Louisville Votes to Terminate Pitino 'For Cause'

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

This just in, Louisville's board has voted unanimously to initiate termination of Pitino 'for cause', which would allow them to avoid buying out his $44MM contract.  

"The board requested of me and authorized me to initiate the process to terminate for cause, as defined in Coach Pitino's employment contract," interim president Greg Postel said after the athletic association board's meeting.  Full article here: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20895689/louisvi…

While there are loopholes and some plausible deniability for Petino to avoid that 'for cause' termination in an employment law context, almost all of them would require him to testify.  And with the Feds sniffing around, he would be in some serious trouble if he is caught lying under oath.  You have to think that they might have more than just phone calls, maybe text records as an example.  Further, Fed criminal discovery is handled under the Jenks act, and that is far from full disclosure.   What happens if Pitino gets caught reaching for the $44 MM piece of cheese....

Image result for rat reaching for cheese

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MGoStretch

October 2nd, 2017 at 9:12 PM ^

But how nutso would it be to learn that some of that sweet, sweet adidas money actually did go to the refs. I know we were adidas too at the time, but if Nosferatu had some leftover hooker money and funneled it through a different intermediary, dude could've potentially pulled it off. I know ineligible players result in a losing a title but not declaring a different winner. But... If it was the last game of the year and the integrity of that one game was compromised... We'd have to get a retroactive "W", right?

Joined: 03/20/2015

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ChiBlueBoy

October 2nd, 2017 at 7:45 PM ^

If this got to litigation, he likely would have to testify--during discovery if not at a trial. It could be, however, that by the time the wrongful termination claim got to that stage, any criminal action against him would be further along or potentially resolved, either freeing him up to testify or making it moot (jail time would make it hard to argue there was no cause).

In the interim, of course, the university likely will withhold payments. In other words, I hope he's set some money aside, 'cause lawyers ain't cheap and his income is going to take a hit.

Joined: 10/11/2011

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Mr Miggle

October 2nd, 2017 at 8:25 PM ^

is obviously a negotiating ploy. I can't see Pitino repeating under oath the story he gave about his phone calls to Adidas. Louisville would like to avoid a lawsuit even if they're sure of winning. On the other hand, they know Pitino won't go through with one, so they don't have to make any concessions. Maybe he'll get a token face saving offer.

The only exception I can see is if Pitino can show his cheating had the approval of his superiors. That seems unlikely, but would be bad news for Louisville.

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thespacepope

October 3rd, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^

I think he will definitely sue but I don't see understand what Lew-e-ville's incentive to settle.  If he gets found guilty of a felony regarding his job, wouldn't that be a pretty easy case for Lououououville's lawyers?  Moral turpitude and all that?

Is Ole' Miss settling with Hugh Freeze?

Joined: 12/11/2013

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Yeoman

October 3rd, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^

we might expect that to come out in the criminal trials. The case against Gatto, as presented for probable cause, hinges on the claim that he and others defrauded the University. It would be a big help to their defense if they could offer evidence that University officials gave fully-informed consent to their actions.

Joined: 06/08/2011

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bronxblue

October 2nd, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^

This is going to court and I assume the two sides with settle, but seeing Pitino just get raked over the coals for the next couple of months/years is going to be worth it.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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LSAClassOf2000

October 2nd, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^

I had a feeling that the unpaid leave was a prelude to this, so I guess it isn't all that shocking. 

I have to think that Rick Pitino does not take this lying down (although I don't know what he could really do about it), and I must admit, the next chapter of this particular drama is going to be intriguing, if nothing else.

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Ray

October 3rd, 2017 at 12:06 AM ^

will the Feds next get involved in football?  Given that the NCAA is apparently getting pushed aside for failure to govern, seems logical that football is next.  

Joined: 07/05/2008

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xtramelanin

October 3rd, 2017 at 7:01 AM ^

unless they stumble upon something that literally falls in their lap.  they would likely have coordinated those arrests and indictments if they had that evidence now to reveal all at the same time.  however, it is possible that further talks with targets (read: indicted and/or unindicted suspects) could conceivably turn something up. 

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