The March to Madness

Calhoun Is a Royal Jackass When Asked About Salary

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.

Is Thabeet the Next Big Thing?

Joel Huerto is managing editor of One Man Fastbreak.net and a sports consultant with Opposing Views.com. He has been a member of the sports media for almost 20 years, which included nine years as a news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He will cover a variety of topics, from coach and player profiles to hot-button issues. Joel is also known as "maniLA ice" for his cool demeanor in the friendly confines of the YMCA hardwood. He loves to shoot the "tear drop" and prefers to play zone to hide his deficiencies on defense.

Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet recently has been getting some serious attention now that the Huskies are No. 1 in the polls and his last two games were showcased under the bright lights of the Worldwide Leader.

But before we crown the 7-foot-3 junior center as The Next Big Thing, it should be noted that the 21-year-old from Tanzania does not have much in the way of competition. And as much as Thabeet has improved by leaps and bounds this season — his 13 points and 10 rebounds are up from a season ago — he is still considered very raw. He's good with the potential to be great, but far, far from being dominant.

And Have a Nice Trip

There was another bizarre incident Saturday, this one involving the women's game between Syracuse and Connecticut. After the Huskies ran it up in a 107-53 victory at Hartford, the Orange's Nicole Michael appears to trip Geno Auriemma during the postgame handshake. Thanks to Sports By Brooks.

Huskies Win Battle of the Dogs

Connecticut rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half against Gonzaga and forced overtime on a dramatic three-point shot by A.J. Price. The Huskies went of to beat the Bulldogs, 88-83, in overtime at Seattle's Key Arena. Hartford Courant columnist Jeff Jacobs writes that this could be the defining moment for not only Price, but the Huskies.