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Karen Sypher Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison in Rick Pitino Extortion Case

February 18, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

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Karen SypherLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a woman convicted of threatening to reveal a sexual tryst with Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino unless he paid her millions to more than seven years in prison.

Karen Cunagin Sypher sobbed during a hearing Friday before being sentenced to 87 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III. He also ordered two years of supervised release after she serves her prison term.

Sypher was convicted in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. The case centered on evidence that Sypher tried to get Pitino to pay her to keep silent about their one-night stand at a Louisville restaurant in 2003.

A jury convicted Sypher in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. The charges carried a maximum sentence of 26 years, but federal sentencing guidelines called for a shorter term.

 

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Surprising Louisville Stalls on Potential Ride From Good to Great

January 31, 2011   David Steele   No comments

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WASHINGTON — Preston Knowles‘ head was hanging as he sat at his locker in Verizon Center Monday night, not long after Louisville‘s rally against Georgetown fell short, 62-59. Like his teammates, he had played a role in the 15th-ranked Cardinals’ dud of a first half, and in the charge back into the lead in the second half, then its stumbles in the final two minutes as the 13th-ranked Hoyas held them off.

As a follow-up to Louisville’s electrifying double-overtime victory at Connecticut two days earlier — one that elevated the Cardinals, unranked in the preseason, to their highest poll position so far — this was far from an embarrassment. Yet Knowles, Louisville’s only senior starter and its leading scorer, couldn’t find any satisfaction either from the unexpected overall showing (they are now 17-5 and tied for second in the Big East at 6-3) or the near-miss against Georgetown.

“We were picked eighth in our conference,” he said. “I think we exceeded not our expectations, not our team’s, but everybody’s expectations for us. But we want to become a great team, and we have to sacrifice and do the things to become a great team.”

Knowles’ reaction indicates that he heard and absorbed coach Rick Pitino’s post-game lesson for his team: that he was “really, really upset with them,” for a reason.

“We gave them a speech before the game about good to great, that good is the enemy of great,” Pitino continued. “And I want them to understand that as you try to go up the ladder to become a good basketball team, you’ve got to hate losing. It’s got to gnaw at you. You can’t say, ‘Well, that was unbelievable, what a great comeback,’ be satisfied with the comeback and the moral victory. That’s what an inexperienced team can be. It doesn’t matter if you have great heart, you have to win the game.

 

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Louisville Upends UConn in Double-OT

January 29, 2011   Ken Davis   No comments

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STORRS, Conn. — Rick Pitino has been with his Louisville basketball team every step of the way this season, but you get the impression he is having a hard time comprehending the comeback ability of the Cardinals. He did everything but rub his eyes in disbelief Saturday after Louisville rallied from a nine-point, second-half deficit to upset No. 5 Connecticut, 79-78, in double overtime at Gampel Pavilion.

It really was something to see. And it’s safe to say Kemba Walker, a candidate for national player of the year, and the rest of the Huskies wish they had never witnessed it.

“It was a gutty performance,” Pitino said. “I can’t say enough about our guys. I thought I saw it all with Marquette, saw it all with the last game (against West Virginia). But this game, to me, is the capper of the season for us right now.”

Against Marquette on Jan. 15, Louisville rallied from an 18-point deficit with 5:44 remaining to win, 71-70. Three days ago, the Cardinals trailed West Virginia by 12 in the second half and won 55-54 on Peyton Siva‘s driving scoop shot off the glass with 4.5 seconds remaining.

Now, No. 23 Louisville (17-4, 6-2) has moved into sole possession of second place in the Big East. And Siva, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, was in the middle of everything again — especially the UConn defense, which couldn’t stop him from getting to the rim at the end of the game.

Siva led Louisville with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Those numbers are important, but the thing people will remember are the easy baskets he scored. Siva’s layup with 29 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 59-59. His stunning and forceful dunk forced the second overtime. Then he got into the lane for two more driving layups in the second overtime.

 

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To Patriots, Others: Stop Whining, Improve

January 19, 2011   Terence Moore   No comments

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OK, I don’t want you to misunderstand what I prefer regarding sports etiquette, so let’s start with this: Paul Brown had it right. To paraphrase the legendary NFL head coach who smiled only when absolutely necessary, you score a touchdown, you give the ball to the nearest official, and then you keep your mouth shut.

No tributes in the end zone to M.C. Hammer.

No resembling a guy with beehives in his underwear as he screams toward the heavens while beating his chest.

No … well, no Rex Ryan stuff.

That said, if the New England Patriots have issues with how the rather mouthy Ryan came to town last weekend and clowned the Patriots at Gillette Stadium with his New York Jets along the way to the AFC Championship Game, the problem isn’t what the winners did. The problem is what the losers didn’t do — win.

 

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Rick Pitino Says ‘Si’ to Puerto Rico’s National Basketball Team

December 20, 2010   FanHouse Staff   No comments

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Rick Pitino made it a Cardinal day for Puerto Rico’s men’s national basketball team. The Louisville coach agreed to lead the Puerto Rican team next summer as they attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

Pitino was introduced as the team’s new coach Monday.

Puerto Rico last qualified for the Olympics in 2004, beating the United States on its way to a sixth-place finish. Its best Olympic performance was fourth, in 1964 in Tokyo. Potential players next summer include Dallas Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea, Miami Heat guard Carlos Arroyo and Denver Nuggets forward Renaldo Balkman.

Puerto Rico must make a deep run in next summer’s qualifying tournament in Argentina to appear in the 2012 games.

Pitino, of course, won’t be the only college coach in the 2012 Olympics, should Puerto Rico qualify and Pitino retain the job the following year. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Team USA to a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Champsionship, will return for the Americans, along with assistant Jim Boeheim (Syracuse).

American coaches leading national teams other than the United States is not a rare occurrence, either. Bob Donewald Jr. is currently the coach of the Chinese men’s basketball team, a position previously held by ex-Lakers coach Del Harris, while David Blatt, born in Louisville, coaches the Russian national team. Former Wheaton coach Bill Harris coaches the Indian national team.

Compiled from staff and wire reports. Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

 

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Rick Pitino to Meet With Puerto Rican Players Sunday

December 17, 2010   Evan Hilbert   No comments

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On Saturday, Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinal team will face Gardner-Webb in Louisville. The next day, he will head to Miami to meet with Carlos Arroyo and J.J. Barea to discuss coaching Puerto Rico’s national team.

“He’s very excited and it’s almost a done deal,” Barea told ESPN Wednesday. “And I’m excited for it. We need a guy like that. It’s going to help us as a team.”

Puerto Rico, who last played in the Olympics in 2004 when they pasted the United States, is hoping to qualify in 2012. In Athens, they smoked the Americans 92-73. Barea, for one, is optimistic about adding Pitino.

“He’ll bring defense and discipline and I think guys will listen to him more than they listen to the guys in Puerto Rico just because he’s Rick Pitino,” Barea said in the ESPN story.

Pitino would lead Puerto Rico to Argentina in the summer of 2011 to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. If successful, they will qualify for the 2012 games in London.

Pitino has been mum on the subject, but it is speculated he will take the position.

 

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Rick Pitino to Meet With Puerto Rican Players Sunday

December 17, 2010   Evan Hilbert   No comments

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On Saturday, Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinal team will face Gardner-Webb in Louisville. The next day, he will head to Miami to meet with Carlos Arroyo and J.J. Barea to discuss coaching Puerto Rico’s national team.

“He’s very excited and it’s almost a done deal,” Barea told ESPN Wednesday. “And I’m excited for it. We need a guy like that. It’s going to help us as a team.”

Puerto Rico, who last played in the Olympics in 2004 when they pasted the United States, is hoping to qualify in 2012. In Athens, they smoked the Americans 92-73. Barea, for one, is optimistic about adding Pitino.

“He’ll bring defense and discipline and I think guys will listen to him more than they listen to the guys in Puerto Rico just because he’s Rick Pitino,” Barea said in the ESPN story.

Pitino would lead Puerto Rico to Argentina in the summer of 2011 to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. If successful, they will qualify for the 2012 games in London.

Pitino has been mum on the subject, but it is speculated he will take the position.

 

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Rick Pitino Hasn’t Accepted Puerto Rico Coaching Job, Says Louisville

December 14, 2010   FanHouse Staff   No comments

Rick Pitino’s only current full-time job is coaching the Louisville Cardinals, a team spokesman said Tuesday, refuting an earlier story that he had signed on to coach the Puerto Rican men’s national team.

“(Rick Pitino) hasn’t taken it,” Kenny Klein, Louisville’s sports information director told FanHouse. “He has not indicated his level or interest or timetable.”

Primer Hora, a Spanish-language newspaper, said Pitino had agreed to coach the team, according to an anonymous source.

Carlos J. Beltran, the president of the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation said Tuesday that the team is in “very advanced talks,” with Pitino about coaching the club in pre-Olympic qualifying next summer.

Beltran described the situation as “very close,” however, no such deal has yet been reached. Louisville did not offer further comment.

American coaches leading national teams other than the United States is not a rare occurrence. Bob Donewald Jr. is currently the coach of the Chinese men’s basketball team, a position previously held by ex-Lakers coach Del Harris, while David Blatt, born in Louisville, coaches the Russian national team. Former Wheaton coach Bill Harris coaches the Indian national team.

 

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Outside Shooting, Strong Defense Propel Louisville Over UNLV

December 11, 2010   Evan Hilbert   No comments

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It is no secret that No. 24 Louisville has had a soft schedule this year. Some even felt that, because of their easy road thus far, the Cards would be surprised by the able and talented — and undefeated — UNLV Rebels.

Well, the opposite occurred.

Louisville (8-0) used a balanced outside attack and stingy second-half defense to hand Lon Kruger’s team its first loss of the season, 77-69 in Louisville. Chace Stanback, No. 20 UNLV’s leading scorer, struggled all day, finishing with only eight points.

Though both teams entered the game undefeated, their paths couldn’t have been more different. UNLV had gone through Wisconsin and Virginia Tech in the early going, as well as the upstart Boise State. Louisville, on the other hand, played Butler in their opener followed by a series of cupcakes prior to taking out UNLV.

Louisville was impressive throughout, but their back court proved the difference. Preston Knowles, a streaky shooter at best, led Louisville in scoring with 20 and spurred an early second-half run that shell shocked the Rebels. Freshman Chris Smith added 17 and Kyle Kuric, in his first game since suffering a concussion 10 days ago, had 17 points as well on 5-of-8 shooting from three.

This is fast becoming Louisville’s identity. With little to work with in the post, the Cards will be left to rely on their outside scorers — of which they have many. Smith, Kuric, and Knowles proved their mettle against UNLV, but Peyton Siva and Mike Marra are just as capable.

This formula, though successful against a similar team in UNLV, may be a detriment come Big East play. Without more bodies at his disposal, Louisville coach Rick Pitino will be forced to utilize his team speed and quickness to rattle opposing guards. A risky proposition to be sure, but one that Pitino has been successful with throughout his time at Louisville. Still, the absence of Samardo Samuels will show its face at some point in Louisville’s conference slate, probably sooner rather than later.

Sure, so far it has worked out for the Cards. And, barring a slip against an obviously lesser opponent, Louisville will be undefeated when arch rival No. 17 Kentucky rolls into town. But to be a guard-heavy team, bad shooting nights are deadly. Louisville has had its share this season, but the quality of opponent has been so low that it hasn’t made a difference. Saturday, though, the Cardinals showed what they can do with their defense and offense working in tandem.

Louisville held the Rebels — who entered the game second in the nation in field goal percentage at better than 53 percent — to just 43 percent and 31 points in the second half, along with harassing the experienced Rebel back court into 18 turnovers for the game.

UNLV (9-1) continues their gauntlet of major conference opponents, playing No. 5 Kansas State just before Christmas.

 

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Rick Pitino’s Return to Rupp Was College Hoops’ LeBron James in Cleveland Moment

December 02, 2010   Evan Hilbert   No comments

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LeBron James return Rick PitinoWednesday night in Cleveland, LeBron James will return to the city and team that he left so he could take his talents to South Beach. People are upset. There was a personal connection between James and Cleveland — he grew up 40 miles away in Akron, after all — and Cavs fans are prepared voice their displeasure toward their former king.

No one is quite sure what to expect, but something is going to happen, right? I’m sure Cleveland fans are prepared to give their worst to LeBron, but these emotionally-charged games rarely live up to their billing. On Dec. 29, 2001, Rick Pitino, the man that returned Kentucky to prominence and brought the Wildcats their sixth national title in 1996, returned to Lexington as coach of their hated in-state rival.

There was a whirlwind of emotions leading up to the game, where an overmatched Louisville team would surely be destroyed by Tubby Smith’s much more experienced and talented team.

And that’s what happened. Kentucky won by 20, but it was a bit of a letdown. Pitino came in, everyone booed, his terrible team got destroyed, and then he left. After the game, Pitino remarked that he pretty much got what he expected.

“I think that’s the way you’ve got to take it all, as good-natured jests,” he said. “Some of the comments tonight, some people may deem cruel and ridiculous, but we laughed. We thought they were funny and hysterical. That’s what college basketball and entertainment are all about. You have to be able to laugh, you have to have some fun.”

So, yeah, no one really knows what to expect. All we know right now is that tonight is a very big deal. Chances are, though, there will be a basketball game, it will end, and LeBron, with his talents in tow, will head with his teammates back to South Beach.

 

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