Rick Pitino Told Police He Had Sex with Karen Sypher and Gave Her $3,000 to Have an Abortion
College Basketball, Courts, Legal August 11th. 2009, 9:43pm
No wonder Rick Pitino briefly flirted with the idea of taking the Sacramento Kings coaching job.
University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino told police that he had consensual sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher at a Louisville restaurant where he’d been drinking on Aug. 1, 2003. He also told police that he later gave Sypher $3,000 to have an abortion, according to Louisville Metro Police reports The Courier-Journal obtained under the Kentucky Open Records Act.
Pitino has been married to Joanne Minardi since 1976. That being said, all of Sypher tales after the aforementioned incidents appear to have been debunked by police.
Pitino told police he had consensual sex with Sypher (Courier Journal via Yahoo Sports)
EARLIER: Courier-Journal tip-toes around Pitino Rumors
117 Responses to “Rick Pitino Told Police He Had Sex with Karen Sypher and Gave Her $3,000 to Have an Abortion”
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August 11th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Surprised Pat Forde didn’t report this first. (snickers)
August 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
um. what?
August 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
white suit = pimp. whats the problem?
August 11th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Note to everyone, especially famous people, if you are cheating on your wife wrap that shit up!
August 11th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
he was there that night hiding under the table. best night of his life.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
reporter did a tremendous job tracking down the documents.
now, he’ll need police protection for a few days until this blows over
August 11th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
now that is a headline.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
CGB – what’s interesting is that only 2 weeks after the sex, she came to Rick saying she was pregnant. Awful quick, huh?
August 11th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
3k for an abortion? was the abortion performed by dr. james andrews?
August 11th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
$3000 sounds about right.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Rick is dumb.
But the woman is nuts. Certifiable.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino told police that he had consensual sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher at a Louisville restaurant where he’d been drinking on Aug. 1, 2003.
Wait, he had sex at a restaurant? Well played, sir. Except for the whole getting her knocked up.
CGB – what’s interesting is that only 2 weeks after the sex, she came to Rick saying she was pregnant. Awful quick, huh?
Yes. Most certainly yes. My wife has been pregnant twice and 4-5 weeks is when she notices something, a bit after that until she mentions something to me.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Really? Maybe Rick should have paid more attention in health class.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
which we all know means she is great in the sack.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
which is why he didn’t wait to take her home.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
it’s a great read, KC – Sypher was at this party at the restaurant (for Reggie Theus being named asst coach), and was talking to Rick then left and came back at closing to bang him.
he said he was wasted, and thought they were alone … his buddy was ‘resting’ in another room and heard it all
August 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
And he’s still only the 2nd dirtiest/sleaziest coach in the state.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
So, Pitino is only going to get a public opinion backlash, correct? He’s not legally charged with anything.
Can the NCAA actually do anything here, either? Or, the University of Louisville? He’s actually in the clear occupationally. Family wise, Rick is going to be sleeping on the couch for the rest of his life.
The woman is going to be sleeping on a cot with a toilet 2 feet from her head.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
@TBL – The whole story just seems messed up. If I remember correctly her husband (ex maybe) was siding with Pitino too.
@mrejr – What’s the going rate of an abortion, I have no clue.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Yeah I bet there was never a pregnancy or abortion. The most amazing part of this story is that she marries Pitino’s assistant 6 months later and they actually stay married until this year? That’s. weird.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Someone from Notre Dame did something douchey?! color me shocked!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
well i order most of my bitches to get their abortions through priceline.com so it varies.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
TBL looks around, as the evidence suggests Rick Pitino just had sex in the restaurant…
He says, “Looks like”
(takes sunglasses off, arms akimbo)
“Somebody had Rick’s spicy meatballs with the special sauce”
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Does the look of William Shatner just scare the fetus out of them?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
im not defending Rick here, but it seems like a major, major lapse in judgment. he was drunk, or so he claims.
i wonder if him coughing up 3k for an abortion will anger some folks.
CJack – Clearly, she just wanted to be in Rick’s orbit, and she’d do anything – including marry his friend 6 months later.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
My understanding is it’s under a grand, well under most places, five or six hundred bucks.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
On a semi-related tangent, Rick Pitino is king of the O-face. Here is one of my favorites.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
no he usually uses a taser set on piss-off-catholics
August 11th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Most. Expensive. Hanger. EVAR!!!!!1!!1!*!!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Which leads me to believe that Rick Pitino is better in the sack then he is at coaching basketball.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
mrej i enjoyed the last line of that article
August 11th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
was the abortion performed by dr. james andrews?
+1
August 11th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
This made me very happy.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
which one?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
That story is great. Pitino told her to meet at the strength coachs’s house to discuss the whole pregnancy thing then she ends up marrying the strength coach and coming to Louisville functions! Jesus. That is great. Where’s Tracey Gold? Lets get this on Lifetime.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Well that was hilarious. I listened to the brawl on both feeds, the Red Sox guys basically say Porcello forced Youkilis to charge the mound. Frontrunning dicks.
And they continually chastize the Tigers, mainly Porcello and Jackson and refuse to admit Youkilis got bitched.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Shoulda done her in the broom closet if he wanted privacy!
/Boris Becker’d
August 11th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
She looks like the evil stepmother in a G rated movie.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
$3K is peanuts for Pitino. Odd that it took this long for this to come out. Sounds like she is broke.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
mrejr: Shot at Notre Dame, shot at Catholicism, shot at Brooks and Dunn… are we gonna have to settle this in the parking lot???
August 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
August 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
This whole topic is a veritable gold mine. Do you go with the Larry Eustachy prefers to impregnate the chicks at parties angle? Good heavens. At the bottom of the affidavit, he was undressing her and said”
“Your husband is not walking through the door. The late shift manager is not walking through the door. My wife is not walking through that door, and if she does, she’s old and grey. NOW LET”S DO THIS.”
August 11th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
At least on TV. Eckersley initially blamed Youkilis. Then, after a multi-inning dialogue with himself, convinced himself that maybe it was Porcello’s fault.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I’ll be interestd to hear it, if I even do. Homer broadcasters. That’s what they get paid to do.
I couldn’t even fathom how White Sux broadcasting hack extraordinnaire Hawk Harrelson would scream/cry/piss and moan.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Can we have another round of “why I hate Hawk Harrelson?” It’s my favorite game.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
i see getting trapped in a bus going cross country in her future
August 11th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Lesson as always, Protect ya neck… North Jersey ain’t nuttin to fuck wit
August 11th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Chris Wheeler in Philly is awful. I can’t avoid him here. Kalas was great (although declining, he forgot names and got stuff wrong more and more), and Larry Andersen is funny, but Wheeler is atrocious.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Mitch Williams on MLB network said Youkilis shamed his family by rushing the mound and throwing his helmet.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
jersey…i knew the notre dame crack would draw you out. fuck that yankees while we’re at it.
[gets in kung-fu stance]
ki-yaaaaaaaaa!
/team america’d
August 11th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I’d charge the press box.
As for Pitino, he may want to get acquainted with this famous Eddie Murphy routine. His wife sure as hell will.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Damn right, I was pumped a fellow NJ guy took it to the Sox. God knows I will never get a shot.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
mum’s the word on Roethlisberger.
Pitino? have at it.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Kudos badger. I still haven’t heard an explanation for ESPN’s handling of Big Ben that makes a lick of sense.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
warranted, warranted, warranted. Shouldn’t you be in Mexico City anyways, Jozy?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Man, 3k for sex? He got have got someone way hotter and willing to do “greek” for 3k. Thats what Craigslist says anyway. Um, not like I go to that smut.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Have fun with the pussy starting at qb this year at soldier field
(Sweeps the leg)
/Cobra Kai’d
August 11th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
She looks like she’ll be in Penthouse.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
have fun with the cagey scenester or kellen clemens*snickers* starting at Giants stadium. your teams sucks so bad it doesnt even get a stadium of its own. it is allowed to play in the giants home.
[krane kick]
[mr. miyagi pinches your nose in the parking lot]
/daniel san’d
August 11th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
What time is USA/Mexico tomorrow?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
3 pm god’s time gal
August 11th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I’d have to say, I guess Pitino already went to the wife about this, right? Once you go to the cops saying you are being black-mailed, you assume you’d rather your wife and friends learn what you did rather than pay the cash, right?
This had to KILL Pitino, I don’t all about him as I don’t follow college hoops much but he seems to love every nickel he makes with the suits that are worth more than my car, and such….
August 11th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
This hasn’t stopped making me happy.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Shouldn’t Pitino know the rhythm method?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
4 ET on mun2, which I just found out is “mun dos” not “mun two”
August 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
OMG… Milton Bradley just tied the game against Brad Lidge.
What year is it?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Lidge just blew ANOTHER save. I don’t know what the phillies can do, but it sure seems like they need to do something.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
My backpack, has jets. I’m Boba, the Fett.
EXCELLENT.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Yeesh. I’m sure some of the kids I graduated with are probably drunk and egged his house already. In fact, I’d bet on it. Dicks.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
usa game at 4 pm est
if you dont have it on your TV, i’ll be providing updates on the site and on twitter
August 11th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Every time I see the word “backpack” I get that fucking Dora the Explorer backpack song in my head. Cock. Balls.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
think lindstrom reclaims the closer roll after tonight, hope none of you are in my leagues.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
astros fans are quite familiar with THIS brad lidge!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
It’s also on Telemundo. I’m sure more people have Telemundo than mun2.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Early predictions? I guess I have amnesia on the Spain game and will go with a 1-0 Mexico win on typical homer refs and another un-inspiring USA attack. If Bradley is a top coach, this is time to show up. But damn, I’d really love to shove this game up the Tres a$$ and let the urine-bombs fly down from Azteca.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
oh albert
August 11th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Is the game on anything but Direct TV?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Why didn’t the Phillies just ask for Kerry Wood as well? I am sure Shapiro would have just thrown him in as well.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
justin.tv will have a feed too I’m assuming
August 11th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
It’s an interesting question. You’d think they’d want to shed the salary.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Unfortunately for you, even HE can’t hit a grand slam with no one on base. If anyone could though…
August 11th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
and I assume that would have pleased spencer.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
By the way, I don’t think giving a chick you knocked up $3K for an abortion is sleazy especially if you’re a rich dude. Would you rather be like all the other idiot athletes who hook up with dumb, money hungry broads and end up having to pay thousands of dollars in child support for a kid you don’t even want?
August 11th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
i posted earlier but i thought it’s pretty sweet.
i got to see the stanley cup today with Dan Bylsma. brought it into town for the day.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
TST – Aaron Miles might be the worst baseball player I have ever seen. How the fuck did Tony La Russa get production out of this goatee’d cocknozzle?
/best I could do on short notice
August 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
So you’re pro-extortion?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Tony LaRussa is insanely good about managing his bench. I laughed my ass off when the Cubs signed Miles at that salary. In a related note, did you know Miles while he was a Rockies minor leaguer walked in on his teammates tied up and defeated some robbers with fisticuffs?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I’m amazed no one’s stolen the Stanley Cup with the way it randomly wanders about.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
it isnt like it fits under a starter jacket.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
One of the trustees who is always with it would end up jumping you. Besides, it’s already been lost….alot.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
there was one guy that never left it alone, even for a second. he was wearing white gloves, i guess he’s the dude that always shines it before they give it on the ice.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
That’s racist.
And it has been stolen/lost many, many times.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Thank the 1994 NY Rangers for that one.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I was hoping Crosby would bring it to Shattuck so I could go see it. Alas. I guess I’ll have to wait for Parise to win it.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
interesting about the Cup, somebody should write a book about it’s history. You could touch on the great teams through the decades and these various losses. I’d read it.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Nobody that cares about the Stanley Cup would ever steal it for good. Misplace it? Forget about where you left it due to inebriation? Absolutely. Theft would be for scrap but it’s a pretty damn big piece of sports history, I think it’d turn up.
I worked in hockey and it’s revered. The status it has with players is not like any of the other major sports trophies, or any I can think of…
August 11th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
This has to be Kansas City’s highest scoring game this season.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
It’s been done. Fun book to read.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
dude 3k for an abortion! thats hitman money!
August 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
No doubt on the Cup, I just think somebody would think they could get away with it in a bar, or several somebodies, vaguely think they could ransom it or something. Not a good plan, I admit, but people are stupid.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
No. Most guys won’t even pay for half of an abortion. He gave her a generous amount considering abortions are, what, $600?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
the comments at espn.com are a trip
August 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I suspected that as I was writing that Hawkeye, any idea the title/author?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
trust me when i tell you that the starter jacket cost wal-mart alot of money in the early 90’s one of my friends would walk in wal-mart grab a couple pellet guns 3 or 4 cartons of cigarettes and whatever else he could fit in that coat. and he was white.
/no by friend i dont mean me.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
A pretty good one:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Mario-Lemieuxs-Swimming-Pool/dp/1572434406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250047019&sr=8-1
August 11th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
random: Can Pitino try to hide behind ‘well, there was no actual abortion’ (if there wasnt), and get away from the republicans that way? or is intent enough?
wonder how many of the big $$$$ boosters are republicans?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
It’s Kentucky, do you really want an answer to that question?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
TBL, you’re REALLY reaching with this whole “Republican boosters won’t give money because some girl may or may not have had an abortion” thing. It’s August. College basketball starts in November. It will be forgotten in a month tops.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Boosters couldn’t care less. you think the never paid for an abortion for the ball players? they only care about winning.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
It will be forgotten in a month tops
Agree completely. Winning cures all. But if they struggle I expect to hear about it or it least for the locals to bring it up
August 11th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Don’t underestimate this will help Pitino. It’s sick, but it’s sort of how Kobe’s jersey, shoes, et al became like 200% more popular after he got off for raping that chick in COL. He had street cred, apparently.
If Rick went to his players and told them this, I pretty much feel he could have gotten some savvy advice from guys who have likely had this shit already happen. Saved himself a ton of grief, provided he had any and doesn’t only give a crap about the cash.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Don’t underestimate this will help Pitino.
Ok, while I feel it won’t really hurt him in terms of his job or boosters, in no way is it good for your college coach to be cheating on his wife (drunk if you believe him) and paying for the mistress’ abortion. It will be hell in any stadium they visit and fodder for any coach negative recruiting. I’m not touching the Kobe argument right now, it’s been done here many times before and goes no where.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I won’t say it for little Baby Ears over there, but it rhymes with ‘Shmashmortion.’ I’m just saying– Hold on, Jay, cover your ears. You should get a shmashmortion at the shmashmotion clinic.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I’m not saying it’s right it might help him, I was just bringing up a point. I think college basketball has to be the most corrupt and skeevie (sic) of all sports leagues, yes even more than college football b/c there are 320 teams Div 1 teams.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I think at best it doesn’t hurt him, but I expect any stadium Louisville walks into to be a shit show (college students are devastatingly cruel and have no boundaries) and a lot of coaches won’t negative recruit, but if you’re talking to some kids’ parents who are a little religious or conservative you think you might bring up Pitino’s “poor morals.” Pitino doesn’t slang his jersey, when he walks into a kid’s house his selling his name and reputation which just took a major hit.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:29 am
well done, RS.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:26 am
What a crazy story. Yeah, it will be forgotten when Louisville is ranked in the top 10 come Turkey time.