In the transfer portal era, college coaches have grown accustomed to losing treasured players. But losing a treasured ceremonial sword and bullhorn is new.
On Tuesday night, that’s what went missing from Rick Pitino’s office at St. John’s. According to a university statement, the theft occurred around 8 p.m. ET in an office in the athletics department building.
Surveillance footage shared with The Athletic shows two men walking through a hallway in the building, with one man sheathing and unsheathing the sword and the other spinning the red and white bullhorn in his left hand.
On Thursday, Pitino shared on X about a bottle of 1985 6L Petrus Pomerol that was also taken, but he later clarified he was joking: “I would never keep that on my desk! Saving that one in a wine cellar to open after the Johnnies go to the final four!”
The 1985 Petrus was a joke🤣🤣I would never keep that on my desk! Saving that one in a wine cellar to open after the Johnnies go to the final four! https://t.co/18R6yZ3gQD
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) August 22, 2024
According to a St. John’s spokesperson, reports of a missing autographed basketball or other pieces of memorabilia are not confirmed. The surveillance footage has been shared with the NYPD, who are assisting in the ongoing investigation.
“It was reported to police that on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at approximately 1800 hours, two unknown male individuals gained entry to 168-10 Goethals Avenue (Saint Johns University) without authority,” the NYPD said in a statement shared with The Athletic. “Once inside the building, the individuals removed various items and fled on a moped traveling westbound on Union Turnpike with the stolen items. There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.”
Pitino, 71, is entering his second season at the helm of St. John’s, located in his birthplace of New York City. The legendary coach has won 854 games in his 36 years as a college coach, although that total doesn’t factor in four seasons of wins at Louisville that were vacated from 2011 to 2015, including the 2013 NCAA Championship.
A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame), Pitino has also coached at the professional level around the world. He spent time with the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Panathinaikos of the EuroLeague, Puerto Rican national team and Greek national team.
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(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
