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!