Pitino scandal had roots in restaurant tryst

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The woman accused of trying to extort Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino approached him in a restaurant six years ago, and the two had sex at a table after closing time, the coach told police.

Two weeks later, the married father of five gave Karen Sypher $3,000 after she said she needed an abortion and didn't have health insurance, according to a summary of Pitino's July 12 statement to police. His attorney said Wednesday the money was to help her get medical coverage, not specifically to pay for an abortion.

Pitino apologized Wednesday to his family, players, school and fans for what happened six years ago and said he would continuing coaching the Cardinals for as long as "they will have me."

"I do want to say that the past seven months have been very difficult on the people I love," Pitino said. "I am here today because I personally apologize to my family every single day. I let them down with my indiscretion six years ago and I'm sorry for that and I tell them that every day."

He said he would "be quiet" about the extortion case but that he is cooperating with authorities and has consistently told them, his family and friends the truth. He did not take questions.

Karen Cunagin Sypher

University of Louisville president James Ramsey expressed surprise at the new details in the scandal surrounding the coach, a staunch Roman Catholic whose contract includes dishonesty and "moral depravity" as grounds for firing.

"Several months ago, Coach Pitino informed me about the alleged extortion attempt. I've now been informed that there may be other details which, if true, I find surprising," Ramsey said in a statement, adding that his thoughts were with the Pitino family.

Pitino told police he had been drinking at an upscale Louisville restaurant called Porcini in August 2003 when Sypher approached him and asked the coach to call her sons with words of encouragement. The coach obliged, he said.

Later that night, after the restaurant cleared out, the owner left Pitino his keys and they had sex at a table near the bar, according to statements by both Pitino and Sypher.

She said Pitino forced himself on her. But the 56-year-old coach denied Sypher's allegations that he raped her that night, and again several weeks later, saying she came on to him.

The two apparently weren't alone in the restaurant: The police documents, first reported by The Courier-Journal of Louisville, say a Pitino assistant was there during the encounter. The former executive assistant, Vinnie Tatum, said he heard "only the sounds of two people that seemed to be enjoying themselves during a sexual encounter," according to a statement he gave the FBI that was included in the police report.

Sypher reported the rape allegations to police last month, but Kentucky authorities said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute. Sypher, 49, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of lying to the FBI and trying to extort $10 million from Pitino.

Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, said Wednesday morning that he hadn't yet talked to Sypher about the release of the police documents.

Pitino told police that about two weeks after he met Sypher -- then named Karen Cunagin -- she called to say she was pregnant and that he had to be the father.

According to the report by Sgt. Andy Abbott, commander of the Metro Louisville Police sex-offense unit, Pitino later suggested that the two meet at the condo of the team's equipment manager, Tim Sypher. She alleges the second assault took place at the condo. Pitino told police the two met at the condo but denied that there was a second sexual encounter.

Karen Sypher first met the manager that day and later married him.