Basketball Champions Center One Million Dollar Challenge Update

[UCONNJACK]

BOT upcoming agenda reports $185k has been raised as of February 3. $100k from former men players and $ 85k from former women players.

 

[tcf15]

I wonder if they are counting the $100k that Ollie donated a while back.

 

[HooperScooper]

Some people are going to tell me that we shouldn't be telling anyone how they should use their money, but that's just embarrassing if true. With all the NBA guys UConn has produced and all the money most of them have made that's just lame that there hasn't been more money given by UConn basketball alums. I hope this is just preliminary but then again what are they waiting for?

 

[tcf15]

Some people are going to tell me that we shouldn't be telling anyone how they should use their money, but that's just embarrassing. With all the NBA guys UConn has produced and all the money most of them have made that's just lame that there hasn't been more money given by UConn basketball alums. I hope this is just preliminary but then again what are they waiting for?

That's why I'm curious if they are using the 100k that KO donated a while back as the figure for former men's players. That would be a shame if it's only him. Just weird that he's the only player we've heard of donating to the practice facility.

 

[Deleted member 3149]

That's why I'm curious if they are using the 100k that KO donated a while back as the figure for former men's players. That would be a shame if it's only him. Just weird that he's the only player we've heard of donating to the practice facility.

Rudy's making 17mil a year and is a husky of honor. Trust me, he's giving back

 

[3uconn]

I would like to think that many of them would give money without much hesitation. I wonder if they've ever really been asked by UConn, Calhoun, or Ollie.

 

[husky8273]

Rumor has it that JC felt it was not his place to ask and that most players feel they made their "contribution" to UConn as student-athletes

 

[HooperScooper]

Rumor has it that JC felt it was not his place to ask and that most players feel they made their "contribution" to UConn as student-athletes

That's why you can't ever believe rumors!

From October 2012:

Calhoun, 70, retired as coach last month, after a 40-year career that included 26 seasons at Connecticut, three national championships and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is raising money for the center as part of his new job as a special assistant to Manuel.

He said he will be visiting NBA training camps this fall and plans to ask former UConn players for their help with the center, which he said will also celebrate the history of Husky basketball.

"Some of the kids have expressed some interest, and those who haven't are going to become more interested," Calhoun said.

Calhoun said he's talked to planners about including a locker room just for basketball alumni, who will be able to use the facility.

"That in turn, in my opinion, will keep, five years, 10 years, 20, down the line, all those guys connected," he said. "And as guys graduate and go on to their careers, obviously they will be able to do more -- maybe one guy will want a room named after him, et cetera."

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...-huskies-not-planning-name-center-jim-calhoun

That was a year and a half ago and he's come up empty so far? I have a hard time believing that. Someone want to ask the athletic department what donations they have received so far? I just don't believe that none of the NBA players have contributed.

 

[Mike Honcho]

That's why you can't ever believe rumors!

From October 2012:

Calhoun, 70, retired as coach last month, after a 40-year career that included 26 seasons at Connecticut, three national championships and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is raising money for the center as part of his new job as a special assistant to Manuel.

He said he will be visiting NBA training camps this fall and plans to ask former UConn players for their help with the center, which he said will also celebrate the history of Husky basketball.

"Some of the kids have expressed some interest, and those who haven't are going to become more interested," Calhoun said.

Calhoun said he's talked to planners about including a locker room just for basketball alumni, who will be able to use the facility.

"That in turn, in my opinion, will keep, five years, 10 years, 20, down the line, all those guys connected," he said. "And as guys graduate and go on to their careers, obviously they will be able to do more -- maybe one guy will want a room named after him, et cetera."

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...-huskies-not-planning-name-center-jim-calhoun

That was a year and a half ago and he's come up empty so far? I have a hard time believing that. Someone want to ask the athletic department what donations they have received so far? I just don't believe that none of the NBA players have contributed.

Are they building the alumni locker room? Anyone know?

 

[Tenspro2002]

Remind me: exactly what has JC been doing in his role of special assistant to the AD? If we've only gotten a hundred grand from NBA alums who have made, in sum, well over a hundred million, that is truly a spectacular failure.

I sincerely hope there is some peculiar accounting that I'm missing here.

 

[OkaForPrez]

They are holding out for the new arena on campus project

 

[tykurez]

It's Warde's fault.

 

[Palatine]

Rumor has it that JC felt it was not his place to ask and that most players feel they made their "contribution" to UConn as student-athletes

That's not a rumor. JC said on many occasions that the players have already done enough for the university. That doesn't mean that his position hasn't evolved since then and now he is fully on board with soliciting our NBA alumni. But it also means that asking the question about donations to the challenge is fair game.

 

[CAHUSKY]

That's not a rumor. JC said on many occasions that the players have already done enough for the university. That doesn't mean that his position hasn't evolved since then and now he is fully on board with soliciting our NBA alumni. But it also means that asking the question about donations to the challenge is fair game.

Clearly his position has evolved. ""Some of the kids have expressed some interest, and those who haven't are going to become more interested," Calhoun said"

 

[husky8273]

Clearly his position has evolved. ""Some of the kids have expressed some interest, and those who haven't are going to become more interested," Calhoun said"

"evolved" - the quote is from Oct. 2012. What has JC done since then?

 

[CAHUSKY]

"evolved" - the quote is from Oct. 2012. What has JC done since then?

I was responding to palatine who referenced Calhouns previous stance of not hitting up players for donations. JC's stance has obviously "evolved" from his original position as evidenced by the October 2012 quote. What has he done since his "evolution" I'm not sure as I don't speak to JC, anyone in fundraising at the university or any wealthy ex-players very often.

 

[husky8273]

I was responding to palatine who referenced Calhouns previous stance of not hitting up players for donations. JC stance obviously "evolved" evidenced by the October 2012 quote. What has he done since his "evolution" I'm not sure as I don't speak to JC, anyone in fundraising at the university or any wealthy ex-players very often.

the lack of results speaks for itself!!

 

[CL82]

the lack of results speaks for itself!!

Timing is everything. I would not be surprised to have a big pool of cash come it right around the time it opens.

 

[EricLA]

Some people are going to tell me that we shouldn't be telling anyone how they should use their money, but that's just embarrassing if true. With all the NBA guys UConn has produced and all the money most of them have made that's just lame that there hasn't been more money given by UConn basketball alums. I hope this is just preliminary but then again what are they waiting for?

I will be stunned if former Huskies who are doing great in the pros don't end up giving millions of $. I just can't believe that these super rich guys won't donate hundreds of thousands $ if not a million or more.

 

[Rico444]

the lack of results speaks for itself!!

I'm speechless. This is pretty much the textbook definition of "What have you done for me lately?"

 

[Palatine]

Hopefully, when the 1999 team is honored, JC will pinch their wallets as part of the ceremony.

 

[jibsey]

Donyell once gave a hundred grand but don't know what others have done. It would surprise me if there aren't significant donations.

 

[superjohn]

It does seem bizarre but my guess is we will see a ton of money donated near completion.

 

[tcf15]

I know Emeka has donated to UConn, but not to the basketball program. I think he's donated to the School of Business and Husky Sport.