Coach Rick Pitino talks to WHAS11 News about Sypher scandal, basketball

WHAS11 Sports Director Kyle Draper had a one-on-one with University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

Before interviewing coach Pitino, WHAS11 News was told to only stick to basketball questions but Kyle didn't avoid the topic of Pitino's affair with Karen Cunagin Sypher in the interview.

 

They talked basketball and whether he's viewed differently as a leader since news of the scandal broke and what does he say to those U of L fans that are now turned off by him.

 

 

Louisville basketball Coach Rick Pitino is in his element, teaching the game he loves. But just a short while ago in a far different scene, Pitino was ripping the media for its coverage of the Karen Cunagin Sypher scandal in which he admitted having an affair with her six years ago.

 

“My wife and family do not deserve these lies. You shouldn't be reporting these lies. You want to report the truth go ahead and do it. Report the truth,” said Pitino.

 

That was little more than a week ago when Pitino said he's just going to focus on family and basketball but his actions with Sypher six years ago ignited the events which have led to this point.

Sypher is facing federal extortion charges and some U of L fans have even begun to question whether Pitino should remain on the job.

 

“I turn on the people that like me and I can't be concerned. I'm a big Barack Obama fan but 48% of the U.S. doesn't like him. It's a game of percentages, let's face it. It's about winning. It's about getting quality players. I know my 13 players love me. Their families love me. I love them and that's why we're here. We're not running a presidential race,” says Pitino.

 

Standing in front of local and national media, Pitino admitted he made a mistake. I asked him what he had learned from that mistake.

 

“It's not about that anymore.  When people say to me he who without sin cast first stone, I don't get into that. I don't throw that out there because I know you have just as many sins as I do but that's not your job. You didn't get into trouble, I did. Your job is not to confess or apologize. It's my job.

 

I'll let god be the judge on everybody someday and leave it in his hands. All I can do is coach basketball. Do the best I can in the game of life and move on,” he says.