University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino (AP Photo)
University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino -- who is married with five children -- has been all over headlines the past few months for his alleged sexual encounters with Karen Sypher, who is now married to the team's equipment manager. She claims he raped her, he claims she is trying to extort money from him.
Pitino admitted to police that he had consensual sex with Sypher on the floor of a Louisville restaurant (after closing time) and that he later paid her $3000 to have an abortion, according to Louisville Metro Police reports obtained by the Courier-Journal under the Kentucky Open Records Act. But he denied her accusation that he raped her there and again on a later date at a different location. Prosecutors are saying he won't be charged with a criminal offense. (She is being charged with attempted extortion.)
But Pitino could be in big trouble anyway. His contract with the university has a morals clause which allows him to be fired for acts of “moral depravity” or for being dishonest with the university. Do Kentuckians believe adultery + abortion = moral depravity? Should he be fired?
That's a tough one. Kentucky is a conservative state but it loves basketball.
As a collegiate head coach, Pitino has a career 521–191 record, for a .732 winning percentage. In the 2005 season, he lead Louisville to its first Final Four in 19 years. In the 2009 season, the Cardinals team finished #1 in the final regular season AP and coaches' polls, won the Big East regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Elite Eight.
So, what do you think? Has he crossed the morality line with his behavior and headlines? Or does his success on the court matter more than his behavior off of it? Should the university fire him?
You tell us:
Comments
Actually, he should resign. Larry Eustachy resigned as head men's basketball coach at Iowa State in the same year (2003) for a lot less.
Of course this rapscallion should be sacked! Parents send their children to college knowing that their sons (in this case) will be mentored by an upstanding, conservative, Catholic coach with five progeny of his own! This guy is arrogant and incredulous in his false atonement! By the way - what's so wrong with this skank trying to get some shakedown dough for her "lifestyle" and kiddies? Ha!
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