h/t to Rick Lane for the headline. And note - anything you send to us could be used as a letter to the editor and made public. IF there's no name attached, I don't read it. If you do attach your name, understand it may be printed.

 

So according to the U.S. Department of Education, Calhoun's $12 million isn't really $12 million. Letter writer Michael Chapman tipped me off to the DOE's numbers: UConn men's basketball spends $6,097,728 to take in $7,333,214.

 

The $12 million, I'm not sure where it comes from. Andy thibault at Cool Justice has the same numbers, and adds UConn AD Jeff Hathaway's credibility to them.

 

Ray Rotto at CBS wants a deeper look into the numbers. And on further thought, Calhoun's argument that he generates revenue so he deserves a bug salary doesn't fly.

 

Should cops deserve a cut of the speeding tickets they write? Should the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services - the tax man -get a cut of what he collects? Should the people in the Department of Social Services who wrote the legislation to help collect child support from deadbeat dads get a cut of that money? No. They do it for the common good.

 

And USA Today bloggers Reid Cherner and Tom Weir indicate that other coaches will be answering this question.

 

USA Today also reports that other Division I schools like Arizona State, Clemson, Maryland and Utah State are asking for coaches to take furloughs. ASU football coach Dennis Erickson is taking a pay cut for 12 days, or $20,800.

 

In honor of Letters to the Editor - which provide a much more dignified forum than a Topix comment forum, or any forum that runs where people won't identify themselves with their names, here go a slew of emails. These are some of the dozens of emails I have gotten - but only those people who gave their full names and email addresses.

 

From Patrick Hall ( - )

I see the irony in that fact that you are a "freelance journalist because the first amendment say so" however you refuse to allow people to comment on your irresponsible reporting because of the flood of "angry emails". Well Listen up Ken, if your going to put your foot into the fire and ask one of the most prominent head coaches in college basketball a question about his salary you better be ready for a boat load of crticism. Please keep in mind that you asked a question that most people dont even ask their parents or friends nevermind Coach Calhoun in a public forum.With that being said i'm sure your response is that he is a State employee and we have to the right to question his salary. This is exactly where you are irresponsible. The fact is that Coach Calhoun MAKES money for the state of Connecticut....MAKES money. I know that is an elementary thought but he deserves a 1.5 million dollar Salary if the school is making money off of his program. How you don't understand this is beyond me. Also, why do you want to know what endorsement deals he has and how much money he makes. This is absolutely none of our business. Coach Calhoun has personally marketed himself and has been savy enough to produce marketing deals and that is his right as a coach of a D1 Powerhouse.Finally, The transformation of the basketball program has been outstanding. How much money was the basketball team bringing in when they were 5-20 before coach Calhoun came to Connecticut? Should he be paid the same salary as his predeccesor? Thats absurd. If you are that concerned with the state "being in the red" why dont you approach your politicians that seem to have a hard time with addition and subtraction. Rather than an income producing machine like Uconn baseketball.Patrick Hall

From Albert Barrueco ( - )

Hey Ken!Great reporting again on Calhoun's salary. It's amazing that it takes a volunteer to ask the questions professional reporters get paid to ask. I'm sure your latest experiences should make for interesting class discussions.

From Jeff Spradling ( - )

I was really proud of you for taking on this issue. What Calhoun, and all the other high paid coaches, fans, etc., overlook is that they are where they are by virtue of public financing. We build arenas for them on public money; they have to have universities in order to ply their trade; and let's not forget that ultimately they exploit college students in order to get their big salaries and high profile jobs. This is something that extends well beyond college. Look at how much the public spends to support sports at the high school level, all for the benefit of a very few individuals. Keep up the good work.

From John Tinker

My page about you at Schema-Root.org shows up as one of the popular pages today, so I checked out what was going on. Good work! John Tinker

 

From Jonathan Carothers ( - )

I read your article online about your interview with the UCONN basketball coach. In the article you mentioned you were a journalist because the first amendment says so. Actually, it gives you the freedom of speech to discuss those things that you may not agree with. Journalist should follow a set rule of ethics. Most importantly, a journalist should remain unbiased in reporting. Anytime someone uses interviews, such as the one with the UCONN coach, as a pulpit to pitch their ideology they are no longer a journalist, but an activist for a cause. As a journalist you have the right to your opinion and views you support, which is commendable. You may have good reason to support those views, but the time and place were inappropriate. An ambush technique without all the facts is not professional.Please respond to this message, as you noted everyone is leaving anonymous messages. Also, please review below the ethics that should be followed by a journalist.1. JOURNALISM'S FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO THE TRUTH2. ITS FIRST LOYALTY IS TO CITIZENS3. ITS ESSENCE IS A DISCIPLINE OF VERIFICATION4. ITS PRACTITIONERS MUST MAINTAIN AN INDEPENDENCE FROM THOSE THEY COVER5. IT MUST SERVE AS AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR OF POWER6. IT MUST PROVIDE A FORUM FOR PUBLIC CRITICISM AND COMPROMISE7. IT MUST STRIVE TO MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTING AND RELEVANT 8. IT MUST KEEP THE NEWS COMPREHENSIVE AND PROPORTIONAL 9. ITS PRACTITIONERS MUST BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR PERSONAL CONSCIENCE

My response: I am exercising my personal conscience. I don't necessarily believe that objective journalism serves us. All journalists have a point of view. Objective journalism deters that notion.

From Mike Fenn ( - )

Reporter Ken Krayeske Got verbally KO'd by Jimmmy C. Not only was the fact he brought up Jim's Salary in bad taste, he also neglected the Fact that Jim brings in Millions of dollars and has turned Uconn basketball into a national powerhouse. Also, why would Jim want to discuss his personal endorsements. that has nothing to do with the budget defecit or his salary. Ken's questions were in poor taste and im glad Jim made him look as foolish as he did. I hope Ken starts checking facts before he talks so he doesnt look like such a fool next time he opens his mouth.

From Tom Sullivan ( - )

You are a complete moron. Journalist?? Not in anyone's eyes but yours. Hopefully, you'll be banned from further deceiving institutions so you can promote your personal agenda. Calhoun should have pimp-slapped you like the little girl you are.

From Walter Bacon ( - )

You Sir, should just shut up. Your questions of Calhoun were absurd and out of line. I suggest you hire someone to do your website because as websites go it sucks.

"Considering that President Obama just suggested that salaries for bank executives should be capped at $500,000, society may be rethinking its executive compensation."What a bullshit comparison. Obama is talking about executives that are taking bail out money and the comparison you make is totally off base. You are struggling to justify your asinine questions.BTW Moron, your idiotic questions and your assertions were being debated on ESPN and your argument lost.

From D.J. Kohnes ( - )

I found out today how to spell idiot; KRAYESKE

From Walt Gray ( - )

Ken.. I think your questions for the Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun are valid in this day and age of tight budgets.BUT... Having attended dozens of these press conferences (designed to talk about the game just playted) that the time and place for such a line of questioning could have been better.From Calhoun's standpoint..you sandbagged him...and if you were him..why would you want to talk about salary in front of all those people at the press conference?Did you try to get a personal one-on-one with him in his office? If you did..and he refused...then I can totally see questioning him at that press conference.Every state has high-paid coaches at struggling institutions. The head basketball coach at URI, Jim Baron..also gets a nice share of the gate receipts and his program brings in a fraction of the $ that Calhoun does.

Regards, Walt Gray KCRA-TVSacramento, CA

From Steve Coates ( - )

If Ken wants to be considered a serious journalist, maybe he should have someone proof read his stories. For one, Dom Perno was never the UConn AD. He coached basketball. I'm guessing no one at the Courant or the JI would have gotten that wrong.

Ed: You're right. It was John Toner. My bad. Story has been corrected.

Chris Dinkins ( - )

I'm not sure why I am wasting my time writing you, but I feel the need to tell you how ridiculous you are. No amount of discussion would ever change your radical views, but I just don't understand why you feel the need to make personal success a bad thing. I am sure you would willingly accept millions each year to spread your radical views (which do MUCH less for society than coach Calhoun provides) and at the same time not once would you question your income . . . you would believe that you are making things better just because of what you believe, based on no results.The day Liberals can match Conservatives in giving -- in dollars, time and advancement of the less fortunate -- you might have an argument, otherwise, stop living through ridiculous visions of grandeur.

From Larry Olsen ( - )

with all due respect, you come across as an individual that wants AND NEEDS his ego stroked first, and the question that you ask,...... answered a far distant second.Anyone, as you have stated,says all the negativity "rolls off your back" is full of it. You seem like a decent person, but you might want to take a step back and reevaluate your priority list. Showing up to a press conference or an inauguration to "ask questions that others won't" reeks of self-imposed omnipotence. Get real!THIS is just one man's opinion.

From Tom Fitzgerald ( - )

Hi Ken,I am currently a graduate student at the University of Illinois and work very closely with the university's department of intercolligiate athletics.I have no connection with the University of Connecticut and have never been in the state of Connecticut.I am writing to you to let you know that I thought your line of questioning to Coach Calhoun was completely misinformed, ignorant, and out of line.

Besides generating 12 million dollars, the UCONN men's basketball program also provides countless jobs to the local community. The program also generates millions of dollars in donations not just to the athletic department but also to the University's scholarship funds and endowment. The players on the UCONN basketball team do not simply have their tuition and fees waived. UCONN's athletic department writes the school a check for every player's tuition, books, fees, and whatever else they need to enroll.

In conclusion, not a cent of tax payer money goes to the basketball team, its players, coaches, or managers.I find it hypocritical to use the first amendment as a defense to why you were at the press conference while then not allowing people to respond to your posts. Myself and a few other friends write a blog called dontputthatontheinternet.blogspot.com and we will be mentioning you in an upcoming post. But unlike your website, you will have the capability to respond publicly to what I write.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message and have a great day.Tom

Brad Castle ( - )

Ken, I commend you for asking a tough question. I would not have wanted to have Coach Calhoun coming after me, but you stood your ground on an uneven playing field. While I don't agree with your position, I applaud you for exercising your first amendment rights. Just FYI, Yahoo Sports did recognize you as a law student although most media outlets probably just summarily villainized you. Keep fighting the good fight. Sincerely, Brad Castle

From: Charles Alexander ( - )

Jim calhoun has every right to make as much as money as his contract states. For you to tell him to take a pay cut because your getting poor means your a winer and an ass. The contract is written, you shouldnt even ask about that because you cant do anything about it and for you to of asked when you know its a contract that ends in 2010 your asking that question just to piss him off or stir the pot. Which makes you a big Ass.Mr Kayeske i would like you to take a pay cut so your neighbour can keep his car. I know what your answer would be Mr Kayeske and it aint favoring your story at all. Try stirring the pot in topics that actually matter to the world and its people. As well as topics you could actually influence yourself in a positive manner. However your latest entry just pisses me off and im sure a whole lot of other readers are annoyed with your latest article. Your a smart man Kayeske. Use it wisely.

Michael Chapman ( - )

I'm pleased that someone had the guts to question Calhoun about his exorbitant salary.Have you seen this website: http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/ According to the numbers there, UConn barely breaks even on athletics. And someone needs to challenge Hathaway to produce the numbers that show real students are attracted to UConn because of its basketball success.According to the US News rankings, UConn is #66 among the public universities. I see no reason why any 18-year-old would choose UConn over Cal, Illinois, or UNC. UConn is spending $104K per male player and $133K per female player per season. Where does that money go?Also, UConn men's basketball spends $6,097,728 to take in $7,333,214.

From Steve Fournier ( - )

The conflict with Coach is in the nature of a negotiation. The university won't be asking him how much of a reduction in salary he'd be willing to take to get us all through hard times. That's a dirty job, and so Ken has to do it. Now the negotiation is open, and we'll see how many other reporters have the guts to ask whether Calhoun would quit the team if he were forced to take a million dollar pay cut.

John Fitzpatrick ( - )

Ken Kreyeske = HUGE Douche. Since when did freelancers working for pennies get press credentials to UConn games anyway?Suck a fat dick.

From Anthony Jones ( - )

Ken, I can respect asking the unpopular question. However you are wrong; and to make it worse your article reiterates that you are wrong. You have to realize that this is capitalism my friend, when you someday graduate and become a lawyer and start pulling in those nice paychecks, would you tolerate someone saying you make too much you need to give that money back? Of course not I'm sure it is something you have worked extremely hard for and that you feel that you have earned. It's the same with the UConn coach he is extremely good a what he does and is paid accordingly. It's not the employees job to say if he is making too much, it is the employer.... If you feel he is overpaid take it up with the college or state legislature they are the ones who agreed to pay him that money. Leave the poor guy alone he does his job and does it well.

Todd S. Whitfield ( - )

This is America, not the USSR. Your line of questioning last night was bizarre to say the least. People are paid in this country based on the value they bring to the table. If its 1.5 million, its 1.5 million. Don't be an ass by trying to make sound bites. Thank god we live in a country where people can make money and not have idiots telling them what they should be paid. BTW, you do understand that Obama's pay cap strategy will drive away the most talented people to run those banks --> inflicting even more harm on the financial system. Simply put, there are reasons why people make more money then you do. Deal with it.

From Velimir Drecun ( - )

Your story is way off. Maybe you should take some economics classes. Basically, what you are saying is that Calhoun should have a top 10 program, but not get paid top 10 money. He should bring in a bunch of revenue, put fans in the seats and also take a pay cut, just so more money can go to retard law makers and bureaucrats who don't know how to budget.

How many other programs are funded by the revenue generated by the men's basketball program (did you research that, or just figure the lazy way to write a story is to say take a 50% pay cut and we can help the state)? And now you want him to give back a chunk of his salary, so he's suppose to be the Mother Teresa of college hoops?

What if he took the pay cut and say they win only 50% of there games the next five years. How will that negatively impact the revenue generated by the program? Your analysis of the interview was poor as well. Making assumptions and misinterpreting for your own argument the comments made is weak. Try to be a little more objective, of course you are a law student and you can look at things from the angle that will prove your point, instead of the actual truth.

PS. I really don't like Calhoun or UConn, but at least I can look at something from a neutral perspective and judge accordingly.

From Frank Malsbenden ( - )

As a former UCONN Track and Field athlete (not a glamorous sport at UCONN whatsoever) I find your lack of perspective appalling. When I first arrived at UCONN we had to practice in the Field House with a leaky roof and puddles on the track indoors, and on a cinder track outdoors. Our facilities were so bad we couldn't host a home meet. As the basketball team got better and better, and started bringing in more and more money, our facilities got better and better.

We finally got nice uniforms, and good shoes. A new outdoor track, and new indoor track, new locker rooms, eventually UCONN even hosted the Outdoor Big East championships. Considering that the Track Team attracts very few fans, we had the basketball teams to thank for supplying the Athletic Department the money to support our program. During this time, when all the construction was going on, we had to use locker rooms over at Gampel Pavillion.

Coach Calhoun was always there, always very friendly to us, and most of all always working. He was so dedicated, so committed, and so driven to have the basketball team put UCONN on the map, and he's done that. Have you heard about all the schools that have had to cut baseball teams, swimming teams and football teams because of Title IX? Have you noticed that UCONN hasn't cut any of these sports?

They've been able to avoid this because the Athletic Department had enough money to start new women's teams like Crew, Women's Ice Hockey and Lacrosse to make sure there is the same amount of women athletes as male athletes. None of this is possible without the hard work Coach Calhoun has done to build the basketball team. You have a right to ask any questions you want, but before you fly in like a seagull and crap all over a guy who has accomplished so much for the school, the state, and athletes in non-glamour sports like T&F, you should look in the mirror and ask yourself if you would like to be treated like that in public.

You owe Coach Calhoun the courtesy of a balanced story, not just sensationalism and finger-pointing. But a balanced look at his whole record. It sure is easy to tear people down, it's a lot harder to actually build something. Coach Calhoun has actually built something that just hasn't benefitted himself, but the whole school.

Regards, Frank Malsbenden

That's good from now - More Later. Keep those letters coming.

 

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