Of Titans and Trashbags: A Look into Arizona's coaching search

by cardinal on Mar 24, 2009 3:37 AM EDT Comment 30 comments

I hate to make this an issue at such an exciting time in the season, but I have been steadily evolving into a hopeless, fervent slave to opposing teams message boards. This being said, I have discovered that the University of Arizona (fans) are resorting to unbelievable lapses in logic to swear that Rick Pitino is destined to become the next Wildcats head coach. This aggravates me on so many countless levels that I cannot begin to explain. So as a venting exercise to build the necessary anger and resentment toward this program by friday, I will include some of the more ridiculous quotes I've ran across, and leave your blood to boil at the stupidity and desperately fictional logic. Enjoy.

The majority of these are blog posts and the comments following from uashoopcoach.com : a remarkably detestable fart in cyberspace.

"Anyhow, me thinks Coach Rick would love to someday retire in Arizona, most likely the Tucson area. And RP would love nothing more than to retire in the Old Pueblo and watch son Richard prowl the sidelines as the extra, extraordinaire successor to the successor extraordinaire, if you catch my drift?" - Idiot

"Jurich is somewhat younger than Livengood, and Gentleman Jim is nearing retirement, I gotta believe, so…" - This is suggesting that they would indeed come as a package deal.

"I’ve also heard the Sarver (owner of the PHX Suns) and Moreno (owner of the LA Angels) would help to pay any buyout and contract..." - Taint

"I’ve heard reports that 90% chance Pitino comes to arizona." -Cock Farmer

"Even more interesting is he rattled off the names of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger as “lottery picks” immediately after he was told in the postgame press conference that his team is playing Arizona next." -I'm so done naming Idiots

"Now, I’m not saying that we should — in our zealous hunger to discover who the next UA coach might be –go seek a behaviorial scientist to get a read on Pitino’s “Who are we playing?” question, but it seems quite odd doesn’t it?"" - Semen Weasel.

I would Include more but they just anger me. My laptop is brissling from simply having to copy and paste that trash.

I hate arrogant fans.

Who'd have thought that some of the biggest jackasses don't wear UK blue?

If you really feel like killing a kitten venture on over and look at the site itself, they even have such fun things as coaches with odds listed on their probability to become the next coach. Pitino sits at 12-1 which is second only to Jamie Dixon at 10-1.

Arizona thinks that Rick Pitino is the second most likely man to be their coach.

Let's show them how good that 100 degree desert actually feels when we torch them on Friday.

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This has annoyed me too

This came out of nowhere to me. I first heard it mentioned on PTI and kind of just dismissed it but then I heard it on Sportscenter this morning. Don’t get me wrong, Arizona is probably a top 15 NCAA coaching position but UofL is top 10. It’s just insulting that this topic has come up at this time. Let’s get out there and beat them on Friday and let them start their offseason plans already.

by jbrobe04 on Mar 24, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HES STAYING

NOOO hes already said when asked"Why would I want to move, I am practicing 70 hours a week with a team I really want to be with" plus why would he move further away from NY…. plus its probably some timeshare their looking to buy for the summer, Pitino also said “My heart and my familys heart is in Louisville, Im staying” “The only job I would considering would be Providence but I found my heart is truely here in Louisville”

I mean why would he move across the country,,, hes staying in the Ville I promise you I heard it straight you straight from the Ville baby… I mean also he has like 3 houses in NY and 2 in Miami, and I think 1 in the MidWest… plus he has a hosre in Louisville AP Cardinal… SORRY CATZ FANS… YOU CAN GETS YOUR HOPES UP BUT HES STAYING IN THE VILLE BABY

by 502card on Mar 26, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Larry Brown Redux

Lots of stickers of lots of cities on his luggage already.

Let’s just hope he doesn’t deny it. Cause you know what that means.

by Roz on Mar 24, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's also definitely leaving to go coach at

Indiana, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Illinois, the Orlando Magic, USC, Ohio State and back to Kentucky.

All those were “done deals” and totally happened.

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 24, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I heard...

That he was going to coach Arizona, U of L Football, Siena (HE WANTS TO TAKE THEM OUT FOR DINNER WHEN HE GOES TO SARATOGA IT’S A DONE DEAL!), and Chuck Norris simultaneously.

Louisville Basketball: Crushing dreams since 1911

by cardinal on Mar 24, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It has a ring of possibility to it...

with so many fans giving TJ such a rotten time of it with his hiring of the Inept One, maybe he and Terrilynn are ready to get out of Dodge….as for RP, other than the great weather, I can’t see an Italian retiring to Arizona…..just doesnt’ seem like a good fit. Louisville is different since I think we are known to be a thoroughbread mecca and he loves the ponies. If he goes, he goes. I like the Siena coach – a lot. Sure hope we keep our coach AND our AD….when’s the last time you emailed TJ just to let him know you appreciate what he has done and is doing for U of L and our city???? Now would be a good time to do that.

by Linda on Mar 24, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

As much as I don’t like the way TJ has handled the Kragthorpe situation (particularly blaming Petrino), the guy has essentially made very few mistakes since he’s gotten here. He’s really had an unbelievable run. We better hope he doesn’t leave because we could be in some real trouble.

by centrecard on Mar 24, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chill, Jurich is going no where.

He has essentially one of the top 5 AD jobs in the country, have you looked at our overall athletics lately? We’re ranked and competitive in nearly every sport (minus football).
TJ has taken the same criticism that he would have at another school for the hire, and he’s handled it well. in no way has he indicated that it is bothering him. The man is simply sitting back and doing his job, a great one at that, and he is well compensated to do it. On that subject I don’t think anyone wants to get into a bidding war with U of L over either Jurich or Pitino. They underestimate their value to our community and our fanbase. Coaching and athletics is about more that wins and losses and that is where Arizona is making their mistake in believing they can lure people away. Rick means more to us than basketball, he’s a wonderful person, and our fan base loves and appreciates him.

Louisville Basketball: Crushing dreams since 1911

by cardinal on Mar 24, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was speaking generally

You’re right, there’s no way Jurich and/or Pitino leaves for Arizona. However, do I think this will be Jurich’s last job? For some reason, I think not.

by centrecard on Mar 24, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll give your post an Amen....

by Linda on Mar 24, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one more rumor

A relative of our equipment manager, who followed Pitino here from Boston, is going around telling anyone who asks that Pitino is going to Arizona where he will coach a few more years and then retire.

I’m not going to comment on how legitimate this is but I will say that the way this person talks about other topics I don’t think they are very credible, but you never know.

by drhustle on Mar 24, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lol because RP would definitely share that information with his equiptment manager...

Equiptment Managers are the new consigliere haven’t you heard?

Louisville Basketball: Crushing dreams since 1911

by cardinal on Mar 24, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He could be

an undercover equipment manager.

by Roz on Mar 24, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

by frankpos on Mar 24, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Die Hard dismiss this madness

Man don’t let this bullshit stare yaw up.We focused on Arizona for one reason.To Melt that ass come friday. Italians move to Miami when they retire.I work in medicare believe me I talk to em’ all the time.Good folks..lol. But no one wants to retire and go to a place where it’s dry and hot. Will the real Card fans please stand up and dismiss this madness. Let’s get focused and take it out on them Puddy Tats…and for the record.Does anyone believe that TJ would leave his job over the hiring off Krapthorpe?

by megiz on Mar 24, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I orignially posted this to heko anger us on grounds of Arizona’s stupidity, not possibility. There is 0% chance there is any truth to this. It makes absolutely no sense.

Now that we have an appropriate blood pressure flair everytime we hear the word Arizona, we can be appropriately over-zealous in screaming our insults, and cheering our fortunes on Friday.

That crater out in the desert is going to look like a mud puddle to them when they see the hole we’re about to rip in their ass.

Louisville Basketball: Crushing dreams since 1911

by cardinal on Mar 24, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Second that

times 10

by megiz on Mar 24, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have heard nothing--nothing--to support any of this , from any one

remotely in the "know’

by frankpos on Mar 24, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pitino

I was good freinds with rick’s son in highschool, who is now attending Georgetown. I gave him a ring and asked him about this rumor, and he denied it right away and informed me RP is staying in Louisville until he retires which even he didn’t know when that might be.

So let those zona cats dream, because that is all it is. Another school trying to get back to greatness but falling like another familiar cat.

by RedGrassFan on Mar 24, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why on earth would he leave

Rick is 58 years old, has stated in the past that his biggest mistake professionally was jumping ship for more money when he had a great thing going at UK, and has said that he has no intention of being a “Lifer” in the coaching profession.

Add that in with the fact that all he wants in life at this point is to win a second (or third) title and cement himself as one of the top 5 coaches of all time, why would he leave a program that he has poured his life into for the past decade just when he got to the top of the hill? Pitino has worked for 8 years to build the program that he wants with the players that he wants. By no means does he want to take two steps back when he’s about to take three steps forward at Louisville.

There is no way on earth that he is leaving now and especially to a place that is as dysfunctional as Arizona. Arizona thinking that they have the substance to steal any coach, much less a coach of Pitino’s caliber, from a school of our caliber truly is ludicrous. The fact that they also think they can get Izzo is just as humorous. Arizona is a nice job but they’re no UCLA, no UNC, and no Louisville.

by drhustle on Mar 24, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you are so right about all of that...I feel better now - thanks.

by Linda on Mar 24, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

comment

Even more interesting is he rattled off the names of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger as "lottery picks" immediately after he was told in the postgame press conference that his team is playing Arizona next." -I’m so done naming Idiots

Not true at all. Listen to the press conference-all he says is they have NBA caliber players, no name drops. Way to spice it up douchebag AZ fan..

by twistedwedge on Mar 24, 2009 9:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Guess news travels slow out of the desert . . .

. . . cuz we’ve been hearing this crap since November. Yeah they’ve thrown out the usual names (Calipari, Izzo, Wright, Dixon, Few, Tubby, etc.) but Pitino seems to get the most buzz because he’s the bigger name. The rumors are a trip. Last week it was that Joanne had already bought a house here.

Bottom line is that nobody here in Tucson seems to understand that UA is currently a step down from U of L. That includes the facilities (McKale seats 14,000 with no suites), conference, and, most importantly, TV exposure. Do you think Pitino really wants to trade in all those national ESPN telecasts for Fox Sports Net? Do you think his ego could handle that?

Take it all with a grain of salt, and enjoy the laugh at their expense. The closest they’re going to get to Pitino is Reggie Theus.

by 520Card on Mar 24, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I am up in PHX and I have heard nothing of this besides some Wildcat trolls over the past couple of months. I sure do pity those kitties.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Mar 26, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NOOO

I hear that two, but I dnt think its going to happen I mean hear me out… Pitino said this was his last stop 9 years ago,,, plus He has a horse in Louisville , why would he leave that, and his wife is supposivley looking for a house in Tucson not buying one,,, plus its for timeshare,,,, I mean I hate how everyone is sturring it up just cause hes moving… look he has a house in New York, Miami< Queens, And I think one in Cali… RICK IS HERE TO STAY

by 502card on Mar 24, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Think We Should Put On A Telethon For Mrs Pitino

So she could afford more than a timeshare.

Good point about the Big East TV exposure. Real good.

by Roz on Mar 25, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

here's another thing no one's pointing out

pitino’s recruting ties are all in the northeast. sure, he’s had two good recruits come out of seattle (twill and siva) and andre is from CA, but if you did some sort of chart, the VAST majority of those recruits would be from NY, NJ, or went to prep school in one of those two states. no way pitino wants to drag his ass across the country for every single recruiting visit, or start from the ground up out west.

by davidson07 on Mar 25, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope he stays

And he most likely will, but I never rule anything out until it happens. Everyone thought a certain Louisville football coach was going to be around forever and do great things for us and now look at the team. Even Syracuse is a hard game now. I know they are two different situations but, you never know. I pray for the best.

by anothermissed3byE5 on Mar 27, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs