Pitino’s low moral ground

University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino’s pontificating, defiant, whining letter to the U of L booster club concluded with: “You, our loyal Louisville family, can rest assured we believe in doing the right thing and doing things that are important in the eyes of God.”

Sure.

Then there’s this from the NCAA: “Without dispute, NCAA rules do not allow institutional staff members to arrange for stripteases and sex acts for prospects, enrolled student-athletes and/or those who accompany them to campus.”

Who knew?

Oh, and all parties agree that the prostitution and stripteases went on for at least 44 months. It simply strains credulity to think that Pitino had no knowledge of these goings-on for almost four years.

As for doing the right thing, Pitino, a married father of five, admitted in 2009 to having an affair; the woman had an abortion.

Louisville and Pitino deserve to be punished. And maybe the greatest penance Pitino will suffer will be in knowing that Minardi Hall, named in honor of a 9/11 victim who was Pitino’s brother-in-law and best friend, was a veritable brothel for almost four years.

Pardon me if I don’t follow Pitino to the moral high ground.

This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Pitino’s low moral ground."