Most of us have seen the video by now. If not, it's posted on Fanhouse.
Coach Jim Calhoun became visibly angry at a press conference Saturday when blogger/activist Ken Krayeske, 36, persisted with a line of questioning about why the coach of a public university was making $1.6 million in tough economic times.
Now fellow Connecticut coaching icon, Geno Auriemma is coming to Calhoun's defense.
On Sunday, Auriemma, who also has a seven figure salary, said it was not fair to question someone who has worked as hard as Calhoun on whether or not he deserves the money he makes, especially during a post-game news conference.
"I think it's unfair in this setting and I would venture to say it's unfair in any setting. How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life," Auriemma said.
Auriemma also pointed out that coaches' salaries come mostly from funds the athletic department has raised.
Auriemma said the question could be understandable if any university program could be saved by a coach or a faculty member giving back some of their salary.
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"If everybody in the university agreed that, let's all give back this and we can save this, this, this, and this program, then somebody's got a plan," Auriemma said. "But just to ask that question and say, 'Yeah, OK, because I make a lot I should give some of that back,' that's a really hard question to deal with."
Krayeske is a political activist and self-described freelance journalist who landed in the headlines after other high-profile incidents in the past.
They included his January 2007 arrest at Gov. M. Jodi Rell's inaugural parade, where Hartford police charged Krayeske with breach of peace and interfering with an officer.
Police said Krayeske dropped his bike and stepped into the parade route, a security breach they considered a potential attempt to disrupt the event. He later said he was attempting to photograph the governor for his Web site.
The charges were later dismissed.
