Rick Pitino should step down as coach of the Louisville Cardinals for disgracing them and 'Big Blue Nation'Never in a million years Rick Pitino. The coach who rebuilt a Kentucky Wildcat basketball program in shambles after years of controversy. The man who led them to the 1996 National Championship and 1997 Runner-up in the NCAA Tournament. The man who failed at the NBA level only to come back to coach Louisville and revive their struggling program. The man who we now know lied to everyone about his character and who he really was.
To say I am in shock is an understatement. One of the greatest coaches in all of college basketball has now been found to have had consensual sex with a waitress in a restaurant and then paid her $3,000 to get an abortion when she found out she was pregnant. This woman, Karen Sypher, then tried to extort more money out of Pitino which led to the FBI investigation arresting her for extortion.
Sypher is definitely in the wrong when she tried to extort $10 million dollars or else she would tell the media and Pitino's wife. But the fact that Pitino A) Committed Adultery and B) Ended the life of a child for his "convenience" really doesn't bode well when it comes to respect and character. Both of those have now crumbled.
What does Pitino need to do? Well, according to Pat Forde of ESPN "Nothing. He hasn't violated anything NCAA wise so he should be fine to continue coaching." OK Pat. Guess we should forget about all the trouble he has caused Louisville since early this year when the extortion plot came to light. Pitino is a distraction to the school and his players. He is a liability now as well as some nut could try something drastic that would make this situation much worse than it really is. He needs to step down as coach and go into hiding for a while.
"Big Blue Nation" is stunned by this news. Growing up on Big Blue Basketball, I remember every year. The way Pitino took this program and brought it back to prominence. When he stepped away after the 1997 National Championship loss, I was devastated. Who was going to fill his shoes? Tubby Smith did the job and won the 1998 title. On the outside, Pitino looked like the typical Italian in fine suits, having a loving family and was a devoted Catholic. Now that this story is out there, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't a Catholic for much longer.
As the world turns, we will find out more about this story. But in my heart of hearts as a die hard Big Blue fan, I have to say that I have lost every ounce of respect I ever had for him. As Forrest Gump said "That is all I have to say about that."
UPDATE 8/13: Rick Pitino read a statement last night clarifying he did not pay for an abortion, just medical coverage for Sypher. He apologized to everyone and his family and said he hopes to continue coaching Louisville as long as they want him.
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