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Friday, July 4, 2008

Mayer

Mayer: KU’s Self earns his paycheck

By Bill Mayer

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Bill Self's new contract as head of the Kansas basketball program will probably pay him around $3 million annually along with innumerable perks, bonuses and such. If Bill's not already set for life, he will be soon.

Some might assay that amalgamation of loot and think they'd love such a deal. Few could handle it.

Even if you think Self is overcompensated, consider what he has to do to fill in the squares to create those enormous paychecks.

First off, he has to be a sterling recruiter who can coach and win a lot of games. Time was when that was enough, when guys like Kentucky's Adolph Rupp, via Kansas, could wheel and deal and travel their own courses of self-aggrandizement without much outside interference. Not anymore.

Consider the other drains on the time, talents, character and courage of Self - and others like Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski. They have to keep their staffs contented, make sure the athletic director is on board and that the school's president or chancellor concurs with their courses of action.

Then there are the supporters, alumni and ersatz faithful, who won't hold still for a losing streak of more than one game.

There are alumni gatherings year around, and there are major bashes like that fundraiser at the auto track to raise money for Self's program to aid needy kids. There's always something that Bill has to help with or attend. When he's not toadying up to the big cigars, he has to make sure he's keeping in touch with as many blue-chip cagers as possible, letting them know they're wanted and will benefit from coming here. And keep it clean!

Most of the recruits and their families are decent people. Then there are those stage mothers and helicopter-hovering dads who make recruiting hell, even if their kids are embarrassed about their interventions. Just a few such apples can really sour this barrel.

So you sign the kids, guide them along the paths of academia, keep them healthy and advise them on personal matters. That can work for the Sasha Kauns, Russell Robinsons and Darnell Jacksons, but there are the J.R. Giddens and C.J. Giles fiascos, Brandon Rush's failure to handle traffic violations adult-wise and Sherron Collins getting snarled up in a sexual harassment case. It's always somethin'.

The job is a bottomless pit of demands, responsibility and public image, where Self is on the clock 24-7. When can he ever have a few hours for his wife and kids without somebody butting in, be the reasons fair or foul? Self has a squad of 15 to 20 kids who can find ingenious ways to swerve and sway.

How in the heck can Self always manage to exude the charm and poise that he exhibits, at least to the public? Even control freak Roy Williams had his childish moments when he seemed less than iconic. Can't recall Self ever seriously wandering into the thicket of peevishness as Roy could do.

And, of course, there always are the voracious, probing scribes and throats of the media to deal with.

Think you could handle all that so well, even at $5 million per, or even $10 mil? Would you even dare to try?

Comments

brooksmd (anonymous) says...

Don't forget all the calls at the end of the season to try and get a handle on where your best kids stand in the draft. No thanks. Coach keep up the good work and enjoy every penny of your meager compensation. You've earned it. Me, I'm happy to just sit back and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor.

July 4, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

1977kufan (anonymous) says...

Super article, Bill and you are correct in some many ways. I know that it may seem that Coach Self is paid a considerable sum of money, but in my opinion, he more than earns every penny. I am also sure that he has several to numerous philanthropic events and donations that go unrecognized from this apparent "considerable sum of money" (some may call these "pro bono"activities). I am just tremendously thankful for him and each member of our coaching staff and all of their assistants. To paraphrase you, if anyone thinks that being the Head Coach or an assistant at the University of Kansas basketball program is a easy way to make a considerable amount of money, better start thinking more clearly. Climbing Mt. Everest and staying there is an analogous effort.

July 4, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BannerforKirk (anonymous) says...

I think this is generally a good article and I don't begrudge Coach Self any of his money - but there are a lot of people working as hard, maybe even harder, and making no money; people doing hard labor for 16-18 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Coach Self's salary is totally legitimate in the context of what he does - coach college basketball. Considering the money that a program at the level of KU brings in, he is going to be paid what he deserves, but let's not forget how many other people are literally killing themselves every day working their butts off - I know Coach Self doesn't forget them and is thankful every day that he's able to do what he does and make the money he makes. That's why he always gives back.

So, good job Coach, I'm glad you're making the bank you're making and that people here are keeping a level head about it - but I'm not going to pretend that he doesn't love almost every minute of it and that there aren't people who deserve as much credit for what they're doing for substantially less compensation.

July 4, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Wow, Bill, this is a first rate article. Very good job.

"How in the heck can Self always manage to exude the charm and poise that he exhibits, at least to the public?"

I couldn't agree with this statement more. I can't think of another coach (at least one with his level of national attention) that conducts himself so wonderfully in the public eye this far into his career. It's quite clear that Self was designed to do this job and all that it entails. There are very few on the planet that can handle everything that comes with this position. His extremely rare talents, therefore, are very valuable, economically speaking, and he absolutely should be paid well. Certainly at or near the top of others in his field. It's simple supply and demand.

July 4, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Dear Mr. Mayer,

Head coaches definitely work hard and have much to contend with. In addition to the chores you note, they have to play golf. They have to run up and down the steps of those awful private jets. If they have good seasons, they have to struggle through the fine print of lucrative jobs offers from other colleges and the pros. If they have bad seasons, they have to try to catch on as assistants with some of their friends. And, after signing a big contract, they have to work with ADs, PR persons, and local media persons such as yourself, to prepare fan bases for fabulous salaries being paid to them, when so many are losing their jobs and their houses. Its dreadful work, but someone has to do it.

Because of this dreadful work load, perhaps a head coach should start a coaching clinic for young coaches to help them learn how to deal with all of the above plus a lot of the work load you barely even imply; reputed things like:

a) players getting in knife fights;
b) players going dead beat dad on child support payments;
c) players showing up and unexpectedly departing because they don't like the minutes available, or perhaps dislike certain aspects of the team culture (see a and b plus d through n);
d) multiple players with paternity issues;
e) players alleged to have assaulted athlete-housing employees;
f) players who do not respond to letters on legal stationary about assault allegations;
g) players who do not show up for court dates to contest civil suits alleging assault;
h) players whose lawyers do not show up for court dates to contest civil suits alleging assault;
i) players who suddenly find themselves owing big bucks for default judgements of assault;
j) players whose hearings to overturn default judgments for assault get continued and might carry over into a second season;
k) players subject to pending criminal investigations into assault allegations that drag on over a year;
l) players whose high school teachers claim that some of their high school grades were changed to keep them eligible, suggesting at least a possibility that players were never eligible to play in Division I;
m) players who move on to the pros while their high schools are holding investigations into allegations that their grades were changed; and
n) players already living in athlete-housing even though the NCAA clearing house has apparently, as of mid summer, yet to qualify them for admission.

July 4, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

It's so true. With Self it's not just about winning, but about the class, integrity and charisma that exude from him. It makes me so proud to be a Jayhawk to have someone like Self at the helm.

July 4, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

My "truth" comment is obviously referring to LAJayhawk's comment, not jaybate's rant.

July 4, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Just these issues above, even if they were all to eventually always to prove moot, or utterly trumped up, would, at least, seem to warrant the creation of a new assistant coaching position on a coaching staff to relieve head coaches of so much fire fighting work. Might it be called: Assistant in Charge of Legal/Ethical Training?

There are coaches that train players in weight lifting, coaches that train them to play help defense, coaches that train them to put the ball on the deck and take it to the rim. In this day of imminent big money for so many of KU's good players, and given the irritating tendency of ordinary folk to want their day in court when they feel they have been wronged (don't they understand that the Bush Administration and the legislature have made habeas corpus a limited right?), well, don't you think our student-athletes, and our one-and-done athlete-students, would benefit mightily from doing some heavy lifting in legal/ethical training? Maybe bench press what's left of the Bill of Rights? How about curling some torts? Or deep squat some lawyer-client confidentiality?

I know, I know, you're thinking 18-24 year olds (amazing how many 21-24 year olds there are playing in D1 now that there are these athletic prep academies, isn't it?) just won't listen to locker room speeches from coaches on legal/ethical conduct.

But the times they are still a-changin', Mr. Mayer.

Players seem willing to work hard on most any aspect of their games to make the big bucks the many levels of professional basketball promise. Frankly, most of KU's players go on to play some level of professional hoops and most make significant more money doing so than KU's non jock students immediately after their KU years.

July 4, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

If it were explained to the players that working on their legal/ethical games could make make them, say, 25% more likely to retain all their hard earned professional money (note: it is afterall expensive to fight all these legal battles even if you can afford doing it, and avoiding even one of these legal battles would perhaps allow a player to buy an extra Lambo to go with his S-Class Mercedes), well, I have to believe most of these street saavy kids (and even the few born with silver spoons) would work as hard on their legal/ethical games, as they do on their trey shooting games. Have you noticed how hard these kids work on polishing their stock answers to sports journalists? They understand playing the media game is necessary. They just need to be made to understand that playing the legal/ethical game offers perhaps even more material benefits.

These kids understand the hard cruel world, Mr. Mayer, and the potential joys of materialism, precisely because of where so many of them grew up. You can't grow up in the projects with cable and not grasp that you are getting the short end of the stick in this society and also know that there is a long end to the stick, too. And the rich kids, well, they totally get it, because they grew up with rich things and so want to ensure they continue at the level to which they are accustomed.

If someone shows these players they can get an extra Gallardo, or a crib in Hawaii, or retirement for their mothers, simply by polishing their legal/ethical games the same way they polish their oops and post-ups, well, I think Head Coaches like Bill Self wouldn't have to work quite so awfully hard, don't you, Mr. Mayer?

I mean no 18-24 year old wants to work on law and ethics gratis, i.e., without immediate and clear payback, right? That would be like trying to get them to play belly button defense and unselfish on offense without the incentive of winning an national championship, or being a lottery pick, right?

Heck, the NBA wastes a lot of money on legal/ethical failures of players. David Stern, quasi-responsible commissioner that he is, instituted a quaint dress code awhile back to ensure TV ratings didn't decline because of resentment of the gangsta look. And he opted to make the players get the supposed maturing influence of a year of college. I mean, the Sternster at least gets enlightened self interest, doesn't he? Perhaps he could be induced to require players to graduate with an "Associate Degree", kind of a Bachelors-of-One-or-Two-and-Done sort of thing, that had to include a passing grade in Legal/Ethical Basketball Player Conduct 101."

As my grand mother used to say, Mr. Mayer, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And a pound of cure would make it so that all these overworked head basketball coaches struggling through the fine print of big, long term contracts, didn't have to work quite so awfully hard.

Surely you concur?

July 4, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

jaybate...

Let me introduce you to a wonderful word...brevity.

July 4, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku_painter (anonymous) says...

Screw paying for my own blog, I am just going to start using KUSports.com for my blogging needs.

July 4, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BannerforKirk (anonymous) says...

Quit complaining about Jaybate - it's never, ever going to change. Just stop reading them, like I have. I know it takes some finger dexterity to move the mouse down the page to skim (or skip) those posts, but it's really a small price to pay for what is I'm sure the highlight of someone's day.

July 4, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Bill wrote another great column as he always does.
Coaches aren't perfect, but I agree I wouldn't want the job.
Yes the money is amazing and all the perqs (sp) are great, but it's not like this guy is single and can run amok enjoying it every moment. He's also a dad and husband raising 2 kids.

Coaches that keep their sanity realize every one of their decisions (in a loss) can be second guessed and will be second guessed especially at a program like KU where fans have been frazzled w/out a title for 20 years.
I mean people are even second-guessing his decisions in the title game victory.

Coaches are not perfect; Self is not perfect. He makes huge money to be paid for any headaches there are.
I just agree with Bill's premise -- and you should answer it honestly as well ... would you take the job??

July 4, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KoolKeithFreeze (anonymous) says...

Hell yes I'd take it. Right here. Right now. And I think everyone on here would. If we were qualified coaches. Anybody in their respective profession with any sort of arrogance and pride and ambition would like to work at the apex position of that particular field. Kansas is the best job in the world for a University-level basketball coach. Find me a coach in the world that doesn't coach at UNC, UK, Duke, etc that would turn down an opportunity like that. It is a good article, but a silly question.

July 4, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sparko (anonymous) says...

I would take the $5 M. Wouldn't have taken Westbrook at #4 either, or Oden #1 last year, so maybe I could move into the NBA as a GM. Sadly, as much as I love basketball, it is only a game.

Lots of people in Deep Red Kansas, would like a living wage. Or the money to watch the Jayhawks. I used to be able to catch games with the $5 KUFF tickets. What makes Bill Self so great is that he understands this.

In truth, lots of folks would coach Kansas for free. What a tradition and venue. . .

July 4, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhox (anonymous) says...

I'd be happy to try it for a year at $3 million. Where do I sign up?

Seriously, as long as Self keeps bringing in the kind of kids he's brought in, and continues with the kind of success he's had, he's worth every penny as far as I'm concerned. There are guys making far more who are stink at their jobs (witness a high % of fortune 500 CEO's.) Carl Peterson probably pulls down about the same amount of scratch, and look at what a great job he's done with his 5 year super bowl plan. We're very fortunate to have Coach Self.

July 5, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Anyone know when the deal is to be done??? Seems long overdue. I'm wondering if Lew is waiting for all those out there with contracts due to finish up their business (e.g., Howland and Pearl just signed new deals).

July 5, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kansaspike (anonymous) says...

Lew's probably hammering down $$ for the upgrades Coach will require to facilities. No deal until those are set.

Gary--- Love when you throw in your 2 cents with us savage bloggers!!!!

July 5, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

I just don't quite understand why people feel the need to bring up those who struggle to make a living wage when discussing someone like Self's large paycheck. Yes, of course, it would be great if everyone could make an even and comfortable wage, but Self's contract has nothing to do with that. It really is just simple economics.

There is a river of money flowing into athletics -- in this case college athletics -- and the University of Kansas clearly is a large recipient of that. From the high cost of season tickets, single game tickets, general admission, alumni donations, parking, concessions, merchandise, and, of course, marketing and network contracts, the Jayhawks have a large amount of cash flowing into the athletic department. So, who gets that money? Personally, I think someone with the unique abilities Bill Self has -- a national champion with the talents to recruit, coach, mentor, deal with public relations, media, etc. -- is economically rare. And, therefore, valuable. Would we all like to try to do his job? Sure, but very, very few can succeed. He does. That means with all that money available, he clearly deserves to be payed a fair market value. And that value, right now, is at or near the top of his field.

Simple economics.

July 5, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Woops, meant "paid" not "payed." Sorry about that.

July 5, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I just don't quite understand why people feel the need not to bring up those who struggle to make a living wage when discussing someone like Self's large paycheck. Yes, of course, it would be great if everyone could make an even and comfortable wage, but Self's contract has everything to do with putting in perspective just how cruel and inequitable the economy is. It really is just simple economics. The state taxes hell out of persons in lower brackets and loads up the small businesses with payroll taxes , then offers both of them few of the tax breaks the wealthy receive, and continues this until taxes are so high that local businesses stop growing and then outsource and then close; then, as all these jobs are lost, the state reputedly will give $3 Million per year of it to Coach Self, while hundreds of thousands of families lose their home, and then begin to go hungry. Again, it really is just simple economics.

July 5, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

ku_painter,

Now you're starting to get the idea. :-)

This is a blog for each and every one of us.

And its a quid pro quo.

In exchange for free blogging our hits give kusports.com sufficient clicks to up their ad revenues.

If you really want to help the World Corporation, just keep clicking refresh for 5 minutes each day; then you pay for your blogging.

Welcome to the freaking 21st century.

July 5, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

I understand everybody would want the money, so everybody would want the job.
But man ... like Bill points out, the headaches.
Can you imagine just trying to keep the program stocked with blue chip talent every year despite the fact the blue chip talent you sign wants out ASAP for the NBA?
Self now can enjoy the best of both worlds. He won the NCAA title, so he can pretty much snicker at any critics in the future around here. You win a national title and you have a lot of clout. He's playing with the house's money the final 20 years of his career, assuming he wants to coach til 65.
With "national title" on your resume you can do whatever you want wherever you want.

July 5, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

jaybate,
That is a capitolistic, free market argument that I certainly don't disagree with, but Self making a large sum of money under the economic system in place makes perfect sense. His success causes countless thousands to contribute to the athletic department through all the ways I described above. I'm guessing those that are losing their house and are KU fans still have a KU shirt on their back. My point is, people spend the money toward the athletic department because of what people like Self do. And under the current market system, he should be rewarded for his success. That is a free market.

I live in a city in which 50% of the houses on the market are foreclosures (or about to be foreclosed). Peoples struggles are very apparent. But in a free market when a corporation (which is exactly what the athletic department is) makes money, those who make significant contributions should be compensated.

Capitolism, supply and demand, and, yes, simple economics.

July 5, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Im glad about a couple of things in particular:

1. People are starting to recognize Mr. Mayer as a thought-provoking writer.

2. People are finally discussing the ARTICLE. Wow! Whod have thought?

July 6, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

LAJayhawk,

Perhaps you know something here that I do not.

I thought Coach Self was a government employee. As such, his salary has nothing to do with capitalism and free markets. It has to do with government agencies competing with each other for professsional services of potential government employees--in this case D1 basketball coaches. These government agencies do not pay taxes on the money they collect. They do not rely entirely on tv and ticket receipts and donations for their revenues. They get state and federal subsidies either directly or indirectly, also. They do not operate in a free market open to other competitors. No one gets to start University of Kansas North Lawrence. This is largely public sector economics straddling public and private sector funding sources (state revenues, tax break donations, monopoly priced ticket fees, and oligopoly driven television revenues) and so your argument that this is just simple economics of supply and demand descended from such diverse economists and/or social philsophers such as Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Robert Malthus and John Stuart Mill, Jevons, Lords Marshall and Keynes, Pigou, Pareto, and so on down to recent contemporary monetarists like Milton Friedman et al, is either naive, or intentionally simplistic.

Regardless, I still can't understand why it makes persons so uncomfortable to talk about Coach Self's salary in the broader economic context; that is, of it exemplifying the current economy's increasing inability to efficiently distribute and price goods and services to the American people. Coach Self's stunningly high coaching salary, plus KU's ticket price gouging, KU's seating location gouging based on donation size, etc., are actually useful indicators of what happens when government agencies with near monopoly and oligopoly pricing powers are given the privilege of accessing (they don't compete) private sector revenue streams without effective economic regulation curbing their monopoly and oligopoly price gouging.

July 6, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

If Coach Self's salary indicates anything, it indicates what a good coach is worth when a government sporting oligopoly constrains supply and stimulates demand to revenue maximize and in the process gets bit by one of the coaches it thinks it has to have to keep the recent revenue gouging in place.

Certainly, this is a far, far cry from simple, free market supply and demand balancing in favor of basketball coaches. This is a heavily rigged government pricing game exploiting both the rich and an increasingly large number of poor members of the Jayhawk nation.

I could understand you making the argument that there is no point in talking about economics at all, because the process is so fundamentally non free market related that it is pointless to even try to use economic terminology evolved for free markets to discuss it.

But when I talk about it, I do not talk about it in terms of free market economics. I talk about it in terms of a government agency with monopoly/oligopoly pricing powers, without taxation, etc., etc. And I believe this is fairly accurate.

But I will grant you that it is much easier to talk about all of the above when you just call it simple economics, just supply and demand. But the easy way is not always the accurate way.

July 6, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

garybedore (Gary Bedore),

Any person would have to lack brain function not to want to coach KU for at least one year. Where else is a middle class person legally going to pick up $3M in one year before botching it. And the ordinary person might succeed, though it seems kind of Frank Capra-esque to mention such a possibility.

July 6, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

jaybate,

you are, once again, inaccurate.

"It has to do with government agencies competing with each other..."

"They do not operate in a free market open to other competitors. No one gets to start University of Kansas North Lawrence."

Last time I checked the University of Kansas Athletic Department is in direct competition with private organizations. Ever heard of Duke University? Or any of the other hundreds of private universities throughout the country? In case you are wondering a private university, by definition is "a university that is run without the control of any government entity, as opposed to public universities."

No, someone could not start "University of Kansas North Lawrence," but they could start a competing university in North Lawrence under a private name. Those private schools vie for the same revenue streams as the public schools, thereby making it a free market. Far from a monopoly.

Last time I checked, Duke had won a fair share of national titles and had one of the higher paid coaches in the country.

I have no problem with someone discussing Self's contract in broader economic terms. I was simply stating that it is irrelevant to the current market demands.

As you clearly have no accurate points to make, I will take this as the end of the discussion. You can continue arguing with yourself if you choose, but your ignorance is wasting my time.

But Rock Chalk to you anyway.

July 6, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

garybedore (Gary Bedore),
Any person would have to lack brain function not to want to coach KU for at least one year. Where else is a middle class person legally going to pick up $3M in one year before botching it. And the ordinary person might succeed, though it seems kind of Frank Capra-esque to mention such a possibility.

--Jaybate, I already mentioned the money would make everybody probably willing to do it. For 3 mill most people would do any job that doesn't require breaking the law.
BTW, he's not a government employee. KUAC as somebody pointed out is private arm of the school. These coaches make a lot of loot, but at the same time it's no picnic.
I'm reading a book on Wilt right now and the author wrote the reason KU lost the national title game to UNC in 3 OTs in 57. Bad coaching.
Hilarious.
Coaches make the loot, but also get the blame for everything.
I do realize part of the problems in college sports have been caused by the escalation in coach salaries, so I have mixed emotions on the matter. Always have.

July 6, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

I would also point out that while many people would be WILLING to do the job for 3 mil, almost none of them is CAPABLE of doing the job well for that amount (or more, for that matter). Hiring those people would certainly benefit them, but it would be devastating for the school.

As far as his salary goes and whether or not it's justified, you have to look at it two different ways. In the absolute sense, no, it isnt. A very fair argument can be made that teachers do more in a year's time to earn that money more so than coaches, especially because the product of their labor means so much more to society, concretely speaking. It comes with considerable headache and a lot of behind-the-scenes work that will never be compensated.

But taking this view or one similar to it is to deny the reality of the situation. Sports are a money-making machine, and people make a CHOICE in this capitalist society to exchange their money for the pleasure of being entertained. There is nothing inherently wrong with that outside of moral arguments which might suggest that more compassionate people would and ought to spend more on philanthropic causes (the homeless, education, health care, etc.). Mayer's position is that in this capitalist society, where sports have "apparent value" (I use this term to indicate an ability to generate profit despite the fact that they create no viable products or morally necessary services), compensating an individual who impacts on the sports success the most is fair and equitable, and I agree with that. Mayer is not suggesting that the homeless be ignored or that hungry children should continue to suffer so that Bill Self might prosper. Its a simple recognition of the reality in which we live to say that due to his position as steward of a rich program who's apparent value exceeds any equity in the assets it holds, Bill Self is entitled to a portion of that value as its primary caretaker.

July 7, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Think about it.

How much is a national championship WORTH?

What might an institution have to "purchase" to be competitive for a national championship? (facilities, a coach, an athletic director?)

Can the players themselves be compensated under the system? If not, and the table is truly even in that regard for all schools within the system, and if the ability to attract these players--without pay--to your school rests ultimately with the recruiter/coach, then shouldnt the coach be compensated based on his ability to recruit kids, among other things?

Isnt the money spent actually an investment anyway, that promises a return in terms of the popularity of the school, which may translate to increased enrollment? Can it be shown that schools with the best sports programs are generally financially sound because of higher enrollment and the money that flows in from that? Is it possible that the INCREASE in salary is paid for ultimately with revenue generated due to increased popularity?

I mean there are many questions to be answered that doesnt make Bill Selfs salary a black and white issue, even morally speaking. I think he deserves it.

July 7, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Great point, Ross.
He's worth it cause that's what the market will bear now, right?
I definitely think coaches earn their money more than movie stars who put in a month on a film and make 20 million or 50 mill a movie.

July 7, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Well, Gary, I would actually disagree with that last point (not including the fact that no movie star makes 50 mil a movie unless they are seeing part of the back end profits or are a producer which requires great success and/or more responsibilities). A movie is, more often than not, marketed around a star's name. Which means the success of a film is based in part on the fact that people want to see a particular actor (generally speaking) in a role. Without the actor the movie, a majority of the time, will not see much profit. Clearly there are exceptions to this. The horror genre for one, which are cheep to make and usually see a profit. That's why you see so many churning out year after year. And, of course, the surprise hits like the original Star Wars, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, etc. But most films without stars do not see the enormous grosses.

Take Hancock for example. Probably a lot of people might find the concept interesting, but Will Smith causes them to take notice and actually go see it (I bring him up specifically, because his films consistantly make a ton of money). Hancock ends up with a 62 mil opening weekend and a current world-wide gross of 182 mil. That's a profit of 32 million (including Smith's 20 mil paycheck) already and the film has many, many more millions to make. Without Will Smith I guarantee you this film makes no where near that. Is his job hard? Well, you'd be surprised what they have to deal with publicly, but no, of course not. But producers pay him enormous money because he makes them exponentially more (his lifetime gross is 2.3 billion... that's billion... with an average of 129 mil a film). That is a valuable talent and worth every penny to almost every producer he's ever worked for.

And jross, very well put. You nailed it right on the head.

July 7, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Oh, and Gary, it is rare that the star of a film will only put in a months worth of work. They have to travel all over the globe promoting the movie for weeks at a time -- again, not a terrible job, but not a great deal of fun either. They also will generally spend a few months training for a film (character study, fitness, special training like martial arts, etc., speech and accent work).

Again, is all of this horrible work to do? Definitely not, that's why many, many people try. It's also important to point out that I've seen a whole lot of really crappy actors in my professional life (more so as an amatuer), so you also must not forget talent and ability. It's really very difficult to be a decent actor. And one that can sell a film. It's a rare commodity just like a fine jewel or a specialized athletic ability. Therefore, it is valuable, economically speaking.

July 7, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

LAJayhawk, I agree with your earlier point about NOT comparing some common everyday man's salary with that of a top-tier, championship-winning college coach! That would be an apples-to-oranges comparison and makes NO sense. No offense to Jaybate's eloquently worded epiteth (as always...), but in the overall BIG picture about Self earning a COMPARABLE salary for his accomplishment, I fully support he deserves what he has earned. This is in no way diminishing the toil of the common man "slaving away 16hrs/day"--but the discussion is NOT about the common man. We are not, not, not, NOT talking about the common man. I do not care about the social inequities of modern American society in the context of a discussion about the well-deserved salary of my alma-mater's head BBall coach. If one really wants to shift the discussion to a new topic, and talk about the state of the economy and the "plight of the plebes", then I would postulate that we all are empowered with the capacity to change our circumstances, especially those of us living in the United States--translate: land of opportunity (!). That's why many of us went for higher education, so that we may reap a brighter future. You dont like your station in life or your current situation--change it! American ingenuity. Come up with a plan and execute it--just like our hero of the story, Bill Self, just did...And regarding his salary? Market economics. What does Coach K, Roy Williams, etc get paid? What do a few very high-profile college football coaches get paid? Therein lies your answer and its justification. Is it fair to the common man? Frankly it is about 20yrs too late to be trying to make that point, as pro baseball and many other sports have been paying salaries that BEG the question: Is that player really worth that? Is Peyton Manning (great QB) really worth the 70-80 million $ ? The answer is: "Yes. He was worth it to the one writing the check."
Hard to fix society's problems on a bball blog, man.

July 8, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )