Jim Calhoun getting ticked off at questions at a post-game press conference is generally not surprising. It generally is not news. If he does not get irritated, it generally means that the Huskies won easily and someone spiked his water with sedatives.So, that Jim Calhoun was annoyed and yelled at someone asking questions after an easy win over South Florida was not exactly news in and of itself. It was that the questions were not about the game or his players. It was a line of questions about his salary.
A local freelance journalist, political activist and former campaign manager for the Green Party candidate for Connecticut governor in 2006, Ken Krayeske, attended the press conference. He wanted to question Calhoun about all the money he makes at the state university even as the state budget faces a nearly $1 billion deficit.
"Not a dime back," Calhoun joked as Ken Krayeske asked about Calhoun's salary and the state's budget deficit, which is estimated at $944 million for the current fiscal year and up to $8 billion over the next two years.
When Krayeske continued the line of questioning, Calhoun got angry.
"My best advice to you is, shut up," said Calhoun, who offered to talk to Krayeske after the news conference, in which Calhoun was discussing the top-ranked Huskies' 64-50 win over South Florida.
"If these guys covered this stuff, I wouldn't have to do it," said Krayeske, who had been granted a photo pass to attend the news conference.
Classic Sports Tirades
Faced with irritating questions about his salary, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun fires back at a freelance journalist during a postgame news conference Saturday. "My best advice to you is, shut up," said Calhoun.
Click through to see more classic sports tirades.
Karl Walter, Getty Images
Who: Pat Knight
When: Jan. 31, 2009
The Texas Tech head coach was ejected after running onto the court to protest a call in the Red Raiders' loss to Nebraska. Watch the video.
YouTube.com
Who: Jim Zorn
When: Oct. 26, 2008 during a press conference after the Redskins win over the Lions.
Apparently annoyed by a reporter's actions during one of his answers, Zorn snapped at the journalist, shouting "You keep rolling your eyes and I'm getting ticked off!" Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Mike Singletary
When: Oct. 26, 2008 following San Francisco's loss to Seattle.
Singletary produced fireworks in his first postgame press conference as a head coach, laying into Niners tight end Vernon Davis, whom Singletary sent to the locker room for a second half penalty. Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Terrell Owens
When: Jan. 13, 2008 after Dallas' playoff loss to the Giants.
T.O. could not keep his emotions in check following the Cowboys early playoff exit last year, launching into a tear-filled defense of quarterback Tony Romo. Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Kevin Borseth
When: Feb. 28, 2008, moments after the Michigan women's basketball team lost to Wisconsin.
Borseth opened his press conference by slamming the game's stat sheet onto the podium, yelling "That's how I feel! I'm damn sick and tired of getting outrebounded!" Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Mike Gundy
When: Sept. 24, 2007 during a postgame press conference.
Angered by a newspaper reporter's column criticizing quarterback Bobby Reid, Gundy unleashed a fiery rant that included the soon-to-be-famous words: "I'm a man! I'm 40!" Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Avery Johnson
When: June 18, 2006 after Johnson's Mavericks lost an NBA Finals game to Miami.
Following a question about a foul against the Mavs, Johnson refused to answer, instead repeatedly - and increasingly angrily - asking the reporter for his thoughts on the play in question. Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: Dennis Green
When: Oct. 16, 2006 following an Arizona loss to Chicago.
Another press conference meltdown that instantly tagged a one-liner: "They are who we thought they were!" Green shouted that gem in the midst of a rant about the Bears. Watch the video.
YouTube
Who: John L. Smith
When: Oct. 15, 2005 as ABC's Jack Arute interviewed Smith at halftime.
Smith, who also gained fame by slapping himself repeatedly in a press conference, answered a question by screaming about how the Spartans' coaches were blowing their game at Ohio State. Watch the video.
YouTube
While I waited to interview Boone, a beat reporter scolded me for asking my question, saying I took valuable deadline time away from daily writers.My problem with Krayeske's questions was that, as Jim Calhoun told him, he really didn't have anything.
"If you asked the question a long time ago, I wouldn't have to do it," I said. He stomped away.
"Quite frankly, we bring in $12 million to the university, nothing to do with state funds," Calhoun shouted back. "We make $12 million a year for this university. Get some facts and come back and see me ... Don't throw out salaries and other things.While the University of Connecticut is a state-supported university, the athletic department is self-supporting. Much like many major Division I athletic departments. This means, that while Calhoun does have his salary approved by the trustees at UConn, the money does not come from the school or state funds.
"Get some facts and come back and see me. We turn over $12 million to the University of Connecticut, which is state-run. Next question."
Even Krayeske conceded in his own story that he didn't know what the gate was that day, and he could not actually dispute whether the $12 million figure Calhoun tossed out was accurate or not. His own version failed to note where Calhoun's salary falls in the comparison of other top coaches nationally.
It appears that Krayeske was trying to make some sort of point that in difficult economic times, the extremely well-compensated should take a pay cut for the greater good, especially if they are some sort of government employees.
Even a small pay cut could help the athletic department sustain more programs for college students. But, in Jim Calhoun's world, a comfortable retirement is more important than scholarships and equipment for young athletes who happen to excel at a sport that doesn't attract a national television audience.Unlike the bank executives to which Krayeske tries to draw an analogy, he can't claim that the pay to Calhoun or other college coaches has been out of proportion to the success, profit and attention they have helped bring to their programs.
UPDATE: Here's the video from the press conference.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
2-21-2009 @ 10:26PM
sheldend said...
It's the players who should be paid. They are the ones bringing all the revenue and most of them won't even graduate. That's the hypocrisy of the college sports business.
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2-26-2009 @ 3:05PM
thepolk3 said...
If they don't graduate it is their own fault. I went to Duke and those players who stayed 4 years have a higher graduation rate than the student body as a whole. When Bob Stoops won a national championship at OU, contributions to the school went up over 15 million dollars. I would make that investment every year. This is America, excellence should be rewarded. It is poor preformance that should not be rewarded. Bankers, home builders, fund managers and the like. UCONN is performing great. Reward the people responsible.
2-26-2009 @ 3:43PM
Brian said...
They get a free college education for playing a sport. They are not professional athletes. You are dumber than the guy who asked the question.
2-26-2009 @ 8:22PM
Carolyn said...
I teach at Penn State. One of the highest graduation rates among NCAA schools. The athletes I teach are for the most part more disciplined than the other college students I teach. They have to be, and the athletic program makes sure they are. The academics are NOT compromised. I report 3 times a semester on the progress of athletes and if they aren't going to class, they are disciplined. The athletic program gets no money from the state. Most athletes don't go on to earn big bucks. Please don't say things like "they don't graduate" without checking your facts.
2-26-2009 @ 8:28PM
Jon-Erik Nissen said...
If they don't graduate, that is usually THEIR fault. They still got an education, or at least the opportunity for one, for nothing.
2-21-2009 @ 10:26PM
morelights said...
Calhoun best get Emeka Okafor back to do interviews... as Jim is about as lovable as Gino Auriemma... and from what I hear, the two of them have been marking each other's territory like a pair of tom cats for years in Storrs...
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2-26-2009 @ 3:05PM
sullivan said...
How many wins and champiinshps have you won that allows you to be such an expert
2-21-2009 @ 11:28PM
patdolan said...
The University of Connecticut Athletic Department brought in approximately 54,721,000, according to the US Department of Education. It spent 54,614,000. The men's basketball team brought in 7.3 million, the women's 5.2. So Calhoun's 12 million is for total basketball revenue, all of which went to the athletic department, none to the university's operations.
True, the university didn't pay his salary. But it got no revenue from his efforts, either. UConn lets the UConn athletic department use the university's logos free of charge, and it's under the cover of "education," that a 7 million dollar enterprise like men's basketball can operate without paying its most valuable employees--oops, I mean student athletes.
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2-26-2009 @ 4:56PM
dtflchamps said...
No, it's under the guise of the NCAA, not at all academics. The NC2A has always been about making the most money for...the NC2A.
2-26-2009 @ 6:21PM
strapmewi said...
True - the money may not have went to the school - but in the line of questioning - it was implied that the State paid his salary - which it does not.
Now, besides the monies that are received/earned by the athletic from tickets, tv revenue, concessions, licensing, merchandise, etc. - how much more do people think is donated to the university as a whole by alumni (and possibly others) who are very happy with UCONN's success on the court - both men's and women's (and increasingly - on the football field). When they are on national TV every week (sometimes more than once) and get talked about all the time for doing a great job - that is free advertising. Alumni eat that stuff up - so saying that the revenue generated from the athletic department doesn't help other programs, etc. - directly - you are correct - but I'd have to say indirectly - there is more than likely an increase in giving and donations to the school when they are winning championships as opposed to when they are getting blown out.
2-26-2009 @ 8:19PM
saga224 said...
Haven't you noticed that calls from the UCONN Alumni Association for contributions to the school usually occur when the Men or Women's BBall teams are # 1 or in March Madness. Has anyone calculated the amount of money donated to UCONN from these calls?
2-21-2009 @ 11:37PM
meyert11 said...
The reporter has a point:
(1) 1.6 million of 12 million is 13.33%. One man makes 13%? And that's using Calhoun's numbers
(2) The sports reporters are horrible at covering this. They are the epitome of good'ol'boys
(3) In tough times everyone is cutting back, but these guys don't have too? How many people couldn't afford their tickets this year, oh well, Calhoun can find new people to fill your seats.
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2-23-2009 @ 12:58PM
thetoyman said...
Jim Calhoun has done more for the university and state of Connecticut in terms of revenue, goodwill and national status than anyone. For a woefully uninformed, habitually attention-seeking "reporter" to pull a stunt like this is shameful. The best outcome here would be that no one noticed he was even there, but unfortunately it's too late for that...
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2-22-2009 @ 9:12AM
Hubert said...
As long as the tax payers don't have to pay coaches, go for it. If the fans don't mind going without important things in life and want to pay to go see college sports, it's OK with me.
I will go and see a game if somebody buys my ticket, takes me and feeds me I'll go. I see about 10 football and basketball games a year.
The other 12 to 20 games, I watch on TV in my den in my sweats. Don't have to fight the traffic. and I get around 20 games on TV.
Point: CT is ranked #1. LSU is 23-4 and ranked 23rd. If they were in the Big East they would be ranked in the top 10 or top five. The press/media loves the Big East.
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2-22-2009 @ 9:10PM
irv415 said...
LSU is 23-4 because they play in a weak SEC. The Tigers' best non-conference win was against Washington State. UConn's was against then #7 Gonzaga. LSU is 0-1 against ranked opponents (lost to Xavier, 80-70). UConn is 8-2, losing only to then-ranked top ten teams. There are six ranked teams in the Big East, even while they continue to beat up on each other during conference play, while LSU is the lone ranked SEC school. LSU is having a great season, and have a great chance at winning their conference. However, if they played in the Big East, they would most likely be 17-10 or 16-11.
2-22-2009 @ 9:12AM
LNSmithee said...
Ken Krayeske is a punk. How do I know? I live in San Francisco and guys like him are a dime a dozen around here (S.F. is the birthplace of Code Pink). They're ADHD kids whose identity is tied up in getting famous people to acknowledge their existence by any means necessary. It doesn't make a difference that his argument was silly and simplistic, he just got a thrill making Calhoun lose his cool -- not that that's a difficult thing to do.
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2-22-2009 @ 10:01AM
Johnl626 said...
Jim Calhoun has brought this state national recognition. He is worth much more than what he is paid.
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2-26-2009 @ 4:58PM
jmbulluck said...
if the only thing the entire state of connecticut is known for is college basketball, i feel sorry for its residents.
2-22-2009 @ 1:20PM
patdolan said...
If Jim Calhoun has done more for the university and the state than your teachers, your police officers, your firefighters, the people who go to work every day and pay their taxes, then Connecticut is a pretty pathetic place, don't you think?
If he is the best thing about the University of Connecticut, why on earth would any parent want their child to be educated there? (I know people who work there. I think it's a good school. But Calhoun doesn't have a thing to do with that.)
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2-26-2009 @ 3:05PM
greymn1 said...
Uh....these teachers, policemen and firefighters you admire so much; police 20 and out, firefighters probably the same and our teachers suck taxpayer's money out of a town than everything else combined for about 180 days work. And I haven't heard of many state unions giving anything back.