I haven't done one of these in a great long while, but I saw some interesting things making headlines & thought it might make for a good discussion. As in the past, since I don't have the time to list everything going on in sports, feel free to bring up anything sports related you want to talk about.
Some of what's on the docket tonight: Connecticut budget politics & Jim Calhoun, sports rivalries, and the best (or worst depending on how you look at it) coach or manager flip outs.
So without further ado.....
[The Connecticut Budget & Jim Calhoun]
There is a little mini-controversy going on in Connecticut that was sparked by a question at a news conference last Saturday, after UConn mens basketball's 64-50 victory over South Florida. At the post-game press conference, a blogger/freelance journalist by the name of Ken Krayeske asked Jim Calhoun, UConn's coach, whether he would consider giving back some of his $1.6 million salary (Calhoun is, in fact, the highest paid state employee in Connecticut) in order to help with the state's budget shortfall ($1.35 billion for the current fiscal year and $8.7 billion over the next two fiscal years).
Calhoun responded by saying his program brings almost 8 times his salary into the University of Connecticut, while laying into Krayeske.
Calhoun's response has been criticized by Connecticut's Republican Governor, Jodi Rell, as an "embarassing display", and two Connecticut legislators want Calhoun reprimanded. As to Calhoun's math, UConn's mens basketball program directly generated $7.3 million in revenues in 2007-08. In addition to that, UConn has corporate sponsorship contracts, of which $5 million is attributed to the basketball team, as well as about $4.5 million in donations to the school's booster organization. Of all that revenue, the basketball team's expenses are $6.1 million.
Rell & these legislators reaction are somewhat suspect, since it's not like Calhoun hasn't spoken his mind before, so they can't be shocked by it. Maybe this is me, but I like the guys that say what they feel (even if it's not in the most polite terms), rather than someone that bullshits people. Was the question asked to Calhoun legitimate? Absolutely. Did the questioner want the reaction he got from Calhoun? Absolutely.
Furthermore, no one can argue that Calhoun isn't a great coach. He's won two national championships, a NIT championship, 6 Big East championships, and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Is he worth $1.6 million per year? That's a question for the University of Connecticut, and the people of Connecticut. But if they don't want to pay him, I'm sure he could find another school that would. And where was Connecticut basketball before Calhoun came there?
Calhoun might not want to give back any of his salary, but he has given back to the community. According to the school, the Jim and Pat Calhoun Cardiology Research Endowment Fund has raised $3 million in the past 10 years, and the Calhoun family and UConn basketball have raised more than $1 million each year for the Connecticut Food Bank and Foodshare.
Krayeske's questions can be asked of dozens of rich coaches at struggling public universities nationwide. Calhoun was just unlucky enough to be the guy with the political activist in the crowd.
More precisely, those questions should be asked of the presidents and athletic directors of said universities. Or perhaps of the elected officials in those states. Whoever OKs the salaries and signs the checks should have the answers. No worker in America will volunteer for a salary cut.
[Greatest Coach & Manager Meltdowns?]
In honor of the above controversy, some blogs & sites have put together lists of memorable times when coaches & managers have flipped out. So, for your perusal, some contenders. Click on the links to see & hear the evidencee.
- Dennis Green - "They are who we thought they were." - On October 16, 2006, after losing a 20-point lead over the Chicago Bears in less than twenty minutes, then Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green threw a tirade during a post-game media conference. In that conference, Green lashed out in response to questions about Arizona's tenacious defense that forced six turnovers and for most of the game shut down the Chicago offense, only to lose the game by a point.
- Lee Elia - "85% of the fuckin' world is working. The other fifteen come out here." - In the days before there were lights at Wrigley, and the only games that could be played were during the day, Cubs manager Lee Elia went on a tirade during a post-game presser "on April 29, 1983, after the Cubs suffered a one-run home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The rant took place during a postgame session with reporters in his office. Elia was pissed off at the continual booing by the Wrigley crowd (both during and after the game) and frustrated that no one could see beyond the Cubs' 5-14 record for any of the progress he felt the team was making."
- John Chaney wants to beat the shit out of John Calipari.
Feb. 13, 1994. After Calipari's 13th-ranked UMass team beat No. 8 Temple 56-55 in Amherst, Temple coach Chaney broke into a postgame press conference being held by Calipari.
"I'll kill your (expletive) ass. You remember that," Chaney screamed at Calipari. "I'll kick your ass. Kick your ass." Then Chaney, saying that Calipari had intimidated the refs, started toward the UMass coach at the lectern across the room. Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald described the scene: "With at least one camera rolling and dozens of reporters looking on, Temple coach John Chaney charged Calipari and nearly assaulted him. (Mike) Williams got in the way and Chaney shoved the UMass junior toward Calipari, who was wisely backing up, stunned and amazed. Security guards sprinted into the interview room from all directions while Chaney continued to berate Calipari and thoroughly embarrass himself."
Chaney apologized after the incident, and was suspended for one game.
- Don't ask Hal McRae a dumbass question.
- Jim Mora's "Playoffs?!?"
- Woody Hayes slugs a Clemson linebacker during the 1978 Gator Bowl.
Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, 65, got so angry that he grabbed Bauman as the Tigers linebacker ran out of bounds near the OSU bench, then slugged him. He also hit Ken Fritz, a Buckeyes guard who was trying to restrain his coach.
The university fired Hayes after the incident. But the coach insisted he hadn't tried to punch Bauman. "If I'd meant to hit him, I would have thrown a left," said Hayes, a left-hander.
Weeks after the incident, Bauman got a call from the ex-coach. "He didn't apologize," Bauman said. "I was astounded by the call. He asked what defense we were in at the time and what I was doing there. A lot of people say he doesn't apologize for his actions, that it's just not in his makeup, that he's too proud."
- Bobby Knight... take your pick
[The Greatest Rivalries?]
HBO has a great documentary that debuted earlier this week which details the rivalry between the University of North Carolina and Duke.
So this got me to thinking about what are the greatest rivalries in sports? Some that come to mind.....
- New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics - This one has recently been rekindled.
- Alabama vs Auburn
- Ohio State vs Michigan
"We do not pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you why we don't. It's because I don't buy one Goddamn drop of gas in the state of Michigan. We'll coast and push this car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money."
--Woody Hayes to assistant coach Ed Ferkany as they were low on gas in Michigan
- Florida State vs Florida vs Miami - These competing rivalries wax and wane depending on the strength of each football team, but matchups have been known to produce epic brawls, some even before the National Anthem is played.
- Cal vs Stanford - Bears vs Trees & a band
- Army vs Navy
- Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals
- USC vs UCLA
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants
- Colorado Avalanche vs Detroit Red Wings
- New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers
- Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens
- Kentucky vs Louisville
- New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies
- Texas vs Oklahoma