Louisville's Pitino not so hot anymore

Rick Pitino (Photo AP/ Al Behrman)

Unless you’ve been living at the bottom of a well someplace in Wyoming, you’ve doubtless heard the sordid tale of the University of Louisville’s basketball coach, Rick Pitino, and his post-prandial tryst at Porcini’s restaurant. The smarmy details have been spread all over the front page of our local newspaper, and the evening news provides us with new and more salacious information almost on a daily basis.

Because of all this over-exposure, we here at the Louisville City Hall Examiner have passed on any temptation to comment upon this farrago of foolishness. After all, the story of a championship b-ball coach being accused of rape by a woman who has just been indicted in federal court for extortion is fare for supermarket tabloids; not the paragon of journalistic excellence to which examiner.com humbly aspires.

Mrs. Karen Sypher (Photo AP/ Ed Reinke)

Nevertheless, events have developed this week which make commenting upon l’Affaire Pitino just too tempting to resist. For the past several years, motivational speaker Zig Ziglar has appeared in Louisville with his entourage of celebrities, sharing their self-help wisdom with large and evidently satisfied crowds. For the past month or so, Ziglar has been running full-page advertisements in the local newspaper, drumming up customers for his Get Motivated! business seminar, planned for September 29, at Louisville’s Freedom Hall.

Ziglar’s original ad featured photographs and short biographical sketches of his team of motivational speakers, including former first lady Laura Bush, former secretary of state Colin Powell, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, sales expert Tamara Lowe, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, minister Dr. Robert Schuller, and Louisville’s own (by adoption) coach Rick Pitino.

Originally, the Ziglar ad referred to Pitino as the "hottest basketball coach in America." But, days after the Karen Sypher / Rick Pitino / Porcini Restaurant imbroglio surfaced, the caption under Pitino’s photo was changed to "Louisville head basketball coach." And, in the bio sketch, the term "hottest coach" was cooled down to "most accomplished."

(Photo AP/ Al Behrman)

The old ad promised that Pitino would discuss "how to develop the passion and resilience of champions." This was modified to a more dispassionate speech topic on the "resilience of champions."

But, sadly, today’s Ziglar ad in the Courier-Journal omits coach Pitino altogether. Whether or not he will appear to speak at next month’s business seminar remains to be seen. Seminar participants are doubtless in breathless anticipation, awaiting Pitino’s scheduled talks on “Principles for Stellar Performance,” “Achieving Success Despite Adversity,” and “How to Turn Your Setbacks into Comebacks.” None can gainsay his expertise in these areas.

And, while awaiting his turn at the podium, coach Pitino could perhaps benefit from listening to some of the planned motivational talks by the other thoroughbreds in Ziglar’s stable:

Terry Bradshaw will be discussing “How to Score Big and Score Often.”

Tamara Lowe will be talking about “Negotiation.”

Rudy Giuliani promises to give his views on “Perseverance.”

Zig Ziglar will be giving pointers on “How to Get Everything You Want,” “Relationships Secrets that are Vital to Your Success,” and “How to Change Your Life with an Attitude of Gratitude.”

Finally, one certainly hopes coach Pitino sticks around to hear the reverend Dr. Robert Schuller’s presentation of “Assessing Good and Bad Ideas-It's not as Obvious as You Think.”  Indeed.

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