Good Jim Calhoun Story

[CL82]

Right around the year 2000 or so, UConn was playing St. John's. Connecticut was up by six points or so, but the St. John's guards were grabbing Connecticut players to disrupt our offense. (sound familiar?). Calhoun was getting increasingly frustrated. During a break he called over Mickey Crowley, who was reffing the game. Calhoun asked him if Crowley would ever give him a technical foul just based upon what Calhoun was thinking. Crowley looked at him as if he was crazy and said "Of course not Jim!" Calhoun looked at him and said "well that's good to know, Mickey, because right now I'm thinking that you're calling an absolutely horrible game!" Crowley looked at him for a second and then started laughing. I love that story and I thought it was a great way for Calhoun to get his point across.

 

[HooperScooper]

That story was from Jim Valvano. Did Calhoun do it also? Sounds like something he would have done but I don't remember that.

“I asked a referee if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him.

He said, ‘Of course not.’

I said, ‘Well, I think you stink.’ And he gave me a technical. You can’t trust ‘em!”

 

[uh-no]

Right around the year 2000 or so, UConn was playing St. John's. Connecticut was up by six points or so, but the St. John's guards were grabbing Connecticut players to disrupt our offense. (sound familiar?). Calhoun was getting increasingly frustrated. During a break he called over Mickey Crowley, who was reffing the game. Calhoun asked him if Crowley would ever give him a technical foul just based upon what Calhoun was thinking. Crowley looked at him as if he was crazy and said "Of course not Jim!" Calhoun looked at him and said "well that's good to know, Mickey, because right now I'm thinking that you're calling an absolutely horrible game!" Crowley looked at him for a second and then started laughing. I love that story and I thought it was a great way for Calhoun to get his point across.

did he then save all 37 puppies in the kennel, too?

 

[Huskybass]

My final semester at UConn was in the spring of 88. I got an RA gig and part of my duties was to line up a speaker or create an activity for the dorm. I contacted the basketball office and Coach Calhoun's assistant lined up a meeting for me to ask him immediately after practice the next day. I wanted him to discuss what its like to be a D1 Coach in a high level conference. I went to the practice and Jimmy was ripping mad about missed defensive assignments, etc. I mean he was livid. I chickened out on the 1 on 1 and put all the dorm kids on a bus trip to a game at the Civic Center instead. They won the NIT that season, and the rest is history.

I met him several times after that and he couldn't have been more gracious. Love me some JC.

 

[HCCForever]

My final semester at UConn was in the spring of 88. I got an RA gig and part of my duties was to line up a speaker or create an activity for the dorm. I contacted the basketball office and Coach Calhoun's assistant lined up a meeting for me to ask him immediately after practice the next day. I wanted him to discuss what its like to be a D1 Coach in a high level conference. I went to the practice and Jimmy was ripping mad about missed defensive assignments, etc. I mean he was livid. I chickened out on the 1 on 1 and put all the dorm kids on a bus trip to a game at the Civic Center instead. They won the NIT that season, and the rest is history.

I met him several times after that and he couldn't have been more gracious. Love me some JC.

I can understand your unwillingness to meet with JC after a heated practice. I was waiting at the UConn team bus after they lost to Syracuse in OT at the 2006 BE tournament. This was game where McNamera hit three pointer in regulation to tie the game.

Calhoun came storming out to the bus and I realized how intimidating he could be after a loss or when angry. His players had to be mentally tough. Fortunately that season I also saw the team beat Kentucky and Washington.

 

[Travelman6]

I went to the practice and Jimmy was ripping mad about missed defensive assignments, etc. I mean he was livid. I chickened out on the 1 on 1

I would have too. Probably most of us would have!

 

[Deepster]

I heard the same story about Charles Barkley.

 

[CL82]

That story was from Jim Valvano. Did Calhoun do it also? Sounds like something he would have done but I don't remember that.

“I asked a referee if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him.

He said, ‘Of course not.’

I said, ‘Well, I think you stink.’ And he gave me a technical. You can’t trust ‘em!”

The story is from Calhoun's book 2007 book A Passion to Lead that I'm reading now.

I guess Calhoun could be lying but given that he names a specific game and a specific ref, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Chin Diesel]

It's from Calhoun's book 2007 book A Passion to Lead that I'm reading now.

View attachment 116332

I guess Calhoun could be lying but given that he names a specific game and a specific ref, I doubt it.

It's not a lie. But he's also not the first person to use that quote or storyline.

 

[Deepster]

I heard the Barkley story from a newspaper reporter who covered the Sixers during the Barkley years. I’m guessing multiple people have used the line.

 

[Ewekon]

I can understand your unwillingness to meet with JC after a heated practice. I was waiting at the UConn team bus after they lost to Syracuse in OT at the 2006 BE tournament. This was game where McNamera hit three pointer in regulation to tie the game.

Calhoun came storming out to the bus and I realized how intimidating he could be after a loss or when angry. His players had to be mentally tough. Fortunately that season I also saw the team beat Kentucky and Washington.

I, along with 80,000 others was at that MSG game. I have the stub.

Turned out a Happy Ending of the Husky kind.

The most time I spent with Jim was about 30 minutes with a small, personal group. We sprung for a platinum table, or whatever they called it, at Mohegan for his annual foundation event. Met Blaney too.

 

[CL82]

It's not a lie. But he's also not the first person to use that quote or storyline.

Does that matter though?

In his bio Throw the Ball High Crowley tells the story that after a game, Calhoun rated the officiating crew a "5 out of 10". ""When Crowley questioned him about it, Calhoun said, "I gave you guys a 5. Divide it up any way you want!"

Calhoun is a funny guy who understood how to use humor to make a point when he was coaching.