat, you will make lots of friends. Stotts will be grateful he still has his job. The players will be grateful they didn't get shipped off somewhere else. And if you explain that you believe in stability and that you have faith that you won't get hit with all those disastrous injuries next year, the fans will be your friend, as well.

I hope you read this and that you listen.

Best Wishes,

Dave