Rick Pitino Scandal Exposes Lurid Underbelly and Fast Food Belly

Up until recently, I’ve always liked Rick Pitino.  Growing up in New York, I couldn’t help but root for him as an obscure assistant under Hubie Brown with the struggling New York Knicks.   He was animated, even back then as a Hubie protégé.   When he flourished as a head coach, he carried a swagger that seemed earned.  It was part Italian swagger, part basketball whiz kid.   Rick also has been a generous guy with a huge heart.  He has always been involved with charities with genuine motivation.   He and his wife have endured all sorts of tragedies and health issues.  To me, Rick always seemed like a stand-up guy.  I respected him for his personality as much as his accomplishments.   This background is what makes the extortion case involving Rick, his long time friend and equipment manager Tim Sypher, and his wife Karen Sypher all the more puzzling and disturbing.   We won’t re-hash all the detail...