U of L's basketball coach, Rick Pitino - what a sordid mess

[Deb in IA]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32381135/ns/sports-college_basketball/

John Edwards, Elliott Spitzer, Mark Sanford, now Rick Pitino . . . when will these guys learn not to go where they shoudn't?

 

[madge]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32381135/ns/sports-college_basketball/

John Edwards, Elliott Spitzer, Mark Sanford, now Rick Pitino . . . when will these guys learn not to go where they shoudn't?

they think they're untouchable.

 

[Missy1961]

Just makes me shake my head.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Pitino has been messing around on his wife for YEARS.

Nothing surprises me. Like to know what restaurant it was that he hooked up in though. So I can avoid it.

Bet it wasn't the Denny's down by campus though

 

[Deb in IA]

Pitino has been messing around on his wife for YEARS.

Nothing surprises me. Like to know what restaurant it was that he hooked up in though. So I can avoid it.

Bet it wasn't the Denny's down by campus though

The article says it is called "Porcini".

Although I grew up in Clarksville, I haven't been in the Louisville area much in recent times, and have never heard of this place. Do you know it?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I remember him from his Providence College days.

From that article:

According to the reports, Pitino suggested the two meet at the condo of the team’s equipment manager, Tim Sypher. She alleges the second assault took place at the condo. Karen Sypher, who later married Tim Sypher, first met the manager that day.

So, the team's equipment manager allegedly lets them meet up there, and then he ends up marrying her?? ("So Daddy, how'd you meet mom?" "Well, dear"...he says proudly..."I met her at my condo, when she came to have sex with Rick Pitino, the coach who led several teams to the Final Four." ) And she claims that the second assault took place there? After you've been allegedly raped by someone, do you meet up with him again at someone's condo?

Not saying he's not guilty of something...like adultery...but rape? I don't think so.

 

[Deb in IA]

Exactly, Mare.

Pitino's actions are disgusting enough - having sex with someone within a few hours of meeting her, and paying for her abortion. Here he is, a good Catholic boy, married, with 5 kids.

I feel sorry for his wife. I remember Pitino portraying himself as a grieving brother-in-law, after she lost her brother in the World Trade Towers on 9/11. She has had a lot of sadness in her life, it seems.

But this Sypher woman is nuts. Why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would you go back and meet a guy who just raped you? Her story is just not credible.

 

[Missy1961]

He really should be fired, but he probably won't be--and that really drives me crazy. If he was some no-name assistant, he'd be tossed out with the garbarge, but because he's been to some Final Fours, he gets to keep his job.

 

[Deb in IA]

I agree, Missy. Great example for the young men on his team - NOT!

Is there much talk around town about getting rid of him? I can only imagine the fun the UK fans are having with this . . .

 

[Deb in IA]

Interesting.

This article http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4394257
says that Pitino's contract includes "dishonesty and moral depravity" as grouds for firing.

But it sounds like the AD is supporting him.

 

[Missy1961]

Interesting.

This article http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4394257
says that Pitino's contract includes "dishonesty and moral depravity" as grouds for firing.

But it sounds like the AD is supporting him.

Yeah, I heard that--and that's why I think he should be fired. No matter what, he is guilty of adultery. And that's dishonest at the very least.

 

[bimshire]

Things may have been a little bland and too familar at home so he just wanted a little excitement. Too bad she turned out to be nut.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Yeah, I heard that--and that's why I think he should be fired. No matter what, he is guilty of adultery. And that's dishonest at the very least.

Dishonest to whom...his wife? Can you fire someone for being dishonest to anyone? Seems like a stretch.

The article said new details were coming out, which the UL president didn't know before. But, they're coming from this other woman. And is dishonesty not offering up personal information, or just lying about it when asked?

I don't really see why a coach, esp at the college level, should be fired for cheating on his wife. If it was with a student, or there were some other extenuating circumstance, it might be a different story. But these "kids" are in college...big boys and girls...not impressionable children. He may not be a perfect role model, but it doesn't strike me as a reason to fire someone.

 

[minniecarousel]

We wouldn't necessarily be fired for cheating on his wife, but he could be fired for lying to his bosses. There is also a "morals" clause that he may have violated.

 

[diznygirl]

Dishonest to whom...his wife? Can you fire someone for being dishonest to anyone? Seems like a stretch.

The article said new details were coming out, which the UL president didn't know before. But, they're coming from this other woman. And is dishonesty not offering up personal information, or just lying about it when asked?

I don't really see why a coach, esp at the college level, should be fired for cheating on his wife. If it was with a student, or there were some other extenuating circumstance, it might be a different story. But these "kids" are in college...big boys and girls...not impressionable children. He may not be a perfect role model, but it doesn't strike me as a reason to fire someone.

Because it makes it hard to recruit players when he's sitting at the dinner table trying to convince mom and dad that he will take good care of their little boy.

For that reason alone - and not for any morals clause - the athletic department could probably work out a deal for him to resign.

 

[madge]

Pitino has been messing around on his wife for YEARS.

does Joanne even live in Louisville these days? It is my understanding she spends a lot of time in New York.

 

[kpm76]

Exactly, Mare.

Pitino's actions are disgusting enough - having sex with someone within a few hours of meeting her, and paying for her abortion. Here he is, a good Catholic boy, married, with 5 kids.

I feel sorry for his wife. I remember Pitino portraying himself as a grieving brother-in-law, after she lost her brother in the World Trade Towers on 9/11. She has had a lot of sadness in her life, it seems.

But this Sypher woman is nuts. Why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would you go back and meet a guy who just raped you? Her story is just not credible.

I am so disappointed with Pitino. I really thought a lot of him. I graduated from Providence College (after he coached there) and he was always well respected, particularly since he brought the team to the Final Four. He and his wife lost a son while he was at PC. He always said that he would never forget the kindness the PC community showed his family during the tragic time. Consequently, when PC was building an on campus chapel a few years ago, Pitino made a significant contribution and in turn PC names the campus ministry center after him......not sure what all of that will mean now. It's such a let down......I really admired him.....

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

His ego knows no equal. What a jerk.

As for being fired - not sure if adultery can get you fired unless you do it at work.

This could hurt recruiting. I know that I wouldn't let my son play for a man like this...

 

[asta]

Paying for the woman to have an abortion may cause him more problems than committing adultery.

 

[gvillemama]

I am a Louisville fan...have been all my life...will be the rest of it. I absolutely find what Coach Pitino did inexcusable and disgusting...you don't cheat on your wife. Period. But does that make me not want him to be my coach? Absolutely not. Forcing him to resign or firing him would set this program back years...maybe even a decade.

Do I think less of him as a person? Heck yes. But I do know that he does a lot of good things in communities around the state. Does that make up for this? Probably not, but maybe this happening will make him focus on this family more.

And as for her telling him she was pregnant 2 weeks after they had sex, kinda a stretch. I know it's possible, but probably pretty unlikely.