Follow-Up #2 : Jim Calhoun's greedy remarks are indicative of a warped system - Calhoun offers weak defense for his tirade

In the wake of Connecticut basketball coach, Jim Calhoun's greedy tirade at a press conference, the Connecticut power brokers are predictably making their plays. The Democratic leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly, Sen. Mary Ann Handley and Rep. Roberta Willis sent a letter to the Connecticut University president, Michael J Hogan, requesting that Calhoun be reprimanded.

Naturally, the lawmakers came way short of calling for the terminating or even suspending Calhoun. That particular president of a university in New England, Hogan, whitewashed the entire matter. So the power brokers that allowed a troubled individual like Calhoun to be making $1.62 million per season have covered their bases and all that was left was for Calhoun to feel some contrition, right? Wrong.

Instead, Calhoun issued a statement that he had been "misinterpreted" as being insensitive to to the current economic climate. Thus, Calhoun's defense is that if you that if you do not believe he is worth every penny, even in this economic climate, then you are ignorant. Wow!

Coach Calhoun, "my best advice to you is to shut up." Rather I am recycling your own advice back to you anyhow. And to take another page out of your book, I am not trying to be polite. As you would say, "check your facts." Your state is going to be running an $8.7 billion deficit over the next two years and you are making the type of money that you are not entitled to be making in any economy.

Predictably, Calhoun supporters have defended Calhoun's exorbitant salary based on what other coaches are being overpaid. Bu it is no secret that greed took over college sports a long time ago. How do you think the BCS came about in college football? Justifying the poor decisions of other universities to overpay their coaches does not take Calhoun off the hook. It is a mitigating factor though and it would be hard to blame Calhoun for not taking an enormous salary that was on the table.

But at some point that salary made Calhoun think he was the best thing on campus. At some point, he got so used to having his power unchallenged that he had lost all track of reality when the very heart of his power status was challenged; his money. And he is so drunk on money and power that in the wake of this controversy, he feels no remorse for his sanctimonious, overbearing diatribe.

Some bloggers have defended Calhoun's huge salary by pointing to his philanthropic efforts. In his statement,Calhoun also defended his huge salary by reiterating his charitable contributions.

“I believe I have a duty, responsibility and obligation to support the state I love and the many people and organizations of Connecticut that are in need,” Calhoun said. “I look forward to continuing with the same amount of passion and commitment to assist people and causes that are important to me and my family.”

The sad truth is that Calhoun's philanthropic efforts are personal investments and public relations insurance. In 1998, Calhoun donated $250,000 to a Connecticut hospital. His self-named charity also raised $1.75 million. For his contributions, Calhoun got a tax write-off and was immortalized by having cardiology center named after him.

Calhoun knows how the game is played. By being a "valued member of the community," as Hogan said, Calhoun can keep receiving those fat paychecks. And when a controversy such as this occurs, Calhoun can paint himself out to be such a great person. Calhoun knows that those alleged charitable acts are merely a gravy train tax.

There are those of us that remember what the true meaning of charity is. "To give and to not count the cost," is what St. Ignatius taught. Calhoun is just a wolf in sheep's clothing. That university in New England know that keeping men like Calhoun at the top of their ranks is stealing from the community.