Does it seem to you like Karen Sypher is making random decisions about which media outlet to talk to every time she’s handed a setback in her case? Or maybe she’s rewarding some media outlets and punishing others.
Yesterday afternoon, when Commonwealth Attorney Dave Stengel released his decision that her criminal complaint against Rick Pitino had no merit, she made separate decisions regarding how to handle the news publicly.
According to WLKY-TV’s Eric King, he was the one who informed her of Stengel’s decision by phone. But she wouldn’t go on camera for WLKY, which got its exclusive interview last week when she split with her attorney. So WLKY used that footage yesterday. She told King she was furious with Stengel’s office.
It was jackpot day for WDRB-TV’s Bennett Haeberle, who got the only fresh on-camera interview with Sypher reacting to the news, and the station gave it the whole “Only on Fox” treatment. There was some news in the story, outside of how upset she is, in that Heaberle reported that her new criminal attorney will probably be appointed by the court. In other words, she’s broke, and no sensible lawyer would take her case.
Maybe Fox41 has an advantage in the story, since it first taped an interview with her at the station. Fox41, and other media outlets, continue their refusal to air Sypher’s charges.
WAVE-TV’s Marisela Burgos got Sypher on the phone, but she wouldn’t go on camera. Sypher said Stengel needed to do more investigating, but that his response was expected. Again, the truth will come out in the end.
And then there’s poor WHAS-TV, which got nothing. Melanie Kahn’s story said Sypher couldn’t be reached for comment. However, the station used exclusive video from Sypher’s first appearance at police HQ, and Kahn went to a restaurant and got man-on-the-street interviews. Maybe Sypher was punishing the station for doing that story about the embarrassing Sugardaddie.com profile that she said was the work of her kids. We suspect that the story may have pushed Thomas Clay, her former attorney, over the edge, leading him to fire his high-profile client.
And the Courier is apparently not on Sypher’s most-favored media list either. Andy Wolfson’s story claims her cell phone’s disconnected and that he was unable to reach her for comment.
Expect the next piece of news to be the announcement that some poor schmuck has been appointed by the courts as her new lawyer. We’ll see who she chooses to bless with an interview when that happens.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Punditarod // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:07 am
It appears obvious from a distance that Ms. Sypher’s circuits aren’t all connected, and some of the ones that are seem to be shorting out. But I’m wondering if the other party in the situation were someone less famous and powerful in the community than Rick Pitino, wouldn’t at least one of the news organizations privy to her claims have revealed them?
2 Louisvilleobserver // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:34 am
Punditarod…
Doubtful anyone would air baseless rumors about any member of the community for fear of being sued…Pitino or otherwise.
3 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:58 am
If Pitino were Joe-citizen, it wouldn’t be a news story. Why should anyone’s reputation be damaged by claims that to date, has been found by everyone, except her children, to have absolutely no merit.
Punditarod, how would you like some woman go to the press and your employer with accusations that you traded in kiddy porn or molested children, with no supporting evidence? There is no way to get your reputation back once it’s made public.
The media will jump on the story as soon as there is a single shred of evidence to support her claims.
4 Cantinflas // Jul 16, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Whack Job.
5 bill // Jul 16, 2009 at 1:18 pm
She IS a whack job, but if Pitino would have kept it in his pants, I really doubt that any of this would be going on now, I have no doubt that Pition tapped that at least once.
6 Punditarod // Jul 16, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I didn’t mean to imply the claims should have been publicized. Just wondering if they might have been if made against a less powerful, less charismatic public figure?
7 Chuck // Jul 16, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The problem here is he very well may have brought this mess on himself as well. I’m not sure what it is with guys in political power or in some power job that they end up having some sort of encounter or affair with someone who they are not married to. What this is, is an affair and it doesn’t excuse anyone for that behavior.
That being said, this woman is definitely confused beyond belief or being deceptive. Either way, she would be better off just stating her case at the trial and let it all come out there. Would be smarter anyway.
As far as the local media goes, they are the most idiotic people around to consistently follow everyone around involved with this case. Its like no one sees that Jerry is robbing the city blind but everyone is worried about this tryst between two adults involving an extortion attempt.
8 slim // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I’ve been told that she’s interviewed most of the top criminal lawyers in town, promising them that the publicity will compensate for the lack of compensation. Turned down by all.
She’ll have the federal pd’s office by next week.
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