Rick Pitino testifies Sypher seduced him

Basketball coach Rick Pitino testifies

Former Providence College Coach Rick Pitino took the stand Wednesday telling jurors that the woman accused of demanding millions from him seduced him by initiating sex by whispering to him and unzipping his pants in an empty Italian restaurant. Pitino testified that he met Karen Cunagin Sypher on July 31, 2003, at the restaurant where he'd gone following a golf outing.

Pitino, who's married, said he bought Sypher a drink and the two exchanged small talk after the restaurant closed. When he got up to leave, Pitino told jurors how Sypher seduced him, when she whispered something, opened his pants and the two then had sex "very briefly." "Unfortunate things happen," Pitino said.

Sypher is charged with extortion, asking for cash, cars and a house to stay quiet about the sexual liaison. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming Pitino sexually assaulted her. Police and prosecutors have said her assault claim lacked merit. Karen is in the process of divorcing Tim Sypher the couple have a 5-year-old daughter together.

A packed federal courtroom watched Rick Pitino's testimony. Sypher, sitting a few feet away at the defense table, appeared unfazed as Pitino testified how Sypher seduced him.

AP Photo by Darron Cummings A Kentucky woman, Karen Sypher, allegedly tried to extort more than $10 million from Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino after the two had a sexual encounter in 2003. The trial against Sypher began Monday.