Rick Pitino, the University of Louisville basketball coach, has rarely been seen since his team fell short of expectations in the NCAA tournament.No shortage of Pitino headlines but they have not been positive for an individual used to having his way with the media.

When Pitino is involved in something, headlines are sure to follow. This summer, however, many of them for surprising and unusual reasons:

  • The departure of his son to the University of Florida
  • His charges against an alleged extortionist
  • A possible dalliance with Sacramento Kings
  • The defection of Jeremy Tyler for the European basketball circuit
  • The inevitable comparisons resulting from John Calipari’s recruiting haul
  • The recent loss of a committed high school recruit from Indiana

Otherwise, Pitino has been unusually quiet and elusive, seemingly reclusive. All of the statements coming from the coach  appear to have been carefully scripted and distributed by U of L’s Sports Information Department.  As much as Pitino loves being in front of TV cameras, he has had little face time despite being in the news so often. No appearances with the Cardinal Caravan either.

So what is a U of L fan supposed to make of the disappearance of the usually gregarious coach, an individual who enjoys the limelight so much? Here’s a multiple choice quiz of some possible options:

  • Pitino is still brooding over the disappointing finish against a mediocre Michigan State team?
  • Pitino is concerned about the fallout that may occur when more facts are known about the extortion attempt?
  • Pitino is looking to return to the National Basketball Association?
  • Pitino is intimidated by John Calipari’s recruiting?
  • Pitino  is biting his tongue, waiting for John Calipari’s recruiting practices to be exposed?
  • Pitino is burned out from the problems associated with college basketball?
  • Pitino remains totally committed to college basketball, the University of Louisville in particular, and he’s simply doing his job?

If you chose two, three or more of the possible options, you may come close to answering of why he has all but disappeared. You could just as easily be completely wrong. The frustration, for anyone who has followed his career for very long, is one will never know for certain. Rick Pitino likes to keep people guessing. He enjoys the speculation,  often doing the exact opposite of what most are guessing he will do, whatever the issue.

One would suspect, however, that the U of L coach has been doing a lot of serious thinking lately about his future in the coaching profession. He doesn’t just go away. Pitino has some complex reasons this time around. When the time is right, he will be basking in the warm glow of the TV cameras once again, with the locals falling all over themselves, breaking up over his wry humor.  The only variable will be the focus of the press conference.

Pitino enjoys the spotlight too much to stay away for long.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

19 thoughts on “What’s Going On With Rick Pitino?”
  1. Does anyone know how his wife Joanne is holding up thru all this? I feel for her more than him.

  2. Actually the media has done a good job this time, treating allegations as allegations instead of spilling the guts of the accusations out as they would against ordinary Joes like you and I. This case should be a model of how such stories are handled.

  3. What’s with all the UK fans on this site anyway? I thought they were supposed to be giddy over their new hire. They apparently think their dream has finally come true, that Calipari is Pitino reincarnated. Sorry guys, you’re in for a huge letdown.

          1. Actually it has yet to be told.

            If it were anyone else the local media would have presented the story, not as fact but just as her account of of the facts.

            About five weeks ago it was quickly swept under the rug where many hope it will stay.

            I for one suspect more than a tryst.

            In time you’ll see some true color 😉

              1. I haven’t read a single story that presents her side of it.

                Surely an insider such as yourself has details.

                Enlighten us.

  4. Pitino is definitley intimidated by Calipari. That is why he was pushing so hard for Ford & Pelphrey. He knew that they would not overtake him as the king in Kentucky. Kentucky is about to climb back to the top of the mountain in college basketball. Everybody knows it and it is driving the haters crazy. It is a great time to be a KY fan!

    1. Summer is always a good time for UK fans. You guys need to clean up the program, sooner rather than waiting for the complete disasater.

        1. Imagine that. No claim to fame here. Do your homework, Bo, starting in 1970’s. Left the business in the mid-eighties because more money to be made in the corporate world.

  5. If one is looking for Rick, all one has to do is check the paddock at Gulfstream Race Track in sunny Florida, where there were numerous Pitino sightings during the live meet there. His stables ran a lot there and Pitino is an avid fan of the horse racing game.

    Don’t read too much into the lack of “Pitino-speak” in the off season. We all need time to relax, rejuvenate, and recoup after tough tasks….and Pitino’s job with this group of Cardinals last season certainly qualify him for a little down time after the season.

    Based on the number of hits on the site and this article from out in the state, and from ukwildcatbasketball…it appears UK fans are more concerned about the Godfather…could it be a case of whistling nervously while walking thru the graveyard?

  6. Based on Lville’s comment, I suppose the Big East should be renamed the Weak East.

  7. pitino didn’t lose to a mediocre michigan state team. pitino underestimated a strong michigan state team. this just shows how weak pitino is.

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