Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
What a night! News came fast and furious. Here we go…..
— The biggest news comes from Louisville, where the Courier Journal reported that Rick Pitino told Louisville police he had a consensual relationship with Karen Sypher and paid for her abortion. Those comments were part of a long report linked in the post below and were the main highlights of an open records request by the paper. The article showcased that the dispute between Pitino and Sypher centers around a night at Porcini’s Restaurant (the Frankfort Avenue spot will forever be a Louisville landmark), in which the two had sex. According to Sypher, that sex constituted rape and according to Pitino, it was consensual. The police reports suggest that Sypher soon thereafter became pregnant and Pitino paid for the ensuing abortion. Pitino will not be charged criminally in the case, mainly because the police have made the determination that Sypher’s rape allegations are not credible. But the article does showcase that Pitino and Sypher did have a relationship and his reputation is certainly hit.
A quick word on the story. While I will leave a review of the more salacious details to someone else, big kudos to the Courier Journal. We are quick on here to sound the death bell for mainstream journalism and sometimes in the local area, that can seem fair. But this article is well-researched, thorough and pulls no punches. It took a long time for the media to come up with the guts to do the story. The fact is that most outlets had this story months ago and it was common knowledge in media circles. So while I still lament the way the media quivered for so long and question whether they needed the crutch of the police report to go with what they already knew, nevertheless the Courier did finally write it and did it very well. This is the type of thing the mainstream media can do better than others and I am glad to see it flex its reporting muscles here.
— Turkey Hunter via text on the story: “Adultery and paying for mistress’s abortion…Billy Clyde you have been check raised my friend.”
— On the court, we found out tonight that UK’s basketball schedule is ready and is only waiting on final agreement from the folks at ESPN and the SEC. I dont expect another power game on the schedule, as all the dates had been filled but one, and then the Long Beach State game was announced. Still, there will be a television show on the Big Blue Network to announce the game and I expect a lot of excitement and a huge rating for the festivities. One thing is for sure, this group knows how to market itself and we are just seeing the beginning of that success.
— Also in basketball, Calipari announced that the Freshmen had a 3.25 GPA collectively this summer, which is good news. One of the unsung worries that UK will have to deal with is the APR index, which will punish UK for some of its early departures and the like. The best thing that can happen for that index to be taken care of however is for everyone to get solid grades while they are here. The previous two coaches thought (correctly in my view), that since you could count 15 players to the APR total, having smart walk-ons helped raise the score. Calipari is against that, so it will be even MORE important for the grades to be good so scholarships are not lost…like Tennessee had this year.
— On the football end, some bad news as Jorge Gonzalez and Aaron Boyd face suspensions. Gonzalez is for one game and Boyd is actually for seven days of practice, which makes one wonder which is worse in the long run. We already discussed the impact on Boyd, but the impact for Gonzalez is important as well. The Center will miss the first game and someone with little to no experience (Matt Smith?) may end up starting at that position. With the Center playing such a key role in giving out blocking assignments and Hartline having such a good relationship with Gonzalez, it is a blow early in camp.
We will have more all day….more on Pitino, more on the basketball schedule and more on Drew Franklin, who begins on Thursday. Stay tuned!
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August 11th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
nice!
August 11th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
So, Matt, you knew the true story and didn’t report it? What’s up with that?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
2 that made me laugh………i feel bad for laughing, but i did
August 11th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Did she produce a blue tablecloth?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney05/news/story?id=2025601
“Rick and Joanne went out for dinner Tuesday night to Porcini, their favorite Italian joint in Louisville.”
I wonder why Porcini was Rick’s favorite Italian joint…..maybe getting more than just wine and lasagna?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Matt, UT is appealing the lost scholarship, and will probably get it back, per my sources…
August 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
sorry for my appalling use of the comma.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
lmao at #2 and 7
August 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
3 - If you read this site enough, the main elements of the story were told long ago.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I bet Pitino doesn’t even show up to coach the UK-UL game in Rupp this year.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
All my info was secondhand because I never interviewed Sypher. Thus I never set it out explicitly.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
#9 It’s, ok, buddy,. Sometimes, you gotta, use a few, , commas, so people, , will read it, slowly, ,’,,.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Jorge out for the opener is a lot bigger than some might think. We’re talking about a pre-season All SEC third teamer here (i believe).
However I had heard that Matt Smith was pushing him for the job and I thought that Lanefski was in the mix as well but he may have moved to Guard.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
The hypocrisy of this whole post amuses me to the fullest.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I was at Porcini’s last Friday for a rehearsal dinner for my good friend’s wedding. I was outside smoking when who walked up and clearly checked out my girlfriend and another girl? Ricky P. I had heard Porcini’s was his spot but I can’t believe he still goes there. (For the record, he was a dick to the one family member who did say hello)
August 12th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Matt, why the censorship on the abortion poster - bad taste or political motivation?
August 12th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I love how Boris Yelstin is in the background contemplating on whether to ask Karen Sypher for beer money while she is getting the phone call from Rick saying he is not paying her any money. Classic! Or should could be on the phone with Rick and he’s telling her that his box is full, and she is thinking to herself “Who do I have to have sex with at Porcini’s to get Derby tickets?”
August 12th, 2009 at 12:07 am
FIXED TYPO I love how Boris Yelstin is in the background contemplating on whether to ask Karen Sypher for beer money while she is getting the phone call from Rick saying he is not paying her any money. Classic! Or she could be on the phone with Rick and he’s telling her that his box is full, and she is thinking to herself “Who do I have to have sex with at Porcini’s to get Derby tickets?”
August 12th, 2009 at 12:07 am
From the courier journal article: In addition, Cunagin Sypher did not disclose that there was a witness to the event at the restaurant, Vinnie Tatum, an executive assistant to Pitino. According to Abbott’s report, Tatum said he didn’t see what happened but heard “only the sounds of two people that seemed to be enjoying themselves during a sexual encounter.” Ha Ha Ha - how perfect is that?? I dude named Vinnie at an Italian restaurant overhearing them getting it on!
August 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Hey Ric-KEY!! It’s Vinnie T! Hey-ah… Keep it down in ‘der, cappish?! Sounds like a coupla veal tendaloins smackin togedda in ‘der!
August 12th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Awesome, I submitted the link to the Courier-Journal story on fark.com and it got greenlit. It will hit the sports page at 3:04 a.m.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Don’t take too much joy in other peoples’ troubles. I’m not asking you to pity Rick, he made his own mess, but what comes around goes around.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:43 am
lmao funniest post on this so far, a michigan st fan on the cbs board “Bang em all. If the puck gets by the keeper, throws some money at it and see if it goes away. Now that’s pimp. “
August 12th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Is Rick actually going to walk into Rupp full of 26,000 people chanting KAREN SYPHER. Do you think he can actually do it? His first time back here, he walked through the home entrance into Rupp trying to avoid the boos. And its not only Rupp, he’ll have to do it every week in a different Big East arena. I dont see how anyone can recover from this kind of mess. Especially in a bible belt state like Ky. On a side note, I wonder if Porcini’s is enjoying all the free publicity?
August 12th, 2009 at 1:15 am
interesting side note to all this scandal… remember when winston bennet was on his celtic staff and was let go because he had an addiction to sex that he sought professional help to deal with…hmmm maybe a lil bit of hypocracy…just sayin..
August 12th, 2009 at 1:23 am
#24, who would even want to visit that restaurant now??? Not me! lol
August 12th, 2009 at 1:45 am
PAT FORDE IS A TOOL.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:45 am
KAREN SY PHER
(GAVE RICK THE) CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
KAREN SY PHER
(GAVE RICK THE) CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
August 12th, 2009 at 2:33 am
#27
MARC MAGGARD IS A TOOL.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:36 am
Now that I know sex was performed in Porcini’s probably on a table, I’ll never eat at that place again!
August 12th, 2009 at 5:00 am
lol ive screwed on my boss’s desk sh*t was so cash.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:10 am
If Rupp starts a Karen Sypher chant, that will be about as low and classless as anything i have seen at UK. We are already labeled as ridiculous fans….how is that going to play out on CBS hearing that stupid chant.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:17 am
someone hasnt sat next to the student section in a while…
August 12th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Rick Porcino…….Rick Porcino…..Rick Porcino
August 12th, 2009 at 6:40 am
32. As low and classless as say…coaching at Louisville after leaving for the big bucks?
August 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am
im personally salivating at the prospect of all the things to yell at him…
August 12th, 2009 at 6:47 am
In all seriousness though, this does suck. It sounds like Rick made a knee jerk reaction on paying for the abortion. It really does suck that he ended up in this situation (makes you wonder how many other affairs he’s had even though he and his wife loathe one another). Karen Sypher may not have always been this crazy, abortions and miscarriages both can cause severe cases of depression and other mental disabilities and can turn a normal person into a whack job. With that said, Sypher is still a huge liar (and probably always was) and should get some jail time out of this. I feel especially bad for Rick’s family and Sypher’s kids as this case has and will continue to drag them through the mud
August 12th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Rick-A-Pow-Rick-A-Pow-Pow
August 12th, 2009 at 7:09 am
33..youre right, it has been a few years, lol.
35…everyone knew that the NBA was his “true love” and with that absurb amount of cash and the astronomical chance of getting Tim Duncan plus another extremely high pick….do you blame him, but I do believe in Karma and things have a way of working out. Right now, who would you want more Cal or pitino.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:11 am
On mike and mike…they just read a few emails, and amazingly all want this story to go away. They are saying that nobody cares…..it shows how much espn likes this dude….or is it a tactical move by the CJ to “break” this story right when the most NFL talk is starting??????
August 12th, 2009 at 7:40 am
As I said a few months ago when Richard Pitino left the UofL staff to become Donovan’s assistant, this story had more substance than was being told (the Sypher story) and Ricky P. wanted Richard to go to Florida and start grooming Donovan to become the next head coach at UofL. Anyone want to bet me that Donovan isn’t the head coach at UofL starting the 2010-2011 season? I’ll even take it further: Pitino will either go on leave or will retire prior to the start of the season. Ralph Willard will be named the interim coach. In April, Donovan will be hired.
And another thing. Why is no one bringing up Jurich’s role in all of this? According to the article, he stated that Pitino had been completely honest with him. One would assume from Dr. Ramsey’s comments that Jurich failed to inform the president of the university the whole story. Me thinks Jurich might find himself unemployed soon, as well.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:44 am
39 Don’t forget that he was under contract with Converse, CM had the whole athletic department in Nike gear except the basketball team and didn’t offer Rick an extension. Or if he did offer, it was half-hearted and not a suitable offer considering Rick’s most recent success.
People still don’t realize that Rick was forced out at UK.
35…It was a business decision made by an individual who’s emotional well being is not tied to the performance of college basketball players.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
blah blah blah blah blah
Cal has said countless times he wants no more that 11 or 12 scholarship players. How will losing 1 or 2 scholarships impact what Cal is trying to do? It won’t.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:40 am
New menu item at Porcinis: The Philanderer. It is a loose meat Italian pork sausage sandwich slathered in homemade mayonaise.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I think someone should print large 3000.00 bills and put them in every seat at Rupp to go along with the Karen Sypher chants
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Why do we care? Let’s move along!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 am
42… What are you talking about? That has to be the most ridiculous statement (Rick was forced out) I have heard in a long while. Congrats.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Walk-ons don’t cound toward the APR.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Is Dustin going to continue to write on KSR or is he done since he is writing for hoopsreport.com now?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Red Rooster (47) Thanks for the congratulations. However, I’m closer to correct than anyone wants to admit. Martin Newton worked for Nike at the time. UK had been a long time Converse school. Martin had once worked for Converse and Nike lured him away. It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to figure out why. Rick was a Converse guy. As I stated previously, the whole athletic department was branded Nike “EXCEPT” the basketball team. This is a fact that you can check. Rick’s contract with Converse was prohibiting Nike from branding the basketball team (another fact you can check). Do you honestly think Nike was interested in branding anything at UK other than the basketball team?? Rick Pitino was standing in the way of millions in revenue. He was being courted by NBA teams every year. He continually said no to them. His contract was due to be extended. I don’t know all that went on surrounding the contract but my understanding was that not everything was done that could have been done to assure he stuck around. Isn’t that the same as being forced out.
So Mr. Red Rooster would you like some further explanation or do you simply like to make unfounded statements based upon your ignorance of the facts.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:09 am
42. “people still don’t realize that Rick was forced out at UK.” That is the most ridicules statement I have ever heard on here! And what does the shoe contract have to do with anything.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:13 am
50. here we go with the Nike rules the world stuff.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:13 am
50) Do you know Jack?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Who cares about the reason(s) he left UK. I’m just thrilled that we don’t have to deal with the consequences of his unethical behavior at UK.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I love it when GOOD NEWS makes HEADLINES. The Coach at Vandy is a CLASS GUY!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4391834&name=katz_an dy
August 12th, 2009 at 9:21 am
50. Should the University allow a coach to become larger than the school. Rick’s contract with Converse only benefitted Rick. The University should control the revenue from it’s team sports not Rick or any other coach. Rick was gone to the Celtics from the start, figuring he had Camby and another first round pick.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Good article 55
August 12th, 2009 at 9:31 am
32) I agree with you. We are already labeled an insane fanbase by most pundits, and this would just further justify it. Why not just whip them on the court? Wouldn’t that make a statement enough?
I don’t condone anything Pitino did, but without him at UK, we would still have 5 titles, and not 7. Tubby won with Rick’s players, and it’s evident because Tubby couldn’t recruit worth a lick.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am
[...] Kentucky Sports Radio refers to it as the news “hits the fan.” [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 9:52 am
If you look at a majority of pics of Pitino associated with this story, he really looks like he’s aged several years over this. Good sex keeps you young, but sh@t like this ages you pretty fiercely.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Anyone notice there is no comment section on the CJ Pitino article? Hmmm, wonder who is behind that?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
58 I still cant belive people excusing Ricks behavior, or even suggesting we should take it easy on him just because he was once a successful coach at UK. Would it be ok to give Billy Clyde a hard time for a similar situation because he was a failure?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I think Billy G looks good in red
August 12th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Is Karen’s maiden name really Cumagin?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:59 am
MOU12(51 & 52) Its not just a shoe contract. UKAA has a budget approaching $70M. Where do you think that money comes from…ticket sales? Nike does not rule the world but their money helps rule (or dictate) what you do when your an athletic association. TV revenue and sports apparel revenue are closely related. Its no accident that these two also provide a large portion of the athletics budget. Consequently, they are allowed to influence(can you say 9:38PM tip-offs, noon kick-offs, prominent displays of logos, etc.)
56 you are correct. I’m just trying to state that Rick leaving UK was not entirely Rick’s doing.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
The bottom line is that Ricky P has obviously been messing with this woman for a while (this wasn’t the first incident as they were saying it was a one night stand on 790 this morning) and they have been doing this for quite sometime. HOW MANY PEOPLE GET CAUGHT UP THE FIRST TIME? He has basically been lying the entire time about the relationship. An additional part of this story is that he used a private plane to fly her to Cincinnati to get the abortion.
As a CAT fan I really don’t care about this. Nothing will happen to him professionally until recruits drop because their moms don’t want them to play for an adulterer. Sorry Louisville hope the basketball doesn’t drop with the football!!
August 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I say rip old Rick a new one when he steps on the court at Rupp. Come on, do we really care what others think? Why should we? And believe you me, if Ricky ever goes down and plays at Duke, what we say and do to him will be tame in comparison. Those kids are vicious. Does that make them worse than us? Will people think less of them? Huh? People will rag on UK for anything. We are at the top so we have to expect everyone to take a shot at us, no matter what that shot is about. I think we need to be clever with this and family-friendly so it can be shown on TV…..Like the one that said “Hey Joanne, we didn’t like you either.” Classic. Maybe Matt will start a sign contest to see who can come up with the most clean and clever sign sayings. How about “Hey Rick. Porcici’s called. You table is ready.”
August 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Pregnacny Test: $15………Paying for your mistress’s abortion: $3,000……Being called a “Baby Killer” at every road game this season: Priceless….
August 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Tonight’s special at Porcini, shriveled italian nut with a slut sap reduction
August 12th, 2009 at 10:47 am
As a life long U K fan, I would hope that the base would refrain from sarcastic remarks and displays during games where Coach Pitino is present. Having worked with men and women that strayed from their marriage vows taught me that no matter how effective and productive their professional lives were, somehow that did not translate into their personal lives. And no matter how morally egregious those trangressions were, the event rippled through their family and social community (church, lodge, etc). Out of respect for them, not the prepetrator, I always felt I shouldnt comment-it was a reflection on the commentator and demonstrated poor form. Whatever he did, remember he took our program from the lowest point in comtemporary history and restored it to respectability. We have a right to express our views in any legal manner allowed. In my humble opinion, when he is introduced at Rupp, a polite applause or no applause would speak volumes rather than raucous demoninstrations that inflame the other side.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Maybe just Maybe…old Tubby might want to have seconds…again!……No I’m not talking about Sypher I’m talking about the UofL job….Y’all have dirty minds! #68 69…That’s hilarious…Or 67, This is the Booth that Slick Rick slid the Salami to Hyper Sypher!
August 12th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I guess the C-J did know all along… remember the cropped pictures that the C-J accidentally released months ago and then QUICKLY re-released the picture with Sypher’s son cropped out? He was holding a sign asking “What’s the price of an abortion?”
August 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am
65. You are ignorant.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:35 am
65. And for the record, UK at that time had nothing near the budget you quoted. Brush up on your made up facts, they lack realism.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
61. There isn’t a comment section on the Herald Leaders story either.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I read this comment somewhere last night, “wondering what kind of abortion costs $3000?” Could it have been one of those “my mortgage is due and my credit card payments are late so I guess I’ll say I’m pregnant” type abortions?
August 12th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
In that photo of Sypher above, is she ordering some “Pitino pure PORK sauage from Porcini’s