Rick Pitino and Karen Sypher Extortion Trial

Rick Pitino head coach of the Louisville Cardinals took the stand today in his defense against one-time mistress Karen Sypher. Pitino had an affair with Sypher after meeting her at a restaurant during a celebration of hiring assistant coach and former NBA player Reggie Theus on July 31, 2003.

According to Pitino, six years after the affair he started receiving calls from a male he did not know stating that he was going to go to the media about the affair and abortion that Karen Sypher had as a result of their consensual sex that night in 2003.

Apparently in March 2009, Pitino received a letter from Sypher's husband demanding a list of things such as college education for all 4 of her boys until they graduate, cars, house, $3,000 a month for 5 years.

Then Rick Pitino received a certified letter from Dana Kolter who was representing Karen Sypher demanding $10 million dollars but would settle for $5 ½ million dollars.

Rick Pitino never paid according to the demand letter and now Karen Sypher and him are in court to settle the extortion case.

Pitino admitted the affair to the public as well as his family. For now, Pitino must deal with past actions even though it was consensual during that time. He has come clean and feels bad for letting himself get put in that situation in the first place.

Personally, I feel that Karen Sypher and her husband were having financial trouble and thought of the plan up six years later hoping to get something from Rick Pitino. However, that plan backfired when Pitino went to his lawyers and the police once he received the letter demanding everything.

The University of Louisville didn't fire Rick Pitino over the whole incidence but didn't condone his actions on that night. Pitino made a mistake and now he's dealing with the repercussions. Hopefully, Rick and his family reconciled over his cheating.

Sources:

www.cnn.com

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=12889905#