I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex

The war on terror.

Amy Winehouse's life.

Those are two things I think might end worse than Derrick Caracter's 5,348th chance at Louisville, but those are the only two things I can come up with off the top of my head. I mean, I don't want to be a skeptic because I love a good comeback story as much as the next guy (did you see Josh Hamilton hit all those home runs!?!). But it's difficult to imagine any scenario under which this actually works out regardless of what Caracter has claimed he's willing to do while begging Rick Pitino to let him return to the program.

So what is it that Caracter has claimed he's willing to do, you ask?

According to Rick Pitino (per the Louisville Courier-Journal), Caracter has agreed to:

Pay his own way to school while missing the 2008-09 season (both practices and games).
Get a job approved by Pitino.
Secure his own living arrangements.
Get into shape.
Become academically eligible.
Stay out of trouble.

Pitino said Caracter will be allowed to rejoin the Cardinals for the 2009-2010 season if he does all those things.

My initial reaction: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahaha!

Seriously, is there any way this is possible?

Caracter has been a problem at every level -- never been a good student, good teammate or good dude in general. The stories I could tell you about this guy are classic, and if you ever see me in a bar buy me a pint of Stella Artois and I'll be sure to share one of them. We'll have a good laugh. I'm looking forward to it. But in the meantime, just trust me when I tell you the odds of Caracter meeting the above-stated requirements and not doing something stupid over the 16 months between now and the time he'll supposedly play his next college game are about as good as Brett Favre ever permanently retiring.

Simply put, I just don't see it happening.

But I'll sure have fun watching it develop or unravel, whichever the case may be.

ewinter43 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 25, 2006	Posted on: July 16, 2008 3:30 am Score: 94 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex wow. i would love to see him get his act together and not waste his god-given talent but it would be extremely hard for him to do all that. [ Reply to Comment ]
tigerbludrew Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Jun 19, 2007	Posted on: July 16, 2008 9:00 am Score: 86 if Character was smart.. If Character was smart, he would transfer and try a fresh start somewhere else. I'm sure he could help some mid-major, try to stay out of trouble for one year, just for ONE year- keep his nose clean, put up good numbers, then declare for the draft and maybe get taken in the second round. He could earn his way on a pro team making MONEY, instead of earning his way on a team that clearly doesn't want him, in a place where he has CLEARLY worn out his welcome. but i guess thats what Derrick Character does now and will contiinue to do.... make bad decisions. This guy is a CLOWN> [ Reply to Comment ]
JoeCot Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 31, 2006	Posted on: July 16, 2008 12:18 pm Score: 81 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex The fact that Pitino did not simply say "no, goodbye" tells you something about Pitino's and Louisville's permissiveness which, in my opinion, encourgages bad behavior. Don't be suprised if the yound man is not back at his old school due to the coach's and schools need to win at all cost. Hope not! [ Reply to Comment ]
ewinter43 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 25, 2006	Posted on: July 16, 2008 12:27 pm Score: 95 joe while im sure winning is the most important part of coaching, i doubt that pitino is a win at all costs guy. if he were, he wouldn't have suspended caracter all those games when we desperately needed him the past two seasons. [ Reply to Comment ]
RUPPSRUNT Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Nov 25, 2007	Posted on: July 16, 2008 12:32 pm Score: 93 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
UKNation1996 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 31, 2007	Posted on: July 16, 2008 12:48 pm Score: 88 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex Gary, I don't think it is good journalism to say "The stories I could tell you about this guy are classic"....and then follow that up with no stories.....either report or don't report....but don't say I could report - that's just irresponsible and leads the flood gates open for a ton of speculation. Character has been a total bust for Louisville since he's been there........but the things he does wrong are all stupid and careless like a knucklehead. He seems to be more of a goof rather than a rotten apple. This is not the first time Pitino has sent a player away for a year and be outside the program to either get it right or no more chances. Scott Padget went home and worked another job...then got his act together, went back to UK and played big part of the UK 98 team. Granted I think Character troubles run deeper than Padget's did. Also, don't forget Pitino's gift of gab and he's the fact that he is probably the best manipulator of the media in college basketball. He uses you guys to make points for him. [ Reply to Comment ]
Mrgolface Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Jan 26, 2007	Posted on: July 16, 2008 3:31 pm Score: 41 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex Your wrong my friend. Pitino is not just a coach, he is a motivator. I think it is obvious in this case he wants to see something become of DC instead of him becoming another would be player gone haywire. It is impossible for you or anyone else to judge Pitino's decision when you are on the outside looking in. Your win-at-all-cost theory is bogus as well. DC has never been a great player, probably won't, so how does this constitute winning at all cost? [ Reply to Comment ]
rvstratton Reputation: 4 Level: Amateur Since: May 27, 2008	Posted on: July 16, 2008 5:38 pm Score: 51 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex Parrish you don't know what the hell your talking about.You are a good waste of ears on a dick. Don't you have something better to do,likeDIE! [ Reply to Comment ]
aulcard Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Jul 16, 2008	Posted on: July 16, 2008 9:24 pm Score: 37 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex That is weak journalism, agreed. Total bust at UL, no way. Look at production per minutes. Very impressive. Goofball is probably a better discription. Pitino is the best thing for this guy right now. He is at a crossroads. Every decision he makes in the next few months will effect the rest of his life. Not a bad guy (guns, drugs, that sort of thing) but needs to grow up. I could be wrong according to the in depth, on the street, inside scoop reporter. [ Reply to Comment ]
GirlWhoLuvsUKBB Reputation: 5 Level: Amateur Since: May 22, 2008	Posted on: July 17, 2008 1:08 pm Score: 53 I'll take 'No chance in hell' for $1,000, Alex I think Pitino is doing the right thing. He's made Caracter's comeback almost impossible, but if Caracter can do it then I think he does deserve another chance (and, here's the scary part, I'm a Kentucky fan)! This reminds me of the Bud Mackey situation. Both of these guys are still kids. Some people just take longer to grow up, although, there are those who never do I suppose. And some kids have all the ability and opportunity in the world and absolutely no direction or no one they trust to guide them. But let Caracter have this chance, let him prove us right or prove us wrong, but since he is given another chance, let him have it. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gary Parrish

Parrish: The Thoughts