I think it is safe to say, that I am like most fans, feeling and thinking in their reddest of hearts that “Enough is enough”; that we deserve much better than what we have gotten from our basketball coaching staff the last 2 ½ years.
Though, I’m like most fans, here is where I differ: I don’t completely blame Rick Pitino. Yes, he did hire Jordan Fair, Kenny Johnson and “a guy” who shall not be named. Fairness would have us keep in mind that Pitino did hire Kevin Willard, Wyking Jones, Richard Pitino, Kevin Keatts and David Padgett and a host of other coaches of impeccable integrity that did not tarnish Rick’s legacy and much more importantly, the reputation legacy of The University of Louisville.
Ok, growing up I did a lot of shady things that I didn’t want my parents to know about (which I can bet we all did). Yes, there are things to this day that I’ve gotten away with and on the other hand some things I got caught doing. If indeed the previously named coaches wanted to hide something from Rick Pitino it wouldn’t have been that hard- “where there is a will, there is a way!”
Reasonable, sensible gratitude would have us say: So, “Thank you Mr. Rick Pitino”. Thank you for facilitating a smooth and progressive transition from the Denny Crum era. Thank you for memorable stars like Francisco Garcia, Taquan Dean, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Preston Knowles, Kyle Kuric, Earl Clark, Peyton Siva, Luke Hancock, all of Wayne Blackshear, Gorgui Dieng, Terry Rozier, Donovan Mitchell and for Russdiculous.
“Thank you Mr. Rick Pitino” for allowing my generation to experience the multiple Conference Championships, Final Fours and the National Championship. Thank you for returning U of L to national prominence.
Alas, like the great emperor Julius Caesar, your wisdom might have been consumed by your arrogance, and you have discovered sadly, that “there is a tide in the affairs of men”. We do not relish in the unfortunate, integrity questioning limelight shining intensely on our basketball program, but every man has his entrance and his exits. Enough is Enough, there are only so many times you can use the “I didn’t know” card Rick and you’ve run out of cards in this deck.
We had hoped for a farewell party one day, but not this, not like this.
But “Thank you Mr. Rick Pitino” for reminding us that you, like us, are mere mortal too. Sometimes we forget that! May you coach us yet, to never do.
GO CARDS! ! !
