Rick Pitino -- now or at one point in his life -- might have been under the belief that the Arizona Cardinals won the Super Bowl in 2009.
Just go with me here.
On Saturday, ESPN aired Bradley-Illinois State. What's this got to do with Pitino, you're asking? Well, commentator Mark Adams relayed a story about Pitino on that broadcast. He made reference to a conversation he had with Pitino some years ago, after Louisville lost to Notre Dame "by 45" (he was likely referencing Louisville's 90-57, 33-point loss at ND on Feb. 12, 2009).
Via Deadspin's Tim Burke, who captured the video, Pitino then told Adams about his motivational tactic. Pitino drew inspiration from the 2008-09 Arizona Cardinals team that finished 9-7, but rallied from a 47-7 loss to New England in Week 16 and wound up in the Super Bowl.
"What does the Louisville team and the Arizona Cardinals have in common?" Bradley said, quoting Pitino. "He said the Arizona Cardinals lost by 40 at New England then went on to win the NFL -- the Super Bowl. We're going to do the same thing. You know what, you've gotta put those behind you and move on, and that's what Illinois State has done. That shows maturity by their head coach."
See, Illinois State lost 86-45 at Wichita State on Feb. 4, and has come back from that game with huge-margin wins over Drake and Bradley. It all ties together!
Still, I'm so confused. Perhaps Adams inadvertently twisted the story. Or there could be an alternative universe wherein the Cardinals won the Super Bowl in 2009.
But the only existence I know includes Santonio Holmes making one of the greatest catches in football history to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Cardinals.
