If there's one thing we've learned from our presidents of the past 50 years, it's that it is OK to cheat on your wife. And if our commander-in-chief can get away with it, certainly we can forgive a college basketball coach.

And so it goes as we continue down our path of arrogance, lies, greed, and the quest to become one indivisible nation of white trash.

We're talking about Rick Pitino, the University of Louisville coach who brought the idea of the restaurant quickie to our attention faster than the guy who sang "Humpty Dance" got busy in a Burger King bathroom.

On top of cheating on his wife, deceiving their five children, and giving his sleazeball-in-crime three grand to get an abortion, Pitino held a press conference in which no one was allowed to ask the tough questions he deserved to face. Namely, how does he still have a job?

Sadly enough, it's because this type of behavior became excusable a long time ago. We all knew about JFK and Monroe, Clinton and Lewinsky, Steve McNair and that girl who shot him dead.

But it's just marriage, right? No one really needs to take it seriously.

Louisville's president, whom none of us had ever heard of before this week, said Pitino will stay on as Cardinals coach. Apparently, the snake has found a rat to play with, proving once again that it really is all about the money when it comes to big-time college sports.

Oh, it's true that we all are flawed. Everyone deserves a second chance. Goodness knows, I've gotten a million. And Pitino knows the game, loves the game, and has been a good provider, financially, for his family. But he's always come across as a little shady, and now we know for certain that he is.

Actually, forget shady. Let's just call it what it is. Anyone who has an extramarital affair is scum.

Is that the type of guy you want sitting in your living room, telling your kid he‘ll teach him winning basketball and the ways of the world? Is it the kind of so-called man you want representing your school? Is there any reason Pitino should think coaching basketball should be a high priority right now?

Mostly, should we care about or believe anything Pitino has to say? Why wouldn't he lie to you, his recruits, or the NCAA when he can't even be honest with the people he supposedly loves?

ANOTHER SECOND CHANCE

Pitino won some during his time as an NBA coach in New York and Boston, yet he still managed to go up in flames -- his players unable to tolerate his mammoth ego, management unwilling to meet his often bizarre requests.

Just this summer, he instructed one of his flunkies to float his name as a candidate for the Sacramento Kings job. A few weeks later, Pitino haughtily chastised the media and said he didn't have any intent to leave Louisville. Not so easy to believe him now, is it?

Still, there have been a few columns out there suggesting Pitino may have lost his chance to coach in the pros again.

Hogwash.

Marv Albert still has a job. Magic Johnson is still adored. Bill Clinton kept the presidency. The only time anyone mentions Kobe Bryant is when they talk about how he finally won a title without Shaq.

And it's good to forgive, to move on.

But it's OK to let it make you sick to your stomach for a while, too.

Especially when Pitino, who has made millions as a motivational speaker, says ridiculous things like, "When you have a problem, if you tell the truth, the problem becomes part of your past. If you lie, it becomes part of your future."

Oh, please. Think Pitino would have come clean if that woman weren't a psycho? It's still a part of your future, Rick. We'll stop caring, but your wife and kids probably won't.

Pitino shouldn't be fired because his affair was any worse than the well-known people before him, nor should he be fired because he committed some kind of crime (at least, it's not in Kentucky).

He should be fired because someone needs to stand up and say, hey man, enough is enough. We don't need to support, and even reward, people for acting like pigs anymore.

And if the University of Louisville won't do that, it's just as filthy as its basketball coach.

Sam Amico is the editor of Pro Basketball News. Contact him at amico@probasketballnews.com or follow him on Twitter.

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