Rick Pitino Is Suing Adidas For Causing Him ‘Embarrassment, Humiliation and Emotional Distress’

In case you have been living under a rock, or well, don’t follow sports at all, you are well aware of the massive scandal that has been looming over the University of Louisville basketball program for over two years.

It all began back in 2015 when a book was published that claimed Louisville’s men’s hoops program used female escorts during their recruiting of top high school prospects.

This led to more revelations by Louisville recruits about being involved in sex and stripper parties, all of which head coach Rick Pitino continuously denied having any knowledge of ever taking place.

Pitino was eventually charged with failing to monitor the program, after which university president Dr. Neville Pinto and athletic director Tom Jurich stated jointly, “We are confident in Coach Pitino and we know he is and always has been committed to NCAA compliance.”

On Monday of this week, Pitino was officially fired as coach of the Cardinals and lost his deal with Adidas, reported Sports Illustrated.

The University of Louisville’s Athletics Association officially voted on Monday to fire men’s head basketball coach Rick Pitino “with just cause” amid a federal investigation that saw 10 people arrested, accused of corruption and taking bribes, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN.

In light of this decision, Adidas, which sponsors Louisville, released a statement saying it terminated its personal services agreement with Pitino. It was recently reported that Pitino received 98 percent of the $39 million Adidas owed Louisville from their sponsorship deal.

Now, Pitino has filed a lawsuit against Adidas which pretty much blames them for everything but 9/11.

Reports ESPN…

In the lawsuit, Pitino’s attorneys allege that Adidas employees’ “outrageous conduct” to funnel money to the family of a recruit without his knowledge caused “grave damage to his public and private standing and reputation, causing him extreme embarrassment, humiliation, and emotional distress.”

“[Pitino] has never authorized, tolerated, participated in, or otherwise condoned giving improper benefits to recruits or players, or to their families, especially as an inducement to have recruits join the University of Louisville men’s basketball program,” the lawsuit says.

“The lawsuit is about more than just money; it is Coach Pitino’s vehicle for proving that he had nothing to do with Adidas’ outrageous, wrongful, and illegal conspiracy.”

A spokesperson for Adidas says that the lawsuit is “without merit.” Shocker.

All I want to know is whether or not if Pitino ever got that pair of Yeezy’s he so desperately wanted.

Oh well, with the $44 million remaining in salary and bonuses he still has coming to him from the university I am sure he can afford to go purchase a pair on his own.