Trial begins on alleged extortion of famous coach

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -It started as a fling between a former model and a famous college basketball coach at an Italian restaurant after closing time.

Now the woman, Karen Cunagin Sypher, heads to trial Monday on charges that she tried to extort University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino. She is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, having her house paid off and $10 million for her silence.

The trial could sort out who's telling the truth in the sordid affair that dragged down the reputation of the coach, who leads one of the two biggest teams in basketball-mad Kentucky.

Prosecutors say they plan to use multiple witnesses, secretly recorded conversations and testimony from Pitino to prove that Sypher is guilty.

Sypher has pleaded not guilty and says “I'm just waiting for the truth to come out.”