Calhoun Vs Reporter/Activist/Jerk

[jgalt]

Didnt see this posted.

Calhoun gets into it with a report questioning him about being overpaid

rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Watch-as-Jim-Calhoun-emasculates-an-activist-rep?urn=ncaab,143147

I, for various reasons, love this and the way that Calhoun responded was perfect. It is exactly what he should have said. He has a lot of respect from me for this.

Feel free to disagree, as i know some of you will, but the video is entertaining.

[hifigator]

Yeah, I am kind of on Calhoun's side on this one too. I have heard some callers on sportstalk say that the reporter posed a very valid and legitimate question. While I understand people having a tough time accepting coaches making several million dollars a year, while normal Joes are losing their jobs, I still think the reporter was totally out of line. I read somewhere that the guy wasn't even a normal reporter and had gotten in on a photographer pass. I'm not sure that matters, but the key is that I think the guy was just trying ot make a name for himself. He basically ambushed Calhoun.

[CTHoya08]

I think Calhoun is a huge jerk, and I hate the fact that he's the highest paid employee of my home state, but he is absolutely correct in this case.

[TigerHoya]

Apparently he's a UConn Law Student with a blog

[RusskyHoya]

Who knew that JahidiHoya was a journalist? ;D

[hifigator]

Feb 24, 2009 14:13:15 GMT -5 CTHoya08 said:

I think Calhoun is a huge jerk, and I hate the fact that he's the highest paid employee of my home state, but he is absolutely correct in this case.

Calhoun has certainly not endeared himself to the media, but this is totally different. Again, I don't like the guy, but in this case the reporter was in the wrong.

Along a similar note, down here in my state, Bobby Bowden is the highest state salaried employee. Incidentally, Urban Meyer is paid by the UAA, not the state of Florida.

[AustinHoya03]

Feb 24, 2009 16:18:50 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Calhoun has certainly not endeared himself to the media...

False. Calhoun has been a source of highly printable quotes for years. The media loves Calhoun like it loved Bobby Knight -- both are jerks who keep journalists' jobs safe.

[Bay99]

deadspin.com/5159758/was-jim-calhoun-playing-fast-and-loose-with-the-numbers

[njhoya06]

I like that he notes that the difference between revenue and expenses is less than Calhoun's salary as if Calhoun's salary isn't an expense.

[jgalt]

Also, Calhoun's value to the program is not measurable by the revenues for one year. What would their revenues be like if he werent there? No where close to what they are now. Additionally, Calhoun is an investment that the university has made (thats why they sign long term contracts) he represents a series of cash flows into the program not just the one year that has been discussed. Paying to keep a coach like him from going to another team also has value and is an important consideration for the school. Gtown is still paying a butt load to JT Jr. (as we all know) but in many ways he brings enough to the university to justify this- its similar with Calhoun.

**and remember no one goes to UCONN for the academics you got to get people excited about it somehow.

[drhibbert]

Yeah, Calhoun is probably a net moneymaker for UConn when all's said and done. But he still threw a hissy fit like an eight-year-old who just had his building blocks knocked over.

[hifigator]

I don't think we need to play the either/or blame game. I don't like Calhoun. Regardless of the inapporpriate nature of the reporters antics, Calhoun still came out looking like somewhat of a kid on the playground when things aren't going his way. That's ok by me. Still though, I generally don't like media personnel and especially those with an agenda. That is an awful combination, and that guy clearly had an agenda and wanted to make a name for himself. I don't know what kind of long-term play, if any, he will get from this. But at least in the short term, he put himself on the map. The point is I don't have to choose between liking Calhoun or liking the reporter. It is perfectly acceptable to dislike both of them.

[DanMcQ]

Calhoun was in the right here IMO and he was ambushed. It's not his decision about how much he should be paid and he would be a fool to turn money down. Unfortunately he didn't ask the 'journalist' why he didn't reimburse the state for his free parking, ticket, and food in the press room.

rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Watch-as-Jim-Calhoun-emasculates-an-activist-rep?urn=ncaab,143147

www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=46695c45-3b68-43b4-bb0d-ce9ac09f7e85

Interesting that a 'reporter' previously arrested for stalking the CT governor would be given press credentials to a UConn game in the first place and then she'd take his side.

[jgalt]

I think that article from the Day sums it up nicely with out getting into the economic angles of it.

[HealyHoya]

Evidently the Guv of CT spoke about this and basically said Calhoun acted like an idiot and the Guv said Calhoun ought to be ashamed of how he reacted (...though not necessarily that what he said was wrong). I don;t have a cite nor the time to find it.

Paterno -- PA
Mack Brown -- TX
Urban Meyer or Bowden -- FL
Tressel -- OH
Stoops -- OK
Saban -- AL

Traditionally, the highest pasid state employee has been the big time football coach, no? I guess this story is different in that for CT it's hoops but this situation is old news, IMO.

Crackpot blogger taking an easy swipe at a public figure during a troubled economy.

Meh.

[jgalt]

I read that too Healy. a bunch of law makers in Con. were calling out calhoun. The only time they care what he says or how he says it is when they could be involved. This isnt the first time he has said something "strong" (to put is nicely) to reporters but because it could tangentially make them look bad they pounce on it. Shouldnt they be more concerned with trying to fix that $1 billion deficit that i have heard about then yelling at a guy sticking up for himself?

[DanMcQ]

Just a bunch of grandstanding...

www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2009/02/26/conn_lawmakers_want_calhoun_reprimanded_1235684274/