Louisville News, Ray Mernagh

BELLY OF THE BE-AST: RICK PITINO EDITION

by RAY MERNAGH

Thanks to Andrew Wolfson of the Courier-Journal we now know some seedy details about the Rick Pitino/Karen Sypher situation. Details that up to this point had been kept under wraps. We know that Pitino and the woman charged with trying to extort him, Sypher, had sex in August of 2003. We know it happened in an almost empty Louisville restaurant called Porcini after closing time. We also know the couple met a few weeks later at the condo of Sypher’s future ex-husband, Louisville strength coach Tim Sypher, where Pitino gave Sypher $3,000 for an abortion.

We know these details because Pitino shared them with police who interviewed him following Sypher’s claims that Pitino had raped her. Pitino denies the charge and police have decided not to take any action because they’re having a hard time believing anything Sypher says. Most of us probably aren’t much interested in what this says about Sypher, who seems to be a lady with problems, and that’s not even counting being under indictment for extortion. But what does it say about Pitino besides the fact that Slick Rick is a bit of a Freak?

For one thing, his son Richard’s departure to Florida sure makes a whole lot more sense. I never bought the whole he needs to prove himself on his own reasoning that was being sold. Richard Pitino is one hell of an assistant coach and an even better recruiter. One guy he worked for, a head coach for almost 20 years now, told me “he was the best assistant I ever had, by far.” You think Rick Sr wanted his kid leaving after he’d worked so hard to open up a pipeline into cities like Indianapolis? More likely he knew things were going to get rough and got his kid out of harms way. No reason for young Richard to suffer any damage.

Because make no mistake, this has been a damaging two days for Pitino the elder.

How damaging?

Forget about things like legacy and reputation — those are already irreparably tarnished. Is there any doubt these revelations could threaten Pitino’s job at Louisville?

AD Tom Jurich sounded positive in a statement he released Tuesday saying, “Coach Pitino has been truthful with us about this matter all along and we stand by him and his family during this process.” But that’s the funny thing about higher education. There’s almost always a boss above your boss. In this case, the boss of all bosses at the ‘Ville, University President James Ramsey, released his own statement Tuesday night. Here’s what it said: “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. My thoughts are with Coach Pitino and his family.”

The key word in that statement would be surprising folks. Maybe surprised that his 57-year-old- married- multi-millionaire coach had random sex with a random woman in a restaurant six years ago. Surprised that the same coach gave the same woman $3,000 in cash for an abortion. And ultimately, surprised that a man as powerful and smart as Pitino could risk everything by acting so stupidly.

Another thing that makes more sense now is hiring Ralph Willard as an assistant. You think maybe Willard left a solid program he’d built — albeit in a low-major league –because he had an inkling that maybe he’d get another crack at the big time? It’s probably still hard for Willard to swallow how badly his last chance ended at Pitt. Then again, maybe Willard was being truthful when he claimed he couldn’t turn down the chance to help a friend out.

If it’s true then Willard picked the perfect summer to move to Louisville.

Because Lord knows if there’s one thing Pitino needs more than anything right now, it’s a good friend.