[61] They finished the tournament in 5th place. Joanne Minardi is the co-founder of the Daniel Pitino Foundation & is most well-known for being the wife of American university star basketball coach Rick Pitino. One of her sons died of a . Pitino: Sex Scandal 'Pure Hell' for Family, Louisville coach Rick Pitino says a sex scandal involving a woman accused of trying to extort him has been 'pure hell' for his family and that he's had enough. Who is Nakyung Park? They lost one son at 6 months due to congenital heart failure. Also, he weighs around 75 kg. The love of money is the root of all evil . This meeting occurred at the condo of his teams strength coach, Tim Sypher. (Aug. 26), Karen Sypher Reports To Prison In Florida. [65] Another son, Daniel, died from congenital heart failure in 1987 at the age of six months. 2014 - 2023 Marathi.TV - All Rights Reserved. With Providence, he led the team to final four, but in 1987 left the college for Kentucky University a job he took from 1989 to 1997. In this section you will get information about his marital status, affairs, hobbies, and many other things. Rick Pitino is not having an affair with anyone presently. And, just some years after dating each other, in 1976, they officially legalized their bond and got married. [33] It was the first time the NCAA vacated a men's basketball national title. Pray you get it right this time! (Facebook). Cunagin was released to a halfway house in January 2017. Also in 1977, the NCAA infractions committee recommended that Pitino and O'Neil be disassociated from Hawaii athletics. Two years later, Pitino led the team to the Final Four. Arkansas AD Long said it as he fired Petrino: having an affair is a matter between two consenting adults and their families. [36][37] The allegations state that an Adidas executive conspired to pay $100,000 to the family of a top-ranked national recruit toplay at Louisville and to represent Adidas when he turned pro. Both were especially hard-hit by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as Joanne's brother and Rick's closest friend, Billy Minardi, was working as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center when it was struck by American Airlines Flight 11. Is Rick Pitino still married to his first wife? Digging the hole deeper was Petrinos attempts to cover up the motorcycle accident in which Dorrell was riding on the back of his bike. Rick and Joanne established the Daniel Pitino Foundation (along with a Daniel Pitino shelter in Owensboro, Kentucky) in his memory, which has raised millions of dollars for children in need. Two weeks later, the married father of five gave her $3,000 after she said she needed an abortion and didn't have health insurance, according to a summary of Pitino's July 12 statement to. They have four children. Immediately following their Final Four run, several players graduated or entered the 2005 NBA draft. Of course. At a listed height of 1.83 m (6'0") tall,[1][7] he was a standout point guard[8][9] for the Minutemen basketball team. Their four children are Michael, Richard Jr., Ryan, and Jacqueline. During his time in Boston, he also served as team president, with complete control over basketball operations. During his 5 year tenure, Boston Us team slogan was, The hardest working coach, for the hardest working team in the country. Shes nuts, Tim Sypher said of his estranged wife on the stand. Conference tournament champion. He raped me, Tim Sypher testified. In 2010 the Cardinals suffered a disappointing 15-point loss to their first round opponent, the California Golden Bears. NCAA. He has been married to Joanne Minardi since April 3, 1976. He is an actor, known for He Got Game (1998), Blue Chips (1994) and The Untouchables of Kentucky (2010). Rick Pitinos wife found it in her heart to forgive her husband for his infidelity and thecouple remains married. His last college job was with Louisville, which started in 2001 and ended in 2017 after their emerged an escort sex scandal allegation and also Pay to Play.. the aged to His fold, Rick Pitino's wife found it in her heart to forgive her husband for his infidelity and the couple remains married. In short, her $55,735 a year job cost Petrino $18 million, plus the collateral damage to his career prospects. In 1999, their relationship became sexual, even though he gave her $10,000 during their relationship. After a few years of dating, they decided forever. To make the land of heaven Thirty-seven years married and still celebrating the good times. In 2013, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. For any championship won, he was eligible for a $500,000 bonus. University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino admits to having sex with the woman accused of trying to extort millions from him. We mortals sometimes question and so He takes a few seem wonderful and mild. Pitino's first head coaching job came in 1978 at Boston University. The federal government alleged that Cunagin demanded vehicles and tuition money for her children from Pitino and later demanded $10 million from him. You may also like to read the Bio, Career, Body Measurements, Net Worth, Social Media, Relationships, and more about Tony Bennett, Shelden DeMar Williams, David Fizdale, and more. As a result, his termination was changed from a firing on October 16, 2017, to a resignation on October 3, 2017, citing "zero liability" between both parties. Rick claimed that the sex was consensual and Karen was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011. Pitino struggled in Boston, and statistics like 199899's 1931 record made him little better in the eyes of many Boston fans than his inexperienced predecessor, M. L. Carr. The Kentucky program was recovering from a major recruiting scandal brought on by former coach Eddie Sutton that left it on NCAA probation. On Valentines Day 2008, she arrived in his office and they had oral sex. He has made his money from his coaching gig, where he has coached both college teams and NBA teams as well as national teams. The couple has established the Daniel Pitino Foundation in his memory and raised millions of dollars for needy children. Joanne has two grandchildren, Ava Catherine Pitino from her son Richard, and Christopher Pitino from her daughter Jacqueline Pitino. Rick Pitinos wife Joanne Minardi (and his affair with Karen Cunigan Sypher), Baylors Head Coach Scott Drews wife Kelly Drew. In fact, many of them lately like to show off, 40/ 40Cardi Bs dream mansion in Atlanta rap-up.com After two years of house hunting Cardi B, 55/ 55Sean Penn $70,000,000 via bz-berlin.de Sean is a dinosaur in Hollywood, but he manages. Rick Pitino has been ousted at Louisville, ending a 16-year tenure that featured the 2012-13 NCAA championship and three Final Four appearances. must realize God loves children, New York native Joanne Minardi will likely stand by Pitino while he faces down. Pitino has been involved in several controversial matters and scandals in the past. MAY GOD BRING RESTORATION, KAREN ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS MAY GOD BLESS YOU. And again, it's because I know my window's closing. After that payment, Sypher got married to Louisville equipment manager Tim Sypher. Rick Pitino's birthstone is Sapphire. Following her conviction, Cunigan Sypher accused the judge, prosecutor, Pitino and her own attorney of conspiring to ensure she was guilty. Picked to finish towards the bottom of the Big East Conference again, Pitino led them to a second-place finish, 124 (tied with the University of Pittsburgh, who had been beaten by the Cardinals during the regular season) in the conference standings and a first round bye in the conference tournament. So when a little child departs, Rick Pitino's birth flower is Aster/Myosotis. Rick is active on social media. On November 8, 2019, Pitino was hired as head coach of Greece's senior national team. A poem from written for her son Daniel reads. Her eggs were scrambled.. Rick Pitino is a married man. Their entire family often vacation in Saratoga, New York, according to ESPN. According to an ESPN piece, there are 74 photos of Billy Minardi in Pitinos home. Required fields are marked *. He needs to beg GODs forgiveness far more than Karen. The couple have 5 living children. The saddest word mankind knows Pitino and his wife Minardi had a son but died when he was just six months due to congenital heart failure prompting them to establish the Daniel Pitino Foundation to help children in such a state. seem wonderful and mild. Louisville's national championship from 2013 was eventually vacated as well. Seth Harrison/The Journal News, via USA TODAY NETWORK. Goetzinger said the last time they talked was a few days after he placed the third call. Richard is an American college basketball coach and currently works for New Mexico Lobos mens basketball team. Your email address will not be published. We have all sinned. In 2013, Pitino led the Louisville Cardinals to their third National Championship in an 8276 win over Michigan to become the first NCAA Division I coach in history to win a championship with two different schools. He had been working as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald in the north tower on that fateful day. Angels are hard to find.. Pitino returned to the NBA in 1997 when the Boston Celtics hired him as head coach on May 6, 1997. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The Cardinals defeated Davidson, New Mexico, and top seed Michigan State to advance to the regional final against Florida and his former player and friend Billy Donovan. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this town will be for all of us because there are young guys in that (locker) room playing their asses off. He was also the head coach of Greece's senior national team. Sypher was ultimately convicted of extortion charges and sentenced to seven years. Fresh off back to back NCAA Championship appearances, Rick Pitino came to Boston in 1997. The woman, Karen Sypher, went to prison for attempting to shake down the still-married Pitino for money and gifts in exchange for his silence. What theTry Holy Trinity Diocesan High in Hicksville, NY where Joanne actually went to school. Required fields are marked *. Kentucky Sports Radio reports that Goetzinger also admitted that he also had a romantic affair with Sypher. The National September 11 Memorial Museum in Lower Manhattan where Billy Minardi is among those who are celebrated. As a collegiate head coach, Pitino has compiled a 684282 record, for a .708 winning percentage that is ranked 11th among active coaches and 34th all-time among all collegiate basketball coaches following the 202122 season. Additionally, his teams are known for their signature use of the full court press and 2-3 zone defensive schemes, as well as their general aggressive defensive style. [15], Pitino is considered by many to be one of the first coaches to promote fully taking advantage of the 3-point shot, first adopted by the NCAA in 1987. At UMass, he helped the team as a junior and as a senior before graduating in 1974. With his services as the head coach Panathinaikos has transformed greatly as they have won the 2018-19 Greek Cup and 2018-19 Greek Basket League champions. They lost one son at 6 months due to congenital heart failure. Over a year after he publicly announced he was the target of her scheme, she was convicted of extortion and lying to federal agents. He spent his childhood days in Bayville, New York. In 2003, the married Pitino admitted to having consensual sex with a woman named Karen Cunagin Sypher in a Louisville restaurant. Other men testified that they had relationships with Sypher, including her former lawyer, Dana Kolter. Your email address will not be published. However, he decided not to extend his one-year contract with the team due to family matters. He would later return to NBA in 1997 after Boston Celtics hired his services, but in 2001 he resigned again, citing frustrations with the league and team. How can we expect God to forgive us if we cant forgive one another. Kolter also testified that Tim Sypher had control over his wife. She was born in 1953 in the Long Island area. Pitino led Hawaii for their final six games, going 24 in the span. ** ^a Kentucky finished first in the SEC standings. Moreover, in 1996, he helped the team win a national title in the NCAA Tournament. All the above details came out during the trial, as well as the following gem. Once a liar two timer, always a liar two timer! Karen Cunagin Sypher is Rick Pitino's former mistress and was convicted of an extortion plot. YouTube/ABC News On December 20, 2010, Pitino was hired as head coach of the senior Puerto Rico national team. This talented man who always loved the game is still one of the most beloved coaches in American basketball history. They married in April 2004 and their marriage was fine for a while. Rick Pitino is married to Joanne Minardi in 1976. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. He is the head coach of Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague. Despite all of that, the couple remains married. who does so much to make our world [30] The NCAA announced they were considering forcing Louisville to vacate wins from the 201213 season, including its 2013 NCAA National Championship over Michigan, which would make Louisville the first national champion to be stripped of its title. Is Richard Andrew Pitino married or single? On 18-9-1952 Rick Pitino (nickname: Rick) was born in New York, New York, United States. According to the Courier-Journal, Powell also says that she was told Pitino knew about the operation. He was suspended for the first five games of the ACC season in 201718. [71], On April 18, 2009, Pitino announced that he was the target of an extortion attempt. For more on this story go to abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=8311955&page=1. Needless to say, this became the worlds most expensive motorcycle ride. The 2007 team's season ended when the Cardinals lost to Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Pitino announced in April 2009 that he was at the center of an extortion scheme and called on the FBI to investigate the case. Aster is known as a talisman of love and an enduring symbol of elegance. Only a few months earlier, another brother-in-law of Rick, Don Vogt, was killed after being hit by a New York City cab. If she hasnt had a cup of coffee and read The New York Post, dont talk to her until she has, because that starts her day., Joanne Minardi, Rick Pitinos Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. New York native Joanne Minardi will likely stand by Pitino while he faces down the scandal involving Katina Powell and her claims of an elaborate sex trafficking and prostitution operation involving Louisville Cardinal players. more beautiful to view. For his son and New Mexico college basketball coach, see, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors head basketball coaches, Boston University Terriers men's basketball head coaches, Providence Friars men's basketball head coaches, Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball head coaches, Louisville Cardinals men's basketball head coaches, Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball 199596 NCAA champions, Louisville Cardinals men's basketball 201213 NCAA champions, Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, Conference USA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game, 2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball corruption scandal, 2020 FIBA Victoria Olympic qualifying tournament, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Eastern College Athletic Conference-North, List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins, List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach, "Rick Pitino might finally have another coaching job with Greek EuroLeague team Panathinaikos", "Rick Pitino agrees to coach EuroLeague power Panathinaikos", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame The Class of 2013", "Profile: Rick Pitino. She told Pitino that their night of passion resulted in her becoming pregnant. In 2001, he took the role of head coach of the University of Louisville 2001 and led the team to the Final Four for the first time in 19 years. Other than career earning as a coach, book deals, he has also made money through sponsorship deals with companies such as Guitar Hero and Taco Bell. who does so much to make our world "Just so proud." Soon her lips were pressed tight as she fought back welling tears at the. NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Sunday was not unfolding as planned for the . Know about their married life and net worth. In total, 21 former Pitino players and coaches have become Division I head coaches, including former University of Florida coach Billy Donovan (now head coach of the Chicago Bulls), High Point University's Tubby Smith, Santa Clara University's Herb Sendek, UCLA's Mick Cronin, New Mexico's Richard Pitino (his son), Maryland's Kevin Willard, former Cal State Northridge coach Reggie Theus and BYU's Mark Pope. They won the regional final but suffered a defeat in the Final Four. Petrinos fatal error was hiring Dorrell for a direct report job that attracted over 158 other applicants. She opposedthe moveto Michigan, preferring insteadto stay local to their Kentucky roots. Its terribly sad that he is a role model. Know about their children grandchildren, net worth, biography, / Are Joanne Minardi and Rick Pitino still married? [75], On August 6, 2010, a federal district court found Cunagin guilty of extortion and lying to federal agents. On the website for the organization, Minardi penned a beautiful poem to her son entitled Daniel: God calls little children A lot of celebrities do not know what to do with their money anymore in 2022. Louisville coach Rick Pitinos wife has survived the loss of their son to heart failure and her brother on 9/11. Reportedly; Rick Pitino had a one-night affair with Karen Cunagin Sypher in 2003; previously married to Tim Sypher, one of the guys who worked with Rick at Louisville. After that, she told him about the Pitino claims, he testified. With Boston in his dust, he moved on to Louisville and magically rediscovered his coaching ability (yes, were still bitter). In 2012, he took the team to the Big East tournament championship and defeated New Mexico, Davidson, and Michigan State to reach the regional final. The season ended with Panathinaikos winning the 201819 Greek Basket League's season championship, after they swept Promitheas Patras 30 in the League's Finals. On the same day, Pitino, through his lawyer, claimed that Louisville officials should have given him 10 days notice and a chance to respond before placing him on leave. Everyone deserves a second chance! However, his second title was vacated after an NCAA investigation into improper benefits for athletes. I could she a psychological break from this cage they put her in, Kolter said of Sypher. Together, Pitino and Minardi have five children, Michael, Christopher, Richard (the basketball coach at the University of Minnesota), Ryan and Jacqueline. However, due to their probation, they were ineligible for the regular-season title; it was awarded to second-place LSU instead. He was supposed to be the savior of the Celtics. The former UK and UofL coach, now at Iona, was not in attendance and did not send in a video message. The couple tied the knot in 1976 and shares five children. Why did he think he could get away with hiring his girlfriend? Their four children are Michael, Richard Jr., Ryan, and Jacqueline. Joan Minardi is the wife of Rick Pitino. The couple exchanged wedding vows on 3 April 1976. [53][54] He remained with the team until March 2020 when the 201920 EuroLeague season As of 2023, she is around 70 years old. Jury Finds Karen Sypher Guilty On All Counts. [52], On November 26, 2019, Pitino was rehired by Panathinaikos as the team's head coach on a two-year deal after the firing of Argyris Pedoulakis. His son, Richard Jr. is the current head coach of Minnesota. Pitino's fast-paced teams at Kentucky were favorites of the school's fans, implementing his signature style of full-court pressure defense. Louisville police have released the audio recordings made when Karen SYpher spoke to investigators regarding allegations against University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. In February 2009, Pitino got a threatening voicemail from a man who claimed to know what happened in 2003, Tim Sypher testified. In the honor of Daniel, Joanne and Rick established a foundation called Daniel Pitino Foundation. As the head coach of national teams, he has been a head coach of Puerto Rico and Greece national team. Before he placed the first call to Pitino, Sypher went to Gotezingers house and performed oral sex on him. Hes married. In July 2017, she was released from prison, but remains under federal supervision. He was just six months old when they lost him. What a poor reflection of society that he is so richly rewarded for his disgusting behavior. We have tried to cover their favorite things and personalities here. Three plus years later, its basically an indisputable fact that he left things worse than when he got there. He has long maintained his innocence, but Louisville ousted . Postseason invitational champion Pitino quickly restored Kentucky's reputation and performance, leading his second school to the Final Four in the 1993 NCAA tournament, and winning a national title in the 1996 NCAA tournament, Kentucky's 6th NCAA Championship. They defeated Boise State, Oklahoma and Tennessee to advance to the Elite Eight, where they were defeated by North Carolina. The couple first met each other in the early 1970s during their St. Dominic's High School days. He led the Cardinals to a . In November, the Independent Review Panel of the Independent Accountability Resolution Process exonerated Pitino, saying that he did not commit a violation and that he "demonstrated an atmosphere. In the smartest thing hes done in a while, Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino declined to appeal his firing in the wake of a scandal that saw him hire his girlfriend, Jessica Dorrell as a $55,000 a year assistant. to dwell with him above, Pitino started his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii. Theres a simple lesson here, but powerful men keep making these mistakes over and over: they entangle their messy personal lives with their work lives, and when they get caught, they try to cover it up. [76] Cunagin claimed that her estranged husband, Tim Sypher, was paid to marry her. Powered by. I've been around when Yastrzemski was booed. before it can grow old. Just so proudI knew he could do this again. Just so proudI knew he could do this again. Deadspin reported that jurors were even shown photos of them having oral sex. Their son, Daniel, died in 1987 from congenital heart failure. He testified that their relationship dated to 1994 and they met when he installed gas service at her house. [27] Pitino himself reprised the speech in a tongue-in-cheek manner at Louisville in November 2005, challenging his freshmen players to play as tough as past seniors and drawing laughter from sportswriters in a postgame press conference. The couple married in 1976 and have five children. Currently, the couple enjoys a happy life free of suggestions of breakup. Males are obviously in desperate need of good men for role models. He testified that she told her, I need to find out what to do about these phone calls that you made., Sean Woods, Morehead State Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Also, read Leslie Odom Jr. and his wife Nicolette Robinson welcomed their second child! Conference regular season and conference tournament champion These Are The 10 Best-Paid Television Stars In The World. [14], Pitino started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii in 1974, and became a full-time assistant in 1975. But while this affair seemed like it could be a career-ender, there were a few key differences from the Petrino debacle, which helped Pitino save his job and his career. . After being beaten by the Toronto Raptors on March 1, 2000, on a buzzer-beater by Vince Carter, Pitino's frustration reached critical mass as he addressed the press. Between April 2009 and August 2010, the scandal and trial dominated headlines in the sports world. He has light brown hair and brown eyes. In 1978 he took the job of the head coach of Boston University and led the team to its first NCAA tournament appearance after two decades of missing the event but would later quit in 1983 to join Providence College head coach. He is the quintessential example of a bully & a slut. Pitino returned to collegeand his adopted home stateon March 21, 2001, to coach the University of Louisville following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. Looks like she is probably worth at least two nights. In 2003, the married Pitino admitted to having consensual sex with a woman named Karen Cunagin Sypher in a Louisville restaurant. If you a gossip lover then you will enjoy this part here we have talked about the personal life of Richard Andrew Pitino. On December 26, 2018, Panathinaikos announced him as the head coach of the team. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old. will always be Goodbye. So when a little child departs, document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); For requests, complaints, suggestions or queries, contact us via E-mail below, Chris Dailey UConn Wikipedia, Husband, Married, Salary, Age, Height, Marisa Moseley Husband, Married, Engaged, Salary, Height, Wiki, Bio, Nicole Curran Age Birthday Bio Wikipedia Marriage, Boots Shoes. will always be Goodbye. Her son Richard says in the piece If my mom met some random person on the side of the road, she would tell them she lives in New York. In 1989, Pitino would dismiss the report, saying "I didn't make any mistakes, I don't care what anybody says."[18]. Coach Bruce O'Neil was fired after the Rainbow Warriors' started the season 912. After graduation, he would later enroll at the University of Massachusetts, where he became a point guard for the Minutemen basketball team. [43] Pitino's lawyer, Steve Pence, told The Courier-Journal that as he understood it, Pitino had been "effectively fired". [50] In the EuroLeague Regular Season, they managed to make a comeback after a 68 start, to finish in sixth place and reach the playoffs, after they registered ten wins in their last 16 games. Division regular season and conference tournament champion You've got the wrong guy leading this team.[26]. The 15 seconds was not worth it we all have made mistakes and most After a few years of dating, they decided forever. However, his second title was vacated after an NCAA investigation into improper benefits for athletes. In 1985, Pitino returned to college coaching to become head coach at Providence College after being hired by then-athletic director Lou Lamoriello. It doesnt make up for the loss of their dad, but we all have each other. He also added that it was Billy Minardi who coaxed Pitino into coaching the Boston Celtics in 1997. They have five living children, one of whom, Richard, is currently the head coach with the New Mexico Lobos. [36] The criminal complaint does not name Louisville specifically but appears to involve the recruitment of Brian Bowen, who committed on June 3, 2017, to the school. These 10 Whopping Homes & Cars Of Celebrities Look Amazing! I'm still more passionate about it today than I've ever been in my life. Check the full bio for relationship details. Even though Pitino had a standard morals clause in his contract, this made it much harder to fire him for cause. Pitino is a husband to Joanne Minardi, who he married in 1976. Anyway, things were going well for Pitino in Louisville until one fateful night in 2003. [56][57][58] Despite the hiring, Pitino was scheduled to finish his commitments to Panathinaikos,[59] however on March 20, Panathinaikos announced mutual agreement to terminate the contract.[60]. But the Courier-Journal reports that Pitino claimed he only had sex with Sypher once. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 10. Pitino fessed up. Coach Pitino was and will be the best X and Os coach in college basketball again! Pitino also admitted to police that he gave Sypher $3,000 to have an abortion. Well, if youre ready, lets start. He then took the role of assistant coach with the New York Knicks for the seasons 1983-85. During her trial for extortion, Pitino said that the sex between him and Sypher lasted no more than 15 seconds. She was found guilty in the trial, while claiming that her marriage to Tim Sypher was a sham that she was forced into and that Pitino and the judge were involved in an elaborate conspiracy to have her found guilty. The wisdom of His love. In September, Pitino was implicated in a federal investigation involving bribes to recruits, which resulted in Louisville firing him for cause. Leave the man and his family alone! Rick Pitino awards and achievements are numerous, but having Louisville team win 33 teams in a single season and considering he is one of two people in all NCAA history to lead three teams to the final four spots.
