Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, University of St. John's men's basketball coach Rick Pitino continues to navigate life without his best friend, Billy Minardi, who died in the World Trade Center.
Pitino and Minardi shared a bond that began in the fall of 1969 when Pitino was a senior and Minardi a freshman at St. Dominic's High School on Long Island. Pitino, then a standout basketball player, recalled Minardi as a freshman who looked up to him. Their daily connection was immediate and sustained throughout their lives.
"We spoke every day, two times a day, without fail, when we weren’t with each other," Pitino said. "Every single day. On the road, whenever one of us was overseas, it didn’t matter. That was just a routine part of the day."
Minardi, Pitino's brother-in-law, was one of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks. Despite the passage of time, Pitino finds himself unable to truly say goodbye.
Pitino's recollection of his friendship with Minardi highlights the profound impact of the loss. The routine of daily conversations, a constant in their 32-year friendship, ceased abruptly on that tragic day. The inability to simply say goodbye, as one might with other loved ones after a visit, underscores the unique and enduring nature of their bond.
Pitino's enduring connection to Minardi serves as a testament to the deep personal losses experienced by many in the aftermath of 9/11. The coach's reflections offer a personal perspective on the lasting grief and the ways individuals cope with the absence of those they held dear.