Rick Pitino held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to voice his frustration about the way the media is reporting the story of his involvement with Karen Cunigan Sypher. I was in the front row and here's a portion of what he had to say:

"Everything that's been printed. Everything that's been reported. Everything that you're breaking into the news on a day that Ted Kennedy died is 100 percent a lie. A lit. All of this has been a lie. OK. A total fabrication of the truth. Except what I told you. The mistake that I have made. Everything else is a lie."

"I couldn't say anything because my lawyer said don't say anything. And the University said don't say anything. The authorities said don't say anything. Well enough's enough. I am saying something. It's a lie. It's a 100 percent lie. You've known that it's a lie. You've all known it. You haven't printed it, you haven't said it. You've known the background. But you haven't said it."

"It hasn't hurt recruiting one bit. We will still bring in top 10 players. This program has been a top 10 program the last two years. It will continue to be a top 10program. Our fans are the greatest in college basketball. My opinion I work here. I'm sure there's great fans everywhere. We will continue to bring in great players. We will still run this program with great integrity."

"No question I admitted to you I made a mistake. and believe me I will suffer that mistake. My wife and family do not deserve these lies. You shouldn't be reporting these lies. You want to report the truth go ahead and do it. Report the truth. Do your investigative reporting. Get the open records. Get anything you want that you can get. When it comes to trial you'll know the truth. That's why I haven't gone around to Inside Edition, and this station, and this station, and this station because I know it's going to come out. The FBI and the US Attorney's office don't go after jaywalker's. Thank you very much."

2 Comments

Tony said:

Rick shows more class then WHAS 11 did this time.

September 5, 2009 4:57 AM

John storzum said:

I Bet Petino is happy Billy G is in the lime light today

August 27, 2009 5:08 PM

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.