Not So Slick Rick Pitino

Add one more to the list of disturbing sports stories. This time, it's a high profile college basketball coach that seems to have done wrong. Louisville's mens basketball coach Rick Pitino admitted that he had consensual sex with a woman named Karen Cunagin Sypher (the woman accused of trying to extort money from him) at a restaurant. Two weeks later, Sypher received $3,000 from Pitino because she said she didn't have health insurance and needed an abortion. Clearly, this issue has some heavy elements to it. The people of Kentucky happen to be generally very passionate against abortion. Although Pitino has said that the money was for health insurance, not abortion, the reaction to this story has been substantial.

For some perspective about this story, Rick Pitino is a married father of 5 children. He has been a staunch Roman Catholic who's contract has dishonesty and "moral depravity " as grounds for firing. Louisville President James Ramsey issued a statement saying, "Several months ago, Coach Pitino informed me about the alleged extortion attempt. I've now been informed that there may be other details which, if true, I find surprising,"

This issue has certainly caused an image hit to Rick Pitino. In a profession where the coach's imagine is important in convincing recruits to play for a certain school, something like this can be damaging and devastating. As someone who is around the age of a typical recruit, I would be truly influenced by this story. I would have a hard time taking Pitino seriously as the man I'm supposed to look up to and respect. He would seem like the stereotypical sleazy college basketball coach that I wouldn't want in my house sitting down for dinner with my family. Usually, when a player is good enough to play for Louisville, that player is good enough to play for many other top level programs. Why would I want to commit to playing for him when I have equal or better other options?

I think, or at least hope that this situation hurts Rick Pitino as a college basketball coach. Stories like this give all of college basketball a bad reputation. It brings more spotlight to the coaches with shady character, and I would hate to see those coaches succeed.