Loser reporter asks Jim Calhoun about his salary....

[BB73]

This reporter is actually a free-lancer and political activist, so it's not like he has ties to the media establishment. In fact, during that press conference, the free-lancer actually said he wouldn't have to ask questions like that if "the rest of these guys," meaning the journalists in the room, asked the questions like they presumably should. To which the free-lancer was jeered by the other reporters. So I don't think Calhoun, despite his tirade (are these outbursts just the status quo with UCONN b-ball, by the way?), will have to worry about the press being too hard on him.

Regarding the regular reporters that cover UConn bball, perhaps not. But now that the video clip has received national attention, I'd imagine there are a handful of reporters from the NYC area that are willing to make the relatively short drive up to Storrs to see if they can dig up some dirt.

If I'm UConn's AD, I'm advising Calhoun to expect similar questions at his future press conferences, and telling him that he needs to handle himself with more dignity when he answers them. Public relations is part of a head coach's job at a major program.

 

[sepia5]

Valid question? Not if the "reporter" took his time to do a little research first. And certainly not in that forum.

Everyone keeps saying the question is "not ok in that forum." Just what forum do you expect someone to pose the question to a head bball coach? Do you think Calhoun is giving roundtables on the economic crisis in Connecticut?

Why should he have? The question was a loaded, politically motivated, poorly researched, thinly-veiled attack on Calhoun's character and the UConn administration. By asking such a question (which lacked any semblance of thoughtfulness, grace, and dignity), the guy got what he deserved.

I agree thatthe question was loaded and politically motivated, and, to a degree poorly researched (more likely, not researched at all). Regardless, in these times, when UCONN is laying off educators and shrinking programs, that's a valid question in my book. The main purpose of an academic institution is not to support athletic teams, but is to educate its students. This point is especially poignant at a state school like UCONN, which really does have a responsiblity to the people of Connecticut, I think (I live here, by the way).

The first answer out of Calhoun's mouth when the question began was "Not a penny back." Now, I know he was just trying to play off the question, but he's not doing himself any favors at that point. Really, that answer kind of sounds smug given how much he's making and how bad things are becoming here in CT. And he just handled it more and more poorly from there, eventually letting himself fly into a tirade. I totally agree with BB73. He could have very easily remained calm, recognized it was a valid question, cited some on-hand stats about the program's success, it's ability to generate revenue, and his hard work that has led to all this. End of story. Instead he acted like a child. You know, I could even see some coaches in his position--guys making good money at a major program who are economically set and not looking to go anywhere else--handling that question in a calm manner and then, the following day, saying, you know what, I'll give $60k back to the university b/c I realize how hard things are right now and I think that $ could be used for scholarships or to retain a professor this year. Don't get me wrong. That's his money and he's entitled to it (and probably deserves it). But my understanding is West Hartford and UCONN are his home. He's in a unique, example-setting spot as the highest paid public servant and a local icon, and he could have done better by himself, UCONN, and the state.

 

[BayBuck]

Research, however, not so much. If my numbers above are correct, UCONN is pumping nearly twice the money to subsidize its athletic department as they did in 1990. That combined with the overall budget difficulties and cutbacks that the university is facing certainly calls Calhoun's salary into question.

Call it twice the money if that helps your rhetorical point, but it's really only a few $M more over a couple decades, during which UConn has put considerable resources into developing their football team from IAA into a respectable BCS program. And since you're making this an issue about the athletic department in general, most of the money is probably going to all those non-revenue-generating sports, but anyway Calhoun is the basketball coach, not the AD. UConn basketball is self-sustaining, and it's clear from a quick Google search of his greatest hits that Krayeske is nothing more than an attention whore.

 

[jwinslow]

Everyone keeps saying the question is "not ok in that forum." Just what forum do you expect someone to pose the question to a head bball coach? Do you think Calhoun is giving roundtables on the economic crisis in Connecticut?

How about asking the academic or administrative question to those in academics or administration... not to the guy in charge of basketball?

 

[BrutusBobcat]

If telling a reporter to shut up is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

 

[sepia5]

How about asking the academic or administrative question to those in academics or administration... not to the guy in charge of basketball?

Oh, I certainly would find it acceptable to ask the decisionmakers the question as well, but if you're going to ask Calhoun, why not at a press conference? Where else would you ask him? No one bats an eye when an NFL player embroiled in a contract dispute is asked about his contract demands at a post-game press conference. Why is this any different, especially given the financial times?

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Call it twice the money if that helps your rhetorical point, but it's really only a few more over a couple decades, during which UConn has put considerable resources into developing their football team from IAA into a respectable BCS program. And since you're making this an issue about the athletic department in general, most of the money is probably going to all those non-revenue-generating sports, but anyway Calhoun is the basketball coach, not the AD. UConn basketball is self-sustaining, and it's clear from a quick Google search of his greatest hits that Krayeske is nothing more than an attention whore.

All good points, Baybuck. I'm not saying that Calhoun has NO argument and his salary is completely unjustified, nor am I taking the knee jerk response of blindly supporting an athletic coach no matter what. My honest opinion is that reality lies somewhere in between the polemical opposites.

My point was twofold. First, that questioning coach salaries in money losing athletic departments is legitimate in the best of times but particularly in this economic climate. Second, that Calhoun handled that question like a pompous, egotistical jerk...from his initial "not one penny" (let the faculty eat cake?) comment to his later foaming at the mouth tirade.

Were Tressel to be confronted with the same question, I'd consider it to be a legitimate question. I also think that JT has some strong defenses for his salary that I'd expect him to make in a calm rational manner. If he, regardless of the strength of his argument, acted like Calhoun, I'd be absolutely horrified and expect Gene Smith and Gordon Gee to have a very serious conversation with him.

 

[Steve19]

This reporter is actually a free-lancer and political activist, so it's not like he has ties to the media establishment. In fact, during that press conference, the free-lancer actually said he wouldn't have to ask questions like that if "the rest of these guys," meaning the journalists in the room, asked the questions like they presumably should. To which the free-lancer was jeered by the other reporters. So I don't think Calhoun, despite his tirade (are these outbursts just the status quo with UCONN b-ball, by the way?), will have to worry about the press being too hard on him.

I get your point. I see that BB73 answered about like I would. All you need is a couple of guys like this climbing around trying to make something out of nothing.

Jim Tressel is about as squeaky clean as they get in college football coaches. He is a man very committed to a values system rooted in his religious values. Just think how these guys painted him during the ESPiN saga. These guys don't need substance, they just need a little smoke, a few lights, and lots of mirrors.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

The main point of all this has been lost: Jim Calhoun is an asshole and nobody should be defending him.

 

[sepia5]

I get your point. I see that BB73 answered about like I would. All you need is a couple of guys like this climbing around trying to make something out of nothing.

Yea, you guys are right about that. How about this: writers for the Syracuse student newspaper making the drive down to get involved. I'm sure they'd love a legit excuse to prod UCONN's head bballer. All this really emphasizes how stupid Calhoun's response was: he's now opened himself up to continued scrutiny and fringe journalits out on fishing expeditions when a calm response would have ended the story all together.

 

[BayBuck]

My point was twofold. First, that questioning coach salaries in money losing athletic departments is legitimate in the best of times but particularly in this economic climate. Second, that Calhoun handled that question like a pompous, egotistical jerk...from his initial "not one penny" (let the faculty eat cake?) comment to his later foaming at the mouth tirade.

I do agree that the question itself is a fair one, and press conference is fair game for pretty much any questions, but I also don't have any problem with Calhoun's uncouth response. This guy Krayeske has clearly despised UConn basketball (and probably sports in general) for years, and apparently sees himself as Hartford's defender of justice with a bong and a blog, and I loved seeing Calhoun jump all over his pompous ass.

Tressel is obviously the ideal on and off the field, but frankly this is just sports, and sometimes I like for my coach to be all fire-and-brimstone and go to town on reporters and other idiots. If Krayeske is looking to change the system, he's going after the wrong guy in Calhoun: he should be looking at us, the fans and ticket-buying public, who continue to justify multi-$M salaries even in tough economic times.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Not surprisingly, Calhoun's numbers are FOS. His basketball program does not bring 12 million dollars to the university.

It's p&l sheet is roughly

Revenue 7.8 million
Expenses 5.5 million
Profit 2.3 million.

So, depending on one's definition of "brings to" (which I take to mean profit), UCONN basketball either brings in 7.8 million or 2.3 million dollars--none of which actually makes it to the university as it's absorbed into a money losing athletic department, which I grant is not Calhoun's fault.

If you're going to make such an ass of yourself in response to a legitimate question (regardless of the reporter's credentials/motivation and love or lack thereof for athletics) then you'd better be damn certain that you're numbers are spot on.

 

[DaytonBuck]

The main point of all this has been lost: Jim Calhoun is an asshole and nobody should be defending him.

AJ Price and Marcus Williams laugh at you

 

[DaytonBuck]

Not surprisingly, Calhoun's numbers are FOS. His basketball program does not bring 12 million dollars to the university.

It's p&l sheet is roughly

Revenue 7.8 million
Expenses 5.5 million
Profit 2.3 million.

So, depending on one's definition of "brings to" (which I take to mean profit), UCONN basketball either brings in 7.8 million or 2.3 million dollars--none of which actually makes it to the university as it's absorbed into a money losing athletic department, which I grant is not Calhoun's fault.

If you're going to make such an ass of yourself in response to a legitimate question (regardless of the reporter's credentials/motivation and love or lack thereof for athletics) then you'd better be damn certain that you're numbers are spot on.

Wouldn't UConn have the same profile as Rhode Island or UMass if it wasn't for him?

 

[BUCKYLE]

Not surprisingly, Calhoun's numbers are FOS. His basketball program does not bring 12 million dollars to the university.

It's p&l sheet is roughly

Revenue 7.8 million
Expenses 5.5 million
Profit 2.3 million.

So, depending on one's definition of "brings to" (which I take to mean profit), UCONN basketball either brings in 7.8 million or 2.3 million dollars--none of which actually makes it to the university as it's absorbed into a money losing athletic department, which I grant is not Calhoun's fault.

If you're going to make such an ass of yourself in response to a legitimate question (regardless of the reporter's credentials/motivation and love or lack thereof for athletics) then you'd better be damn certain that you're numbers are spot on.

I wonder what the ratio is for the women's basketball team and coach.