I posted on this last week (or earlier this week, I can't remember). Anyway, strange things have been happening at Louisville for over a week now.
The word I'm hearing is that things are going to get bad. The only question is how bad. The estranged wife of Tim Sypher (Karen) is saying some pretty explosive things right now. Things that are so outlandish one is hesitant to believe many of them. Let's just say that Ricky has a lot to be worried about. While I can't substantiate anything, it reminds one of the stuff that came out of the Colorado football program 4 or 5 years ago.
I had speculated earlier that Richie was shipped out of Louisville to shield him from this mess. That still is the betters view. The word is he wasn't necessarily involved, but may have had a hand in trying to contain it.
GP did a story on this on the CBS website, but no one will go on record right now. The thing that leads you to believe this will get really bad is that the woman doesn't appear to be motivated by money anymore, she just wants revenge. Hell hath no fury sort of thing.
The bottom line is that, and I'm not going to say for sure this will happen, but it would not surprise anyone if this wasn't Ricks last season at Louisville. It maybe his last season period.

That's why cardinals should keep their peckers in their pants!

a KY poster put some big accusations on their board:

http://kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?f...88&style=2

Please help the mods: http://ncaabbs.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=675

(04-23-2009 10:15 AM)uofmwalton Wrote:  Please help the mods: http://ncaabbs.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=675

Do we have to rehash this again?

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=365618

It's been brewing for awhile. With Pitino's son leaving it looks like Rick won't be there very long. Last year was his best chance to win a title and Nada. It could become Memphis related if Pitino retires and some of the recruits decommit.

(04-23-2009 10:21 AM)mairving Wrote:  It's been brewing for awhile. With Pitino's son leaving it looks like Rick won't be there very long. Last year was his best chance to win a title and Nada. It could become Memphis related if Pitino retires and some of the recruits decommit.

Well, I'll get into that later when I have more time, but excellent point. Especially the 2010 class.
BTW...If I put this in the wrong, place sorry I'm a newbie.

(04-23-2009 10:04 AM)CubsTigersGrizz Wrote:  The bottom line is that, and I'm not going to say for sure this will happen, but it would not surprise anyone if this wasn't Ricks last season at Louisville. It maybe his last season period.

By "this season" do you mean the 2008-2009 season or the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

thx

So if this all goes down like it appears, I wonder if Memphis broke off talks with Pitino rather than the contrary? This is obviously conjecture, but I wonder if the search committe got wind of this situation and quickly backed off.

(04-23-2009 10:41 AM)Stumpbuster Wrote:  

(04-23-2009 10:04 AM)CubsTigersGrizz Wrote:  The bottom line is that, and I'm not going to say for sure this will happen, but it would not surprise anyone if this wasn't Ricks last season at Louisville. It maybe his last season period.

By "this season" do you mean the 2008-2009 season or the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

thx

The 2010 season recruits just took a major dive since the star of that class, Jeremy Tyler, is forgoing his last year of HS to play in Europe for a year. The 2009 class has 2 4 star recruits, Peyton Siva and Rakeem Buckles. Peyton Siva is a PG and is a really good player.

I loved the one post that said he wished nothing but ill for someone who tried to sabotage the program, lol. Guess what he has now on his bench, lol.

(04-23-2009 10:44 AM)Stumpbuster Wrote:  So if this all goes down like it appears, I wonder if Memphis broke off talks with Pitino rather than the contrary? This is obviously conjecture, but I wonder if the search committe got wind of this situation and quickly backed off.

Never underestimate our search committee. In their wisdom, they may have saved us from some problems.

Again, THANK YOU, SEARCH COMMITTEE! :ncaabbs:

(04-23-2009 10:44 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(04-23-2009 10:41 AM)Stumpbuster Wrote:  

(04-23-2009 10:04 AM)CubsTigersGrizz Wrote:  The bottom line is that, and I'm not going to say for sure this will happen, but it would not surprise anyone if this wasn't Ricks last season at Louisville. It maybe his last season period.

By "this season" do you mean the 2008-2009 season or the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

thx

The 2010 season recruits just took a major dive since the star of that class, Jeremy Tyler, is forgoing his last year of HS to play in Europe for a year. The 2009 class has 2 4 star recruits, Peyton Siva and Rakeem Buckles. Peyton Siva is a PG and is a really good player.

ESPNU #25 in their top 100. 5'11/180 out of Seattle. Also considered (prior to signing LOI): Washington, ARIZONA, Miami, Kansas.

If the 'Ville situation explodes, and he de-commits then:

1. Kansas is out of schollies (esp @ PG with E Johnson and S Collins)
2. Miami is... well... Miami (never won jack).
3. Washington has Abdul Gaddy (a fine player at PG)
4. Arizona... we can now claim that lineage a bit.

The 'Ville thing probably will not explode, and even if it does, there way not be de-commits.

But... it may be worth a phone call

Rick will definitely coach Louisville next seaon 09'-'10
The view of most of the coaches is that he will probably step down at the end of next season should this thing really catch fire.
Again, if the lady just wants money, she will get it, and lots of it. Right now that is not the case.

(04-23-2009 08:45 PM)CubsTigersGrizz Wrote:  Rick will definitely coach Louisville next seaon 09'-'10
The view of most of the coaches is that he will probably step down at the end of next season should this thing really catch fire.
Again, if the lady just wants money, she will get it, and lots of it. Right now that is not the case.

The lady will be lucky not to end up in jail. She is off balance at best. Her lawyer can't get her to shut up. I don't think Pitino will come out unscathed, but her worries are far more significant than his at this point.

Six days after the disclosure that University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino was the target of an extortion attempt, a Louisville woman was charged today with extortion and lying to the FBI.
Advertisement

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S District Court, Karen Sypher, with the help of unnamed others, tried to extort money from Pitino with threats to harm his reputation in connection with events that occurred in 2003.

The complaint, filed by FBI agent Steven J. Wight, said she lied to the FBI when she told investigators that she didn’t know the identity of the person who was making threatening phone calls to Pitino.

It gives no indication of the claims she was making.

The university disclosed last Saturday that Pitino had asked the FBI to investigate.

Pitino gave no specifics on the actions he claims are being taken against him, but said in the statement, “I intend to vigorously defend my reputation and the character of my family against any criminal scheme to extort money.”

Louisville attorney Thomas Clay later called the newspaper and confirmed that Sypher, his client, was under investigation. She is the estranged wife of U of L basketball equipment manager Tim Sypher.

FBI spokesman David Beyer confirmed that Pitino told the agency last month that he “was the victim of an apparent extortion and we have an ongoing investigation into the matter.”

News organizations, including The Courier-Journal, have interviewed Karen Sypher but elected not to report the nature of her allegations because they could not be corroborated and because she didn’t make any complaints to police.

Also, Clay said she would have no counterclaims against Pitino.

Both U of L President James Ramsey and athletic director Tom Jurich said in separate statements that they support Pitino and his decision to go to the FBI.

I believe the Feds have a 95% conviction rate. Considering the fact that they are charging her with multiple crimes and Pitino hasn't been investiagted for anything, I'd say things are going to be fine at Louisville.

(05-02-2009 10:48 AM)UofL07 Wrote:  I believe the Feds have a 95% conviction rate. Considering the fact that they are charging her with multiple crimes and Pitino hasn't been investiagted for anything, I'd say things are going to be fine at Louisville.

Fine as in...

Fine #1
Pitino didn't do anything illegal and won't go to jail

Fine #2
She will be found guilty of extortion; but during the trial; a few VERY embarassing details will come out which will prove to be a very big distraction to Pitino and the basketball program

Fine #3
She will be found guilty of extortion; but during the trial; a few or many VERY embarassing details will come out which will make it almost impossible for Pitino to coach, and will spur debate among Louisville fans regarding whether he is fit to coach.

I'm fine with #3

(05-02-2009 11:49 AM)Stammers Wrote:  Fine as in...

Fine #1
Pitino didn't do anything illegal and won't go to jail

Fine #2
She will be found guilty of extortion; but during the trial; a few VERY embarassing details will come out which will prove to be a very big distraction to Pitino and the basketball program

Fine #3
She will be found guilty of extortion; but during the trial; a few or many VERY embarassing details will come out which will make it almost impossible for Pitino to coach, and will spur debate among Louisville fans regarding whether he is fit to coach.

Fine #1
Already happening


Fine #2

This all started at the end of February/beginning of March. Despite all the threats/extortion attempts, Pitino was able to clench the Big East regular season championship, clench the Big East Tournament Championship, and make it to the elite eight. Personally, I'd say that is pretty good considering what was going on. If he can do all of that while receiving threats against his own person and against his family, I'm not going to be too concerned with it being a distraction during the easy part of the schedule next season.


Fine #3

Most Louisville message boards and most Louisville fans aren't even discussing whether or not Pitino is "fit to coach". The fact that the woman's own husband, Jurich, and Ramsey (UofL's president) are all firmly behind Pitino and the fact that Pitino isn't be investigated at all means most of us are firmly behind the coach as well.

Whether or not Pitino did anything immoral with the woman doesn't matter to most Louisville fans; that is a personal issue that his family will have to work out. UofL and the fanbase have already thrown their support behind Pitino and based on everything that has happened, I really don't see that changing.