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Mike Miller

Mike Miller has been NBCSports.com's college basketball editor since 2003. It's a position he relishes; no wonder considering he transferred to Kansas to watch Paul Pierce play. Most of his favorite sports memories involve college hoops, usually during March, when every waking moment is spent thinking about March Madness.



Calhoun can give a tongue lashing

Posted: Sunday, February 22, 2009 2:03 PM
Filed Under:

One thing about Jim Calhoun. The guy isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

The Connecticut men’s basketball coach showed as much in 2004 when he had a colorful (read: profane) rant about not recruiting Ryan Gomes because the Huskies already had Emeka Okafor and Caron Butler. (He later apologized. It was all moot since UConn won the title that season.)

Saturday, Calhoun had a refreshingly candid response to a question posed by a freelance reporter wondering if Calhoun’s reported $1.6 million is too much given the state’s financial shortfall of roughly $944 million this year.

If you haven’t seen the video yet, click below.

Is Calhoun worth that much dough? Depends on your view of coaches’ salaries and what a coach’s worth is to an athletic department. UConn obviously thinks Calhoun’s worth the money. Others, including the guy who asked the question, Ken Krayeske, think it’s irresponsible. (Read his view here.)

Me? I just like the video. It’s a public figure giving an honest reaction to a question and a fairly clear answer (Calhoun thinks he’s properly compensated). We could use some more of that right now.   

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Comments

Krayeske needs to grow up and get a buzz.  He only has legitimacy if he can generate $12 mill a year!

Kim Waggoner (Sent Sunday, February 22, 2009 6:15 PM)

Krayeske was out of line, unprofessional, inappropriate and in additon to deserving the reation he received from Calhoun, if you listen to the interview hw was also scorned by the majority of true reporters in the room.  Hiring Jim Calhoun and Coach Auriema have proven to be not only excellent choices for the stature of the schools athletic programs but a huge benifit with an incredible Restunr on their investment.  Too bad Krayeske doesn't see to hav the ability to understand the value brought to the organization by these two men.  To go after Coach Calhoun in that seeting or any other is jsut bush league!!  Karayeske should get a real job and contribute positively to our national economy in this time of need, not slam those who already are.

Paul Bonis - Grand Rapids, MI (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 10:01 AM)

Mr. Krayeske must be working from the PETA playbook. Take an un-winnable position and then say something or do something outrageous simply to make waves. He offers no substantive solutions, he offers no positive momentum in the public discourse, only publicity for himself. Mr Calhoun obviously deserves the money he makes and he has brought results to UConn. If you want to get politically correct in this economy and sports, start going after the ridiculous guaranteed contracts in pro sports where guys are getting paid $18million to sit out the season. That, Mr. Krayeske, is very disturbing.

Kevin Linn (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 11:15 AM)

So is the hack going to go and ask Kobe Bryant to give back some of his millions so the NBA can afford to not cut back on vendors next? Or any other professional athlete to give back ? Yes the number seems like a lot but he does bring in the money when you consider people packing the stands to see his product , a winning team. Did he at least ask Matt Millen to step down years ago with his wasted drafts?

Michael, Austin, Tx (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 1:33 PM)

I only care if Lon Kruger is getting 1.6 million...if not he needs a raise.  Go Rebs.

Eli (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 5:35 PM)

Oh and Michael from Austin - your point is stupid:  Calhoun is a state employee.  The last I checked (and it was a while ago before the economy tanked so the government might or might not own them now) the Lakers and the Lions are private companies...so try to compare apples to apples here, pal.   Calhoun, however, I would bet makes probably 100-200K on his base salary and is compensated that remaining 1.6 million on ticket sales, box seats, scheduling games, booster donations, etc.  So, in effect, he is making a private wage at a government job.  The reporter might be a douche, but he's not completely in the wrong here....and he shouldn't single out one coach when there are about 300 of them all doing similar things to their state's bottom lines.

Eli (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 5:38 PM)

Jim Calhoun doesn't need to apologize to or explain himself and/or his earnings to anyone whatsoever save for his employees. What he makes and whether he deserves it or not is absolutely no one else's business.

Larry, Gladewater,, TX (Sent Monday, February 23, 2009 10:11 PM)

Hey Larry:  He's a STATE EMPLOYEE jackass.

Eli (Sent Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:43 AM)



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