John Clay’s Sidelines

Update: New York Daily News sent a reporter to Louisville for this lengthy Sunday story on Pitino.

From the in-box.

William wrote:

I generally enjoy reading your articles, but I must take you to task about your recent one regarding Rick Pitino.

In your article you state:

“So, despite the morals clause in his contract, Pitino shouldn’t be pink-slipped just because he had sex with a stranger at Porcini. Nor should he be fired for funding an abortion. You can argue the morality of those acts, you can’t argue the legality.”

I have a problem with this for 3 reasons. First, you seem to equate legality with morality, which is wrong because while not necessarily mutually exclusive, each is a separate entity.

Second, you acknowledge the morals clause in Mr. Pitino’s contract, yet quickly dismiss his conduct as insufficient to justify his termination. This calls into question if you consider any act immoral enough to justify employment termination of a famous coach.

Third, and this is perhaps the crux of my problem with your stance, Rick Pitino’s sexual liaison and reported payment for an abortion are immoral acts by his own standards. If Rick, a staunch Roman Catholic, considers his own actions immoral, as he has admitted, how then can you say that you can “argue the morality of those actions”. In a word, you can’t because he doesn’t.

Daniel wrote:

Pitino’s motivational hogwash, loud personality, and public invocation of his religion while always looking out for Number One (I am a Catholic), just make him look the ultimate hypocrite. The way he used his celebrity muscle against Sypher through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Louisville P.D. and the University still did not make her go away, and now her credibility is on a par with his. Just shows how sleazy big time basketball coaches have become at places like Louisville, UK, the Big East etc. The longer U of L holds onto him, the more foolish the school looks. Before long they will have the dreadful “win at all costs” reputation your alma mater has had since 1951. The whole Pitino coaching tree of himself, Calipari, Donovan et al, has to be nervous about the biggest oak in their forest tumbling soon.

Jason wrote:

Just curious if you think this ordeal justifies pulling Coach Pitino’s name from the rafters at Rupp. I think if we are going to get it down, now is the time. Thoughts?

(No, I’m not for taking Pitino’s jersey from the Rupp rafters. He won a national title, went to three Final Fours and rebuilt the program from probation. His jersey deserves to hang with honor.)

Bennie wrote:

John, I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with you about Pitino’s job status. Now, I realize that you’re right, Rick Pitino isn’t the only coach to commit adultry. But, if Pitino paid that lady to have an abortion, which I think we all truly believe he did, he should be fired. I’ll guarantee you that a whole lot of coaches have lost their jobs for what a large portion of our society would consider much less serious indiscretions. But, many of those coaches haven’t won as many games as Pitino.

Plus, let’s be real, the only reason Pitino went to the authorities was to try and protect his hide. If he were so interested in telling the truth, he had six and a half years to fess up. And, while I don’t believe Pitino ‘raped’ the lady, there sure are a lot of holes in his story also, which no one seems to be writing or talking about.

And to be honest, does anyone really believe that Ms. Sypher was his only ‘indiscretion’? Pitino is typical of lots of people who get some power and money. They think they are immune from the rules.

It will be interesting to see how hard the media trys to really dig up the truth about Pitino. Many times the media reminds me of the NCAA in that it treats certain individuals as sacred cows, while it trys to destroy others.

Well, enough of my ranting. And, lest I seem too critical, let me say that I have found myself agreeing with the vast majority of your articles lately. Keep up the good work.

Louis wrote:

Just read your article regarding Pitino. You missed on this one.

Rick Pitino needs to resign and resign immediately. If he fails to do so, then he should be fired.

Sure, other coaches have committed adultery, but this has a fervor that will not die down. It’s a big black eye for U of L, for the culprit and for his family. Wherever he travels this will be the big distraction. It simply will not go away.

Next, if U of L keeps Pitino they will condone his actions. Today’s society is so downright liberal that we choose to forgive these discretions that affect fans, communities and especially young minds. You can forgive, but you cannot condone and his immediate resignation and dismissal is the ONLY WAY!

Unfortunately a number of fans will be up in arms because this will make it hard to Louisville to compete against Kentucky. However, it’s not wins and losses as it relates to basketball, it’s about taking the high road.

You’ve made some good points, but it’s not about good points. It’s about a man who caused a great deal of suffering for so many in that part of the world where he lives. To make matters worse he did it in a public setting and with the eventual wife of one of his coaches. How in heavens name could that man to to work each day and face that assistant.

Stay on the high road, John.

Marc wrote:

After listening to the radio the last few days I think the abortion issue will finally get him. I agree with (Mark Story) he should resign for the sake of his family, but I think the abortion foes, whether they are university donors or athletics sponsors will eventually be the cause of Rick’s resignation or firing. Strange that UL has a chance to get out of that 3.6 million bonus and hasn’t taken the opportunity yet.

Steve wrote:

I think many Americans have become desensitized to revelations of marital infidelity anymore, as sad as that may be. With regard to Pitino, I think he is sincerely sorry the story went public and he had to admit his mistakes. I also believe that a man who would have sex with a woman in the bathroom of a public place has probably had sex with plenty of other women in more private places. Most people around here know he and Joanne have lived apart for some time, with her spending most of her time in New York or Florida. I’m quite sure he and Karen Sypher was not the only “indiscretion” that’s occurred in the last 20 years or so.

Another Steve wrote:

A morality clause is about “moral” behavior, not legal or illegal  conduct. If you don’t think that a married man having an affair with  another woman, getting her pregnant and then financing her abortion is
not immoral behavior–you need to take a long hard look at your own moral values. To the majority of Kentuckians, an abortion, any abortion, in and of itself, is immoral. Add to that the circumstances
of the pregnancy in this case. Yeah, it is clearly immoral conduct.

Louisville is perfectly within the terms of the morality clause of its contract with RP to choose to terminate his employment. I think they should and hope that they will.

Eric wrote:

At the very least pitino probably shaved a couple years off his louisville tenure.

M. wrote:

I agree with your Pitino column today! I think there’s no doubt about his ‘moral’ turpitude—not because of the adultery and abortion payment—but because the sexual partner was (at the time?) or became
HIS Assistant’s wife—-talk about TRAITOR Rick? Why has that “detail” been left out of all the media commentaries?

Mary wrote:

I can tell that you are a grown man. NOw who in the world if they have lived in Ky did not know that Pitino fooled around all the time? This is news to no one…..He just finally got caught…..I am sure the President and the AD at Louisville had to know about his hobby…Nothing will happen to him…It really is a personal matter…He has a very long leash…And he would have to have a long leash to work anywhere….They knew what they were getting when they hired him…They want to win….That is the name of the game in most college athletics…..

Dan from Georgia wrote:

I always enjoy your articles. I do think he should loose his job. You don’t mention having sex in a public place and being drunk. If you are getting drunk at 50 years old you have problems, period. How immature and disgusting is it to be drunk in public and have sex in a restaurant. Holy horse manure. What the heck is the health rating at that restaurant? I dang sure wouldn’t eat the alfredo sauce there. And it’s not coach-as-moral-high-ground but how about employees-as-moral-high-ground, or fathers, or leaders, or husbands or friends-as-moral-high-ground. Why should we settle for such bad actions, this society has done so too often. And I’m sick of folks covering up for others actions. I did not see it but I understand that Pitino all day yesterday talked about an indiscretion. My understanding is that it was not an indiscretion but a life style. If that is so you guys in the press should know it and report on it.

Roy wrote:

What is the use of having a morals clause in his contract? What type of morals would be cause for his dismissal? Just because his acts are not illegal does not mean he has good morals! He needs to go plain and simple. He is not a good role model for your boys. My nephew is (was) really hot of Louisville but now he is looking elsewhere. That is going to be his and U of L problem!