The best thing about Insight Communications’ broadband service? When there’s a failure every day. That way you forget about the 600 weekly piece of junk mail pushing “Insight Phone,” increased rates for decreased service and sloooow data speeds. [Dun Dun Dun]
Senate goes in tomorrow 10:00 – 4:00, but not Friday. Goes back on the 14th & 15th. FLUSTERCUCK! [Just Saying]
So… that Mike Wilson thingy about the homo-sexin I shared with you yesterday? Turns out he’s handing them out in-person. Meaning he still hasn’t picked up on the hilarious typographical error. [Page One]
Just like I said earlier, Frankfort fell apart over the budget today. One wants to pay for hookers and top-shelf coke and one does not. When will we just turn the damn lights off and shut state government down? [Ronnie Ellis]
Kentucky U.S. Senate candidates running low on funds? Not so much. Well, no one other than Daniel Mongiardo, who won’t be able to respond to Jack Conway when the television race really begins. [National Journal]
Tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. Congressman John Yarmuth will announce major new federal funding for the Louisville International Airport. [Press Release]
Skoalrebel makes a glorious re-appearance. And what kinda tea do the teabaggers drink? The actual tea-related products associated with angry patriotic Teabaggers are a) Sweet tea from McDonald’s (corn syrup with a lemon wedge in a paper cup), b) Raspberry-flavored tea at the Cracker Barrel (corn syrup poured over crushed ice in giant plastic cup), and c) Snapple or Snapple-related beverages purchased at the mini-mart (corn syrup in a glass or plastic bottle). [Ken Layne]
Rick Pitino’s getting a four-year contract extension. And zillions of dollars. [C-J]
Monday’s edition of Kentucky Tonight will feature 5th Congressional District Democratic primary candidates Jim Holbert, David Prince and Kenneth Stepp. Tune in at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Monday, April 5. KET. [Press Release]
That mean Nobama finally supports a Mitch McConnell thingy that could, you know, tick Democrats off. Then Mitch gets his manties in a twist and says he isn’t going far enough. [Jim Carroll & More Jim Carroll]
9 responses so far ↓
1 Novena // Mar 31, 2010 at 10:47 pm
“Basketball & Philosophy at UofL”
Rick’s new salary is almost as huge as the importance he places on his two biggest things in life: basketball and himself. Hey, Plate Glass, could you compare Pitino’s pay with that of the entire Dept. of Philosophy? And how does that fit into the decades-old plan to get Phi Beta Kappa?
2 RickyP // Apr 1, 2010 at 1:18 am
Novena,
Could you please provide how much revenue the Dept. of Philosophy brings to the University and city of Louisville?
K. Thanks.
3 paul // Apr 1, 2010 at 3:41 am
Dr. Dan wins by 10 points or more! Hope you can support him in the fall.
4 jake // Apr 1, 2010 at 7:25 am
Nope. I’ll work against Lt. Dan no matter what.
I’d rather have an honest Republican than a Democratic bigot.
5 Bob // Apr 1, 2010 at 9:34 am
“Basketball is the cesspool of college athletics” says the former president of U. of Michigan, and he should know. Every standard is set aside to recruit and keep “students with talent” (that means skillful dribbling) regardless of grades, in spite of police records, and any amount of money is paid to get and keep a coach who can be or do anything as long as he wins more games than he loses. What makes you think it is any different at UL or UK? And the nation rallies against CEO pay; the federal government restricts raises; congressional hearings probe deeply?
The only interest our elected officials have in college sports is how to get free tickets to the sky boxes.
Oh, but remember this money for Patino isn’t real money–not tax or tuition money. It’s from one of UL’s many special pockets, deep pockets in athletics and Foundaiton that aren’t subject to rules or for that matter basic integrity. At UL tuition goes up, students are forced to pay for food they don’t eat, salaries for real workers stall, buildings and labs fall apart, we get constant poor mouthing about lack of state funds and hard financial times, but by God we get to have Patino around forever.
And Ricky P. you are right. The Philosophy Dept. doesn’t bring in booze and pizza money. It’s just the front that provides a university cover for the basketball team. Without the cover of the Philosophy Dept. Big Red would have to pay taxes on all that income it provides–like the pro team, big business operation it is.
6 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Apr 1, 2010 at 9:35 am
Novena, I have always been curious where the hatred for the money that the athletic department brings into the University originates. According to Forbes Magazine, Louisville has the 3rd most profitable (that’s net profit after paying their coaches and administrators) in the country.
I can’t help but wonder that in the academic culture, where one’s achievement is often characterized by one’s success at professional begging (I mean grant writing), that there is a level of contempt for those who can actually create revenue for the University. There is a desire to as VP Biden calls; “redistributing the wealth” amongst the academic class.
Everyone’s compensation package is worth what it costs to replace them. If anyone thinks that a coach who brings in the kind of net revenue that Pitino does, can be replaced more cheaply, they are mistaken. I have no doubt that if a professor in the Philosophy Department could bring in the kind of net revenue that Pitino does, they would be receiving that kind of contract as well.
7 Bob // Apr 1, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Mark H–As long as we all agree that the UL basketball program is a cash cow and nothing more–I’m with your review of net income. So let’s stop all the talk about “student athletes” and call them what they are–show biz hired help to whom we give college degrees if they hang around long enough. And don’t forget that UL must pay for its academic parts so that the basketball team can pretend to be a college program, not pro or at least a farm program for the pros.
8 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Apr 1, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I agree Bob that the “student athlete” moniker is a joke. I have to laugh every time the NCAA minders at the tournament basketball press conference keep correcting reporters when they don’t refer to them as “student atheletes.” meanwhile the same organization as pimped out the entire venue to corporations, marketers, and broadcasters. Denny Crum was chastised by the NCAA for being honest when he suggested that his players were majoring in basketball.
That said, “teaching professor’ is a similar joke when it comes to many of the academic jobs at the university. Everyone knows that many faculty slots are filled by professors who are only there to bring in grant money and not to teach students. Many of my professors were openly stated that they were burdened with having to teach a course, and couldn’t wait to dump their teaching duties off on their TA’s.
The football and basketball programs play for the all of the other non-revenue generating programs that have to be funded under Federal mandate. Since that spending is Federally mandated, the more net revenue Rick Pitino and Charlie Strong can generate, is that much less that needs to come from the taxpayers, student fees, and tuition.
9 Novena // Apr 2, 2010 at 10:17 am
“Lay of the Land: Beer & Circus”
Except for most of Bob’s comments, the others seem to indicate that money and athletics rule at UofL and should be the hallmark of the true university. And that is partly why universities like UofL are in trouble. We pass the beer, enjoy the circus, and say to help with the Phil Dept. Right, Plate Glass et al.? As for distributing wealth, Rick has a lot of it to spread around to the true university if he so chose.
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