Early reactions to the Rick Pitino bombshell

Here are some of the blog posts today regarding the news about University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino having had an intimate encounter with Karen Sypher, resulting in a pregnancy which Pitino paid to terminate; rest assured that this is the tip of the iceberg.

In particular, I’m looking forward to what ESPN’s Pat Forde (a Pitino friend who co-wrote a book with him a couple of years back) has to say on the matter:

Pitino Bombshell Confirms What Everybody Knew (The ‘Ville Voice)

There is no bigger story. Ever.

This is the news Sypher was using in her extortion attempt against Pitino — it’s the accusation local media’s been keeping secret even though Sypher was willing to talk about it to anyone who would listen. The most credible rumor — about Pitino paying for Sypher to get the abortion in Cincinnati — is true.

So here comes the reaction, headed by the questionable one from Pitino’s boss, Dr. James Ramsey, who said his thoughts were with the Pitino family.  As if some tragic event had occurred, a quote more appropriate for the death of a loved one.

Pitino has a morals clause in his contract. It addresses this sort of thing. U of L has cause to fire him. But the question comes down to how public opinion will come down on Pitino and whether he’ll be able to continue in his job as the Louisville basketball coach.

Even John Calipari Thinks This Is Sleazy (The Buzz)

If the game of life were a pinball machine, abortion would be a flashing tilt sign. All of the sudden, we’ve stepped in the religious/political world where the issue is routinely used to wedge the electorate. Ain’t nothing Pitino, or anyone for that matter, can say to change the way people feel about it. This story has all sorts of weird stuff, from getting it on in a restaurant to Pitino’s assistant marrying her 6 months later. The word “abortion” is the shiny object. Will he survive the backlash?

Let’s All Watch The Media Fumble Helplessly On The Pitino Story (Deadspin)

This was a tough one for the media. There have been so many rumors flying around that we felt like we knew all of this before it got confirmed last night.

So now that we do, why is it the abortion aspect of this story that's jumping out at people? It's the one part of this story that's a real surprise. We're accustomed to our athletes cheating on their wives. It's nothing new to see them accused of rape. And, almost as often, we see the cases against them fall apart.

But abortion's a new one. I can't remember a single story where it played a major role, and make no mistake, Kentucky's a part of the country where this is a BIG deal to many people. It's a novelty to sportswriters, and one they're not entirely prepared to deal with. So in the days and weeks ahead, expect to see that dominating the ledes even though, not coincidentally, it's the one part of this that Pitino least wanted to get out.

Keeping Louisville Weird (Card Game)

Lots of people doing weird things in connection with the Rick Pitino-Karen Sypher affair. An unpredictable mix of local luminaries and loonies caught up in the soap opera, sometimes making it difficult to identify the good guys from the bad one day to the next.

The release of the police interview with Pitino confirms what many wanted to deny, that it was indeed a sex scandal, and it will continue to tarnish and embarrass anyone even remotely involved.

The observer doesn’t believe this is the scenario the Keep Louisville Weird promoters had in mind when they launched the marketing program.

Comments

[Jignasa]

Why are you still fighting on a Kentucky site. Do you rlaziee that Indiana JUST CAME OFF PROBATION? And let's hear your excse for Tom Crean hiring not one but two AAU coaches as assistant coaches for IU? Mark Adam's son delivered four payers including Cody Zeller to the Hoosiers and Kenny Johnson was hired to deliver two players. Looks like Crean plays in the gray area as well . and how was A-Hope a manufactured story? Let's talk when the NCAA Clearinghouse gets done with Hanner. And the rest of your recruits. Guarantee not all of them will make it to campus