Note To Well-Intentioned-But-Shallow Thinkers: It's Not *Just* About Salary...

[BlooInBloo]

There's a moral here, that carries further than sports.

Watch the complete and utter pwnage video:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3924716

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun got into a heated exchange at a postgame news conference Saturday with a freelance journalist and political activist who questioned why the coach of a public university was making $1.6 million in tough economic times.

"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 that followed the top-ranked Huskies' 64-50 victory 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.

Now visibly angry, Calhoun responded.

"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.

EDIT: Clarified subject, provided excerpt.

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Joe Pa built a wing of the library at Penn State

I wonder what Calhoun will do...

[BlooInBloo]

3. Apparently they're the source of $12 million/year to the Uni....

Not sure he needs to do anything else.

[Two Americas]

4. no they aren't

The fans and alumni are the source of the money. The stadiums were filled before coaches made millions. Just as in the entertainment field, there is no shortage of equally talented people now earning a fraction of that. I don't see why any Democrat would defend or applaud the trend toward these obscene wage gaps. I think there are many dedicated high school coaches who contribute far more to society than many of these millionaire assholes ever will.

[BlooInBloo]

5. (facepalm)

[Two Americas]

6. really?

Do you really think that the head coach earns money for the university? Do you think that college athletics should be big business? Do you think that a college coach like this is a thousand times more talented, or ten thousand times more talented or makes that much greater a contribution to society than many high school coaches? Or do you support the "whatever the traffic will bear" approach top the economy - free market libertarianism?

[firedupdem]

2. I saw that! Calhoun was about to explode. He was pissed!

How dare some idiot question his salary dammit! 1.6 million is a drop in the bucket for all he gives to his team! :thumbsdown:

[dmallind]

7. Couple of questions:

1) How much money would be too much for a top ranked basketball team coach in your opinion?

2) At what income level would you refuse further pay increases or demand a reduction even if your peers doing the same job for similar employers kept getting more?

3) Since the athletic program in general and the basketball team specifically no doubt does bring in an excess of funds over all expenses (his salary included) since pretty much all high ranking ones do, is it going to impact state funds or deficits noticeably if he took less?

[BlooInBloo]

8. Do an ROI analysis. Durr...

EDIT: And good luck on finding an investment that gives you a 7:1 return ratio.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. That assumes that with a head coach paid less, the income would decrease proportionately

which hasn't been demonstrated. It's possible that if the head coach was paid a million dollars less, the income would decrease by more than a million; but don't pretend you've done an 'ROI analysis' that shows a 7:1 return ratio.

[dmallind]

10. So your answers would be.....?

Personally since it's not my money I'm prepared to accept that U Conn has made a rational decision. You seem to be questioning that. What did their ROI do wrong?

[Winterblues]

11. I guess if his Salary was only $500,000 they wouldn't bring in $12 million?

:shrug: America is way out of whack

[geek tragedy]

12. If his salary was only $500K at UConn, he'd be coaching

somewhere else.