There is no bigger story. Ever.
If you just woke up, last night the Courier-Journal broke the big story — Rick Pitino admitted to police that he had consensual sex once (ONCE) in August 2003 in a bathroom at Porcini’s, then paid her three grand to get an abortion.
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.
The story immediately vaulted to the top of local newscasts and went national within minutes. It’s a big deal on SportsCenter, and there’s a detailed piece at SI.com.
And it breaks only after Pitino’s interview with police is made public. No media outlet was willing to air Sypher’s story on its own, based on her words. The story is that one witness, Pitino’s assistant Vinny Tatum, was at the restaurant when the sexual act occurred, and he gave a priceless quote to the FBI about what he heard: “…only the sounds of two people that seemed to be enjoying themselves during a sexual encounter.”
When you’re Rick Pitino, it must be expected that the owner of the restaurant gives you the keys and says to close up when you’re done. Expect the Frankfort Ave. eatery to become a tourist attraction.
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.
Then there’s Steve Pence, Pitino’s lawyer, who tried to deflect attention by saying it’s not about Pitino, but about Sypher. He pointed to other facts — mainly that Sypher’s rape allegations weren’t taken seriously by police. Tom Jurich called in a quote of support.
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.
Interestingly, the C-J isn’t allowing public comments on its story. We are.
67 responses so far ↓
1 vestigium // Aug 12, 2009 at 6:49 am
Steve Pence’s comments are interesting particularly given his laudable stance during the Fletcher fiasco. Pitino did “nothing illegal.” That appears to be absolutely the case, but I wonder how the morals clause reads?
2 Crutnacker // Aug 12, 2009 at 6:53 am
Thoughts are with the family? What’s wrong with that? You’ve got a guy who (I’m guessing) has done this more than once (ONCE), and probably the entire family knows. I’m guessing that was the price of being his wife and child. I’ve got to imagine that this becoming even more public, and worse with someone like Sypher is an ordeal for the family.
That said, one has to wonder if the $3,000 for the abortion wasn’t ground zero of the extortion plan.
As for his “morals” clause, rumors have been dogging Rick for years about affairs, including the one everyone seems to know about a certain local business person. There have also been rumors about problems with alcohol and other issues. I’m guessing that if a restaurant owner willingly tosses Rick the keys to the place to lock up, that perhaps Rick has done this thing more than once.
My guess is that Rick is done. The affair would be okay. Saying he was willing to pay for an abortion is what will force him out. That simply won’t fly in Louisville.
3 JasonL // Aug 12, 2009 at 7:46 am
He should have won the NCAA championship. That would have guaranteed his job. I’m not going to cry for a multimillionaire. This is the stuff of afternoon soaps or Maury.
4 Bobbie // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:06 am
I agree with JasonL. What a soap opera! Why can’t these guys figure it out before it costs them sooo much! Sad, but my guess is he is out of the Ville!
5 Lepus // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:23 am
I think Rick is giving a perfect example for his players, actually, he is probably taking a cue from them. Don’t want the baby? Pay for the abortion. I wonder how many possible NCAA fetus’s have been aborted just by UL basketball player dollars alone? Three thousand dollars seems kind of pricey in my mind, but sometimes you got to pay crazy tax.
6 Cantinflas // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:36 am
If I owned the restaurant I’d change the name to PORKini!
7 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:49 am
He should do the right thing and resign. He has enough stashed back to live out his next 30 years or so. Hard to tell what his family knows prior to all this.
As far as the local business person, I’ve heard it for quite some time as well. I don’t see the attraction there from his standpoint but then again money does strange things. Personally, I wouldn’t be involved with that for one reason and that is appearance. Just not that attractive.
So it looks like Stifflers Mom got the best of him. Extortion is a pretty serious charge and even if she is convicted one has to wonder if it was really worth it to him. The best thing would have been to tell her off but now he’s dealing with a reputation now. At least before this whole media debacle, he at least could have pushed the thing under the rug. When stuff gets to be public record, well its out there forever.
8 jake // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:51 am
A couple points…
Pitino & Coury are long-time friends. It’s not rare for Pitino to close up the restaurant.
The sex romp didn’t happen in a restroom, but out in the open of the restaurant.
And all I’m saying is that this kills my chance to release the sex tape of Rick Pitino humping us at Porcini and then paying for our abortion. What a farce. That Sypher lady ruins everything.
9 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:53 am
I hope that dinner at Porkinis was good enough because its going to be an expensive lesson.
10 Marla Singer // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:53 am
Rick Pitino, I want to have your abortion.
11 Lepus // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:02 am
My abortion is smarter than your U of L Basketball Player
12 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:08 am
Now since there was a verified sex act in a local restaurant. I wonder if they will be doing a makeover of the facility. Or will the seat or bench in the booth get replaced and sold for charity. What amazes me is that we also have a case where two people were doing things in that restaurant. Isn’t that a bit nasty too.
13 Dennis // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:10 am
I thought the Clam sauce tasted a little odd.
14 vestigium // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:20 am
Excellent Dennis…so much to like about that…Clam, Clam Sauce, etc.
15 Steve // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:22 am
This episode reminds me of the whole Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, when many said a little extree-marital fling didn’t matter much, that the prexy could still do the job despite dissing Hillary.
This proves that it does matter, that people still believe you should honor your marriage, that if you can’t do that, what else are you honorable for?
Pitino still might be able to coach as well as ever, but he’ll never have the same level of respect he once enjoyed from his fans. That’s gone, and his job may be, too.
And to all who’ve seen, known, worked with and maybe even been pursued by the Sypher type before … she’s a living stereotype. She looks and lives the part. Abandon all hope ye who fraternize with such trollops.
16 David Harpe // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:23 am
“[Vinnie] Tatum told the FBI that he had lain down and couldn’t see what happened but that he heard what sounded like consensual sex, Abbott wrote in a report.”
This is the part that cracks me up. Vinnie is just crashed out on the floor nearby while Pitino gets his groove on? Hilarious. “Yo Rick! Wanna keep it down? Tryin’ to sleep over here!”
17 Adrian Zmed // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:28 am
Lay that pipe, Rick!!!
18 Caesar // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:33 am
You would think a man his age would know that unprotected sex leads to pregnancy.
Fire the baby killer.
19 Mark C. H. // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:47 am
COME ON COACH. MIX IN A RUBBER EVERY NOW AND THEN!!!
20 KYGUY // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:55 am
just want to see if you will put my post up no one else will.How do you think other schools are gonna react when pitino takes his team on the road,flying fetuses everywhere
21 KYGuy // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:05 am
Just want to point out that the KYGUY (all caps) who just posted here is not me, the one who has posted regularly here for months.
Oh, would someone fill us in on who this “business” person is who everyone seems to know about? Let us in on the info.
22 Gordo // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:09 am
Will this change the health code letter to “X” or maybe “XXX”?
23 lou // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:17 am
I guess the White Castle bathroom door was locked.
24 James // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:23 am
What a great role model to all our student-athletes out there. What a fine representative of the University of Louisville, a school desirous of being taken seriously in the worlds of academe and research. And what an outstanding dad and husband.
All ruined by that horrible Sypher woman. If only she’d kept her mouth shut and APPRECIATED the attention she received from this pillar of our community.
25 KYGuy // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:29 am
Lets not go birther on this bathroom thing. I don’t think the story said it happened in the bathroom.
26 James // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:43 am
Is it possible to determine pregnancy at only 2 weeks post conception? My guess is Ms Sypher was preggo when Pitino laid the wood and then was able to get $3K from him. Does health insurance even cover abortions? My guess is no. Basically, she is just a high priced hooker.
27 Mayor Nagen // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:53 am
Here is the contract and how the moral clause reads:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090812/SPORTS02/90812007/Rick+Pitino+s+employment+contract
28 Robert // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:53 am
I love the comment from Adrian Zmed. It’s good to know I’m not the only “Bachelor Party” fan here.
29 EdenSprings // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:02 am
My bet is that after their next health inspection, Porcini’s rating goes to A+ Hope neither of them got breadcrumbs in their shorts…
Seems that Louisville is about to become ground zero when it comes to the sexual escapades of our heros & elected officials. No wonder the Baptists moved out!
30 ThisManIsNotMyFather // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:10 am
After this bombshell dropped last night my immediate reaction was to get in contact with Porcini’s and reserve that sex dungeon for one of my orgies. Below is the email I sent. I am eagerly awaiting the response.
———————
Mr. Tim Coury,
I am planning an upcoming social event and am quite interested in learning more about the private room rental. Upon the conclusion of the evening’s festivities do I just come to you to get the keys so that I can lock up after having adulterous sexual intercourse or is that feature exclusively reserved for members of the University of Louisville athletics department ?
Thanks so much
Timothy
31 Camp Taylor // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:15 am
Tim Coury doesn’t deserve this nonsense, which is what pisses me off most about Pitino’s selfish behavior (aside from the hurt its caused Pitino’s own family, of course).
Tim has a long standing reputation as a first class businessman & philanthropist to the Crescent Hill neighborhood. I suppose you could call into question his judgement in this particular instance, but nothing warrants disrespectful emails and mockery such as what ThisManIsNotMyFather is soliciting.
32 ThisManIsNotMyFather // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:23 am
It’s just a little harmless fun. I’m sure it will go right into the email accounts trashcan and Mr. Coury will never see it. If we can’t have a laugh about things like this we would all go insane.
33 Camp Taylor // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:38 am
False. Its a dumbass thing to do. Have a chuckle to yourself or with your buddies, but going out of your way like that to pester Coury at a time like this is sophomoric at best.
34 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:38 am
I wonder what the local Rally’s commercials will say. Get some, Rallys. Gotta get some, hahahha. Done to the music. Ricky screwed up big time on all of this. Had it made here but it just shows you that people always will find a way to screw things up.
Or perhaps it was up or down, pun intended.
35 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:39 am
EdenSprings, exactly where is this next bimbo eruption going to take place.
36 MONKEYSHINES // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:40 am
Celebrity gossip, maybe. News, not really. People fu@k, sometimes outside committed relationships. I feel sorry for his family, but think, on average, he’s a net positive for the community and the basketball program. The sooner the media frenzy about all this tawdry and sad (noneofour) business is over, the better.
37 Dennis // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:42 am
The new adventures of “Sypherwoman” coming in your neighborhood restaurant, court house, university, or blog. Along with Randy Rick her trusty companion.
38 Chuck // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:43 am
Mayor Jerry is going to come out in his spandex tights wearing a tight fitting rainbow outfit with a big J on his chest and his chest hair hanging out.
39 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:45 am
“EdenSprings, exactly where is this next bimbo eruption going to take place.”
Sounds like the next Golden Poo question
40 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Aug 12, 2009 at 12:16 pm
KyGuy, if you used your real name, you would face far fewer ID duplication instances. :) (And no, I’m never letting up on that)
Anyway, about Pitino getting his rocks off… here’s my response… WHO CARES?!? Pitino is just a basketball coach, and what he does in his private life is stuff I really don’t give a crap about.
The only reason this is a story is because of sensationalism. Otherwise, it amounts to nothing, and we need to get back to discourse on the real issues of the day.
Let’s let the courts do their work, and we should stop feeding this sensationalized monster of a nothing-burger story.
41 Walter // Aug 12, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Hey Magruder, no one cares what you have to say about people and their whole ID situation. Maybe someday you will get the point instead of throwing your hissy fit. All you’ve did for the last few weeks is to bitch ad nauseum about the whole ID thing. If you want ID then lets also know if you are still living in your parents basement or not. Or do they lock you away because of your whining.
42 Dan B. // Aug 12, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Mr. Pitino — please lock up your office on your way out of U of L . I think after 10 years you have been given every opportunity to win some championships for this town. Maybe you are too “busy” with other things? Maybe you would have more success coaching the women’s team? I’m not sure of the timeframe when this happened, but were you involved with a co-worker’s wife? People could tell that Sypher is a joke, but apparently the god Pitino is one too. You had a good run back in the 80s and 90s, but your time is over, unless you can “get your mind outta the ho and back on the flo”.
43 Angela Merkel // Aug 12, 2009 at 1:23 pm
If you read the story, you’d know their encounter occurred months before Karen met Tim Sypher.
44 Anonymous // Aug 12, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Interesting that the C-J will not allow comments on ANY Pitino-related article concerning this…and they’ll allow the most vitrol spewings when it was the bicycle racer got killed a week or so ago…or Stinson, etc.
45 Moneypenny // Aug 12, 2009 at 2:30 pm
In essence, a coach is a teacher. He’s teaching young people. So, yes, in fact, it is MY business what he’s doing in his personal life ao long as he’s working for a university funded with MY tax dollars. Pitino is a pig- a disgrace to the state of Kentucky and the city of Louisville, as well as honest, decent teachers and coaches all over the world.
Those of you defending him, or stating that this is none of your business- if he were a teacher at your child’s school, you’d be calling for his head on a platter. He has done NOTHING good for this community and he needs to go. He’s a creepy, beady-eyed whore that shouldn’t be allowed to be in a position of power or influence over ANY young men anywhere.
As far as the C-J goes… shame on them. Shame for their blatant censorship.
46 Robert // Aug 12, 2009 at 3:25 pm
The “tax dollars” argument used to criticize coaches never works because UofL, UK, and most other public universities pay their coaches in “revenue sports” like men’s basketball and football via semi-private foundations funded by boosters, not the university’s operating budget.
47 Paul // Aug 12, 2009 at 4:18 pm
KYGuy,
The mistress of the day for Pitino is Theresa who owns a car dealership on Hurstbourne Pkwy.
48 Ann All // Aug 12, 2009 at 4:28 pm
You know who I think may be most responsible for Pitino’s fate now? His wife. If she publicly stands w/ him, then U of L and all of the fans will feel OK doing the same. If not, then not so much. If I am Pitino, that’ s a pretty uncomfortable spot to be in, considering the crap he has and is putting her through.
49 Moneypenny // Aug 12, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Robert, it works if even $1 of mine goes to paying for anything having to do with U of L anywhere at anytime. In my mind, that makes me a part-owner of the school and as such Pitino answers to me. I don’t give a shit where the money to pay his embarrassingly high salary comes from. If you’re going to use the argument that the University (or the taxpayers) have no say in what happens with a coach who is paid out of the revenue from said sports, then break them away from U of L and call ‘em the Metro Louisville Miserable SOBs, quit giving them scholarship money and let them be a pro team and do it without the University of Louisville behind them.
Oh, btw, who is paying for that hideous arena they’re going to be playing in?
50 KYGUY // Aug 12, 2009 at 4:40 pm
its the big KYGUY not the little one,so all you bloggers how do you think pitino will be treated by the crowds on road games if he remains the coach????i think he and the university will be humiliated by all the baby killer signs and dead fetus pictures in the crowd
51 DangerBoy // Aug 12, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Knowing the animosity Frankfort bears for Pitino, I wonder if Tim has perhaps put his liquor license in jeopardy? They have been pulled for much less from people whom they haven’t nearly as much ill will towards than the man who abandoned their beloved Cats and now coaches the in-state arch rival.
52 KYGuy // Aug 12, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Thank you, Paul.
53 Ann All // Aug 12, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Best take I’ve seen on this yet is from the Herald-Leader’s John Clay: http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/893317.html
54 Cat // Aug 12, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Paul,
You sure about the identity of the mystery woman? Not what I heard.
55 AreYouKiddingMe // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I have to disagree that Tim Coury doesn’t deserve this criticism. This is a restaurant, a place of business, his business, a place where people eat. He knew exactly what was going on when he tossed him the keys and told him to lock up when he was done. He certainly knew they weren’t going to sweep the floor or do the dishes. He’s as disgusting as Pitino. Good old boy network at its best. No one seems to care about an innocent child who was done away with if she really was pregnant and yes you can know that soon. That is the only person I feel sorry for in this whole sordid mess. He should have been fixed years ago, but then with his thinking he’d probably think he wouldn’t be as macho and such a stud.
56 Rico // Aug 12, 2009 at 8:32 pm
DangerBoy – in Jefferson County a liquor license is approved by none other than Codes and Regulations/ABC Director Bill Schreck.
One man (Schreck) can stop your zoning approval, deny your building permit, fail your building inspection, deny your ABC license, Deny your sign permit, and harass you with all types of inspections. Scary isn’t it!
57 Jeff // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I’m with James: why is no one wondering how Sypher knew this was Pitino’s baby? It seems awfully convenient for the purposes of extortion. Otherwise, this is par for the course with Pitino. Why is everyone up in arms? And, I thought it was Patti Swope, not Theresa.
58 Germantown Rez // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I think Pitino has also disgraced the memory of his late brother-in-law whom he considered his best friend – the brother of his own wife. Hmmm, with Karen married off to his employee, does Pitino solve all his personal relationships with arranged marriages???
59 AB // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Enough slime to go around with Rick and Karen, but who cares – just a slimy basketball coach and a skank. It’s the bullshit statements from UL execs Ramsey and Jurich that are inexcuseable.
60 KYguy // Aug 13, 2009 at 12:23 am
The Patti thing makes more sense but, just rumors, right?
61 Erick K // Aug 13, 2009 at 12:52 am
A year ago Billy Gillespe was considered an unpolished, bachelor party boy who drank too much, picked up young women half his age, and was surly to all. Who would have known that Billy G was the classy basketball coach in the state of Kentucky.
62 Chuck // Aug 13, 2009 at 8:10 am
Let’s see if I got this right. Rick Pitino is the highest paid public employee in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Courier Journal had Rick Pitino and his son Richard on the list of public employees. Which means that their salaries are paid via our tax dollars in some way or form. Which means that Rick Pitino is a public EMPLOYEE. Such as that fact, he either should be fired or resign by Ramsey and Jurich. Not only that but I have the opinion that Ramsey and Jurk need to both hit the road as well. Their constantly defending a known philanderer needs to be held to the light. He has brought disrepute to this city and this area as a whole. He needs to be fired immediately,
To those that say this isn’t a big deal, this is atrocious. Especially when it has became what it is. So its a public affair now with the whole debauched situation with Ms. Sypher and Slick Rick. He needs to be ran out of town on a railcar and soon. We don’t need people like this coaching the young. And what about the whole argument regarding public money. Oh yeah, we say a sports coach fired last week but I guess since its Ramsey and Jurks call then we can foot the bill again. These scumbags around Louisville are so chronically without morals or ethics. It must be in the water
63 Chuck // Aug 13, 2009 at 8:30 am
Did anyone also notice that Pence made the comment that the 3000 dollars was actually for insurance for the pregnancy. Was it for the abortion or the insurance. One good night in the hospital these days costs about 6000 bucks and that was just for a non injury wreck.
64 Germantown Rez // Aug 13, 2009 at 11:58 am
Remember Ramsey’s big show of support for Dr. Flim Flam Felner?
65 DJ 65 // Aug 13, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Gosh, where to start? James, thank you for stating what I have been saying since I read yesterdays article in the CJ. How can you know in two weeks if you are pregnant? If you can and you took the test then that to me screams “IT WAS PLANNED.”
Magruder, I agree with you, who the hell cares? While I see both sides of this, I have to side with the fact that it’s the man’s personal life and not our business. While Coach Pitino could have shown better judgement, and he is a coach for the university, it’s his PERSONAL life and shouldn’t be anyone’s business but his family’s.
MoneyPenny, If this was the coach at my child’s school, I still wouldn’t give a shit unless the person he was having a fling with was a student! How do you know the coach at your child’s school isn’t having an affair?
Paul, your info is incorrect. It’s not Theresa.
As for the rest of the comments, it just goes to show that everyone has an opinion about everything and feel like we have a right to pass judgement on others lives. It’s not our place to pass judgement or say what should be done or not unless we are one of the players in the game. We can offer our opinions all day long and gripe and moan but what does it really accomplish? I won’t stand in judgement of Coach Pitino as I don’t know the man personally and I’m not condoning what he did, it’s simply not my business.
66 Just me // Aug 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Yes…men, there are tests that will tell you if you’re pregnant two weeks out (even earlier).
67 KYGuy // Aug 13, 2009 at 4:43 pm
DJ 65
When people decide to become public figures, everything they do becomes the public’s business. They give up their privacy and personal lives and are paid handsomely for it. This “deal with the Devil” seldom leaves people unscathed as we see time-and-again our public figures as what they are – - plain old men and women, humans, like the rest of us. It is WE who facilitate the fall from grace by giving them hero status in the first place. If we seem to be in a tizzy over this it’s because we PAID for the right (if not by money then by emotional energy) to care about a team, a university . . . or it could just as easily be an actor, a politician, a preacher or someone else who sold us some sort dream and backed it up with an image that supported that dream. When that image dissolves before our eyes we’re faced with reality. (And reality is a very hard sell.) For this to not be someone’s business they would not have to not care about it in the first place. But people DO care. For better or worse, there is a lot of psychic energy behind basketball in this city. While Petino’s personal pain and that of his family is real, people feel the need to speak out about the wound to this city. It’ll heal. But talking about it is part of the process and that makes it “our business.”
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