February 23 – There have been many boxes related to basketball checked over the years for the Pitino family.
But last week on ESPN sportscenter was a first.
For about four minutes in the flagship program of the network in a well -watched Sunday evening time slot, the father (Rick) and his son (Richard) were asked about the great success, the two had simultaneously this season – Rick Pitino . John’s sitting at the top of the Big East ranking and Lobos UNM from Richard Pitino at the top of the West mountain.
And while the two exchanged subtleties with each other, the real good things bounced back around New York, Florida and Louisville on one of the few sons of family text with other children Pitino – Rick’s Children and Richard’s Silets plus a cousin and a close friend of Louisville.
“I just liked that they asked questions about officials because Richard has just received a technical game before (February 12 against Wyoming),” said Chris Pitino, Richard’s brother when He asked questions about the Sportscent interview.
Ahh, yes. The always reliable support of a brother.
The truth is that there are not many more support groups than the Pitino brothers and sisters, who have lived a life they would really understand. It is a love they all like to be part.
“No one knows any of the other jobs of the brothers and sisters,” said Chris Pitino. “We are only talking about basketball.”
This season, when two pitinos appreciate the success of training, the brothers and sisters – sister Jacqueline and brothers Chris, Mike and Ryan with a cousin, Matt Minardi and a friend of the Vinny Tatum family – had a matter in their Very very exclusive of text / Watch Party World World, connecting them from New York to Louisville to Florida.
“There are several family cats,” said Richard Pitino. “They have one for when we play that I am not. We have one when they (St. John’s) play that he is (Rick Pitino). Send this to the bad cat?
“It’s fun. I mean, their games are a little earlier than ours. I still know when they don’t look, because I’m going to check the cat and then I’m going to get a 3 am,” great earn!’ I say to myself: ‘I know you did not look.’ “”
The importance of using several cats, rather than a global group text to make everyone share their comments in progress on Lobo and Red Storm games, is vital.
Aside from Maman, Joanne Pitino, probably not wanting that the primary family chat is bogged down by discussions on basketball on updates on grandchildren and holidays, there is also a reality as A family of jokes with self -proclaimed bullets can have jokes in the game of chatter between them who may not be also welcomed by an intense coach after the match.
“Errors have been committed,” joked Chris Pitino, but I don’t know what specific game brought the realization.
“We learned of the hard way – there were texts in progress during a match and then, all of a sudden, the team ended up getting angry. We all supposed they were going to win the match, starting to make jokes and things like that. Then we lost and one of the coaches (Richard or Rick) enters and checks their phone and it was the first thing they see.
In 10 years, Richard and Rick being head coaches in division I at the same time, there has never been a season of joint success like that.
There was 2014, when Louisville went to the Sweet 16 Under Dad and Minnesota, in the first year of Richard as a chief coach, won the NIT. And the two made the NCAA tournament in 2017, Louisville after a season of 25 victories, Minnesota after a season of 24 victories. Two years ago, Iona, in the last season of Rick there, made the NCAA tournament while the Richard lobos have had a season of 22 victories that ended up in the NIT.
But never something as right now, when the two programs are currently leading their leagues and planned to be in the big dance.
Thus, when St. John’s plays, Richard and the crew have an in progress chain of text, overflowing with sarcasm and the type of joke that you can expect from brothers and sisters.
When the lobaries play, Rick is having fun while Richard is left out.
There are two unique aspects of specific Lobo conversations in which Rick Pitino is involved. First of all, there is a ton of praise for the center of Unm Nelly Joseph, who began her career to play Iona for Rick.
“My father still adheres to him after each big game,” said Chris Pitino. “My father tries to give Nelly all the credit for victory, because in a way, you know, he pays homage.”
And then there is this high -level insight that can only come from one of the most respected basketball spirits of all time, right?
“He is just a complete and total fan and he says the same exact things he would say if he was just a fan of the game,” said Chris Pitino.
“You would expect it to be like:” They have to change the area here. “But instead, it’s like:” Pass the ball (Bleeping)! Or “Horrible call!” They are things like that.
With only a month in the season, the applause of Lobo / Red Storm will continue to become strong in the Pitino family, near and far, in the arenas and in group texts.
“It was the most fun basketball for the family I can think of for ages,” said Chris Pitino. “Now, let’s see how far they go. This is what makes him really fun.”
