The University of Louisville threw a little more water onto its dumpster fire of scandals by releasing student-athlete Brian Bowen and assistant basketball coach Kenny Johnson today. Bowen's scholarship to attend UofL remains valid but he was told he will never play basketball for the Cardinals after the FBI revealed secret meetings about shoe company money being funneled to his family. Johnson was terminated likely as another illustration by the school to the NCAA that it was cleaning house of the entire Rick Pitino leadership team, save for new acting head basketball coach David Padgett and a few support staffers. Rick Pitino tells me he is completely finished with coaching although he told ESPN earlier this week that (when he is proven innocent
Tag: shoe company scandal
Chapter 2: indictments issued in FBI shoe pimp investigation
Eight indictments have been filed in the FBI investigation into the funneling of shoe company money to financial advisors and AAU basketball coaches who benefit from student athletes. More indictments are expected later in the week. Among those indicted by a federal grand jury is suspended Auburn coach Chuck Person, and Rashan Michel, a high end Atlanta clothier. Person is accused of taking bribe money to steer basketball players toward certain financial advisors. Michel is involved with various seedy characters who swarm around recruits and AAU leagues. Michel has been loosely connected to former University of Kentucky personal like assistant coach Orlando Antigua, UK stars Andrew and Aaron Harrison, and Friend-of-Cal William "WorldWide Wes" Wesley. There's probably nothing to
Rick Pitino on being fired from Louisville
Here's Rick Pitino's first interview after being fired this week as head coach of the University of Louisville men's basketball team. Pitino lawyer Steve Pence promised a bare knuckle fight if his client were to be fired. So far they've sued apparel company adidas for alleged damage to Pitino's reputation. No legal action has yet been filed against the University of Louisville. With David Padgett now in charge of the Louisville basketball team, all university employees associated with the program have been ordered by the school to have no contact with Pitino. Rick has many detractors who are not necessarily Kentucky fans. Yahoo sports columnist Dan Wetzel isn't buying a thing he watched in Pitino's interview. Thanks for that, Danny Downer. True
Pushed by writer, John Calipari keeps it vague re: shoe scandal; both Pitino and Jurich are definitely out at UofL
Lexington Herald Leader sports writer Jerry Tipton did not allow University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari to wriggle out of media questions about the FBI shoe company pay-for-play scandal. When Calipari sidestepped KSR's Matt Jones inquiring about the loss of Cal's rivalry with Rick Pitino, Tipton pressed Calipari to reassure Big Blue Nation that UK has nothing to worry about now that NIKE is being investigated. Instead of denying any involvement, Calipari gave no such assurance to BBN. Coach Cal said that he wouldn't comment beyond saying that neither the FBI or the NCAA has contacted UK. It was a golden moment for Coach Cal to "swear on the lives of my children" that he knows nothing of shoe
THE SHOE DROP — FBI sez u r gr8 2 b n r sting
u 2 dum 2 no u n trubble Imagine how many FBI agents were monitoring rampant text messaging on the morning of September 26 just as U.S. Attorney Joon Kim was releasing shocking details of shoe company fraud and corruption schemes tied to college basketball. Guilty thumbs were flying on phone screens as suspected coaches, premium recruits, family members, agents, financial managers, et al. furiously texted vital evidence displaying their guilt, knowledge of, or innocent shock over the announcement. FBI agents were high-fiving as thousands of solid leads dropped right into their electronic laps. Federal law enforcement don’t need no stinkin’ badges to gather intel on active indictments. This rancid scheme of shoe pimps and greedy college coaches selling teenage talent