Pitino strives to keep things positive

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Affair gone wrong: Woman faces trial for extorting Louisville coach

Karen Sypher hasn't been able to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors and probably will go to trial on charges involving her alleged extortion of University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, her attorney said Tuesday after Sypher entered a not-guilty plea

"We've had discussions; we will continue to have them," said James Earhart, Sypher's attorney. "But it doesn't look like it's going to be a situation that's going to work itself out."

Sypher did not speak during the hearing. Earhart said no trial date has been set.

Pitino complaint yields arrest

An equipment manager's estranged wife was charged with trying to extort Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, at first demanding cars and tuition for her children, then later asking for $10 million, according a federal complaint filed Friday.

Karen Sypher (SY'-fer) also is accused of lying to the FBI. She appeared in court but did not enter a plea and was released on her own recognizance.

Sypher's husband, Tim Sypher, brought Pitino a written list of demands including tuition, two cars of her choice, her house paid off and $3,000 per month, according to the complaint. Those were replaced with the $10 million demand, the complaint said.

Pitino caught in sex scandal

In a state where basketball is king, Rick Pitino cuts quite the fine figure.

He has designer suits, Italian dress shoes, best-selling books on how to succeed on the court and in life, a hit TV commercial with fellow coaching titans Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams. He's a devout Roman Catholic whose priest friend often leads the Louisville team in pregame prayer.

On top of that, he's a winner.

Pitino faces a myriad of challenges

Rick Pitino shouldn't lose his job.

But here's the real question: Can he still do his job?

Can the Louisville basketball coach sit in a prospect's home and convince Mom, Dad and Grandma that he is the best person to mold their young player's life?

Report: Pitino paid for abortion

Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino told police he had sex with and paid for an abortion for the woman accused of trying to extort him for $10 million, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported on its Web site that Pitino told police he had been drinking in a Louisville restaurant and had sex with Karen Sypher in August 2003. The police report said he denied allegations by Sypher that he raped her after the restaurant closed and at another time somewhere else. He said later he gave her $3,000 for an abortion.

Sypher went to police to report the rape allegations last month. A Kentucky prosecutor said the complaint she filed with a police sex-offense unit wouldn't be prosecuted because it lacked supporting evidence.