Heckler should listen to coach, get some facts

In case you've been living under a rock the last few days, men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun was confronted during his postgame news conference on Saturday following the Huskies 64-50 win over the South Florida Bulls.

A freelance journalist and UConn Law Student, Ken Krayeske, asked Calhoun, "Coach, considering that you're the highest-paid state employee and there's a $2 billion budget deficit … do you think …" Before Krayeske could finish, Calhoun interjected, saying "Not a dime back. I'd like to be able to retire some day. I'm getting tired."

Krayeske then proceeded to ask the coach if his $1.6 million UConn salary was enough. He continued, asking about Calhoun's private endorsement deal with Comcast. Calhoun then grew angry, asking Krayeske if he was "really that stupid" and advising Krayeske to "shut up."

Krayeske, though correct in pointing out that Coach Calhoun is the highest paid state employee, failed to account for several key facts when he confronted Calhoun on Saturday. First and foremost (and Calhoun made this abundantly clear to Krayeske), the men's basketball program produces a great deal of revenue for the university and the state of Connecticut. According to Calhoun, the men's basketball program brings in $12 million for the university on an annual basis. That figure doesn't even account for the publicity and name-recognition Calhoun's program brings to UConn. That name-recognition and publicity directly translates into dollars for UConn, by means of increased applications from out-of-state students. When one factors in the extra apparel and merchandise sales Calhoun's program brings in for the university, it is indisputable that the men's basketball program brings in more money for the state in revenue than it spends on salaries and other expenses.

There is absolutely some validity to the statement that $1.6 million a year is a significant amount of money for a state employee to be paid. In reality, however, that figure is by no means exorbitant when compared to other highly successful Division I men's basketball coaches. UConn is obligated to pay a salary commensurate with the going market rate; if not, talented professionals like Calhoun will seek employment elsewhere, at institutions willing to offer more competitive compensation.

Though Krayeske's questions about Calhoun's salary indicated that he was uninformed and na've, they were reasonable questions to ask. As a UConn Law student, and Connecticut resident, Krayeske is entitled to ask questions about the allocation of state funds. Where Krayeske crossed the line was when he began to ask Calhoun about his private endorsement contract with Comcast. Krayeske and the public at large are not entitled to any information regarding Calhoun's private business enterprises. What Calhoun does on his own time is his business. Whatever money he earns on his own time is his business.

The public response to Calhoun's heated exchange with Krayeske on Saturday has been mixed at best; ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd described Calhoun's behavior as "reprehensible," with the "grace of a bull in a china shop." Others have described Calhoun's response as "rude" and "over the line."

In actuality, however, the only thing "rude" and "out of line" was Krayeske's feeble attempt to embarrass Calhoun by distorting the facts, citing statistics out of context and asking inappropriate personal questions.

Krayeske, who has a history of harassing public figures (he was arrested at Gov. Rell's inaugural parade in 2007 on charges of breach of peace and interfering with a police officer), attempted to take Calhoun to task for what Krayeske viewed as an excessive salary. In the end, it was Krayeske who was taken to task for his lack of tact and lack of knowledge.