Should Rick Petino be Fired? That's a Tough Call

No doubt Michael Vick being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles is the top off the field sports story. However, the second off the field sports story is that of the saga of Louisville University Head Basketball Coach Rick Petino.

Petino admitted to having consensual sex with a woman 6 years ago. According to reports, the woman got pregnant and Petino paid the lady something like $3,000.00 to have an abortion. Now this lady claims Petino raped her not once, but twice. The rape charges, I believe, are bogus. The woman has already been charged with filing a false report as well as extortion.

The issue I'm dealing with is; Does the university want to associate itself with someone who not only did something "inappropriate", but covered it up from UL officials these past 6 years. Yes, I know consensual sex is not a crime as far as the legal sense of the word. However, this happened while Petino was married (He still is). That's adultery. Adultery is at best very inappropriate behavior and at worst a crime against God. By the way, if Petino was serving in the US Military, he would be charged with adultery because it is a crime in the military.

Petino is a coach, but he is also a teacher. His students are his players. UL, along with every other college and university in the country, wants their professors and coaches to set the right examples for their students. What Petino did was far from the right example. It is an embarrassment to the University of Louisville. What's more worse is this was covered up until now. Petino is a winner on the court. That is, I believe, the real reason why he hasn't been fired. Winning cures everything, so they say.
Do people deserve second chances, yes. If they have a repentant attitude and are making steps to correct their behavior. like Michael Vick is trying to do, then yes, they deserve a second chance. However, the reputation of UL and its basketball program is at stake. Parents of potential recruits will now think twice about allowing their sons to play for Petino.

As far as whether or not Petino should be fired, that's a tough call for me. As one emailer to a sports talk show wrote: "If you fired everyone who has engaged in infidelity, the nation would have a 75% unemployment rate. I'm afraid that may very well be true. Your comments please.