However the Rick Pitino extortion story plays out, the damage already has been done. When sensational allegations make their way into the media, the story takes on a life of its own. Gossip and rumor-mongering foul the airwaves and the Internet. The facts, whatever they are, become almost secondary to the perception. The damage to all concerned is incalculable.
Celebrity, of course, is the ultimate double-edged sword. A celebrity’s successes and failures both are blown far out of proportion. Celebrities get the part about being grossly overpaid and hero-worshipped everywhere they go. Some even come to believe it’s their due. But many don’t seem to understand, until it’s too late, that their mistakes are going to be magnified every bit as much.
As basketball coach at the University of Louisville, Pitino is the city’s No. 1 celebrity. That in itself is sort of sad when you think about it, because it shows how celebrity-deprived our city is. But that’s a topic for another day. The point is, Pitino knows that whenever he ventures into public, he’s going to be a target for somebody, even if it’s only an autograph-seeker.
I’m not suggesting that celebrities should become prisoners in their own homes. I’m just suggesting that they must be wary. The world is full of predators who want more than just a little slice of reflected glory. They want to get into a celebrity’s wallet or purse.
Pitino can be completely innocent of whatever is being alleged against him. But the stories to that effect will not negate the embarrassment to him, his family, and friends. It’s the same as when newspapers run headlines saying So-and-So has been indicted. To many in this educationally challenged state of ours, indicted means “guilty” and no amount of evidence to the contrary will change their minds. Newspapers run corrections when they’re wrong. But somehow the correction never achieves the impact of the original story.
All I know for sure at this point is that Fox 41 should be ashamed of itself.
Read the Rest After the Jump…
Anybody who has ever taken Journalism 101 knows that when a source comes to you with a story, you take down the information and allegations. Then you begin the hard work of checking it out. The rule of thumb at the Courier-Journal used to be that a reporter must have at least three sources to corroborate a fact. If the allegations aren’t provable, if there’s no evidence (even circumstantial evidence), then there’s no story. It goes right into the trash can.
But what you don’t do is run film clips or photos of the source to “tease” a story you don’t have or aren’t willing to run. It’s shoddy journalism of the worst kind. It would be like the C-J running a front-page photo of Karen Sypher and writing, “We have interviewed this beautiful blond person who has made salacious allegations about Rick Pitino, and never mind that we can’t prove any of it, we’re just running her picture to titillate you.”
In a sense, Fox 41 has almost become an accomplice in the extortion, witting or not. Apparently it was the only news source willing to interview Ms. Sypher. When Pitino found out about the interview, he decided to launch a pre-emptive strike by coming out with a public statement about the alleged extortion attempt. By hyping a story it did not have, Fox 41 violated basic journalistic ethics. It also did a serious disservice to Pitino.
No matter what the facts may show, the incident will become one more item that the media will note repeatedly in future Pitino stories. It will be referenced for years to come in snide remarks to radio talk shows. Pitino’s detractors will believe him guilty, no matter what the facts may show. They will cite the hoary old “Where there’s smoke…” line until it makes your eyes cross.
Yesterday Ms. Sypher whined in an interview with Fox 41 buddies that people were being mean to her. Well, what did she expect would come of doing the interview that caused the mess to land in the public domain?
On a personal note, I hope her allegations, whatever they are, are proven to be false. In the 20 years I’ve known Pitino, I’ve always found him to be a gentleman. My opinion of him rose even higher after he lost his beloved brother-in-law, Billy Minardi, in the 9/11 holocaust. He always has been extraordinarily generous with his family and closest friends.
But no good end can come to this sorry episode. There will be no winners, only losers, and they’ll all have the scars to prove it.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Dan // Apr 21, 2009 at 3:15 pm
The saddest part of it all is that the many Big Blew supporters who will always hate Pitino for leaving UK (many of whom would have loved to to see his return to Kentucky, by the way) will take great pleasure seeing him suffer through this nasty mess.
2 Wals // Apr 21, 2009 at 9:47 pm
FBI investigation, Fox 41 or not. Rick was never going to be able to avoid being deposed in discovery for the Sypher divorce proceedings.
He’ll be under oath Billy. We’ll hear what he has to say.
3 Brian, Atlanta // Apr 21, 2009 at 11:12 pm
If this is a “sensational allegation”, why do you feel it important to put on your blog, Billy? Are you not as bad as the rest of the media? To me, this is a NON STORY!
You did have one thing right, the “educationally challenged state of ours” are idiots and 99% of them know nothing except that Obama is the President and that John Calipari is their new coach. Ask these “educationally challenged” folks who the Vice President is, or better yet, who is the Governor of the Commonwealth? I bet they would know who won American Idol.
4 » Pitino, the blonde, and the damages John Clay’s Sidelines // Apr 22, 2009 at 10:04 am
[…] Billy Reed writes that with Rick Pitino, the damage is done. William F. is right. At this point, it’s not really important whether Pitino’s claim of an extortion attempt proves to be true, or if Karen Sypher’s undisclosed claims have validity. What is important is that they have commanded the public’s attention, especially the local public, these past five days. For Pitino, that’s not good. […]
5 Pitino, the blonde, and the damages | MrSEC.com // Apr 22, 2009 at 10:20 am
[…] Billy Reed writes that with Rick Pitino, the damage is done. William F. is right. At this point, it’s not really important whether Pitino’s claim of an extortion attempt proves to be true, or if Karen Sypher’s undisclosed claims have validity. What is important is that they have commanded the public’s attention, especially the local public, these past five days. For Pitino, that’s not good. […]
6 jhn // Apr 22, 2009 at 10:36 am
Two points-
1) I think your criticism of Fox 41 is a bit unfair. My recollection is that the first I heard of this story was when Pitino issued a press release. Now, you in the media may have been talking about it before then, but I don’t recall Fox 41 publicly disclosing any of it until Pitino brought it out into the open.
2) Pitino hasn’t acted like an innocent victim. Innocent victims hold a press conference, answer any and all questions, and then move on. In this case- Pitino has done the opposite, so far- not spoken to anyone and (from what I have heard) has done everything in his legal capacity to quash any story that this lady tries to get out.
Hopefully, Rick will hold that press conference once the FBI investigation is completed. My guess is that he will not- but that is what an innocent person is expected to do in this circumstance.
But, I think the “truth” of what occurred in this matter is, as always, somewhere in the middle and that’s not going to be good enough for Pitino’s reputation anyway- and certainly not good enough to be able to hold an open press conference.
7 bluesincecox // Apr 22, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Always remember the vast, silent majority of UK fans never deserted him, still support and thank him and wish him the very best. Only the wackos get on here and spew their venom. Those same UK fans wish the best for UL EXCEPT when they play each other. We worry that the truth that comes out may indicate our faith in Rick was misplaced, BUT UNTIL THEN, we continue to wish Rick the very very best.
8 MFS, Nashville // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Dan,
If you think that is “the saddest of all” I really feel sorry for you. If the shoe was on a Cardinal fan’s foot it would be no different. It is sad in both cases but not “the saddest of all” by far. It is also sad that your mind would go here first. These are real people with real families. Pitino may be a celebrity but in the end he is a human being who may or may not be falsely accused of something. He won’t be the first or the last. I feel for his family and friends and what they are going to have to endure. I’m no Billy Reed fan but he’s right in this article. You need to get over the UK vs. UofL thing in this situation and reserve that for the field or the court.
9 Joe // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Sounds like someone got turned down for a job interview by fox
10 Andrew // Apr 22, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Dan — Your own ridiculous comments reveal that you are no different than the “Big Blew” fans you criticize.
11 Jerry // Apr 22, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Why suddenly is this a UK fans problem . Is not the problem between Rick and his equipment managers wife? Get real; leave UK fans out of this mess.
12 Greg // Apr 23, 2009 at 8:01 am
Billy,
I am just curious…Rick and this woman obviously have SOMETHING between them. Assuming all facts in evidence right now, that may be nothing more than a FBI investigation right now, but that is the ONLY thing being told. I appreciate the fact that journalists should have to get verification of a story, and agree wholeheartedly.
Whatever this story ends up being, the only thing that is keeping it alive at this point are blogs, internet reports, newspaper stories, TV and radio shows and the like, so who is at fault here? You state that Fox 41 should be treated as an “accomplice of sorts”, and they have done nothing more than put a face to the existence of the investigation, besides Coach Pitino’s.
Seems to me that you, every other blogger, website, newspaper, TV or radio show that talks about this has as much blame as Fox 41. Now, I consider Coach Pitino to be one of my lifelong heroes, and I have said it to anyone that will listen. However, in a situation involving legal proceedings he gets the same treatment as this woman does until something is proven one way or the other. I applaud Coach Pitino for going to the FBI to handle this situation. That says something to me right there. But until I know what happened, and all the information has been presented, I think that judgement, (and any further press coverage) should be held off.
Unfortunately you decided to continue putting this issue out there. I would think that silence would have been a better statement in support of Coach Pitino.
Also of note, why would the death of Coach Pitino’s brother-in-law raise your opinion of him? Sounds just a little too morbid to me. Mentioning that would do nothing but drag up bad memories for all involved. Stick to one story at a time.
13 David // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:08 am
Leave UK fans out of this!!!!!!!!
14 Charlie // Apr 23, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Why leave UK fans out of it? They’ve already stepped in it up to their knees. Just a matter of time with your new guy.
15 14umbra // Apr 24, 2009 at 8:56 pm
LOL, Bill Reed you are a hoot. You are as guilty as 41 by your definition. I don’t know what the allegations are or even if he is guilty. What I do know is that I hate his arrogance and ego and those two things combined with wealth and power can do a lot of things to people so your defense of him and his misfortune on 9/11 doesn’t mean squat to me.
I can’t wait for the truth to come hence. We’ll see.
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