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Rick Pitino forgets his past to use questionable analogy

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Mike Miller

Rick Pitino hasn’t minced words regarding Syracuse and Pitt bolting the Big East for the ACC. The Louisville coach has excoriated both school’s leaders at every turn (complete with a ‘Godfather’ reference) and saved plenty for the ACC.

But his latest diatribe at Big East media day won’t earn him any fans.

“My problem is not them leaving,” he told USA Today. “My problem is you did it in 48 hours. Don’t run away with a girl after one date when you’ve been dating someone else for three or four years. You’ve been dating this woman for 30 years, show a little respect.”

Conference realignment was the story of the day, with coaches like Bob Huggins bemoaning the Big East changes. But to have Pitino drop an analogy that includes respect and fidelity stretches his credibility beyond common sense. (Perhaps he was kidding, but his past statements would indicate otherwise.)

Ask Providence fans or Kentucky fans about “showing respect.” Better yet, ask Pitino’s wife. It was just over a year ago that Pitino dealt with the public embarrassment of his affair with Karen Sypher in 2003.

As expected, his analogy hardly went unnoticed. Even Louisville blog Card Chronicle couldn’t hide its bewilderment.

We get it, coach. It sucks that the Big East will never be the same again. I’m with you there, as are many college hoops fans who don’t relish the thought of longtime rivalries and conferences being broken up because of the almighty (football) dollar.

But next time? Try a different analogy.

(Thanks to Jeff Eisenberg)

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