Pitino and the out-of-towners

Note: this post has been revised from its earlier version to include an additional article link.

Before we look forward to the football opener for most of this week, here are a few more perspectives on Pitino, his eventful August, and all the inevitable comparisons, feigned moral self-righteousness and irresistable "dumb basketball-obsessed Kentuckian" jokes that it invited sports writers to make. In quite a feat, George Vescey links Pitino, John Calipari, Plaxico Burress, Donte Stallworth, Michael Phelps, and Gary Sheffield. As you might guess, it is not their prowess on the basketball court/baseball stadium/football field/swimming pool that they share in common. Fair piece overall, which is more than I can say for the typically holier-than-thou position taken by Mike Lupica, writing for the New York Daily News. Lupica rips Pitino, in so doing he makes this cryptic but startling prediction: "It is why for all the games he has won at Louisville and will continue to win, Pitino is through there, sooner rather than later." Wow. Not a call for Pitino to resign, but a prediction that future events naturally will lead us there. But on what notion or persuasion does Lupica base it? No further explanation is offered, no rationale fleshed out... and no need, this is the New York Daily News after all.

Meanwhile, an AP article (no author listed) featured on SI.com feigns bewilderment and amusement that we Kentuckians can be so tolerant of our college basketball coaches, as long as the win-loss columns aren't affected. Obviously written by an outsider -- cards fans remaining loyal to Pitino and the program are described as "staying true blue," a Cardinal sin if ever there was one. Similar column written by Tim Dahlberg (columnist for the AP; maybe he wrote the no-author-listed piece). "No need for lengthy explanations. This is Kentucky, after all," Dahlberg concludes after wondering how Ricky and Cal still enjoy wide support in the state despite their shiftiness and fine Italian suits. I guess it's not the worst thing ever said about us, but I hope Dahlberg won't confuse our generosity towards basketball coaches with our gut reactions to snide, obnoxious and condescending sports writers.

There. At least I feel better. Now we put to bed the basketball program for the week, and pray to God that nothing happens to wake it back up. On to football!