Reactions to “Breaking Cardinal Rules” and the Louisville Basketball Debacle

I have now read the just released book Breaking Cardinal Rules by Katina Powell and Dick Cady. I have also read many of the news stories on the alleged “prostitution
scandal” involving players on, and recruits interested in, the famed Rick Pitino coached Louisville basketball team. Obviously, it is too early to assess the truth of the book and the media stories. But it is not too early to have some thoughts and reactions.  Here are mine:

This book hardly qualifies as a quality read. It certainly is a fast read.  The book (short in length) is composed of journal/diary entries written by Katina Powell (whom the book terms the “Escort Queen”), copies of apparent emails to and from Katina, inserted commentary (written it appears by Dick Cady), and various photographs of players and women and buildings. These different pieces are strung together to form a sequential narrative – at once interesting, frustrating, vague and strangely touching.  But, this book makes Fifty Shades of Gray look like a National Book Award winner.  So, if it is well- wrought prose one is seeking or a well-spun tale, look elsewhere.

If this book or any major parts of it are untrue, there is one hell of a libel and defamation of character lawsuit that various parties could launch: the litigants would include Andre McGee (who held various roles at U of L including graduate assistant and Director of Baseball Operations and who then became an Assistant Coach at University Missouri-Kansas City – which just place him on leave), various of the players and recruits and the University itself.  I would think the publisher did its due diligence or has amazing insurance coverage with a low deductible.

Coaches tell their players to show recruits in every sport “a good time,” across the Divisions. There is no doubt in my mind. After all, coaches want athletes to commit to their institution, and 17 and 18 year olds are persuadable.  So are their parents and guardians.  

Now, what is a good time clearly differs from institution to institution.  But make no mistake about it: U of L is not the first nor the last institution to “entice” recruits with alcohol, parties and/or women.  Now, many of these women may not be strippers and prostitutes; perhaps some are fellow students.  What these women receive in return for their services may not be money; perhaps it is status or tickets or a sense of belonging.   I am not for a moment suggesting that the way we do things in terms of recruiting is the right or best way; I am noting that the story in this book is not “way out there.”

At the end of the book and in the news reports, U of L has indicated that it has retained an investigator to determine the veracity of the stories in Breaking Cardinal Rules and it has notified the NCAA.  Here is what we do not want in collegiate athletics: the NCAA micromanaging recruiting. More rules?



Colleges and universities need to get their own houses in order; they need to set a tone for athletics and the campus. They have to decide what culture they want to promote in athletics. Winning matters yes but at what price?  And, how do we think high school seniors should be treated on campuses that are recruiting them? I appreciate that science labs and lectures on Kierkegaard may not be popular choices; bowling would not be either. But between this academic extreme and the other extreme as described by Katina, there must be a middle ground.

For the conspiracy theorists among you, ask this question: why was this book published now?  Why was it published in Indiana? Why was IU athletics used by Michael Maurer to find a connection with someone at U of L to confirm a photo for the book?  Who stands to benefit from this book apart from Katina? The Hoosiers? Louisville beat the Hoosiers in Dec. 2014 rather handily and apparently the coaches (Pitino and Crean) have talked about future rivalry games.

IU has claimed no involvement in this whole debacle.  And Maurer? Well, he is a huge IU donor (the law school is named in his honor), and he is the co-owner of the publisher of “Breaking Cardinal Rules.”  Funny how things look with 20/20 hindsight.

Bottom line here: stay tuned.  The issues raised in Breaking Cardinal Rules are not going away any time soon.  Oh, and what was touching about the book?  Only reading it will tell you that.