11/05/24
August 12, 2009
Louisville Basketball Coach Had Sex with Extortionist: University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino told police he had sex in 2003 with Karen Sypher, a woman who was arrested earlier this year on charges of trying to extort money from him. He later paid her $3,000 to have an abortion. After her indictment, Sypher accused Pitino of raping her, but no charges are being pursued against him because her claims were not credible, according to prosecutors.
posted by texpat to basketball at 08:37 AM - 21 comments
I wonder how the news Pitino paid for an abortion will go over in a conservative southern state like Kentucky.
posted by rcade at 09:36 AM on August 12, 2009
Some college coaches have been fired for far less than this sort of thing, but it looks like UL is standing by him. (Not a judgment, just an observation.) You'd think these high-profile people would learn from the mistakes of others regarding having sex with relative strangers, but alas, they don't. It's a bit more troublesome in this case given that Pitino is a coach, and should in theory be a more of a role model for the kids he's coaching.
Not that I support the case of the woman trying to extort him, but Pitino has gotten himself in some trouble that might go beyond the courtroom. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
posted by TheQatarian at 09:44 AM on August 12, 2009
the wife of his equipment manager
She wasn't married at the time, and didn't even know the equipment manager.
posted by inigo2 at 09:48 AM on August 12, 2009
Thanks for the correction, Inigo. I've updated the link again. Sigh.
posted by rcade at 09:49 AM on August 12, 2009
Does it really cost $3,000 to have an abortion in Kentucky? The most I ever heard for an abortion here in New Jersey is about $300.
posted by BornIcon at 10:01 AM on August 12, 2009
thanx, rcade
posted by texpat at 01:22 PM on August 12, 2009
Does it really cost $3,000 to have an abortion in Kentucky? The most I ever heard for an abortion here in New Jersey is about $300.
$2,700 ill-spent hush money?
posted by inigo2 at 01:45 PM on August 12, 2009
$2,700 ill-spent hush money?
Nice! I don't believe that was enough for her though, hence the extortion.
posted by BornIcon at 01:53 PM on August 12, 2009
Louisville Basketball Coach Had Sex with Extortionist
Side note -- I can't be the only one that keeps misreading and seeing the word "Contortionist", can I?
posted by inigo2 at 02:43 PM on August 12, 2009
If Pitino keeps his job, to echo what rcade said up top, he's fortunate to be coaching in the Big East instead of the SEC.
Still, there will be some interesting sights and sounds at some of the Louisville away games this year.
I'm sure the Syracuse pep band has charts for "Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Me and Mrs. Jones". Not to mention "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".
If I'm Rick, it ain't a court hearing or public opinion I would be most worried about. You've seen Mrs. Pitino - you want to get her pissed off? Not me. She looks like a tough cookie. And her speed dial is full of lifelong New York and Jersey girlfriends. He'll need the best cup he can buy and the ability to self-administer first aid. And a hot line number for people affected by verbally induced emotional trauma.
posted by beaverboard at 02:46 PM on August 12, 2009
What do I do Coach....Hey Coach?
"Drive to the hoop, get inside and draw the foul"
Thanx Coach!
posted by irunfromclones at 02:51 PM on August 12, 2009
It sounds like Porcini's is the place to hang out if you got some bread to spread (snicker) around. I like bars and restaurants that hand you the keys and leave while members (hehe) of your staff (snort) sleep it off and you give the full court press to some dame.
In further news, thanks to the wrath of Mrs. Pitino, Coach Pitino can expect to mow his ass every week or two for the next couple of years. Or until the divorce settlement can come through.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:43 PM on August 12, 2009
Cool, I've always wondered about sex with a contortionist. Oops, my mistake.
posted by dander10 at 01:31 AM on August 13, 2009
Sounds like my dream of him returning to PC is out.
posted by yerfatma at 08:01 AM on August 13, 2009
It appears that this is becoming the Perfect Storm for Religious Rick, quoting Will Graves an AP sports writer and shit stirrer:
Pitino is a devout Roman Catholic who does little to hide his faith. Longtime friend and adviser Father Edward Bradley is a fixture near the Louisville bench and often leads the team in pregame prayer.
The fallout from having been involved even indirectly in an abortion could be difficult for Pitino to overcome in heavily Catholic Louisville.
Pitino signed a three-year contract extension in 2007 that would keep him on the sideline until 2013. The contract includes a pair of hefty loyalty bonuses, though now it's unclear if Pitino will be around to collect them.
The contract includes several provisions that give the university grounds to fire Pitino for just cause for conduct that reflects poorly on the school.
The contract lists as possible causes for termination: "Employee's dishonesty with Employer or University; or acts of moral depravity," as well as "disparaging media publicity of a material nature that damages the good name and reputation of Employer or University."
posted by irunfromclones at 01:16 PM on August 13, 2009
A coach once had sex with a contortionist
And then had to pay an abortionist.
He kept it quite hushed,
But his hopes were crushed
When she turned out to be an extortionist.
Thanks for the inspiration, inigo2.
posted by Howard_T at 02:37 PM on August 13, 2009
LOL.
posted by rcade at 02:42 PM on August 13, 2009
Solid work. (You and Pitino.)
posted by inigo2 at 03:22 PM on August 13, 2009
That's great, Howard_T.
posted by bperk at 03:38 PM on August 13, 2009
Pretty good Howard, thanks for making coffee spill out of my nose.
posted by BornIcon at 09:26 AM on August 14, 2009
I updated the story with more details.