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

[Steve19]

The reporter is asking the wrong person the question. It is not the coaches fault that he gets paid what he does. The question should be asked of the AD, the president of the University and the Trustees....

Darn, jwins beat me to it.....

Bottom line is that if you want a bite out of Calhoun's salary, talk to the school administrators and trustees. Don't take a [censored] on a coach who's legally entitled to what he's earning and shame the guy. Calhoun basically told him that he's got nothing to be ashamed of, and he's got every right to say that.

You know, I am just wondering, is there more to this reporter's questions than it appears. What motivated him to be there and ask this question now?

Given Calhoun's unusual first reaction to the question, "Not a penny back!", I wonder if someone in the administration asked him to make some sacrifice in favor of the University? Did someone ask him to make a donation or to take a salary cut to help the University in these difficult times?

Is there a back story that will come out later?

 

[buckeyesin07]

As I said before, I think the question is fair game for all parties involved, Calhoun and those making the employment decisions. If, as is the case here in Connecticut, the Governor is proposing closing courthouses and eliminating hundreds of state jobs, and you're the highest paid employee in the state, the question is very relevant and I think it's fine to ask the person making that money and the people responsible for handing it out. In terms of Calhoun, the person making the money, where else would the question be posed directly?

The AD, UConn administration, etc. are the representatives of the state institution. Calhoun represents himself. If this "journalist" has a beef with anyone re: Calhoun's contract, it should be with the UConn administrators who thought it was a good idea to sign a contract obligating UConn to pay him $1.6 million per year, as those people are charged with doing what is best for the university.

 

[MaxBuck]

Bottom line is that if you want a bite out of Calhoun's salary, talk to the school administrators and trustees. Don't take a [censored] on a coach who's legally entitled to what he's earning and shame the guy. Calhoun basically told him that he's got nothing to be ashamed of, and he's got every right to say that.

I agree that Calhoun has every right to say that he has nothing to be ashamed of. And I agree that a coach should not be harassed in a post-game presser. But Calhoun's comments about wanting to retire some day reminded me a whole lot of the famous "gotta feed my family" comments by Latrell Sprewell.

I don't see that either Calhoun or the reporter should be praised right now. The reporter had a right to ask the question - once - and to expect a reasonable answer. Calhoun had a right to courtesy - just as soon as he provided a civil response to the question. Neither of these occurred.

 

[osugrad21]

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.

Is revenue all-inclusive here? Is this just ticket sales, ticket sales & concessions, does it include any TV contracts, merchandise sales, booster support, etc?

 

[BayBuck]

Is revenue all-inclusive here? Is this just ticket sales, ticket sales & concessions, does it include any TV contracts, merchandise sales, booster support, etc?

As this guy explains, the $12M figure could actually be the total revenue for both men's/women's basketball teams, but I'd imagine some of those revenue sources would have to be separate--the UConn AD does have $26M of revenue "unallocated by gender/sport".

 

[osugrad21]

As this guy explains, the $12M figure could actually be the total revenue for both men's/women's basketball teams, but I'd imagine some of those revenue sources would have to be separate--the UConn AD does have $26M of revenue "unallocated by gender/sport".

Gotcha. No idea on official numbers but UConn's arena holds approximately 10k...with a sellout over 20 home games at an average of $20 per ticket that is 4 million alone. Add in concessions, TV appearances/contracts, advertising, and merchandise sales...I can see the figure in Calhoun's ballpark number.

Again, nothing official, just throwing it out there...

 

[sepia5]

The AD, UConn administration, etc. are the representatives of the state institution. Calhoun represents himself. If this "journalist" has a beef with anyone re: Calhoun's contract, it should be with the UConn administrators who thought it was a good idea to sign a contract obligating UConn to pay him $1.6 million per year, as those people are charged with doing what is best for the university.

No offense, but this is way off base. The guy is paid by the state (ie, Connecticut tax payers). He's the face of the #1 sports program at the flagship state University (just as JT is in Ohio). He's probably better known inside and outside the state than the freaking Governnor, and certainly the AD or anyone in the administration. The latter group is charged with doing what's best for the university, but so is Calhoun, and so are all other university employees, from the top to the bottom. There's a reason that the salaries of coaches at public universities are public knowledge (remember the JoePa lawsuit a couple years ago?) It's because we want that level of transparancy. People collecting public money should be accountable. If he doesn't like that, he can go coach at a private university. It's simply part of the job description. He may very well be worth that money--I suspect he is. But arguments that he can't be asked about his salary are completely wrongheaded.

To say Calhoun only represents himself is just flat out wrong. Once he signs that contract, he's a state employee and he represents his players, the UCONN athletic department, the university in general, and the state of Connecticut. That's as much a part of his job as winning and recruiting well.

 

[BayBuck]

Gotcha. No idea on official numbers but UConn's arena holds approximately 10k...with a sellout over 20 home games at an average of $20 per ticket that is 4 million alone. Add in concessions, TV appearances/contracts, advertising, and merchandise sales...I can see the figure in Calhoun's ballpark number.

Again, nothing official, just throwing it out there...

And let's not forget about the UConn basketball effect on the local and state economy, which can only be a boon. Krayeske's perspective on the matter is so simplistic--okay, Calhoun makes a lot of money (as do so many in bigtime athletics), but the large part of that is offset by his contributions to the university, and the rest is probably accounted for in various ways not directly reflected on a basic cost/revenue sheet. But the confrontational hippie blogger with all the answers sees money problems, looks at a guy making a lot of money, and thinks: less money for him=more money for us, easy as that.

 

[MaxBuck]

Krayeske's perspective on the matter is so simplistic...

So if the reporter has a simplistic perspective, it's OK to behave like an idiot in response?

 

[osugrad21]

So if the reporter has a simplistic perspective, it's OK to behave like an idiot in response?

Based on the reporter's history, is his behavior acceptable in the given scenario?

I'm not saying Calhoun handled it perfectly, but the reporter was there for one reason and he succeeded in that mission.

 

[buckeyesin07]

To say Calhoun only represents himself is just flat out wrong. Once he signs that contract, he's a state employee and he represents his players, the UCONN athletic department, the university in general, and the state of Connecticut. That's as much a part of his job as winning and recruiting well.

Maybe you're misinterpreting what I said (or maybe I could have been clearer). I agree with you that, as the basketball coach at UConn, Calhoun represents UConn. However, when it comes time to negotiate a new contract, he's representing himself and his own interests, much like every other state employee. Are you to tell me that all state employees have the obligation, when negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment, to figure out exactly what their services are worth, and to decline any higher offer from the state? That's ludicrous. Neither Calhoun, nor any other state employee, nor you (I presume) would turn down more money if offered (and neither they nor you have the obligation to do so). Accordingly, it is the UConn administration that is the proper party to complain to if this clown thinks Calhoun makes too much money.

 

[BayBuck]

So if the reporter has a simplistic perspective, it's OK to behave like an idiot in response?

That's a separate issue, but frankly yes, I have no problem with the exagerrated response. And I actually think Calhoun was more of a jerk than an idiot.

 

[MaxBuck]

Based on the reporter's history, is his behavior acceptable in the given scenario?

I'm not saying Calhoun handled it perfectly, but the reporter was there for one reason and he succeeded in that mission.

The initial question was fine IMO, and the reporter's "history" has nothing to do with the validity of the question. What happened afterward was not, with respect to both parties.

Bottom line is that I'm happy we have coaches who would handle such a situation in a much better manner. But in the current economic climate, all highly-paid persons can expect to be confronted with similar attitudes by other folks with an agenda. It comes with the paycheck.

 

[MaxBuck]

...I actually think Calhoun was more of a jerk than an idiot.

OK, point conceded!

 

[jwinslow]

Why is a reporter afforded respect when his sole purpose there is to attack, embarrass and mock someone? He wasn't posing an thoughtful question, he was out to expose and smear.

Could he have handled it more politely? Sure, but I'm not sure the reporter earned that.

Personally, I like Tressel's style of soft yet sharp responses (in part because it makes the rebuttal that much sweeter), but he's been known to embarrass a misguided troll in a presser before.