Rick Pitino is not only one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all-time – he’s one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in all of sports history.
That may sound like high praise, but it’s true… Just ask him.
Pitino, known for his deep love of the New York Yankees, was recently spotted at Citi Field, donning a Mets jersey as St. John’s center Zuby Ejiofor threw out the first pitch.
This appearance comes just six months after Pitino attended the World Series at Yankee Stadium, cementing his longstanding connection to the Bronx Bombers.
Yet, in Queens, Pitino was a man of two teams, proudly showing his support for both the Yankees and Mets.
Of course, supporting BOTH the Yankees and Mets is viewed as a sin for the majority of both fan bases.
“As a kid, I used to go watch Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, even reserves like Hector Lopez, Johnny Blanchard, [Tony] Kubek, [Bobby] Richardson, [Clete] Boyer, one of the great third baseman of all time, Whitey Ford on the mound, Yogi [Berra],” Pitino recalled.
Despite his fondness for the Yankees’ storied history, Pitino revealed his early affection for the Mets as well.
“But I was always a Mets fan of [Jerry] Koosman and [Tom] Seaver, going back to Tommy Agee, but I’m one of the few people who rooted for both teams. Anything with [NY], I’m 100% behind it.”
Pitino’s dual fandom doesn’t stop there.
He also shared his admiration for Donovan Mitchell, who has close ties with the Mets organization, adding, “Certainly, Donovan Mitchell has worked with the Mets for a long period of time and I’m a fan of both Donovan Sr. and Jr.”
The Hall of Fame coach, who recently led St. John’s to the Big East regular-season and tournament titles, has made headlines for his candid comments before.
However, this particular declaration on New York baseball culture seems destined to spark more debates among local fans.
What are your thoughts on Pitino being fans of BOTH the Yankees AND Mets? … Is that even possible???
