| Butler one of the all time greats |
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| Written by John Pierson | |
| Tuesday, January 29, 2008 | |
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(WTNH) _ He's someone who will go down as one of the greats in Husky history. Caron butler. A one time troubled youth who actually spent time in jail, Butler turned his life around, came to UConn and turned himself into an All-American and now an all-star in the NBA.
It's what eight and a half million dollars a year can buy. 13 rooms, 16 televisions, a finished basement made for an NBA all-star. Over 10,000 tastefully done square feet. Caron Butler has made a nice life for himself. The Butler residence has three butlers, too. There's three year old Mia, Caron, and his wife Andrea who's from New Haven. "Oh he's a big mush," Andrea said. "She's the only one who can get him to do anything (laughs)." They met at UConn. "I didn't like him, at first," she said. "I thought he was an attention seeker. But later on I found out he was a comedian and that's why everyone was always around him." "We was friends," Caron said. "She used to help me, tutor me. Help me out with my work and everything. Eventually after a year and a half I knew that was the girl I wanted to be with." "I think that's what makes people cling to him and love his personality, cause he's different. He's not like anyone else," Andrea said. He is unique. A self-made man. He had no choice. No father. 15 arrests by the age of 15. 15 months in a jail cell about the size of his closet. "Every time I sit back and think about it I usually get emotional," he said. "He's come a long way," Andrea said. "When you see him crying on Oprah, see him crying on Jay Leno, I cry. I'll cry right now if you keep talking about it." "I do reflect a lot and that's why i don't take anything for granted," he said. "You've got to be proud of yourself." "Definitely," he said, tapping himself on the back. His life is in order now. His dreams are coming true. The man who once worked at Burger King is now a franchise owner. "That's big right there. That's over the top," he said. "He still has his name tag from Burger King," Andrea said. "He never forgets the past." "I used to work at Burger King, ya know, $5.75 an hour, now owning seven, it's a great feeling." When asked what he's making an hour now, he laughs and shrugs his shoulders. They love him in the nation's capitol -- the media, the fans, the community and his team mates. He takes his job seriously. His game day routine is all business, most of the time, though on our 30 minute ride with him he was singing along to the music. Butler has given D.C. a new meaning -- the District of Caron. He's made many people proud, as a father, husband and basketball player "He's great at all," Andrea said. Says Caron, "ya know, there are a lot of good people out there. I just try to be who I am." |
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