Yes, rich people have problems, too. Jim Calhoun, the highest-paid state employee in Connecticut, gets testy when asked by free-lance reporter Ken Krayeske about his $1.6 million annual salary. Given that the state is facing a $944 million budget deficit, Krayeske asked Calhoun if he would consider giving money back to the state.
"Not a dime back," Calhoun said.
Way to go, coach. In your case, there is no "I" in team.
Of course, the gutless media is now playing defense and coming down on Krayeske for having the balls to dare challenge the multimillionaire coach, who claims his darling program brings in $12 million a year to the university — before expenses.
Hats off to Krayeske, who has bigger ones than any reporter in Connecticut. It's disheartening to hear the Calhoun lapdogs start to get on Krayeske's case near the end of the exchange.
Update: Regarding Calhoun's claim of his program bringing in $12 million a year. According to information Connecticut filed with the U.S. Department of Education as part of its Equity in Athletics Analysis, UConn men's basketball generated $7.3 million in revenue and spent $6.1 million in 2007-08. Maybe Calhoun's $12 million figure is from the men's and women's team combined, which totaled $12.6 million in revenue in '07-08. Nonetheless, it appears Calhoun is engaging in fuzzy math.
I have to disagree. Unlike politicians, Calhoun serves in a money making role, bringing money in to the university, and by definition, the state. He deserves every penny he receives. I say this as a North Carolina fan who cares nothing of Connecticut basketball.
The reporter's questions were out of line and smacked of politicism. I can see why Calhoun was upset.
Posted by: virginian9000 | February 23, 2009 at 03:58 AM
The UConn Endowment was about forty cents when Calhoun came to town and our buildings were falling down. It is not too strong a statement to say that the university that exists today was built on Jim Calhouns shoulders. Krayeske is not a journalist, he is a jerk. If he was concerned about economics he should have asked what UConns value to the state of Connecticut is, and what it would be if it was still the broken down mud pit Calhoun found when he came to town.
Posted by: Mike LaTorres | March 09, 2009 at 06:50 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3970769
lol
Posted by: virginian9000 | March 11, 2009 at 11:57 AM