Pitino Gonna Pitino

[Inyatkin]

finessey ballet dancers

You sure have a way of talking about the team you supposedly root for

 

[RuffRuff]

You sure have a way of talking about the team you supposedly root for

Lol, mean it in the most loving of ways. I realize it's a bit over the top, simply excited to see what Hurley does next. This is what is great about sports, two goliaths talking smack, raising stakes and putting pressure on the other side. It's great entertainment.

If anyone has watched the 2004 Sox/Yanks documentary on the comeback, it's very good and dives into the front office moves made by Theo in the off season with an intentional drive to beat the Yankees. This isn't the same, but it has the makings of that kind of chess match. Two fierce competitors, the senior statesmen now proud he's built a team/system that has jumped the 2 time defending champ. Champ with an off year due to bad roster construction, let's see how he responds - such great stuff. The portal season will be riveting.

 

[Inyatkin]

Lol, mean it in the most loving of ways. I realize it's a bit over the top, simply excited to see what Hurley does next. This is what is great about sports, two goliaths talking smack, raising stakes and putting pressure on the other side. It's great entertainment.

Most people think of it in terms of "talking smack" about the other team. You love to go after our guys. And you can't stop gushing about Florida and Duke and Auburn.

It's weird.

 

[GampelGladiator]

Not bad. If St. John’s continues to get 7 figures plus so they can be good, they’ll be our rival. Their fanbase is insufferable though. Who knows if Pitino leaves after 3 years

Don't forget...in order for St. John's to be a player they need a Hall of Fame coach...only took them 30 years to find Lou's HOF replacement

 

[ucp990411]

I hate every New York team, Yankees the most but St Johns with their scum bag coach and fair weather insufferable fans are quickly moving up the list. I will say though that their players seem likeabke.

 

[John]

If you can't appreciate trash talking as a great part of sports, then you have likely never played and have been watching on a TV your whole life. Cheater or not, it's fun, it's old school and great entertainment.

oh God, here we go again.

 

[GampelGladiator]

I loathe Pitino...but that was a funny line!

 

[RuffRuff]

oh God, here we go again.

I do wonder if 90% of this board has actually ever played sports at any meaningful level, or has simply watched it from a television set wearing their teams hoody.

 

[superjohn]

I do wonder if 90% of this board has actually ever played sports at any meaningful level, or has simply watched it from a television set wearing their teams hoody.

We've got Bo Jackson over here.

 

[Inyatkin]

I do wonder if 90% of this board has actually ever played sports at any meaningful level, or has simply watched it from a television set wearing their teams hoody.

I do wonder if you've ever had an unexpressed thought

 

[MexicoHusky]

Good for him and St Johns. They deserve their time in the sun

 

[Tenspro2002]

eh, this is pretty innocuous

I think it's funny how obsessed the rest of the league is

Rent free

 

[ec33]

Pitino is easily Top 5 college coach of all time and great on the mic. Show the man some respect.

So Wooden, K, Rupp, Calhoun, and Pitino? Others need not be considered?

 

[RuffRuff]

So Wooden, K, Rupp, Calhoun, and Pitino? Others need not be considered?

Knight. Roy W. Dean Smith.

Guys like Izzo & Jay Wright are in the conversation.

Rick's knock is continuity, but that comes with the recognition that he can win/adapt wherever he goes. Very few coaches have taken his path. Most of those guys above are one program guys, Roy being the exception.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I do wonder if 90% of this board has actually ever played sports at any meaningful level, or has simply watched it from a television set wearing their teams hoody.

"I'm the one cool guy on the internet" is a hilarious shtick.

 

[John]

Knight. Roy W. Dean Smith.

Guys like Izzo & Jay Wright are in the conversation.

Rick's knock is continuity, but that comes with the recognition that he can win/adapt wherever he goes. Very few coaches have taken his path. Most of those guys above are one program guys, Roy being the exception.

If you're putting Izzo in there then you need to add Boeheim.

 

[temery]

If you can't appreciate trash talking as a great part of sports, then you have likely never played and have been watching on a TV your whole life. Cheater or not, it's fun, it's old school and great entertainment.

He's a slimy corrupt POS who knows how to coach. No respect whatsoever. It's like crediting Dalmer for his fusion cooking.

 

[superjohn]

He's a slimy corrupt POS who knows how to coach. No respect whatsoever. It's like crediting Dalmer for his fusion cooking.

Comparing Pitino to Jeffrey Dahmer is unfair to Jeffrey Dahmer.

 

[RuffRuff]

He's a slimy corrupt POS who knows how to coach. No respect whatsoever. It's like crediting Dalmer for his fusion cooking.

Now that was funny. If you came up with that yourself, we need more.

BTW saw Sebastien M on Saturday - what a good show.

 

[John]

Now that was funny. If you came up with that yourself, we need more.

BTW saw Sebastien M on Saturday - what a good show.

if you've never stood on stage and been a stand-up comic, you're in no position to judge it.

 

[RuffRuff]

CHATGBT response to asking whether Pitino is a crooked coach:


ChatGPT said:
Rick Pitino is one of the most polarizing figures in college basketball history. While his coaching brilliance and tactical acumen are undeniable, his career has been marred by controversy. Whether you view him as a crooked, underhanded coach or simply a product of a deeply flawed system depends on perspective.

The Case for Pitino Being “Crooked”​

1. NCAA Violations & Scandals
   • Louisville Recruiting Scandal (2017): The FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball implicated Louisville in a pay-for-play scheme, where Adidas allegedly paid a recruit’s family. Though Pitino denied involvement, he was fired.
   • Escort Scandal (2015): A former assistant allegedly arranged for strippers and escorts to entertain recruits at Louisville. The NCAA vacated Louisville’s 2013 national title—the first time that had ever happened in modern NCAA history.
2. His Reputation in Recruiting
   • Critics argue that Pitino's programs have consistently operated in gray areas, pushing the boundaries of NCAA rules.
   • Even if he wasn’t directly involved in the Louisville scandals, his lack of control over his program contributed to its downfall.
3. The Boston Celtics & Other Controversies
   • Pitino's Celtics tenure (1997-2001) was a disaster, full of power struggles and front-office failures.
   • He has had strained relationships with administrators, media, and even fans at different points in his career.

---

The Case for Pitino as a Brilliant (but Flawed) Coach​

1. Unmatched Coaching Success
   • One of the greatest tacticians in college basketball, with two national titles (technically one, post-vacation) and Final Four appearances with three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville).
   • Master of rebuilding programs, bringing multiple teams back to national prominence.
2. No Direct Proof of Wrongdoing
   • Pitino has never been directly implicated in any major scandal—it was always assistants, boosters, or third-party actors who took the fall.
   • His defenders argue that in modern recruiting, top coaches operate in an environment where violations are rampant—he just happened to be the one who got caught.
3. Successful Comeback & Continued Influence
   • After his exile from the NCAA, he won a championship in Greece before returning to coach at Iona and now St. John’s.
   • Despite his past, he still commands immense respect in coaching circles.

---

Final Verdict: A Coaching Genius with a Shadowy Legacy​

Is Rick Pitino “crooked”? If you define that as bending or breaking rules to gain an advantage, then yes, his career is littered with scandals and NCAA violations. But if you see him as a legendary coach caught up in a corrupt system, then he’s no different from many others—just more scrutinized.
Either way, Pitino is a survivor, and his rivalry with Dan Hurley and UConn is only adding another compelling chapter to his storied career.

 

[RuffRuff]

if you've never stood on stage and been a stand-up comic, you're in no position to judge it.

I see what you did there.

 

[John]

CHATGBT response to asking whether Pitino is a crooked coach:


ChatGPT said:
Rick Pitino is one of the most polarizing figures in college basketball history. While his coaching brilliance and tactical acumen are undeniable, his career has been marred by controversy. Whether you view him as a crooked, underhanded coach or simply a product of a deeply flawed system depends on perspective.

The Case for Pitino Being “Crooked”​

1. NCAA Violations & Scandals
   • Louisville Recruiting Scandal (2017): The FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball implicated Louisville in a pay-for-play scheme, where Adidas allegedly paid a recruit’s family. Though Pitino denied involvement, he was fired.
   • Escort Scandal (2015): A former assistant allegedly arranged for strippers and escorts to entertain recruits at Louisville. The NCAA vacated Louisville’s 2013 national title—the first time that had ever happened in modern NCAA history.
2. His Reputation in Recruiting
   • Critics argue that Pitino's programs have consistently operated in gray areas, pushing the boundaries of NCAA rules.
   • Even if he wasn’t directly involved in the Louisville scandals, his lack of control over his program contributed to its downfall.
3. The Boston Celtics & Other Controversies
   • Pitino's Celtics tenure (1997-2001) was a disaster, full of power struggles and front-office failures.
   • He has had strained relationships with administrators, media, and even fans at different points in his career.

---

The Case for Pitino as a Brilliant (but Flawed) Coach​

1. Unmatched Coaching Success
   • One of the greatest tacticians in college basketball, with two national titles (technically one, post-vacation) and Final Four appearances with three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville).
   • Master of rebuilding programs, bringing multiple teams back to national prominence.
2. No Direct Proof of Wrongdoing
   • Pitino has never been directly implicated in any major scandal—it was always assistants, boosters, or third-party actors who took the fall.
   • His defenders argue that in modern recruiting, top coaches operate in an environment where violations are rampant—he just happened to be the one who got caught.
3. Successful Comeback & Continued Influence
   • After his exile from the NCAA, he won a championship in Greece before returning to coach at Iona and now St. John’s.
   • Despite his past, he still commands immense respect in coaching circles.

---

Final Verdict: A Coaching Genius with a Shadowy Legacy​

Is Rick Pitino “crooked”? If you define that as bending or breaking rules to gain an advantage, then yes, his career is littered with scandals and NCAA violations. But if you see him as a legendary coach caught up in a corrupt system, then he’s no different from many others—just more scrutinized.
Either way, Pitino is a survivor, and his rivalry with Dan Hurley and UConn is only adding another compelling chapter to his storied career.

Are you at least putting KY on Pitino's leg?

 

[Husky Alien]

Mr. Pitino must be geographically challenged.

 

[RuffRuff]

Are you at least putting KY on Pitino's leg?

He prefers olive oil, evol if you want specifics.

 

[storrsroars]

I love it. Rick is poking the bear much like Geno did to Pat all those years ago. And Geno was called classless and disrespectful. It's great for the conference, the tourney, and Northeastern basketball.

 

[gtcam]

Remember - it was Ricky P who decided to pay Travis Knight an unheard of salary while HC/Pres of the Celtics and said that Knight was the center of the future in pro basketball.
I remember at the time saying to my buddy that I've never seen Shaq laugh so loud and called Pitino a colorful name.

 

[UCan3]

I took it as a dig.

yeah, such a minor one though really. And Rick is seventy years old. I'm going to give him a little bit of a senior runway for making comments like these

 

[gtcam]

If you can't appreciate trash talking as a great part of sports, then you have likely never played and have been watching on a TV your whole life. Cheater or not, it's fun, it's old school and great entertainment.

Couldn't agree more
Larry Bird was a master at talking trash - I remember sitting courtside in a Celtics game vs the 76ers and Bird and Doug Collins were going at it with each other and Bird was hilarious - he even had the 76ers laughing their arses off. At one point one of the Sixers said to Bird that he didn't have the guts to say something to The Round Mound of Rebounds face and Bird said outloud - that lazy fat arse wouldn't understand a word I said. Even the refs were smiling on that one.
After the game Collins and Bird acted like best friends.

 

[sdglast]

I love it. Rick is poking the bear much like Geno did to Pat all those years ago. And Geno was called classless and disrespectful. It's great for the conference, the tourney, and Northeastern basketball.

I agree. Pitino is a showman (beyond being a great coach) and loves ribbing Hurley. This isn't new, he was enjoying the media attention and the accolades while at Iona and seemed to the point of overconfidence going into the game against UConn in the tournament. I honestly believe he thought Iona would win and was shocked when UConn blew them out in the 2nd half. It drove him crazier when UConn beat him last year (again, I think he really thought he was going to win those games). In the end, the way to stick it to him is to beat him, and this year UConn couldn't do that. So he as a right to crow. I think it's great for the league. With that being said, I think deep down, he admires the program and how well it was built and has been carried on by Hurley. He doesn't seem to care much about the other Big East teams, as he knows UConn is still the big fish in the league with 6 National Championships. As an aside, I was glad UConn did not draw New Mexico--Pitino would have given his son every bit of scouting to defeat UConn in round 1. I suspect he isn't doing that to Marquette. In the end, I don't pay him much mind. I recognize his greatness as a coach, but he has the same amount of championships as Hurley and St. Johns is way in the rear view mirror as far as national championships go. I guess as they wave at Storrs on their ride, St. Johns fans can also glance at the sign noting our number of national championships and ponder that for the rest of their drive.