Now we know why Rick Pitino owned a restaurant when he was coaching Kentucky.
It wasn't the food. It was the social life.
Maybe you think Pitino's recently reported sexual encounter with a woman in a Louisville restaurant was an isolated incident. Then, you might want to drop by the Downtown "Y" later today when I put on a dunking exhibition.
Pardon my cynicism, but in a society where marital infidelity runs rampant, sports figures and politicians are leading the fast break. Hollywood can't even keep up with those guys.
This isn't a recent development. Years ago, I heard veteran sportswriters tell tales of SEC football coaches who didn't limit their socializing to the home front. But those were more discreet, less violent times, where mistresses would settle for a few mixed drinks and celebrity companionship. Pitino's after-dinner date supposedly wanted $10 million in extortion money.
It could have been worse. Steve McNair's death proves that.
Why does this keep happening? Doesn't anyone watch "Fatal Attraction" anymore?
This just in: It's not all sex, fun and games. Sometimes, it ends with your favorite pet in boiling water. Sometimes, it ends even worse.
Perhaps athletes and coaches are guilty of too much success. When you have a history of winning games and beating the odds, you don't expect to see a one-night stand follow you home with a chef's knife in hand.
In 1994, Pitino's Kentucky team overcome a 31-point deficit to beat LSU in Baton Rouge. That's enough to give a coach a God complex, or at least convince him that he can have sex in a restaurant without being threatened with a $10 million tab.
Pitino has apologized for his "indiscretion" of six years ago. He wants to continue coaching the Louisville Cardinals, and his bosses seem OK with that.
Why shouldn't they be? The coach apparently didn't break any laws. If Bill Clinton could hold on to the highest job in the land after engaging in after-hours diplomacy with an intern, should a basketball coach be required to take the moral high ground?
In the sports world, morality seemingly rises in significance as a coach's won-lost record declines. See former Alabama coach Mike DuBose for details.
Mike Price, another Alabama coach who strayed from the straight and narrow, is an exception. After a day of golf and a night of exotic dancers, Price lost his job without ever losing a game. But he hadn't won one, either.
Look at the Mikes of Alabama. Look at McNair. Look at all the politicians.
Forget the moral aspect, as so many sports figures have. If you view this behavior strictly from an intellectual vantage point, you inevitably arrive at the same question: "How could they be that stupid?"
When you are rich and famous, you aren't just attractive. You're a target. And you're more likely to attract Alexis (Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction") than the girl next door.
Coaches need to realize that you don't always come back from a 31-point deficit. Sometimes, you lose by 50, which is why I would recommend they spend more time doing what they do best: studying video.
After breaking down your next opponent, check out Alex. I encourage you to hit "pause" when she's sitting on the floor, flipping the light switch - on and off, on and off.
Then, commit her best line to memory: "I will not be ignored."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 16
CaliVol2009 writes:
Very very good article Adams. As my father always told me growing up, "all men should have to watch Fatal Attraction." Point taken.
acolvol#632266 writes:
This couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. I have been pi**ed off at Pitino ever since he cut my friend Eric Washington from the Celtics. It ended Eric's NBA career. He has been playing European ball ever since.
I realize that cutting players is a coaches job whenever necessary, but I can still be mad at him if I want to be and I choose to be mad at him.
Couchdummy writes:
Good article! In my house, "Fatal Attraction" is required viewing at least once a year. That dang movie has become a wife's training aid throughout America!
vscebail#247785 writes:
Well, at least he didn't have 9 kids -- like Travis Henry!
VOLinATL writes:
Kudos, John Adams!
pms151 writes:
What the F are you ranting about? You make a living sticking your nose into other's business. You are no moral example to anyone. Quit trying to act like one. If you had the brass ones as you think you do this article could have easily been about you. You are just a small time writer trying to survive at a crappy newspaper writing about the only sport in town.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
"Years ago, I heard veteran sportswriters tell tales of SEC football coaches who didn't limit their socializing to the home front."
But Foolmore is a family man, right?
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Ok, so very few like a guy like Adams, but this is alittle over the top. Lighten up PMS.
murrayvol writes:
Phil will always choose food over marital indiscretion. And that's not a bad thing.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Pitino is like many of the rest of us men. I suppose as John has said, you can become too carried away with yourself. When Rick was coach of Kentucky, he no longer would ever need material goods. He even was offered the job with the Boston Celtics...but found out that pro athletes with their millions and outrageous contracts were not impressed. They did pretty much as they pleased and a coach was more or less a figurehead. As most college coaches do, they head back to coaching at some college. At Kentucky, Rick won the outright SEC title every year...plus easily winning the SEC tournament almost every year...but he became bored, the SEC was not that into basketball with the exception of Kentucky...and some rare times, Tennessee was a tough nut...but all in all, he controlled the SEC like beating a drum. Upon his return to college basketball, he was not interested in the Kentucky job again, but instead he sought the job as head coach of Louisville...a basketball hotbead. Denny Crum, who had won more games plus two NCAA championships at Louisville was sweet talked into retiring...after all, he was in his sixties and had been with Louisville for over 30 years. The top dogs at University of Louisville wanted Pitino, but the path for Crum was sweetened by a handsome "go away" salary to remain at Louisville as " public relations man for the University.". Most folks who move to Louisville are shocked at the incredible interest in basketball teams of the cards..automatic sellout every game of 20,000. All tickets are season tickets..unless you have season tickets..forget it...the season tickets many times are kept within the family. Its basketball talk all-year round...no wonder football coaches come and go like change of seasons. Pitino found a home at Louisville, the cards are members of the Big East conference, and to Pitino that means annual trips at Madison Square Garden, Chicago, Notre Dame, Syracuse to name few...and to Rick Starkville, Birmingham and other SEC cities to name a couple were not his cup of tea. Hey, Pitino is an Easterner, can you blame him because he is attracted to more cosmopolitan league...besides your team will draw more attention from the National media. However, this incident that alleges bad judgement on his part could be his Waterloo. But a recent poll among local fans reveals that an overwhelming number are behind Rick all the way.
footballtime writes:
Hey Adams did you get ran off Shield-Watkins field? God I hope so...well keep going south and back to the pelican state and ask for welfare like the rest of the residence do... geuss your new nickname is Johnny come lately this story is old and boring has nothing to do with football or even the SEC...please resign
richvol writes:
Good article Adams...this could happen to almost any man who strays...it's just a matter of the amount asked for. I would bet that most men in today's world in Pitino's position would be tempted and probably give in to an attractive woman that was aggressive. This has nothing to do with Pitino's ability to coach and apparently happened six years ago so the fact that he has been coaching the team in that period suddenly makes him unfit to coach? Ridiculous. Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone. Idiots like Jim Rome make me sick.
buzz29 writes:
Wow! "PMS", what an appropriate moniker. Lighten up, or in your case maybe you should light up.
allvol32 writes:
Nice article John...you've apparently hit at least a couple of nerves out there as evidenced by the PMS and long_vol posts. Perhaps these two are married to each other?
Keep up the good work!!!
footballtime writes:
Hitler had homosexual tendcies...Stalin was so socially akward he could rarely hold a meeting unless it was small one thus his generals all believed they were the favs..and communication was all fouled up..Nixon well I think a DNA test should be ran on his children the man had hoofs instead of feet
Waldorf writes:
Except when secretaries come into play, then it becomes questionable.
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