Rick Pitino Uses Really Unfortunate Infidelity Metaphor

Rick Pitino's a New Yorker who made his bones in the Big East, so naturally he's upset about Syracuse's and Pittsburgh's ACC exodus. At Big East media days, he had some harsh words for the Judases:

"My problem is not them leaving," he said. "My problem is you did it in 48 hours. Don't run away with a girl after one date when you've been dating someone else for three or four years. You've been dating this woman for 30 years, show a little respect."

At which point the assembled media members probably tugged on their collars cartoonishly. We were set to excuse Pitino's analogy on a technicality—he had only been married 27 years when he had his affair—but then we looked closely at his words. He's not talking about a 15-second fling, but actually leaving the love of your life. And he's right. This would all be okay if Syracuse had fucked Florida State on the floor of an Italian restaurant, but come back to the Big East at night. No one would care if Pitt paid for Georgia Tech's abortion to keep the Big East from finding out about it.

It's all about loyalty, Rick Pitino says. He knows.