Big Blue Links for Tuesday:
- Mark Story writes in the Heald-Leader that UK and Billy Gillispie should settle and move on.
- Laurnie Caproni of the Maysville Ledger-Independent says John Calipari deserves the presumption of innocence.
- Dick Vitale says that Calipari’s critics should wait and see.
- Zagsblog reports that UK is not on Kyrie Irving’s top four list.
- Jay Marriotti of AOL writes that the Derrick Rose scam leaves a stench everywhere.
- Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN has Billy Gillispie as No. 42 on his list of 50 things that can sports can do without. (Hat tip to Kentucky Sports Radio.)
- Michael Johnston of Louisville High School Sports Examiner has a Q&A with Dakotah Euton, who says Gillispie has told him he’ll offer him a scholarship at next stop. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
- Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Rod Strickland sees no problem with two point guards.
- David Jones of Florida Today writes on Kentucky’s big cat.
- ESPN’s Andy Katz writes that coaches should speak up more about the one-and-done rule.
- Bluegrass State Basketball looks at the Kentucky basketball rumor mill.
- Wildcat Sports Blog has an interview with Jeff Sheppard.
- Inner Circle wants to know who is going to fill Bill Keightley’s shoes.
- Cat Scratches says UK basketball assistants deserve credit for big splash.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
Karen Sypher eager to share her side of the story
The attorney for the woman accused of trying to extort Rick Pitino is still deciding whether he’ll request that the trial be moved out of Louisville.
Karen Sypher says she is eager for her trial to start. Sypher says there are two sides to every story, and people haven’t heard her side yet.
She says a trial will let her tell it for the record.
“The truth will come out and prevail as I’ve said over and over, and I guess I’m so anxious for that, and yet I’m very patient. I will wait as long as it takes for me to get my truth out,” said Sypher.
Sypher says the wait has been one of the most frustrating things she’s ever had to do. She has been indicted by a federal grand jury. Karen Sypher is the estranged wife of the University of Louisville basketball team’s equipment manager, Tim Sypher.
She’s accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from Coach Rick Pitino and lying to a federal agent investigating the case.
“Absolutely, I’m afraid. But, if justice is truly true in this system, I will find that out,” said Sypher.
Sypher calls the accusations against her “false” and says she cannot wait for her day in court.
Her case is scheduled to go to trial June 29th.