Pitino, Ouch...

[RockyMtDevil]

You never like seeing this kinda news, no matter who it is. Just goes to show you that people are human and prone to making mistakes. Affair, abortion, cover-up, not good...tough news for his family.

[DukeHoopsGuru]

Does he step down?

[RelativeWays]

After reading the story on ESPN, I petition that the thread title be changed to "Pitino, Yikes!"

[Hancock 4 Duke]

Yeah, what happens???

[Hancock 4 Duke]

OH I see, are we allowed to post this article????

[DevilHorns]

the bizarre thing is, she ends up marrying the strength coach later, the same strength coach whose place was the location of some of this scandalous behavior w pitino.

i dont think he should step down for this, this is a personal issue for him and his family, not for louisville or his team. i for one think he should stay on. this is a huge blow for his image tho. wow.

[dukemsu]

is in one tough spot with this. Purportedly, they are a news organization of some sort, so they are bound to report on it to an extent. However, many of Pitino's sycophants (Vitale among them) not only bow at the guys feet but are in or have been in the racehorse business with Pitino.

I wouldn't expect much digging from the Four Letter on this, nor would I expect Mike and Mike, et al, to cover it at all.

Doesn't matter. Terminal blow to his image, though not his coaching acumen and accomplishments. Bad situation for everyone involved. No winners here.

dukemsu

[JasonEvans]

This is what really matters in all this...


“Several months ago, Coach Pitino informed me about the alleged extortion attempt. I’ve now been informed that there may be other details which, if true, I find surprising,” School president James Ramsey said in a statement.

Pitino is fine if he came clean about everything. If the school wants him to take some time off though, it will be because he lied or held back some important details.

My bet is that he did not say anything to the school about paying for an abortion.

Still, I think he will survive all this and it will become a mere footnote on his career. Why would Louisville want to get rid of him? He is doing a pretty good job on the court.

-Jason "what a mess!" Evans

[roywhite]

Pitino is fine if he came clean about everything. If the school wants him to take some time off though, it will be because he lied or held back some important details.

My bet is that he did not say anything to the school about paying for an abortion.

Still, I think he will survive all this and it will become a mere footnote on his career. Why would Louisville want to get rid of him? He is doing a pretty good job on the court.

-Jason "what a mess!" Evans

Agree; that is, assuming no other significant facts come to light.

Pitino himself might choose to step down/retire to get out of the spotlight, but I doubt seriously whether UL pressures him to leave.

Not a fan of UK or UL, but the rivalry will be worth watching; the Commonwealth is returning to national prominence in college hoops.

[airowe]

Agree; that is, assuming no other significant facts come to light.

Pitino himself might choose to step down/retire to get out of the spotlight, but I doubt seriously whether UL pressures him to leave.

Not a fan of UK or UL, but the rivalry will be worth watching; the Commonwealth is returning to national prominence in college hoops.

While I don't think this is career-ending, it certainly will not help Pitino while visiting recruits' homes or speaking with their parents.
Maybe we have a little easier path to Roscoe and/or Josh Smith because of this. Pitino can really get some bigs to sign with him, and anything that makes his job harder will make Duke's a little easier.

[allenmurray]

While I don't think this is career-ending, it certainly will not help Pitino while visiting recruits' homes or speaking with their parents.
Maybe we have a little easier path to Roscoe and/or Josh Smith because of this. Pitino can really get some bigs to sign with him, and anything that makes his job harder will make Duke's a little easier.

Pitino's job is more than coaching basketball - it is representing the university. That is true for all high profile coaches, and that is the dilema that any university faces in a situation like this. It is a balancing act for the university - does what he gains for us (in athletics, marketing, revenue) outweigh what he costs us (in reputation and alumni support)?

Given Louiville's investment in its basketball program Pitino probably still brings them more than he costs them. And that is how the university will make its decision - not on the morality of the situation, not on whether he "came clean", not on whether he was honest with or lied to his employer (the university president), but on whether he is a net gain to the university. If he is, he stays, pretty much no matter what he did.

[airowe]

Pitino's job is more than coaching basketball - it is representing the university. That is true for all high profile coaches, and that is the dilema that any university faces in a situation like this. It is a balancing act for the university - does what he gains for us (in athletics, marketing, revenue) outweigh what he costs us (in reputation and alumni support)?

Given Louiville's investment in its basketball program Pitino probably still brings them more than he costs them. And that is how the university will make its decision - not on the morality of the situation, not on whether he "came clean", not on whether he was honest with or lied to his employer (the university president), but on whether he is a net gain to the university. If he is, he stays, pretty much no matter what he did.

I agree with you that the decision to retain Pitino as coach of will not be a cmoral or disciplinary one. But, the pros you listed abovethat would tip the scales in his favor: "what he gains for us (in athletics, marketing, revenue)" are directly tied to the product he puts on the court, which is directly tied to recruiting. If the stigma of this (and I don't completely believe that the whole story has come out, whether it be in Pitino's favor or his accuser's) hangs around he and the Louisville program long enough to cause some damage to his credibility with young mens' parents, then the product Louisville basketball puts on the floor will suffer. I can't foresee it impacting this season and Pitino has, IMO, built up enough wins to deserve some time for the dust to settle (a la Bobby Knight), but I can see the stigma hurting the program in the not too distant future.

[roywhite]

It's hard to think of Pitino and Calipari and not think of two carnival barkers doing their thing on the midway. Each with a snappy outfit, a line of chatter, and a boatload of promises to prospective buyers. Be wary, and hope the local sheriff is keeping an eye on things.

[allenmurray]

I agree with you that the decision to retain Pitino as coach of will not be a cmoral or disciplinary one. But, the pros you listed abovethat would tip the scales in his favor: "what he gains for us (in athletics, marketing, revenue)" are directly tied to the product he puts on the court, which is directly tied to recruiting. If the stigma of this (and I don't completely believe that the whole story has come out, whether it be in Pitino's favor or his accuser's) hangs around he and the Louisville program long enough to cause some damage to his credibility with young mens' parents, then the product Louisville basketball puts on the floor will suffer. I can't foresee it impacting this season and Pitino has, IMO, built up enough wins to deserve some time for the dust to settle (a la Bobby Knight), but I can see the stigma hurting the program in the not too distant future.

I agree completely. I hope it does hurt his recruiting. I wish college athletics was a place where character was the driving force. But I don't think it will hurt him. Pitino has already shown that he is more than happy to fill his roster with one-and-done players. Those kids are less likely to be disuaded by his character than others might be. They already see the progam as a stepping stone to the NBA, not a place to spend four years getting an education.

[KenTankerous]

If we think back a couple of years, we will recall Louisville expelling a cheerleader because nude photos surfaced and she was deemed morally inappropriate to represent the university. Hmmm, think the same rule will be applied to Slick Rick? Don't count on it.

Growing up in Louisville was basketball heaven - Joe B and Denny Crum putting up quality wins and contending most years. Now we have Greasy and Sleazy, NIT's, Character and a whole lot of hype about things to come (and possibly to be vacated). Thank God my ladylove turned me on to Duke basketball or I'd have probably given up on college sports by now.

[SilkyJ]

Personally, I've always thought Pitino was a scumbag (probably my Father's influence). And most of this isn't news since these facts have been pretty much assumed/leaked since around the time the story broke. Given that, I'm not sure why Pitino wouldn't have come clean to his bosses with all this info b/c this stuff has been out there for months. As Jason said, what a mess...


While I don't think this is career-ending, it certainly will not help Pitino while visiting recruits' homes or speaking with their parents.
Maybe we have a little easier path to Roscoe and/or Josh Smith because of this. Pitino can really get some bigs to sign with him, and anything that makes his job harder will make Duke's a little easier.

If Pitino is our main obstacle in getting Josh Smith, I'd be pretty surprised. UW and UCLA seem to be his leaders and leaving the west coast seems to be the biggest obstacle.

[ChicagoCrazy84]

You stay classy Rick Pitino!

This is a complete mess, though I do have to say that this is more of a personal matter than a law enforcement matter. She claimed she was raped twice by him? How stupid does she think people are? We're supposed to believe that he raped her and then a couple weeks later she decides to meet up with him again and gets raped? Please. This woman needs to get her act together and I sincerely hope that Rick Pitino learned from that and starts to dedicate his heart to his family. This is certainly a big blotch on his record and will do damage to his and the basketball program's reputation, but he will not be going anywhere.

[OldSchool]

Pitino told police he had been drinking at upscale restaurant Porcini and had consensual sex with Cunagin Sypher in August 2003 at a table near the bar.

WAITER: "We have a table near the bar available, sir."

ME: "Uh, eww, you know, um, I think we'd like the table near the kitchen..."

[OldSchool]

WAITER: "Are y'all ready to order?"

ME: "Is this a new menu? I never noticed the linguini with viagra sauce before..."

[OldSchool]

WOMAN SEATED NEAR THE BAR: Can I get a hot dog here?

COACH PITINO: With relish!

WOMAN: Hey, you’re not the waiter!

Ba-da-bing! Thanks folks, I’ll be here all week! Try the veal, it’s great!

[airowe]

The next morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFNSl4IFRfg

[dukejim1]

He elected to fight the blackmail money but now he must pay the wife. Which would have been less costly.

[AtlDuke72]

It's hard to think of Pitino and Calipari and not think of two carnival barkers doing their thing on the midway. Each with a snappy outfit, a line of chatter, and a boatload of promises to prospective buyers. Be wary, and hope the local sheriff is keeping an eye on things.

This post hits the nail on the head. If you heard Pitino's apology yesterday the story gets worse. He must have repeated that this occurred "6 years ago " about 6 times as if that somehow explains it away. Has he somehow matured or developed some moral compass in the last 6 years? He also claimed that he has "apologized to his wife and family every day for 6 years". Does anybody out there believe that? Finally, it is clear from the school president's comments that he could care less as long as the team keeps winning. A class operation that gets what it deserves.

[miramar]

WAITER: "We have a table near the bar available, sir."

ME: "Uh, eww, you know, um, I think we'd like the table near the kitchen..."

I'm wondering if Pitino didn't just ask for his usual table...

Now I understand why his wife doesn't like to live in Kentucky.

[Azdukefan]

The thing that I love the most about our program is that situations like this one are never an issue. We have a coach that places ethics above winning (I know he loves winning but loves doing the right thing more). While coach would probably agree that he has made his own mistakes in his life (who hasn't), watch a press conference after a Duke loss and you will see exactly why we are so lucky to have him leading our team.

Coach K>Any coach in the country!

[airowe]

What day do you think Pitino hated more?

Yesterday, or this day?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY-iq58_oz4

[OldSchool]

Extortion suspect: Pitino paid aide to marry her (http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2009-08-14/report-accuser-says-pitino-plotted-against-her)

Talk about taking one for the team!

Sypher now saying she believes the equipment manager was paid by Pitino to marry her as a way to shut her up.

This Sypher case is very puzzling and difficult to decode.

[gotham devil]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08142009/news/regionalnews/i_wanted_the_baby_but_rick_said_no_____i_184510.ht m?page=0

[airowe]

Wonder what this is about?

http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/08/26/pitino-holding-press-conference/

[BlueintheFace]

Pitino is Gone... if not now, soon.

[jimsumner]

I watched the press conference.

The main points.

Everybody is lying. Except Pitino.

The media knows this.

But the media keeps reporting what they know are lies.

These lies are hurtful.

The media should stop reporting these lies.

And the law enforcement agencies that are investigating she whose name shall not be mentioned would not be investigating her if she weren't lying.

And best of all, none of the law enforcement officials who have interviewed Pitino wanted to talk hoops with him. That demonstrates their seriousness.

Did I leave out anything?

[MChambers]

Maybe I'm revealing my age, but I'm wondering if he was channeling Nixon.

[BD80]

Truly pathetic performance.

"I have been told for too long to say nothing, I can't say nothing anymore, I have to say something. Every thing she said was a lie. Except the part I admitted was true. I will pay dearly for my mistake. I can't say anything else. It will all come out at trial"

"The press is to blame for all of this. You (the press) know everything she said was a lie. Except for the part I admitted. Yet you print the story anyway. The public shouldn't read such lies. The press shouldn't be bothering with such lies on a day when such a great man passes"

The irony in Pitino calling Kennedy a great man while facing the press regarding his booze driven infidelity and refusing to accept responsibility, instead hiding behind his influence and power ... some greater power with a phenomenal sense of humor had a hand in this. Although I doubt Mary Jo Kopechne's family finds it funny.

[DeepBlue70]

Haven't seen anyone post about this yet, but several days ago I read that Sypher's defense team was going to test a theory that she was mentally imbalanced as her defense. Now if you were Pitino, which would you rather fess up to and have roundly publicized, having sex with a bimbo or having sex with a crazy person? Ouch.

[NSDukeFan]

I watched the press conference.

The main points.

Everybody is lying. Except Pitino.

The media knows this.

But the media keeps reporting what they know are lies.

These lies are hurtful.

The media should stop reporting these lies.

And the law enforcement agencies that are investigating she whose name shall not be mentioned would not be investigating her if she weren't lying.

And best of all, none of the law enforcement officials who have interviewed Pitino wanted to talk hoops with him. That demonstrates their seriousness.

Did I leave out anything?

I believe you left out one key point.
This is not hurting recruiting one bit. They have been a top 10 team the past 2 years and will continue to be.

[jimsumner]

Thanks. I did leave out how this whole mess wasn't hurting recruiting. A key point I suppose.

I also omitted the references to Ted Kennedy, whose relevance to the whole thing eludes me.

I wasn't reminded of Nixon so much as Sarah Palin's resignation speech. Incoherent is the word I'm looking for.

[JasonEvans]

Palin, Nixon, and Kennedy--- lets keep this from getting off-topic folks!

-Jason

[jimsumner]

Jason,

Pitino brought up Kennedy. As I suggested, I have no idea why.

The Nixon and Palin references were, IMO, valid observations of Pitino's speech, paranoid at times, incoherent at times. Consider them reference points.

[gotham devil]

Jason,

Pitino brought up Kennedy. As I suggested, I have no idea why.

The Nixon and Palin references were, IMO, valid observations of Pitino's speech, paranoid at times, incoherent at times. Consider them reference points.

I believe the reason he brought up Ted Kennedy was to say that there were bigger stories going on today...and yet the Louisville stations had broken in with Rick Pitino/detective coverage.

Personally, I found the 9/11 references in his initial press conference to be self-serving and in very poor taste.

[dukemsu]

My impression was that the whole thing is just sad.

Perhaps the most image conscious member of a fraternity that is completely obsessed with maintaining image appeared to be indignant, incoherent, and most disturbingly, without much remorse.

The tone I saw was that of someone who got caught using the modern day "Let's forget what I did and move forward" nonsense. Pitino is permanently damaged, and I'd venture an opinion that in most other states of the union, he'd have been gone two weeks ago.

He never should have had the press conference. He certainly shouldn't have any additional ones. He's digging himself an even bigger hole-and it was deep already.

Again, these are just my impressions. But it appeared to me that a guy who has built his life on obsessive planning and calculation went to the microphone stand completely unprepared and made things far worse for himself.

dukemsu

[JasonEvans]

Jason,

Pitino brought up Kennedy. As I suggested, I have no idea why.

The Nixon and Palin references were, IMO, valid observations of Pitino's speech, paranoid at times, incoherent at times. Consider them reference points.

No sweat. I was just putting the warning out there nice and early ;)

As for Pitino bringing up Kennedy. It was Rick who decided to call the press conference for yesterday, and he called it late in the day after Kennedy was dead. If he felt covering Kennedy's death was so important, why not delay his press conference?

In essence we have Rick calling a press conference and then criticizing the press for covering it? Huh? This shows how far off the deep end he has gone.

--Jason "he needs to resign and fade into the sunset" Evans

[RockyMtDevil]

That was one of the most bizarre 6 minutes of anyone's life. I really question his sanity after watching that. That was scary weird. Beyond being a classic narcissist, it appears he is really struggling with reality. Serious, that was just weird.

[jimsumner]

The thing that I find most bizarre about this is the fact that Pitino called the press conference. He knew it would receive national attention. But it seemed like he had no earthly idea what he was going to say when he sat down in front of the microphones. If it's important enough to do, why wouldn't it be important enough for some preparation and forethought?

Without invoking the name of Duke-law-school-grad-whose-name-shall-not-be-mentioned, I half expected him to resign and tell the media they wouldn't have Rick Pitino to kick around anymore. :)

[BD80]

I believe you left out one key point.
This is not hurting recruiting one bit. They have been a top 10 team the past 2 years and will continue to be.

Why would he mention recruiting unless there was an issue?

It is almost like Pitino was pissed that Calipari was getting so much media attention for the Memphis fiasco that he wanted to get back in the public eye in this slow media period.

New ad for the restaurant, Tim Sypher with photo of Pitino, soundtrack of Meg Ryan's scene in "When Harry Met Sally"

"I had what he was having"

[airowe]

Why would he mention recruiting unless there was an issue?

It is almost like Pitino was pissed that Calipari was getting so much media attention for the Memphis fiasco that he wanted to get back in the public eye in this slow media period.

New ad for the restaurant, Tim Sypher with photo of Pitino, soundtrack of Meg Ryan's scene in "When Harry Met Sally"

"I had what he was having"

I didn't think you could serve cougar in restaurants in America?!?

[BD80]

I didn't think you could serve cougar in restaurants in America?!?

Heh, heh, heh.

And if Cougars are a type of wildcat, that means he ...

[A-Tex Devil]

I watched the press conference.

The main points.

Everybody is lying. Except Pitino.

The media knows this.

But the media keeps reporting what they know are lies.

These lies are hurtful.

The media should stop reporting these lies.

And the law enforcement agencies that are investigating she whose name shall not be mentioned would not be investigating her if she weren't lying.

And best of all, none of the law enforcement officials who have interviewed Pitino wanted to talk hoops with him. That demonstrates their seriousness.

Did I leave out anything?


Yeah -- the part where he told Louisville fans that if they ever cared about the Louisville program, they wouldn't watch the news or read the paper. Because, y'know, it's full of lies.

[jesus_hurley]

Yeah -- the part where he told Louisville fans that if they ever cared about the Louisville program, they wouldn't watch the news or read the paper. Because, y'know, it's full of lies.

Except for his press conference. That's the truth even though those lying media douches have to be there so the Louisville fans can read all about how they aren't supposed to listen to the media.

[Shammrog]

Why would he mention recruiting unless there was an issue?

It is almost like Pitino was pissed that Calipari was getting so much media attention for the Memphis fiasco that he wanted to get back in the public eye in this slow media period.

New ad for the restaurant, Tim Sypher with photo of Pitino, soundtrack of Meg Ryan's scene in "When Harry Met Sally"

"I had what he was having"

LMAO!!!

[sagegrouse]

Not that I have either been overly exposed to low-life behavior or led an overly sheltered life in my many decades on this orb, but I have one thing to say about Pitino, just based on the admitted facts:

"He gives adultery a bad name."

I mean, casual pickup in a public place in his home town, sex in a restaurant -- unprotected, and an aide standing by. For goodness sakes, Rick, show some class.

sagegrouse
'I have no objection to the deletion of this post'

[ReformedAggie]

I don't understand men. Do you really really think you can hide behaviour like this especially if someone can gain something from outting you? Do you really think you can be the head coach of a major program and not have someone notice you're doing something you shouldn't? Can we say camera phones in every pocket?

Can't pick up a paper (or log on the internet) without seeing a Pitino, Gosselin, that yahoo gov in whatever southern state, that yahoo gov in whatever northern state, and 900 other men looking like deer in the headlights because they got caught dogging around.

Whoever invented the "little blue pill" should have created one to give guys a reality check. 'Course he never would have sold any........

The sadness of this all is it affects not just him, not just his family, but all his players, the alumni, etc, etc. Thank God for Coach K who is the very definition of ethics and integrity.

[Indoor66]

I don't understand men. Do you really really think you can hide behaviour like this especially if someone can gain something from outting you? Do you really think you can be the head coach of a major program and not have someone notice you're doing something you shouldn't? Can we say camera phones in every pocket?

Can't pick up a paper (or log on the internet) without seeing a Pitino, Gosselin, that yahoo gov in whatever southern state, that yahoo gov in whatever northern state, and 900 other men looking like deer in the headlights because they got caught dogging around.

Whoever invented the "little blue pill" should have created one to give guys a reality check. 'Course he never would have sold any........

The sadness of this all is it affects not just him, not just his family, but all his players, the alumni, etc, etc. Thank God for Coach K who is the very definition of ethics and integrity.

Nicely said. Thanks. I agree with you.